Page 96 of Dirty Damage

She blinks up at me, hurt flashing across her face before she turns to the window. “Right. The contract.”

I take her hand and she shifts her eyes to mine reluctantly. I can’t give her the assurances she wants.

I can’t promise to be a good husband.

I can’t promise to love her unconditionally.

I can’t promise to give her the fairy tale ending that she so clearly wants.

But I can give her this.

“I’ll protect you,” I promise. “You and our child.”

Her blue eyes are soft and for a moment, in the shadowy light, I think I see tears. Then she blinks and her eyes are clear once more. “Your life must be dangerous. If you need to protect me, then it means there are things and people to protect me from.”

“Technically, yes. But you don’t need to worry about that right now. I have things under control.”

Before I can even get the words out, the limo screeches to a half. Uri curses in the front seat and I throw an arm out to keep Sutton from falling forward.

“What was that?” she shrieks.

I catch Uri’s panicked eyes in the rearview mirror just before an engine revs.

I turn to the window to see a dozen motorcycles surrounding our car. The riders are dressed in black, faces hidden behind masks.

I just told her I had things under control.

Looks like I spoke too soon.

27

SUTTON

“Get down.”

My heart is hammering in my chest, but the rest of me is frozen. I’ve never heard Oleg’s voice this cold, this deadly.

The command reverberates through the limo, bouncing off bulletproof glass and hitting me square in the chest.

Through the tinted windows, dark figures materialize on motorcycles like demons emerging from the shadows. Their faces are hidden behind black helmets and masks, but their intent is clear in the way they flank our vehicle.

Predators circling prey.

“Wh-what’s going on?” My voice trembles, betraying the fear I’m trying desperately to contain.

Oleg doesn’t answer immediately. His jaw clenches, muscle ticking beneath scarred skin as he reaches under his seat. The motion is fluid, practiced. He’s done this before.

“I’ll let you know as soon as I do.” Steel threads through his words. “For now,get down.”

I should move. Should drop to the floor like he ordered.

But I’m transfixed by the transformation happening beside me.

Gone is the man who held my hand at tonight’s party, who whispered filthy promises in my ear during the first course.

In his place sits the Beast of Palm Beach.

I get why they call him that now.

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