Page 23 of Claim

“Fuck it,” I mutter, breaking out after her.

It’s not a bad view watching her perky ass run from me. In fact, my cock is almost twitching at the sight. I catch up with her in no time. My arm circles her waist and I lift her up and press her hard against my chest, squeezing her tight. I quickly cover her mouth with my palm, stifling her scream before it can escape.

Her breathing is frantic. She wants to fight. I can feel her tense. But this clever little thing doesn’t struggle. Well, not yet anyway.

“I’m saving you. Now keep your mouth shut before you get us both killed. Can you do that for me?” I whisper harshly into her ear.

She nods slowly. I half expect her to bite me, but she doesn’t. I carefully remove my hand, my first test of trust with her.

“Who are you?” Her voice shakes.

“A toss up between your knight in shining armor and your worst nightmare. That’s all based on your choices, Princess.”

“Don’t fucking call me that.” She shivers against me.

Hmm.

I slide her slim frame down mine back onto her feet, then lace our fingers together. She turns to face me, glancing between my eyes and our interlocked hands. Did she feel that spark run up her veins too?

“We will talk in the car when it’s safe. Now, keep hold, and stay behind me. Got it?”

“Yes, big man,” she says, raising one eyebrow.

I squeeze her tight, not realizing my own strength. I need her to believe I’m not the bad guy, just to get us out of here. Then she can see the real Mikhail.

Or, the one I need her to believe exists.

I lead the way, staying close to the treeline, until I count five trees from the gate. Before I can turn left onto the gravel road leading to my car, I catch a glimpse of a man emerging from the double doors, bathed in the harsh glare of the security light.

I turn back to Anastasia and fix her with a steady, unwavering stare.

“Not a fucking word. Don’t even breathe.”

She sucks in a deep breath, dramatically puffing out her cheeks.

Fucking hell, this woman. Enzo didn’t warn me about the attitude that came with her. Although, as Jax’s sister, what did I expect?

Feeling the weight of danger, I guide her deeper into the treeline, forcing her against a massive tree trunk as I draw my gun from its holster. Ideally, I don’t wanna kill this guy. But Ivan thinks I’m dead and it has to stay that way.

You can get away with a lot when the world believes you're a ghost.

As I step back, the sound of a twig snapping under my boot echoes through the silent woods, making me flinch and close my eyes.

“Motherfucker,” I whisper.

The guard’s head whips up in our direction. Kill or be killed, that’s what my father always drilled into us.

“Be a statue again.” I remove my hand from hers, and in that split second when our eyes lock, I see her worry and I almost want to comfort her.

I take a position in front of her. I have a vest on, I can protect her. I move to the tree directly in front and wait, watching his every step as he creeps closer to us.

When he finally catches up to me, I act quickly, seizing the collar of his white shirt and fire three bullets into his forehead without hesitation. I feel his body go slack in my grip, and I let him fall to the ground with a soft thud.

But when I turn around, she’s gone.

I search frantically for Anastasia, my heart hammering in my chest.

She taps me on my right shoulder.

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