Page 121 of Fall into Savagery

But Dmitriy and Konstantin were now a part of this legacy.

A pinching sensation filled my chest as I looked at them. Konstantin shifted on the bed a little and moved toward Dmitriy.

The weight on my shoulder magnified.

I would protect my family.

No matter the cost.

25

NIKOLAY

One day later,I was set to leave with Gabriel to Mexico.

We had men stationed around the building where the Cartel held their base, and as soon as we crossed the border from Mexico, we would be heading to the Cartel’s lair.

We were going to draw them out and kill everyone.

There would be no mercy in this battle.

Catalina stayed with me as I made sure I had everything ready for this little trip. I could feel her stares as I moved about in the room.

She stood at the threshold, not coming in any closer.

Not that I fucking blamed her.

This room probably held her trauma, and I fucking hated that it was even the case in the penthouse.

The place was supposed to be a fortress.

No one should have been able to get in or out.

And yet, Luca got the better of us.

I turned and looked at her.

Her brown eyes were glimmering.

I let out a small sigh and walked to her.

“Princess,” I said, wrapping my arms around her small body. She felt infinitely fragile to me then.

“How long will you be gone?” she asked softly.

“Just a few days, and then I will be back to annoy the crap out of you.”

She let out a snort, the sound thick with unshed tears, just as she buried her face in the crook of my neck. “You promise?”

I tightened my arms around her. “I promise.”

I pulled her back and cupped her cheeks with both hands, taking in her features. Those big brown eyes stared back at me with a world of trust.

Her eyes were the very first thing I noticed about her.

Walking into that gas station to look for the skittish little girl who had known nothing of the world was only the beginning of my life.

And the way she had looked at me as I protected her from the greasy-haired kid behind the counter …

---