Page 92 of Ruthless Desire

Rage, hot and vicious, burns through me. He was right fucking there. And I missed.

"Slippery bastard," I mutter, already lining up my next shot.

The battle descends into madness. I fight like a man possessed, leaving a trail of bodies in my wake. But it's not enough. It'll never be enough until Nazarov's cooling at my feet.

A scream cuts through the chaos – one I'd recognize anywhere. Natalie.

My blood runs cold as I spin towards the sound. A group of Corsinis have broken through, heading for her quarters.

"Not on my fucking watch." The words come out as a feral growl as I rush forward.

I can't let them reach her. I won't. She's mine, and I won't lose her now.

I fight my way through the carnage, single-minded in my purpose. But they're too far ahead. Doubt, sharp and poisonous, seeps into my mind.

What if I'm too late?

I reach her door just as it splinters under the force of a Corsini's boot. Time slows to a crawl as I raise my gun, praying I'm not about to lose everything.

The door flies open, and there she is. Natalie. My dark angel. The future mother of my children.

Our eyes lock, and in that moment, I know. No matter what happens next, she's mine. Forever.

I pull the trigger, watching the Corsini drop like a sack of shit. Natalie stands there, eyes wide, chest heaving.

"Told you to stay put, solnyshko," I drawl, stepping over the body. "Can't leave you alone for five minutes without you stirring up trouble."

She glares at me, all fire and fury. "Screw you, Dante. I had it under control."

I can't help but laugh, the sound dark and rich. "Sure you did, sweetheart. Now come on, we've got a war to win."

I grab her arm, pulling her close. She fights me for a second before melting against me.

"You're bleeding," she mutters, fingers ghosting over a cut on my cheek.

"It's not mine," I lie, ignoring the sting. "Now, you gonna be a good girl and do what I say?"

She looks up at me, those storm-gray eyes swirling with a cocktail of emotions I can't even begin to decipher. "Do I have a choice?"

I grin, all teeth and dark promises. "Always, little raven. But we both know you'll make the right one."

She shivers, and I feel it down to my bones. "I hate you," she whispers, but there's no venom in it.

"I know," I murmur, pressing a bruising kiss to her lips. "Now let's go show these fuckers what happens when you mess with what's mine."

We step out into the chaos, Natalie tucked safely against my side. The villa's a warzone, bodies littering the ground like fallen leaves. But I've never felt more alive.

Because she's here. She's safe. And I'll burn this whole fucking world to the ground to keep it that way.

"Stay close," I growl, feeling her nod against my chest. "And try not to get yourself killed. I'd hate to have to resurrect you just to kill you myself."

She snorts, a sound so incongruous with the carnage around us that I can't help but smile. "Your concern is touching, really."

We make our way through the battlefield, my gun never silent for long. Natalie stays glued to my side, her eyes wide and alert. She's stronger than she knows, my little firecracker.

We're almost to the command center when I spot him. Nazarov. The fucker's managed to penetrate deep into my territory.

"Well, well," he calls out, that smug grin plastered on his face. "If it isn't the happy couple. How sweet."

---