Page 59 of Dangerous Devotion

“The meeting?” She hesitated for a moment, and I could almost feel the weight of her thoughts. “Are we going to be okay?”

“Yes, we are,” I murmured and brushed my lips against her forehead. “My father going after me in this kind of way losthim all the support he still had. By now, if everything is going according to plan, he should’ve gotten the message and be on his way to our villa in Calabria and will stay there for the time being.”

As I spoke, a mix of relief surged through my body and temporarily replaced the lingering tension. I tightened my arms around her, drawing strength from her presence. Having her here, safe in my arms, filled me with a sense of peace.

Jemma sat up, the sheets rustling softly. “So it’s over? Just like that? That’s a little anticlimactic.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle, reached out, and squeezed her cheek. The silky texture of her skin against my fingertips was another reminder of how perfect she was. “What? One helicopter assault, and a masked assassin almost killing you isn’t enough for you?” We still hadn’t identified the man, which was still a thorn in my side.

She grabbed my wrist, opened my hand, and leaned into my touch.

Her warmth radiated through my fingers and up my arm. The memory of those terrifying moments flashed through my mind and made my chest tighten. The wound on her ear was only superficial, just a scratch—but it could’ve been so much worse. I could’ve lost her, right then and there.

I pulled her closer, needing to feel her safe in my arms. My heart swelled with love for this incredible woman who’d turned my world and my convictions upside down.

She cuddled back into my arms, her head on my chest. “I’m okay. We’re okay,” she said.

I nodded and pulled her tighter. Right now, we were okay.

“What if he hired someone else?” Jemma’s voice was barely above a whisper, but I could hear the seriousness, a sign of her fear.

I shrugged, trying to appear confident despite her voicing a worry that had been gnawing at my insides for a while. Just because Zotov only knew of two teams my father had hired, didn’t mean there weren’t more. If only I were the target, I could take it, but not with my siblings’ safety on the line or Jemma’s.

“Hawk’s guys, my brothers, and I, we’re all trying everything we can to find out who my father talked to and if he might’ve hired someone else.” And until we found proof of that, all we could do was wait.

“I saw Zotov before our wedding.”

I tightened. Zotov. One more thorn in my side. He must have some kind of secret career as an escape artist, the way he Houdinied his way out of his lock-up. “Did he say anything?”

She shook her head. “He smiled and nodded at me once.”

I narrowed my brows. Smiled and nodded once? Not what I’d expected a Russian Bratva boss would do while escaping. None of Ivan Zotov’s actions were congruent with the type of person he should be.

Another thing added to the long list of nagging worries persisting in the back of my mind.

I released the tension in my body. All of those worries were things I would deal with as soon as the sun came up.

I ran my hand along Jemma’s arm, relishing the softness of her skin, anchoring myself in her presence. Because right now, I had only one priority.

Spending my wedding night making my wife feel as good as I possibly could and enjoying this comforting cocoon created around us—the smell of crisp, clean sheets mixed with her unique scent, and the warmth of her skin against mine.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Iwoke up to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, my body delightfully sore from last night’s activities. If this was a preview of how our marriage would be, I was very much looking forward to the rest of my life.

A smile crept onto my face. Vince and I had spent the whole night switching between tender touches, talking, and passionate lovemaking.

I touched the side next to me, but it was cold and empty.

I was not looking forward to waking up alone, though. After I got up and got dressed, I stared at the bed one last time. I couldn’t believe the things he’d said to me, the things he’d done. The way he could determine from my immediate reactions if I liked something or not. But most of all, I couldn’t believe what a perfect match we’d turned out to be.

At this rate, I needed to thank Dad for almost finding the perfect husband for me. I chuckled and let my eyes linger on the bed.

Holy shit. I was really looking forward to this world Vince wanted to introduce me to. Couldn’t wait to experience all those things we talked about. With him by my side, I could be bold—without feeling awkward or needing to force myself. With him holding my hand, there was nothing I didn’t want to try.

I shook my head—enough of this. Right now, I had to face the day. There were a lot of people in Vince’s house.

No, not Vince’s house—our house.

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