Page 99 of The Brigadier

If I were a praying man, I’d do that because I wasn’t certain what to think. Other than something dark and ominous was being held over our heads.

“I can’t lose you. I just…” She was close to tears.

I kissed one eye gently then the other. “Shush. You’re not going to lose me. I’m too mean and tough to die. However, I need to get dressed and figure this out. Just like you wanted. Your brilliant idea.”

Of course so much of her regretted her incredible thinking, but I was eternally grateful.

“Damn it,” she muttered, but her eyes lit up a bit more than they had before. The fact she pounded her fist on my chest wasunexpected, but it made me grin. How was that possible? “If you get hurt in the tiniest way, I would be so fucking angry. I will…”

“Oh, yeah, tough girl. What are you going to do?” She even went so far as to try to smack me. I grabbed her arm, within seconds flipping her around on the counter, her arm wrenched behind her back. “That was truly being bad. What am I doing to do with you?”

She rubbed steam from the mirror as much as possible, glaring at me with playful but serious eyes.

“Oh, yes. I know.” It was such a pleasure popping my hand against her bottom. I even moved my body out of the way so I could access both sides, enjoying every second of making her skin warm up to a sweet deep blush.

“Meanie. Meanie!”

“With all that fabulous vocabulary you have and you call me a meanie?” She opened her mouth and I spanked her again, moving from side to side. She squirmed and moaned and I wished I could stay longer to give her a proper spanking but there was no additional time to take.

I felt that in my gut.

I was forced to back away, and we stared at each other in the mirror for another few seconds before I grabbed my towel from the floor, moving to the door. “I have a question.”

“Of course.” Her whispered answer made my heart break.

“If something does happen, will you take care of Damien?”

Chantel slowly turned her head, searching my eyes with a strong emotion that I wasn’t certain of. “Of course I will. I love him like I love his father.”

Love.

I wasn’t certain how she could use that word, but it was another gut punch because I knew she meant what she’d said.

And I wasn’t entirely certain it was smart to reciprocate.

After nodding, I walked out, briefly closing my eyes. Why was I bothering to lie to myself?

I felt exactly the same way about her.

Somehow, I worried it was going to damn both of us.

CHAPTER 27

Nikolay

“Where the hell is Maxim?” I asked by way of entrance into the house’s compound over the garage.

Danny was busy peering down at the computers, standing not sitting. He barely turned his head, but my men all knew about Tanner. Word of that nature always got around fast.

“He’s watching with the other men. It’s important.” His answer was succinct and somehow filled with sadness. “How long are you going to give him?”

I walked closer and my other men crowded around, angry themselves. I couldn’t blame them. Tanner hadn’t betrayed just my family but them as well.

Although I’d considered all of them my family. Had that been used as another weakness?

“Things have changed. I want to handle things differently at this point. It’s risky but if it works, will be highly successful.” I tried to keep my tone solid, without emotion.

“How so, boss?” one of the soldiers asked.

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