Page 95 of Bound By Revenge

I let a small smile tug at my lips, pat his chest, and nod. “Good job.”

His amusement shifts as his gaze locks onto mine, darkening with an intensity that makes my breath catch. His fingers slide into my hair, gripping tight as he pulls me closer, fast and rough. “Kat…” he whispers, my name barely more than a breath.

I wrap my arms around his neck, closing the gap between us without hesitation. Our mouths crash together, and there’s no slow build-up—our tongues meet in a collision that’s all hunger and heat. He holds me tighter, pulling me against him like he can’t get close enough.

But when I push harder, desperate for more, he slows us down, pacing me deliberately, a reminder of his promise to wait. The restraint makes me want to scream.My frustration spikes, and I’m about to demand he forget whatever noble streak he’s clinging to when the universe intervenes.

“We’ve got company,” he murmurs, breaking the kiss as headlights cut through the dark driveway.

He sighs, holding me close for a beat longer, his forehead pressed to mine like he’s reluctant to let go. Then, with a deep breath, he steps back, his hand sliding into mine as we both turn toward the approaching car.

Chapter 37

Nik

“Relax,”I tell Kat, noticing how stiff she’s gone beside me. “It’s just Dmitri.”

Her sharp exhale cuts through the quiet, the tension in her shoulders easing just slightly. Something in my chest twists, sharp and heavy. I did this. I dragged her into my mess. I put her in danger.

Dmitri’s silver car pulls up in front of the empty house, his blacked-out windows hiding him from view. Doesn’t matter—I’d know that car anywhere. Vladmir must’ve done his part, shaken off McGuire’s men, and sent Dmitri.

I open the back door for Kat, gesturing for her to get in. She climbs in without a word.

“Let’s go,” I tell Dmitri as I climb into the front. He nods, pulling onto the road. His eyes dart between the mirrors, scanning for any sign of trouble.

“You two okay?” he asks, glancing briefly at us before returning his focus to the rearview.

I nod. Kat, though, just shrugs, her gaze fixed out the window. The faint glow from passing streetlights highlights her profile, but I can’t read her expression. She’s too still, too quiet.

Dmitri exhales, his grip on the wheel easing just a little. “All right. So, how are we doing this, Nik?”

“Doing what?” I ask, my attention splitting between him and Kat, trying to read her, trying to figure out what’s going through her mind. Is she scared? Regretting every second she’s spent with me? She hasn’t said a word since we got in the car, and the silence is killing me.

“Taking out McGuire,” Dmitri says like it should’ve been obvious.

With a frown, I glance at Dmitri, still keeping an eye on Kat through the corner of my eye.

Dmitri’s knuckles are white on the wheel, his pale blue eyes flicking from the mirrors to the road ahead, scanning every shadow and turn like the devil himself is on our tail. His blond hair is sticking up in every direction, and the flush across his face isn’t from the cool night air. He’s rattled, his usual calm nowhere to be found.

I rub a hand over my face, exhaustion crashing into me like a freight train. It’s not just the adrenaline wearing off—it’s the weight of it all. It’s all on me. I failed Kat. I failed to keep her safe. Failed to protect thebratva's interests, too. And now, looking at Dmitri, I know I’ve failed him too.

For all his confidence, he’s just so damn young. Too young for this mess. I never wanted him hardened like Maxim and me, forced to carry the weight of this life before we were ready. I kept him protected when the threats were smaller, but this? This is a disaster I should’ve never let him near.

“Dmitri,” I say, my voice low but firm, “McGuire isn’t your problem.”

His head snaps toward me, his knuckles white on the wheel. “What do you mean, he’s not my problem? He tried to kill you, Nik. You’re mypakhan. It’s my job to deal with him.”

“No, it’s mine,” I say, my tone sharper now. “I’ll handle him. You stay out of this. You'll be needed elsewhere, and I’m not ready to call war with the Irish just yet.”

Dmitri scoffs, the sound bitter. “That ship’s already sailed.”

“Maybe,” I admit, forcing myself to stay calm. “But if there’s even a chance to stop this from turning into a bloodbath, I have to take it. That’s my job—to protect all of us.”

He exhales sharply, the tension in his jaw visible, his frustration rolling off him in waves.

“Here’s an idea,” Dmitri says, his voice too casual for my liking. “Why don’t I drop you and Kat off at home, then circle back to take care of McGuire myself? Bet you anything it’s chaos at that damn beach house right now. I could sneak in, take him out, and be gone before anyone knows what hit them.”

I don’t even let him finish the thought. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth. Absolutely not.”

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