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“What in hell did you do?”
“As usual. Whatever the hell I want. Did you just meet me?”
“Alexei Koslov is parked outside my gate. He’s demanding a meeting.”
“Since when do you—”
“Get your ass to Divona right now.” He uses the code name for our family home that sits on a tributary off Astoria Harbor.
My da christened it with the name of the Gaelic goddess of sacred springs and rivers when he built it. Its monolithic size and breadth are the symbol of O’Rourke power. Naturally, Kieran claimed it for himself when Da passed down his crown.
“Aye, your highness.” I do what the fuck I want, but I respect Kieran is my king.
“And bring your wife.” Kieran ends the call, muttering Gaelic curses.
I smile. He called Katya my wife. Taking the pakhan’s daughter by force will need some smoothing over. Guns and threats get the immediate job done. Those are my skills, my specialty. But negotiations and additional maneuvering are sometimes needed to cement deals.
That’s Riordan.
Glancing at how damaged and in pain Katya looks, however, I consider blowing off my brothers and putting her on the helicopter waiting in the church parking lot. Resume my plan to tuck her away in the new family safe house on the Canadian border in Upper Michigan. Then I read the incoming text and hear the whoosh-whoosh-whoosh of blades chopping the air overhead.
Fuck, the helicopter is leaving.
Kieran: That’s my bird. Not yours. Ten minutes, Lachlan.
Inside Griffin’s Escalade, I turn to Katya, thinking she’ll be looking down. No, her eyes are right on me. On my lips, actually. Did she like my kiss? It did something to me, but we’re about to enter another phase of this battle. I have to stay strong. Sharp.
“Thank you.” She leans in and hugs me.
Warmth runs through my veins where ice-cold brutality usually flows. “You’re welcome. You’re my wife now, but what shall I call you? Katya or Katriane?”
She thinks about that. “I don’t know. Everyone knows me as Katya. I’m used to it by now.”
She could be my Kitty Kat. A little meow sounds in my head, and impure thoughts fill my brain.Pussy. “Katya it is,” I whisper, and tuck her hand inside mine.
By the time we reach Divona, Alexei’s outdated Town Car sits in the courtyard, the engine still running. Griffin opens the rear passenger door for my little wife, still in her blood-stained wedding dress. I hop out the other side and quickly wind my arm around her waist. She’s pliant in my hold, walking willingly by my side.
Sergei, leaning against Alexei’s trunk, gives me a sly smirk and lets me pass without incident. But he barks something in Russian to the other men who came with AlexeiandMaksim.Bratokswho only know anger and violence.
My men are well-trained and deadly, but disciplined, not controlled by hatred.
I walk proudly toward the kitchen door with my wife, the woman I saved from a life of hell. She moves gracefully with her head held high. Riordan waits for me in the kitchen, his arms folded across his chest. His face is unreadable as far as his thoughts about what I’ve done. If we weren’t brothers, I’d report to him as underboss. But we all report directly to Kieran, and I only take orders from him.
“Rior,” I address him in a pleasant manner like I didn’t just light the fuse for war with the Russians. “This is my wife, Katriane O’Rourke.”
His cheek ticks up, respecting my boldness. “Nice to meet you, Katriane. Do you…” Riordan steps closer. “What happened to your face?”
“The man Koslov was forcing her to marry beat her up last night,” I answer for her and plan to be her voice as much as she needs me.
“Jesus.” Rior lowers his head. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want to be any trouble,” Katya whispers, sounding embarrassed.
“Shhh, little one.” I stroke her chin softly. “You’renottrouble. You’re my wife.”
Riordan snickers. “Never thought I’d hear those words come out of your mouth, Lachlan.” He is one of the few people who knew I wanted to be a priest. “Alexei isfurious. He wants her back.”
“The marriage license is being filed right now. She’s mine.” I tug her next to me.
