Page 54 of Unleashed

I felt helpless then, and I feel helpless now. Hell, it’s half the reason I’m so fucking hard on all of them. She’s not wrong—the thought of losing everyone I love petrifies me.

Damn it.I’ve done this to myself. Every instinct in me screams to stay distant, to harden myself against anything even close to feelings. She’s not my lawful wife but someone I forced into a fake union to suit me and to punishher.

But then the other part of reason kicks in.She’s my wife now.My wife. The word feels heavier, more significant than any otherin my life. It’s not like my siblings or my family. I love them with all of my heart, butwife…

Flesh of my flesh.

I’m not a religious man, but there’s something sacred to the ritual of marriage, to our bond.

I tell myself to keep my distance, but when she looks at me the way she’s looking now, like I’m her savior, and no one else in the world can protect her like I can. That look…

She lifts her small, blood-streaked, trembling hand to my face and brushes her thumb along my jaw. “You’re cut, Rafail,” she whispers, her voice soft with concern. “Are you alright? Let me doctor you up. Please.”

"I'm fine." I stand, holding her behind me. “It’s just a scratch.”

The car that barreled toward us is now a twisted wreck, its occupants either dead or captured. My team saw to that. Who were they? Does it matter at this point? Stupid fucking rivals.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out. My eyes scan the phone three times before I actually read the message because I know. It's only a matter of time before enemies regroup. They strike again. They always do. But now, so much more is at stake.

So much more.

I can still hear the screech of tires and her scream when she was hit. I don't ever want to experience that again.

This was not supposed to happen. I'm supposed to keep her away from everyone. Keep her away from the world. Safe.

Safe from everyone… evenme.

But now that she's here, she's in greater danger than ever.

"I should have kept you in the house," I say, my hands gripping her as tightly as I can without hurting her.

"I'm fine,” she insists. “You can't exactly keep me in a bubble, no matter how much you wish that you could."

“I can fucking try,” I insist, which makes her clam up.

I remember what the doctor said.

Her hands tremble slightly, and it annoys me. She needs to be safe. She needs to be protected. She'smine.

And for a moment, I allow myself this weakness and pull her close to me. I cup the back of her head with one hand and her slender body with the other.

"Are you sure that you're not hurt?" I ask, my voice harder than I intended as my gaze roves over her, probing, seeking any sign of distress or injury. She shakes her head, her eyes still wide and stunned.

"Rafail, I'm fine. Let's get you to safety too."

I almost laugh.Fine.

Nothing about this situation is fine, and I damn well know she's not fine. She's trying to piece together a life she doesn't remember, and as her memory returns, the threat of her realizing that she ran from me—not her husband, but from the man who was supposed to marry her—looms. What is she going to do when she remembers that? How long can I keep her with me? No. I need to find a better way.

"Let’s get you inside."

She stares at me as if searching my face for answers I don't have. Her voice is small and shaky.

"Who was it? And why were they shooting at us?"

"I have enemies.” I blow out a breath. “So do you. They don’t want us to be married. We’ll look into it and have swift retribution."

Pushing herself to standing on wobbly feet, she looks at the simmering remains of the car. “If there’s anyone left after that.” I don't offer more, and she doesn't press. Not this time, anyway.

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