Page 66 of Kissed By Shadows

Thanks. Just keep an eye on Willow for me, and if anything happens, will you keep her under your protection? Iris too if need be?

My heart twinges when I think of all the things that can go wrong with our situation. The Russians are not to be easily dismissed, and we may have an ally in Nikolai, but he’s having to wait just like the rest of us. I fucking hate that we’re all at the whim of that bastard, Sergi, but I know that we’re not powerful enough to take on the Bratva. Not if we want to make it out of this alive.

The screen lights up seconds after I’ve hit send.

Kai Matthews

Of course, without question, they are both under our protection, whatever happens. Just keep us in the loop, and anything we can do, don’t hesitate.

Hunter

Appreciated, Kai.

I look up as we pull up outside the estate, Rich pulling the car to a stop alongside the entrance. I open my door, checking around before going to the back and opening the passenger door, Rowan getting out and looking around as well. Checking our surroundings is too ingrained for any of us to kick the habit, so I’m not offended that he checked as well.

Reaching inside, I hold out my hand, and Iris blinks for what must be the first time.

“Hunt?” Her voice sounds so small, so defeated, and I can’t fucking stand it. She needs her fight back, but for now, we will take care of her. Prove to her that we’ve got her and that we can take care of her.

“Let’s get you inside, Peaches,” I say softly, taking her hand in mine and helping her out of the car. Before she can say anything, I give into my caveman urges and sweep her into my arms, a purr of appreciation leaving my lips when her arms instantly wrap around my neck.

“I can walk, Hunt,” she murmurs but nuzzles into my chest, sending warmth spreading across my limbs.

“I know, doesn’t mean that you should,” I tell her, letting Rowan lead the way, the car door slamming behind us telling me that Roman is at my back. The two Shadows on duty—Karl and Sonny—give us a nod as we pass, and then we’re moving up the stairs, Iris snuggled into me the whole time.

My shoulders loosen when we enter the flat, something inside me easing the moment I step through the door. Keeping Iris in my arms, I step out of my boots, then head in the direction of my room, hearing the twins follow behind me.

Shouldering open the door, I place her on the end of my bed, then kneeling down in front of her, I take her cold face between my warm palms. Her skin is so soft, part of the reason for her nickname, and my thumbs brush over her cheeks in appreciation.

“Peaches?” I wait for her eyes to find mine, and the sadness and defeat guts me as effectively as a blade to the stomach. “I need to tell you something.”

I feel more than see the twins come up behind me, and I know that they will be a bit pissed that she’s my wife now. We’re all possessive bastards, but we can’t all be her husbands.

“What is it, Hunt? I’m not sure how much more I can take tonight,” she whispers, her hands limp in her lap, and I decide that if nothing else, maybe my news will give her some fire back, even if it’s just anger at me and what I’ve done without her explicit consent or knowledge.

“I got the message in the car. According to law, you are Mrs Iris Anderson, my wife. All the documents are with the right people,” I tell her, watching as her brows dip, and then her eyes widen as my words sink in.

“You fucker,” Roman hisses, and I growl a low warning as I feel him approach closer.

“It needed to be done to keep her safe, and it needed to be legit, so shut the fuck up,” I grit out, not taking my eyes from the woman in front of me, my wife, whose lips are parted, her cheeks flushed.

“How can I be your wife? We didn’t have a ceremony,” she finally asks, and I sigh.

“I swear to you one day we will have the biggest fucking wedding if that’s what you want, but for now, I needed it to be official. Sergi was already questioning it, and I will do any-fucking-thing to keep you safe, Peaches. Even if that pisses you off.”

I will her to understand. This need to protect her goes soul-deep. It started when she so selflessly helped my sister, my obsession with her planted like a seed, and it’s only grown into a full-blown strangling vine since she’s been with us, needed us, needed me.

“I— We’re married.” It’s not a question, and I can see her start to try and shut down again. Before I can lose her to her mind, I lurch up, slamming my lips onto hers, tangling my fingers in her soft hair.

She gasps, the sound going straight to my cock as I push her back until I’m lying between her beautiful thighs, my tongue invading her mouth and my body pressing her into my mattress.

“I’ve been watching you for months, Peaches, keeping you safe and all the monsters that wanted to gobble you up at bay,” I growl against her lips, pressing every inch of my hard body into her softness. “And I will keep doing that until they’re all dead and gone.”

I’m fucking livid that this is happening and that I didn’t see it coming. None of my sources told me her father was offering her up for sale to the highest bidder, to the fucking Russians. My vision flashes as rage at her sperm donor fills my veins like lava pouring from a volcano. If I ever meet him, he best run.

“Not all of them…” she whispers back, and I growl at the reminder of how I failed her. “Where were you when I needed you most? When my own fucking father sold me to the Russians?”

I rear back, her words like a slap to my face. My inner beast roars, the need to claim, to prove that I’m worthy of her overwhelming all reason.

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