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The cartel soldiers closed in on him, working together to surround him in seconds. They kept their guns trained on him and all of a sudden, my slim hopes were dashed.
Despite the odds stacked against him, Connor refused to back down. He fought harder, moved faster, but there were so many fighting against him that I knew our chances of escape were quickly disappearing.
Caden’s arm wrapped around my waist, holding me firmly against him as I struggled. He took several steps backwards, pulling me along with him as he put some distance between us and his brother.
I watched in horror as they managed to pin Connor down, their grip unyielding as they forced a hood over his head. He never stopped fighting and even hooded, his punches hit with sickening crunches. He kicked hard, landing a powerful blow straight to one man’s belly. He took out several more men even as more flooded over him.
I wanted to scream.
It didn’t take them long to completely overpower him. The group of cartel members lifted him clear off the ground andcarried him away back into the church. Still, he fought, but he was severely outnumbered. My heart pumped in my chest as he disappeared around the corner.
“Get her out of here!” Connor yelled through the hood, and Caden took another step back, swiftly grabbing me around the waist and launching me up into the air and over his shoulder like I weighed no more than a sack of feathers. His arms held me securely in place around my hips and he started to run.
I lifted my head to see the remaining cartel members give chase, their footsteps echoing behind us. Caden quickly dove into a dark alleyway between two abandoned shops next to the church, before swiftly taking the next left and a right. His feet pounded into the pavement as he took one turn and then another until I quickly lost track of which way we were heading and where we might be going.
I curled around him, holding on tight. Right now, he was my best chance at survival. I hoped that his brothers would be alright and that they’d make it out of this alive.
Unlike my father…
The image of my father’s still form flashed before my eyes. For a moment, I allowed myself to cry. The weight of the tragedy pressed down on my heart, and I whispered a silent promise to carry his memory with me and to continue making him proud as I took over his position as leader of my family.
Right now, I had to focus on surviving.
Caden’s familiarity with the city allowed him to skillfully guide us through a labyrinth of narrow streets and concealed alleyways, his steps echoing through dimly lit corners. The uneven cobblestone streets slipped away beneath our footsteps,and the shadowed alleys revealed a mixture of faded graffiti, cracked brick walls, and rusty fire escapes clinging to aging buildings.
With every twist and turn, the city’s shadows quickly became our allies. Caden never let up his pace. If anything, he was running even faster than before. Behind us, our pursuers dropped one by one.
Still, when we lost the last member, Caden didn’t slow down. He kept running even as the skies began to turn dark.
He didn’t stop until he reached a safe house and the two of us were safely locked inside.
CHAPTER 3
Caden
Even though we’d made it to my own personal safe house, I couldn’t help but worry about Anastasia. I needed to make sure she was okay. As soon as I was able, I carefully put her back down on the floor and reached out to her, my fingers tracing her arms and checking for any injuries that might be hidden beneath her dress.
Even though I expected it, she said nothing, letting me inspect her almost as if she understood that I simply wanted to protect her and nothing more.
As my fingers moved across her cheek, I noticed a faint smudge of dirt and a small scrape near her temple. Concern welled up within me, and without uttering a word, I pulled out a handkerchief from my pocket and began to gently clean the small injury. When I was done, her lips parted, and she whispered, “I’m alright.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I couldn’t help but worry, my voice a mix of concern and hesitant relief as I searched her eyes.
She smiled, a reassuring glimmer in her gaze. “I’m fine, Caden. Just a few minor scrapes, nothing to worry about.”
My fingers brushed over her shoulders. My eyes traveled down her figure, and I couldn’t help but notice the dirt and smudges on her wedding dress. Faint stains marred the once-pristine fabric.
“Let’s get you cleaned up,” I said, my voice gentle as I held her gaze. “Turn around, Anastasia.”
She complied, and I began to undo the tiny buttons that adorned the back of her wedding dress. Each one gave way under my fingers, revealing more of her shoulders and back.
The pale expanse of her skin was magnificent, and I spent far too long admiring it before I moved onto the next button.
When I was finally finished, she turned back around, holding her dress up by the front.
I swallowed hard, wanting nothing more than for her to let it fall to the ground.
What the fuck was wrong with me?
