Page 31 of Reign of Four

Andrei turns his comms back on while I enjoy the flicker of desire in our woman’s eyes. “Ezra, you ready?”

It’s Thanatos who answers, the words heavy on his tongue. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he just woke up from one hell of a catnap. His words slur, making him hard to read. All I can make out is Liam and problem.

Andrei’s mask shifts back into place as he neutralizes his expression. “Where is he?”

“The bastard’s not dead yet?” I crowd closer to Valentina, caging her between Andrei and me. Lifting my gun, I keep it at the ready and swivel my head to take in our surroundings.

A hallway isn’t exactly what I’d call safe.

Valentina peers up at me, and I have to fight not to meet her gaze. “I stabbed him, just like you taught me.”

A heated shiver rolls down my spine, and I have to shut my eyes. It’s the worst fucking time, in the worst fucking place, but if I look at Valentina right now, if I see any shred of satisfaction in her eyes about digging that blade into her piece of shit ex-boyfriend, I’m going to fucking lose it. I’ll pin her against Andrei and shove my swollen cock so deep inside her pussy that she’ll taste me on her tongue. I’ll fuck her hard. Because that’s what she deserves.

Such a good fucking girl, stabbing him for me—for herself. Fuck, that’s hot as hell.

I open my eyes just in time to see her shove her tongue into the pocket of her cheek, fuck me, as a little crease forms between her eyebrows. “But I didn’t get to finish the job.”

I flex my arms, but it’s no use. I’m rock fucking hard now. “Where’d you get him?”

“The thigh.” She props her chin on my chest and kisses the hollow of my throat. “Just like you showed me.”

My eyes roll back in my head, and I have to stifle a groan. Andrei will kill me—literally, with the next bullet from the fucking gun in his hands—if I so much as touch Valentina in the middle of a war zone. It’s hypocritical as fuck after how he just screwed her fucking brains out, but he’s the pakhan. He can break his own rules.

I swallow, and she kisses my Adam’s apple. Fuck me. Dragging in a breath, I stare into her eyes. At her swollen lips. The two perfect curls stuck to her forehead. The tempting slip of tongue as she swipes her bottom lip.

If I kiss her now, I won’t stop. I’ll consume every ounce of air in her lungs until she passes out. I’ll keep going, tearing into her for the first time, finally making her mine.

Exhaling slowly, I try to reign in my instincts. I tell myself that I can’t have her now, but I will have her soon. The fucking moment we get out of this hellhole.

I press a chaste kiss to her forehead. Not only am I horny, but I’m so fucking proud of her. “You did amazing, love, I promise.”

Her smile makes the wait worth it.

The next few seconds are silent as we wait for more info, but our comms remain completely silent. Andrei and I share a glance. I know what he’s going to say before he can say it, and I don’t agree with it. Ezra can handle himself.

“Take her, Mikhail. Get her out of here.”

I clench my jaw. This situation sucks. We’re not usually on protection duty. It’s much easier to blow the enemy’s brains out when you’ve got nothing to lose.

This time, we have everything to lose.

I refuse to let anything happen to Valentina again. “We’d cover her better together. I need you with me.”

Andrei’s sapphire eyes harden. He can’t stay with Valentina and go after his best man. It puts them both in more danger. “I can’t leave Ezra behind.”

I know he can’t.

That doesn’t mean I won’t try to dissuade him, though. “Ezra has Than and an entire assault team at his back. He’ll be fine. He’s the toughest bastard I know.” If anyone can muscle through an untrained army of traitors to the Bratva, it’s Ezra. With Than by his side, he should be damn near unstoppable.

“Something’s not right,” Andrei grits out, teeth clenched. “You heard Thanatos.”

Valentina’s body stiffens between us. “What’s going on? Is Ezra hurt?”

I meet her eyes, and damn, do I hate seeing a ripple of worry. “Maybe, love. We’re not sure.”

She purses her lips, then narrows her eyes at me. “Then what are we standing here for? Let’s go get him.”

“It’s not that simple?—”

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