Page 132 of Savage Promises

I’m going to be sick at the idea she’s alone. But when I’m thrown down to the floor in my office, his men guarding the door, I should be more worried about myself.

“Open safe.” The man who called me fat reveals his face.

Albanian... But this is not the man who Garrett brought to Club Echelon months ago. This man is ten times more terrifying.

And this is about money. Those fucking locusts.

“There’s not much in there. I assure you. Who are you?” I feel like I need a name. Something.

“That iskyre. Our king,” a henchman at the door snarls.

“Eitheryouopen your safe, or I kill you andIopen it,” thekyresays calmly, his lips curling in a slow, malicious grin.

I lift my chin, my voice hoarse from screaming at the carnage I witnessed. “Then won’t you look stupid for doing all this damage fornothing? In front of your men.”

Living my whole life around the mafia made me an expert on these guys.

Knocking the tip of the gun against my head, he says, “You don’t fear death? I like that. Maybe you’ll fear something worse.” He unbuckles his belt, his fingers moving to undo his pants. “I think my men will respect me plenty when I’m fucking you on the floor.”

Bile rises in my throat, but I don’t flinch.

“And after I’m done with you, my men will fuck your friend out there.” He grabs my blouse.

“Stop!” I kick.

“Hang on,kyre,” one of the henchmen says, reading the name on my office door. “Did you see this? This says her last name is Quinlan.”

“Quinlan,” my would-be rapist screeches, fury in his cold eyes. “That damn empire forced us to burn our armory. Maybe I’ll slit your throat first and fuck you while you bleed out as a punishment to the Quinlans. Which one of those dirty bastards is your husband?”

I hesitate. The memory of Shane on his knees and me walking away is a nightmare I’ve had every night for a week. His voice fading. Me blind, reaching for him. Not being able to find him.

Now I have to give him up? But he wouldneverhide behind me or expect me to sacrifice myself for him.

“ShaneQuinlan is my...my husband.” I crawl away from thekyre, my nails ready to scratch his eyes out. “And I’m pregnant, you bastard.”

The words ring out like a gunshot and thekyrescoffs. “So what? Even better.”

“You’re a disgusting piece of shit.” I lunge to punch him in the balls, hoping to incapacitate him so I can run for the private bathroom and escape out the window.

This isn’t his first assault. He must have been prepared for me to strike back and sidesteps my fist. The crack of his palm against my cheek knocks me backward. My vision swims, my ears ring, and the taste of blood fills my mouth. I clutch my stomach, gasping, worrying about my baby.

“I like my women bruised and broken.” Thekyregrabs my hair and starts to drag me to the sofa.

Oh God, oh God.

But the door to my office flies off in a controlled explosion that knocks out my hearing as the room fills with smoke. The walls rattle, but through the thick haze, rich with the sharp tang of gunpowder and scorched wood, twin assassins carrying assault rifles unleash a tight hail of bullets.

The two Albanian henchmen manning the entranceare ripped to shreds in front of my eyes.

Shielded by my body, thekyretenses. He grips my throat, tightening his hold to the point of cutting off my air.

When the smoke clears, the assassins part. Shane steps inside dressed in tactical gear, his weapon raised, eyes blazing with unfiltered rage.

“That’smy wifeyou’ve got your hands on, Berisha,” he says to thekyre, his voice low and deadly.

Before thekyrecan raise his gun, Shane pulls the trigger. Again and again with a precision that astounds me since the creep was practically using me as a human shield.

The Albanian drops in a thud, blood quickly pooling around his head and back.

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