Page 64 of Shielded Secrets

I nodded, staring at my strong Mafia man, knowing my husband would always do as he promised. This brave fighter would never neglect me or leave me. He had shown me over and over how worthy I was. Of his love, of his protection.

Even though I haven’t told him my secret.

Threatened by how close the truth had come to the surface, I went to him and needed the comfort of his arms around me. Without a word, he accepted me and gathered me close. He sighed, embracing me and setting his chin on the top of my head.

As I closed my eyes, I prayed to whatever god that might be listening that I would never lose his love.

I don’t think I can survive without it.

28

RURIK

“Let’s go home,” I told Kelly.

Vik sighed and nodded. “Go on. I’ll manage it from here.” He frowned at her. “I’m sorry you were hurt.”

“I wasn’t.” She inspected her hands. Her palms looked a little red. “Not really. They didn’t do anything to me, but it sounds like they wanted to capture me to tell them family secrets.”

Vik huffed. “What’s new?” he muttered dryly. “All this fucking spying. It gets old after a while.”

“Missing the relaxing responsibilities of managing the whorehouses yet?” I teased.

Kelly gasped. “What?”

“Never mind that,” Vik quipped dryly.

I watched Kelly furrow her brow, amazed again that she wasn’t bothered by the fact that two dead men lay at our feet. She had definitely been exposed to murders before, and I hated that she’d had to have been hardened like that too early in life. Then again, I was glad that she had this exposure. It likened her tome more, such that I didn’t have to worry about her being too delicate to handle the hardships and extremes of the Mafia life.

“Eric was interested in getting intel on the Baranovs,” she said. “I tried to stop him from leaving, but—Oh!” She pulled her phone from her pocket. “I started recording it.”

I kissed her cheek as I released her from my hug. “Good girl.”

“I just wanted to make sure I could help.” She looked at me quickly as she ended the recording. “To helpyou. Not them.”

I smiled slightly. “I know, Kelly. We know.” I couldn’t help but kiss her again as I took her hand and began to guide her out of the room. “I know you’ll be loyal.”

Despite whatever secret you’re hiding.

After thanking Vik for handling this mess, I walked her out of the building and escorted her back across the campus toward the parking lot where my car was waiting for us.

She talked the entire way, filling me in about all that happened since she was taken. It wasn’t that long of a time. She was only moved across the campus square to that damn building, but it still felt like so long. On the drive, she continued to ramble, almost as if she had to vent and get it all out.

When we got home, though, I was overcome with relief and the need to have her, to reconnect and feel her as proof that she was mine and she was with me.

I took her into the bathroom, intending to clean her hands, but she stopped me, washingmyhands instead.

“Let me help you,” she said, kissing me and leading me toward the shower.

We undressed quickly, and the moment we were naked, I lifted her into my arms and carried her into the stall. Steam rose and curled around us, warming our chilled flesh. Before either of us could attempt to soap up or clean each other at all, she was rubbing against me and eager to take me in.

“Turn around,” I told her as I lowered her to stand.

Now that I knew how wild she could be about a little anal play, I was excited to see how far she would want to be pushed. If she’d ever let me fuck her there.

Not today.

But someday.

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