Page 68 of The Bratva's Sold Bride

He took a deep breath, coughing as the smoke hit his lungs, but undeterred in his focus on me. “I’d do a lot for a friend in need,” he clarified. “Or even someone I was attracted to. And even though both of those things were true before our marriage, I wouldn’t do all this for a mere friend. Damn it, Olivia, I love you.”

I didn’t need the slight tightening of his hands on my shoulders or the intense heat in his eyes to understand he meant it. I could feel it radiating off of him and enveloping me. I tipped back my chin and closed my eyes, waiting for him to kiss me.

“The house,” he said, close to my mouth.

The heat, the crackling behind us. The house was still on fire.

“Oh my God, the jungle.” I jumped up, swaying on rubbery legs.

Dima grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the car. The windshield was cracked, and what looked like a piece of window frame was jammed into the back bumper. Dima ripped it away and tossed it before jumping into the driver’s seat. I slammed in next to him and he handed me his phone while revving the engine.

“Call the emergency number and anyone in town that’s in my contacts and alert them,” he said. “We’ve got to get help up here before the whole mountain is on fire.”

We sped toward town at a rate that had me clinging to my seatbelt, but nothing could scare me now that Dima loved me.

Or could it? He still didn’t know the whole truth. I’d not only gone willingly with Rurik’s sister, but I’d been manipulating her into believing the worst about him when I still thought she was Zoey. The whole thing was my stupid plan, and it had risked not just my own life but also that of his and Ivan’s.

“You shouldn’t have rushed in there not knowing how many people he had with him,” I said, on the verge of crying again. I could have lost him if Rurik’s men were quicker on the draw. I could still lose him when he knew everything. “I didn’t even know those guys were in the next room.”

“I’m sure you would have warned me sooner if you did,” he said, keeping his eyes straight ahead.

Was he sure? Or was he already suspecting me? He’d asked if I had been trying to run right before the house exploded. Right as we hit the outskirts of town, an old fire engine sped past us, followed by several trucks loaded down with water tanks and equipment.

Dima and I both sagged with relief at the sight. I hoped they weren’t too late to keep the fire from damaging too many trees, but I had already given up on anything being left of thehouse. It hardly mattered where we lived if we stayed together. If he decided my betrayal was too much for him, it didn’t matter at all.

“Are we going to follow them back?” I asked as he continued on into town.

He shook his head. “We’ll just be in the way. Let the experts do their job. You look worn out.”

The last bit of adrenaline drained out of me, and I let my head hit the back of the seat, closing my eyes and trying not to think at all. A few minutes later, the car stopped. He had pulled into the courtyard of the tiny motel that Ivan was staying at. I followed Dima in as he asked if there was space for us. News had already spread about the fire, and the kind owner had prepared the very last available room for us, apologizing for the small size.

“You should have the best suite, but there’s a festival this weekend and for once I am full. I could kick your brother out?”

Dima laughed. “We’re grateful for anything you’ve got. And even though I don’t think Ivan will need his room for a little while, I doubt he’d want all his belongings on the sidewalk, either.”

I was surprised and pleased through my fog of exhaustion that I understood almost everything Dima and the innkeeper said. My Spanish had improved by leaps and bounds in the time I’d been cramming in order to escape. Was I so happy about it because now I wanted to stay here?

If only…

Outside the room, Dima paused before putting the key in the lock. He placed his hands gently on my shoulders and leaned down so his face was an inch from mine.

“Dima,” I said, uncertain. “I do love you.” He had to believe that, if nothing else. But would it be enough? “I—”

He stopped me with a kiss so tender my heart ached. I wanted more of this, and I wanted it forever. My hands slid up his chest to clasp behind his neck, dragging him closer.

“We’ll talk later. Right now, I need to make sure you’re all right after everything.”

“Me?” I yelped, stepping back to point out the various marks on his arms and face. “What about you? I’m only okay because you jumped on me and took the brunt of the debris.”

“That’s my job, isn’t it? Keeping you safe?”

“Is it just a job?” I asked, my stomach twisting in a knot.

His hand snaked behind my head to grip the back of my neck and pull me close again. “If this is a perk.”

His mouth was on mine, and this time, his kiss was ravenous. I stepped closer, digging my fingers into his shirt, parting my lips, and sighing as his tongue met mine. We were still outside our room, and I ran my hand down his arm to tug on the key.

With a soft chuckle, he broke away to unlock the door so that we could tumble in and continue what we started. He was right. Talk later. I wanted him at least once more. I could ignore the fact it might be the last.

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