Page 80 of Guarded Rebellion

“The hell with this.” I gripped the file in my fingers, pressing against the zip ties with all the force I could muster. I shoved my hands apart so hard, aided by the serrated edge of the file, that my arms flung apart with more speed than I could’ve counted on. Rolling with the momentum of my left arm, I swung out at the Ilyin soldier who threatened my man’s life.

It wasn’t my dominant arm or hand, but my right side ached with too much pain from how I’d been tossed into the van. I landed a hit, though. It was clumsy, but enough to surprise them both. He staggered back enough that Lev could twist back and elbow him in the crotch.

Free of my binds, I jumped up, picked up the chair, and brought it down on the man’s head.

“Eva!”

Rurik was here. He’d come. Many more rushed into the warehouse room with him.

I sagged to the floor, crawling closer to Lev as he tried to get up on his knees. Chaos reigned as the Baranov soldiers took over. A single gunshot made me flinch, but Lev had his tired arms around me.

He tucked my head against his chest, but I’d seen enough. The Ilyin had shot himself, sending brain matter on the wall. He’d rather die than be tortured for information.

“I’ve got you.” Lev’s voice was rough and ragged as he held me, but I clutched him tighter, breathing in the scent of him until I felt sure that my heart would slow.

“I’ve got you, baby. I’ve got you.” He kept murmuring it as I clung to him, embracing him with the fervent wish that I could protect him.

“No. I’ve got you.” I pulled back only far enough to kiss him. Ignoring the blood and the grime, I pressed my lips to his cheek again, petting my hand over the other side of his face. I would never forget the consuming relief of this moment, this sweet reunion that proved he was alive and with me. “I’ve got you.”

“Bashing a fucking chair on his head,” an older soldier said, chuckling as he helped take down the Ilyin. “And the Boss asked you to protect her?”

“Fuck you,” Lev growled lightly.

“I love you,” I whispered, tuning out the men in the room. All I concentrated on, all my mind and body could pay attention to, was the feel of his hard body, the strength of his arms holding me close, and the steadying breaths of his heartfelt sighs as he likely calmed himself with the fact that I was with him.

“I love you, too, baby,” he replied softly.

Beaten and spent, only able to sit up and hug each other, we caught our breath and knew it was over.

At least, this drama and danger were over.

Now we could only move forward with love.

33

LEV

The following week…

If anyone were to ask me, all this fuss was overkill.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve been tortured, you know,” I quipped wryly as Eva smoothed down the sheet that draped over me.

“I don’t want to think about that,” she replied, sassy but prim. “I know this is a hard life and violence is the norm, but I would kindly request that you avoid being captured and tortured again.”

I arched a brow, tugging her onto the bed with me. “Oh, you’llkindlyask?”

She kissed me before standing. “Yes, I’ll kindly ask.” She crossed her arms. “But unkindly demand it. The next time you think you need to rush off and be my hero, consider I might be able to save myself, too.”

The Boss entered, tapping his knuckles on the hospital door’s room. After the Baranov backup arrived, I’d been taken straight here for a minor surgery and to cast a fracture in my leg.

“I beg your pardon, niece,” Oleg said, “but as the recording on your phone proves otherwise, you didn’t save yourself. Irina Petrov helped.”

Eva sighed, nodding. “I still can’t understand why.”

Oleg shrugged. “That’s an assignment for another soldier.”

“I can?—”

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