Page 49 of Dark Christmas

I look up at him, refusing to back down. “No euphemisms, Melor. Be straight with me.”

His eyes lock onto mine, fire burning behind those dark pools. “If I have to kill them to protect you, I’ll do it. Without hesitation. Without even raising my heart rate.”

He says it as if he’s discussing something as simple as what to have for dinner. It’s chilling, and I believe him. Completely. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s telling the truth. The way he says it, so matter-of-factly, makes my stomach flip. I know this is his reality, but it isn’t mine.

I swallow hard, “Okay.”

Melor wipes away my tears then asks, “Is there anything I can do for you?”

I shake my head because, honestly, I have no clue how to answer that. “No,” I mumble.

He kisses me on the cheek, his lips lingering just a second longer than usual. “I’ll be in my office making some calls if you need me. Don’t hesitate.”

Part of me wants to grab his arm and tell him not to leave me alone but I let him go. I need a minute to wrap my head around what happened tonight.

As soon as he’s out of sight my mind starts spiraling. I want to keep the baby, but can I really bring a child into Melor’s world? The constant danger, the uncertainty; he says he’s out of the Bratva, but is that something that anyone can ever truly be free from?

I drag myself out of the chair, thinking maybe I need to eat something, but the thought of food makes my stomach twist even more. I’m still queasy and tonight’s events didn’t help any.

I head upstairs to the bathroom on the third floor, figuring a bath might calm me down a bit.

I pull off my shirt and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My eyes go straight to my belly.

I know deep in my bones that the test was correct.

Turning on the hot water, I let the tub fill up, the steam curling around me. I strip off the rest of my clothes and slip into the water, sighing as the heat sinks into my skin. I keep telling myself to relax, to breathe, but it’s almost impossible. Everything feels so heavy right now.

It’s hard not to think about the fact that, before this is all over, someone could end up dead. That’s just how things go in Melor’s world. He’s made that clear.

And now, I’m stuck in the middle of it with a tiny new life to protect.

Chapter 25

Melor

I’m furious with myself.

I can hear the tub running upstairs, the faint sound of water letting me know she’s up there, trying to find some peace.

All I can think about is how badly I’ve fucked this up.

I’ve dragged her into this mess when all I ever wanted was to leave that life behind. Not only has it returned, but it’s pulling her down with it—the first woman I’ve cared about in a very long time. Hell, if I’m being honest with myself, she could be theonlywoman I’ve ever felt this way about.

And now I don’t know what the fuck to do.

I want to protect her. More than that—Ineedto. I care for her more than I imagined possible after such a short time. She’s wrapped herself around my life in a way that goes beyond physical, deeper into a part of me I didn’t even know existed. I can no longer imagine my life, or this house, without her in it.

I won’t lose her. Not to them. Not like this.

I’ll kill anyone who tries.

I’m almost certain that the pair who followed us earlier were the remaining brother and whomever else he’s roped into this mess. Both of them have to die. There’s no other way. But it’s not going to be simple. It will take careful planning and precision, and I’ll need help. More than what Mashkov can provide from across an ocean.

A name surfaces in my mind. One from my past. One I swore I’d never say aloud again.

Sasha.

He lives north of the city on a posh estate in Sausalito he bought with his Bratva nest egg. Sasha is perhaps the only man I ever considered a real friend, but our past is dark. We’ve killed together. We’ve buried secrets and bodies alike. Reaching out to him means acknowledging that my old life isn’t just knocking on the door—it’s kicked it down and marched right in.

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