Page 145 of Bratva's Vow
God, I’d needed this. To see him with his guard down. To feel like I hadn’t ruined everything by telling him the last piece of truth I’d hidden from him..
At a red light, he stopped and glanced at me. “Why are you staring?”
“I’m not,” I said, deadpan. “Just surprised you haven’t crashed yet. You usually have nervous energy.”
“Please. I drive better than you.”
“I don’t drive.”
“Exactly.” He winked.
I shook my head, biting back a grin, but something in my chest expanded.
Ten minutes later, Wren turned off into a lot I didn’t recognize. A sign flashed past.
Shooting Range.
I frowned. “What are we doing here?”
Wren only smirked as he parked. “What do you think?”
He slid out of the car without waiting for me. I got out slower, cautious, not entirely sure what I was walking into. Sergei pulled up and joined us, raising a brow.
“What’s happening right now?” he asked.
I placed my hands akimbo. “Wren?”
Wren looked between us, then squared his shoulders. “I wanted to show you that I’ve been learning. That I’m not just going to stand back and let you fight everything alone.”
Sergei nodded slowly, approval glinting in his eyes. “You want to learn how to shoot?”
“I have been learning. Nik takes me and Jess after my classes end for the day.”
My hand twitched at my side, instinct warring with pride. “Whose idea was this? I don’t recall Nik running this by me.”
Wren grabbed my hand. “Because it was my idea, and I asked him not to tell you. I wanted it to be a secret in case I embarrassed myself and stank at it. But I’m not! I’m getting pretty good, actually.”
Frowning, I reversed his hold on me so now my fingers were wrapped around his. “But why? This isn’t who you are.”
“But it’s who I choose to be.”
The words landed in my chest like a small explosion. “Wren?—”
“No, listen to me, Maxim. I’m not the same guy you met in that coffee shop. I chose you, Maxim. So this is my life now. I don’t want you worrying every time I step outside. I want to learn how to protect myself. How to protectyouif I have to. You’re willing to bleed for me. Why can’t I do the same for you?”
“Dammit, Wren. Have you forgotten you’ve bled for me once already?” I tightened my grip on him. “I didn’t like it then, and I won’t ever want you facing off with someone who had a gun for me.”
“I’m sorry, Maxim, but you don’t get to control this. At least see what I can do before you get all stubborn.”
“He’s absolutely right, Maxim. Wouldn’t you want to know he can take care of himself if he has to?”
Fuck. I hated how much sense they made.
I looked back at Wren, really looked. He didn’t flinch. His stance was steady, voice calm. This wasn’t stubbornness. It wasn’t recklessness. It was resolve.
And still, fear prickled under my skin.
I was supposed to protect him. That was my job. My vow. If he was learning to fight, was it because he thought I wasn’t enough? That I’d failed him somehow?
