Page 103 of Untamed

She closes her eyes, and two fat tears roll down her cheeks.

I won’t let this happen.

I reach for her.

She pushes me away.

“You don’t understand. Shawn doesn’t stop. He doesn’t… doesn’tbreak.”

I pull her to me, this time not taking no for an answer. She breaks into a sob. “He could never let me have anything good or normal or healthy.”

I can’t help but smirk at her. The situation is fraught; she’s a mess, my brother’s pissed, and I have no idea how I’m going to get out of this situation, but I can’t always take shit so seriously.

“So you take it all back? Marrying me is good and normal and healthy.” I nod as if proud. “Honored, babe.”

“Rodion.”

I sober and pull her to me. I kiss her forehead fiercely and pull her into a hug. “I’m teasing, baby. I’ve got this. You said he doesn’t break?” I hold her out in front of me and tip my finger under her chin, meeting her gaze. “Doesn’t back down?Neither do I.”

Chapter 23

EMBER

I’d giveanything to go back to the safety of one of my books right now. Back to where there are always happily ever afters, and the bad guys never win…unlessthey’re the bad guy you fall in love with.

Like me.

Because right now, I’m in the back of an armored car next to my soon-to-be husband, forced into a marriage he tells me is temporary when I know better, fleeing from the vindictive son of a bitch I’ve spent years trying to escape.

In the books? This is an easy one. My Bratva hottie saunters in, impervious to the laws and consequences. He defeats the bad guy and claims me as his own; we suspend disbelief, and there’s no legal fallout. Maybe I have his babies, and somehow, our two extremely different lives meld into a happily ever after.

But this is nothing like that. Right now, my nerves are so raw I’m nauseous. Rodion’s anything but romantic as he curses inRussian and gives me short, cryptic answers, as he’s glued to his phone.

Right now, we’re hurtling toward ourwedding day.

I want to keep my mind in the present, to ground myself in the reality of what’s tangible and real.

I’m safe.

We’re getting married.

We will make this work.

He loves me.

Loves me? I feel like I’m saying one of those affirmations they tell you to say as if sayingI’m beautiful, I’m rich, I’m perfect,will somehow make it so. But there’s a disconnect between the words and reality.

Loves me?

How do you really, truly know someone does?

“Here we are.” Rodion doesn’t look at me, his jaw clenched as he stares out the window. I want to reach for him. I want to bring him back to me. I want to see that passion in his eyes I saw last night. I’d give anything for that smirk right now.

But instead, I see nothing but the cold, impassive face of the Bratva. My future husband.

“Here we are,” I echo. I sigh and look away.

The Romanov estate stretches out into the sunset as if it’s carved straight from the earth—unyielding and imposing, as old as sin. With the brief conversation I had with Yana and Zoya lastnight, I gathered the Romanovs practically own everything in The Cove here in New York, nestled between Coney Island and Manhattan.

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