Page 11 of Cruel Redemption

Seven

Luka

I kept watching her. Stealing glances when I slowed the car. I tried to gauge if this was the shock talking, or the woman who ran the city talking. She knew I was doing it. She sensed the way my eyes analyzed her every movement. Her cues were dismissive. What did I expect? She had come face to face with the trauma that had terrorized her years ago. Amara wasn’t going to just stare at the blade. She was going to grab it and turn it back on the person who inflicted the pain. I had no fucking clue which family it was that she would go after, but they had to know what would happen next. They knew they had taken a gamble, trying to grab her off the street. It wasn’t going to pay off for them.

I turned into the front gate of the Amato compound and parked in the garage with her instructions. I tried to lift her from the car, but she was insistent that she could hobble through the hallways on her on. I shook my head. Within minutes we were inside the kitchen and Amara stormed through the house with a heavy limp. I followed closely and watched as she sat behind her desk.

“Aren’t you going to go pack?” I asked.

She rustled through papers in the drawer. “I have work to do.”

I folded my arms. “I didn’t agree to work. I agreed to letting you pack a bag and getting you out of here. Somewhere much safer. This is far too dangerous. I’ve told you, kotyonok.”

Her green eyes flared. “I’m going to find Enzo first. I’m not going into hiding.”

She was being stubborn. “We can do that at the same time as when you’re in a place where no one can find you.” I let my arms drop to my sides and edged closer to the desk. She had practically turned the entire thing inside out. “What are you looking for?” I asked.

“I know it’s here. It is. I put it here myself,” she muttered.

I placed my palm over the top of her hand. “Hey, just stop for a second.”

“No. I can’t stop.”

I pressed with firmness. The tops of her knuckles were cool. “Amara. Take a breath. You’re not in control like this.”

“What do you want me to do? Do you want me to give up? Just hide away with you somewhere and pretend this didn’t happen?” I wondered if that was what I truly wanted. I knew she was capable of many things, but that didn’t change the fact that now I was back and I was going to be the one to protect her.

“No. Of course not,” I answered. “I would never expect you to give up. On anything.”

My fingers drifted to her wrist. I lifted it in the air and made room so that I could wedge myself between her body and the desk. I didn’t want her to grow colder. I didn’t want her to drift away into the distance. I couldn’t watch her fade behind her walls and shields. This couldn’t be the thing that pulled her out of my reach. I wouldn’t let it happen.

“You’re freezing.” I softened my approach. I rubbed her hand between my fingers. She started to tug it from me, but I kept going. Her wrists, her arms, her shoulders. She was shivering. “You’ve done this by yourself for a long time. I know that. You’re not a rookie mobster’s daughter. I get it. You’re in charge of Enzo’s return. I’m not arguing with you about that, but I’m here now. And I’m going to take care of you. We’ll go after this family together. I’m here this time.”

Her body leaned into mine. I wrapped my arms around her. Her hands circled my neck. I didn’t know if she was desperate for the warmth or needed me. It didn’t matter. I wouldn’t let go until she was ready. I’d never let go.

* * *

Amara was in the shower. I assured her I wouldn’t leave her room.

Nik had arranged for Dochev to meet us at the compound. He left twenty minutes ago after sealing the bottom of Amara’s foot with liquid stitches that were waterproof. She had been hesitant at first to let him help her, but finally allowed him to treat the cut.

I hoped the shower would relax her.

With the door closed and one eye on her, I tapped Katya’s number on my phone. Fuck. I dreaded this.

“Hey.” She sounded happy.

“Can you talk? Privately,” I added. “No one can hear this. No one, Katya.”

“Hold on just a sec.” There were muffled voices in the background. “Okay, I’m back,” she announced. “I was talking to Andrey’s mother about dinner tonight.”

“Are you alone now?” I was worried her reaction would cause problems if anyone witnessed it.

“Yes. What’s wrong with you? You seem like you’re in a terrible mood.”

“Katya.” I inhaled. “There’s no good way to say this, but…are you sure no one can see you or hear you?”

“What the hell is it?” she demanded.

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