Page 96 of Fall into Savagery

I frowned. “For what?”

“For being the strong one when Damien was taken. For keeping it together for Nikolay and me, and for being there and letting me lean on you when I needed it the most.”

“You could always lean on me,” I said gruffly. And how true that was. I would stand strong against the viciousness of life for her. Shield her from the strongest of storms. Kill off the most savage of men. I took a deep breath and took in her big brown eyes. “I’m sorry I asked you to stay strong back at your father’s house.”

“You were right to do so. I would have fallen apart.”

“And I should have been strong enough to put you back together.”

She shot me a bemused smile and shook her head. “At the time when all felt so lost? I can handle the weight, Mikhail.”

“But the result is you falling down because the weight becomes unbearable.”

“Then I’ll fall down. I’m luckier than most people. I have three fiercely protective men to catch me. Let me handle some of your weight, Mikhail. You don’t always have to endure it all.”

I shook my head and grabbed her hand, playing with her fingers. “I would endure a thousand deaths just to ensure your happiness.”

“Then I hope you never have to, because your happiness and safety are my happiness.”

I laughed. “When did you start getting so sweet?”

She pulled away from me and crossed her arms over her chest. “Hey. I am always sweet.”

I looked at her with heated eyes. She took half a step back before she thought better of it.

“You’re right,” I said, cupping her shoulder. Then I bent down and licked her cheek. She let out a small squeal and tried to pull away from me. I held on. “Fucking sweet and delicious.”

She wiped her cheek and glared up at me. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

I only grinned at her. She rolled her eyes at me again.

“Careful, love. You keep rolling your eyes at me, and your face might stay stuck like that.”

She muttered something under her breath that I didn’t hear, but judging by her disgruntled look, I guessed it wasn’t anything good.

I laughed again, and like almost every time I did it, she looked at me with this soft look in her eyes that I couldn’t get enough of.

I grabbed her hand and led her along to a public bench nearby. We sat down, and I pulled her closer to me. She rested her head on my shoulder.

A peaceful day.

This was turning out to be perfect.

I couldn’t think of anything else I’d much rather be doing now.

“Mikhail?”

“Yeah, love?”

She hesitated, but only for half a second. “What do you guys do exactly? I have never really asked that.”

I paused, trying to figure out exactly what she wanted to know the answer to. “We own various businesses across the eastern and northern part of the U.S. They are tax-paying businesses that help keep the Feds off our backs, and we also own various drug and arms deals businesses. Mostly drugs, though.”

I grabbed her hand and glided my thumb over the back of it.

“Not people?” she asked quietly. She cleared her throat. “Or sex?”

Ah.

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