Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“Let me stay, please?” I ask. I don’t recognize my voice. It’s hollow steel, detached and merciless.
The door behind me opens. “We found him.”
One of Tomas’ men drags Aren in the room.
“You fucking bitch,” Aren growls at me, his face splotchy red in anger. “You betrayed our family.”
I shake my head. “I did no such thing. You were the one who used me to pay off your debt. And you’re the one who didn’t believe me when I told you about Andros.”
“I’ll kill you for what you’ve done.”
I shake my head. “I’m afraid you’re mistaken, brother.”
Aren’s eyes widen when he finally notices Andros’ beaten body, lying at Tomas’ feet. He pales. Tomas crooks a finger, and Aren pales.
“Bring him here.”
Aren is brought to Tomas. Tomas grasps him by the shoulders. He looks to me. “The choice is yours, my love.”
Despite the sickening situation before us, it warms me that he calls me love. I watch my brother’s eyes widen in shock at Tomas’ words. Tomas loves me, and he wants my brother and Andros to know that before they die.
A lump rises in my throat. It’s an end to an era of terror.
“I want to stay,” I whisper. “I want to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that these two will never threaten me again.”
Tomas nods once but says nothing. There are too many things to be said, but I know the unspoken implications. He doesn’t want me to see him kill them, but he leaves the choice to me. He will not shield me fully from Bratva life.
I am wife to the pakhan, and I will face my new life beside him.
Because he loves me, and I love him.
“I love you, Tomas.”
He stands taller.
“And I love you.”
I sit, unblinking, and watch my husband avenge me.
Chapter 21
Tomas
I’m still wearing the blood-soaked clothes I wore earlier. Hers are tattered and torn, stained in red. Neither of us has changed or showered. We’re back in the privacy of our bedroom. Once we were certain that every one of the infiltrators had been dealt with, that our compound was clear and the bodies disposed of, when my cleaning staff had restored pristine cleanliness to every inch of our home, I brought her back with me.
We sit on our couch, and she’s tucked up against my chest. At first, she shook, but when I draped my arms around her and held her, she eventually settled. I didn’t want her to witness what she did tonight, but when she asked me, I saw how much she needed it. How she needed to see the proof that the tormenters of her past were gone so she could put it behind her.
I shielded her from nothing. I let her watch me beat the men that harmed her, to punish them for their sins against her. I extracted apologies. She accepted them. And she watched when I pulled the trigger. Twice.
When they lay lifeless on the floor, she crawled over on her hands and knees and took Andros’ wrist between her fingers, feeling for the pulse. Satisfied that he was dead, she did the same to her brother. Then she got to her feet, trembling but certain.
“Thank you.”
I left my men to clean up the mess, lifted her in my arms, and carried her straight here. We’ve been here ever since.
“You are brave,” I tell her, running my fingers through her hair over and over, until she sighs a little.
“I was terrified,” she whispers.
“Fear doesn’t mitigate courage, my love. Courageous people face their fears instead of running from them.” I hold her to me. “I’ve never known anyone braver than you.”
I realize she’s quietly crying. “I can’t believe they’re gone forever,” she says. “Even when I was here with you, in the back of my mind I knew they could come for me. And hell, they did. The bastards.”
I rock her gently, letting her process this. Giving her space to exorcise those demons.
“I know, love,” I whisper. “But yes, they’re gone.”
A few moments of silence pass before she speaks again. “I’m sorry I thought you cheated on me. I should have known better.”
“He set this up well. He was conniving, orchestrating this from the very top. He hired her and hired someone to take those pictures. I have no doubt. He admitted as much. But I want you to know something, Caroline.”
I take her chin in my hand and lift her tearful eyes to mine.
“I would never betray you. You are my wife, and I will follow you to the ends of the earth.” I run my thumb along her scar, and gently brush my lips to hers before I continue. “I love you, Caroline. I thank my lucky stars to have a woman like you by my side.”
“And I love you,” she says, placing her hand atop mine. “Thank you.” She blinks, and a tear rolls down her cheek. “I thought I was worthless. That no one would ever want me.”