Page 15 of Lenkov

“And yet you’d begrudge me my right to choose what I want?” Lenkov’s fists are balled, and the tips of his ears have gone red. “Who told you they were here?”

“I noticed a pattern, and I paid attention. It wasn’t hard.”

“You spied?” Lenkov snarls like a wild animal.

“You broke the rule. You got sloppy and predictable. I’m not the one who set the alarm bells off.”

“What are you talking about?” Lenkov’s dark brows dip toward one another.

“We protect what we care about. Drawing attention to these two was careless. Weakness makes you both vulnerable to attack.”

“Who was nosing around?”

“Kathy Bronner.”

“Shit.”

I look back and forth between the two men like I’m caught in a tennis match. “Who is that?”An ex who can’t let go?

“Someone hell-bent on ruining us,” Lenkov mutters. “Are you sure, Vas?”

“She’s been spotted lurking around enough times to rule out coincidence,” Vas admits.

“Why is she targeting you?” It sounds personal.

The brothers exchange a look. Rising, I stand up and step in front of Lenkov.

I shove his chest. “How is this a better life? We have to worry about attacks?”

“I will handle it.” He snatches my hands up, gripping my wrists tightly between his.

I wince and pull back, but he tightens his hold. Seething, I grit my teeth. “If you let us be, you wouldn’t have to.”

“Don’t push me.” His voice drops an octave.

“Or what?” I snicker. “How can you make life any worse than you already have?”

A blur, he moves lighting fast, lifting me into his arms and over his shoulder. His hand comes down on my ass with a resounding crack. My jaw drops, I shudder, stunned by how good the sensation feels. Heat blooms between my thighs and in my belly. Shame rolls through me. I jerk away, trying to escape the swirling sensation in my gut. I buck against him, and he clamps his arm around my legs, pinning them to his body.

“Both-of-us-were-in-the-wrong.”

A blow that weakens my resolve and reveals the soft underbelly of anxiety, stress, and anger accompanies every word. My wall cracks, and tears leak from my eyes as I implode, coming to terms with everything that’s happened in a forty-eight-hour period. I return to the present, partially aware of the hand caressing my stinging ass cheeks, soothing the burn.

“I’m here now, Rylee. Hate me. Fight me. Hit me. I won’t be going anywhere.”

I fought so hard for so long. Is this truly an end to the struggle, or a manacle disguised as an olive branch?I’m afraid to dream of more or trust a man who holds all the cards. Oursecretis in danger of being revealed to the public, and I have no choice but to prepare.

“You’ll give Vas your DNA and our sons for insurance purposes. Then we will never bring it up again. Do you understand me, Vas?” His dark tone drags me from the strange, floaty place I’d been drifting in.

I glance around him to see his brother’s stunned expression.

“My family is my business. You don’t get to tell me shit about them. Watch your fucking mouth. You may be my blood, but so are they. I will defend them with the same venom you do your own.” The claim is a shackle and a flaming sword of protection.

“Are you going to set her down so I can swab her?” Vas asks, arching an eyebrow.

“No—ow.” I pinch his ass and he startles.

“I can stand.” I swipe my eyes with the back of my hand.

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