Page 102 of Falling for the Enemy

So much time has been wasted.

It’s up to me to fix it.

“Casper!”

Reaching the bottom step of the stairs, my bull looks up, meeting my watery gaze. I haven’t cried since the day I helped Papa kill Mama. Yet, now as I ready myself to go to war to save the ones I love, a tear slips down my cheek.

Followed by another.

“If today is the day,” I say, knowing he’ll understand the hidden meaning of my words. If today is the day I die. “I want it to be you who takes care of Mina.”

Gunfire erupts as Sergei’s men advance on the mansion and my men, along with Alejandro, start laying down cover fire through the busted window.

“And I need you to do it forever.”

A quick dip of his chin is the only answer I receive before he turns, ushering Anna, Carmen, and Jade past him. Nikolai brings up the rear, the hurt on his face unmistakable.

My heart breaks for him.

But Mina has never been his.

She’s always been Casper’s.

“Hermanito!” Carmen shouts, gaining Alejandro’s momentary attention as he exchanges his empty magazine for a fresh one. Slamming it into his rifle, he peers at her over his shoulder. “Don’t you dare die on me. You do and I swear to Cristo, I will bring you back to life just so I can matar you myself.”

He shakes his head, chuckling wryly. “Bunker, Princesa, now!”

I tear my gaze from the group when they move down the hall, headed for the basement stairs, taking a huge chunk of my heart with them.

With the rifle’s stock pressed against my shoulder, I take aim at the first of Sergei’s soldiers. We’re vastly outnumbered and judging by the rocket-propelled grenades that were launched into both my gate and window, out armed.

Teeth gritted, I pull the trigger. Once, twice, thrice. Bodies drop, hitting the grass. But it’s nowhere near enough. Like pissed-off hornets protecting their disturbed nest, the enemy continues to swarm.

“I need snipers on the roof!”

Immediately obeying, Viktor and Ivan fall back, then head for the stairs as the rest of my men scatter, each taking up different positions throughout the mansion, leaving Alejandro and me alone by the window.

“Manzana, baby, I need more magazines! I’m almost—”

“Go!” I fire more rounds, dropping more men. He doesn’t want to leave me, of that I’m sure, but right now he has little choice. “I’ll hold them off!”

Only he doesn’t go right away.

Careful to keep his head beneath the glassless window, he instead closes the space between us and sinks his hand into my hair, fisting my locks tight.

“You stay alive for me, Hermosa.” Bullets fly through the window, embedding themselves into the far wall. “Because when this war is over, you’re marrying me.”

Dropping one hand from my gun, I clutch the front of his shirt, pulling him closer. “If you expect me to marry you, kingpin, the ring you buy me better be huge. Much like your cock.”

He grins. “Smartass little witch.”

“Possessive durak.” I smile.

Exhaling, he shakes his head and presses his lips to mine. Both passionate and beautiful, the melding of our mouths in direct contrast to the dark and hateful chaos that surrounds us, threatening to end us both.

He pulls away far too soon.

“Te amo con el alma,” he whispers, his nose brushing against mine as I trail a fingertip along his jaw, the battle we’re engaged in doing little to lessen my need to touch him.

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