Page 132 of Guarded

“Anything you want, Princess. I’ll give it to you.” He says.

I look at the people behind him, at Guapo, and back to the dress.

“Marry me. Right now. I love this dress. And I want this groom.” I say, staring into his eyes.

“I was hoping you’d say that.” A rare, all-consuming smile stretches across his face.

I let out a small yelp when he lifts me into his arms. Walking us to the clubhouse, his foot flies into the front door.

The men inside cheer as he carries me bridal style over the threshold. Nero shouts above the chaos, holding me tight into him.

“Any of you fuckers ordained? We’re having a wedding tonight!”

Chapter 39

Axel

“Where is Ariella?” I ask, my eyes cold on Thalia’s dark ones.

“Fuck you! I’m not her babysitter,” she replies.

I laugh in her face before slamming the door. An infuriating presence comes over me the longer I search for my little sister.

Only I’m not searching for Ariella. Not really. I’m looking for Yelizaveta Pashokov. I’d given her specific orders to wait for me in the sanctuary.

Aye, Lizita, Lizita.

Constantly challenging me. I move through the hallways on the hunt for her. Hunting brought out the predator in me, and right now, she was the prey.

I’m not the type of mother fucker to repress my impulses. Too many people have made their impressions of me over the years, allowing me the freedom to not give a fuck.

Nothing I say will change their minds.

Lack of emotions and some fragments of boredom are what led me here. Hating a woman whom I vowed to protect. I don’tdo protection. I do control. Kostya Pashokov wants her safe. This is how I’ll keep her safe.

Safe under my fucking thumb.

She was a fucking inconvenience to me.

An inexplicable itch surfaces, and I circle back to the other end of the church where Preston is preparing for the day. My feet fall flat when I hear a whimper from behind the door.

“One of you fucking said something,” Preston says from behind the door.

“I didn’t tell anyone.”I hear Liza cry out.

My blood boils beneath my skin at the image I’m about to walk into.

Tranquilito Axel.

Good leaders were calm leaders. I was far from calm, but I am a calculated son of a bitch. Patience right now can gain me some blackmail I can use against her later.

“Only two of you fucking recognized me! You and Rosie!” he yells.

“I swear it wasn’t me.” She cries.

“Then who the fuck was it? All Claudia’s houses were confiscated in the raid! Any fucking files she had incriminating me were destroyed!”

His screaming throws me over the edge. I shove into the room strapped, my gun pointed right at him.

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