Page 43 of Fierce Vows

Long moments pass before the wooden door slowly starts to push open.My gaze stays locked, waiting for someone to burst out shooting but the shots never come.Instead, Noelle, the woman who cleaned me when I was held prisoner, stares up at me.A small crying child is cradled to her chest.

“Willow?”

I grin widely.“Told you I’d be back for revenge.”I hold out a hand for her to take, helping her to her feet.“Is this Hope?”

She nods, looking down at the little girl.One hand rubs soothing circles on her back.“Kirrill told me to watch over her.If I did my job well, I would be allowed to be her full-time caregiver and off limits to any men.”

I nod.“Come with me.”

“Where?There are men everywhere.”Her voice has gone up an octave and I know the thought of being caught trying to leave outweighs her need for freedom.

My new Russian friend steps forward.“Our people are taking care of the men.You will be safe with Willow.”

Her questioning gaze slams into mine.“Really?”

“My husband and the Bratva are working together to take out Kirrill,” I explain, squeezing her hand.“Before the end of this day, Kirrill will be dead and his empire will be nothing but ash.”

A small smile spreads across her lips as she nods and I lead her out of the room and toward our freedom.

Chapter Seventeen

Ash In My Veins

Rafe

Blood stains my handsas I stride through the mansion and try not to get shot.No strange, uniformed men assist me, and I remain unaccosted by suspicious potted plants.After killing the man whose life I came here to end I figure being taken out by a stray bullet will put a damper on my evening and transform my wife into a psychotic mess.

A smile spreads across my face at the thought of Willow turning rabid.She’s sexy as hell at the best of times and utterly fuckable when she’s pissed off.More so with a gun in her hand.Or a blade.My steps quicken at the thought.It’s been too long without her in my arms.

Suddenly the mansion is too big, too packed and too empty all at once.I round the next corner, my head full of what I’ll do to her pretty pair of tits when I catch her for wearing a set of gold manacles that don’t belong to me and run face first into a pair of nipples that definitely don’t belong toher.

I look up—and up—and keep looking up.

Right into the face of the biggest man I’ve ever met.

I know this because he’s wearing Kirrill’s mark and colors.I clear my throat as I step back to give his bare nipples the space required to return to reality.

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