Page 108 of Sinful Bride

“This contract.” I pull out a copy of the damned thing and set it on the desk between us. “This is designed to give our soldiers the best of the best in artillery and defenses. These soldiers have families, too. Families who pray for them to return home, safe and sound. To walk away from this contract is to deny your people, our people, the best chance to return home.”

“But, as I said?—”

“So here’s what I’m proposing. You take Hamish’s threat of exposure and shove it up his ass. Tell your colleagues to do the same.”

He balks. “But?—”

“You think Hamish will ruin you? I will do far, far worse, Senator. He can blow the whistle on your grandkids, sure. But I can let the Department of Defense and a few choice journalists know that you and your friends decide the fate of this country by how fucked you are.”

“You can’t?—”

“Oh, but I can. Do you really want to try me?”

He very clearly does not.

I flash him my most magnanimous smile and stand, gesturing him toward the door. “I look forward to our follow-up meeting with the DOD.”

My assistant holds the door open for the senator to shuffle out. He’s barely rounded the corner when my phone starts buzzing in my pocket.

At first, I think it’s a call.

But then I recognize the pattern of vibrations.

It’s worse.

“Bozhe moy.”

I nearly vomit the words when I see Daphne being loaded onto a stretcher.

Her face is swollen and red. Tears slice through caked-on dirt and blood. She keeps trying to curl in around her stomach, but the paramedics urge her to lay still.

I look around for whoever the fuck did this to my wife.

Paramedics, police, I don’t care who’s around to witness—I’m about to murder someone.

It’s Daphne’s groan that reminds me she needs me by her side more than she needs my rage. I rush over to her and grasp her hand in mine. “I’m here, baby. I’m right here.”

She can barely open her eyes. Watching her struggle makes me feel nauseous and beyond enraged on her behalf.

“Just rest,” I say when she tries to speak. “I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Daphne uses what’s left of her strength to pull my hand to her chest.

“Br…Brit…” She starts coughing.

“Brittany?”

She slowly, painfully nods.

I know what I want to do. I also know that my beautiful wife is not as monstrous as I am. Which is why I ask her, my voice low enough for only her to hear, “What do you want me to do?”

Daphne sniffs. “End this.”

Those two words take the last of her strength. She slumps. She’s unconscious, but alive.

I’m about to climb into the ambulance with her when I see Sofiya’s car peel to a stop next to mine. When she steps out, it’s only one look from her that I need to know what I’m about to do is the best course of action.

“Makari will meet you at the hospital. I’ll be there, too.” I press one more kiss to her scraped-up fingers. “I have to take care of something first.”

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