by Brook Wilder
She holds my face in her hands then kisses me fiercely. I hug her as close as I can with one arm, never wanting to let go. She brushes against my wound and I wince.
“You’re hurt?” She tugs up my shirt before I can do anything. “Jesus, Danya, were you shot?”
“It’s a long story. Can we talk inside?”
She worries at her bottom lip until I tilt her chin up so I can stare into those green eyes. “They wouldn’t tell me a damn thing. Just said they were waiting for word and then you, you never said you were coming back. I thought …” She gulps, then continues in a whisper, “I thought I was never going to see you again.”
I kiss the top of her head then motion to the cabin. “I’ll tell you everything once we’re inside. I need to sit down before I fall over.”
She scowls at me, then puts my arm over her shoulders and helps me limp my way toward the front porch. Lukas holds the door open for us but remains outside with the rest of the men. Stella helps me sit on the couch, then takes the seat next to me. Her eyes continually go to my wound until I take her hands and give them a squeeze.
“I’m going to live.”
“Promise?”
I hesitate, and her brow furrows with worry, then anger. I wait for her to smack me, but she merely squeezes my hands tighter. “A lot has changed in the last few hours. The amount of blood spilled alone is troublesome. There’s a traitor, and I’m not sure who we can trust anymore.”
“The families?”
“No definite news yet, but war’s coming. Mikhail’s dead.”
An array of emotions passes through her eyes. “I’m sorry, Danya.”
I’m about to say I’m not, but a slight pang of grief begins to bloom in my chest. It’s immediately followed by red-hot rage knowing someone had the gall to murder Mikhail in his own home and nearly took me out too as if I was nothing. I swallow hard, reminding myself there will be a time for vengeance.
“I don’t know what the next few days will bring,” I tell her quietly, “but whatever happens, I want you to be with me not because of some arranged marriage but because you want to be. I have loved you for years, Stella. I never stopped. I swear I will do all I can to give you the life you deserve. Be my wife? I don’t think I can do this without you.”
“I’m not that strong.”
“You’re a hell of a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for. I need you, Stella. Without you, I’ll be lost in this world of blood.”
I hold my breath and count off the seconds in my head until she finally leans in and kisses me. “I’m yours, Danya. I’ll always be yours.”
I pull her in close and we sit on the couch side by side. Listening to her steady breathing and feeling the beating of her heart is a comfort I know I won’t gain from anything else in this world. I just pray Stella is strong enough to deal with the man I might have to become to make our world right again. I’ve flirted with that darkness in me several times before.
Now, I might have to cross a line that there’s no coming back from.
Chapter 23
Stella
The first morning rays of the sun fall across the bed and the man lying beside me. Danya’s sleeping soundly as he has been all night. We didn’t talk much after he filled me in on what happened with Mikhail. We just sat and held each other. There was no talk about the future, or what his next move would be.
It was like time stood still just for us in this tiny corner of the world. With the light of a new morning, the moment is shattered. We can’t stay here forever, no matter how much either of us wants that. His family will come looking for him eventually.
After I kiss him on the cheek, I slip from the bed and pad into the kitchen to make coffee. A quick peek out the front windows shows me all five men are still outside keeping watch. It’s a comfort, really, since there’s a traitor in the Ivanov family. Danya seems convinced it’s not his uncle Vlad. An icy shiver races down my spine, thinking of his brothers coming after me. Hell, I’m not even sure anyone will welcome me anymore after what my father tried to do. Danya said we’d face each hurdle when we came to it and no sooner.
Too bad our lives are never that simple.
As I rummage through the cabinets looking for coffee grounds, I knock an envelope to the floor that was sitting on the edge of the counter. When Lukas dropped me off the other night, I went straight to the bedroom, slammed the door, and clutched a pillow until my fingers went numb. I didn’t eat or drink anything at all, too worried about hearing news of Danya’s death. The loss of Mom hit me hard, too. I frown as I pick the envelope up and see my name written on it.
The handwriting is Danya’s.
Confused, I open the envelope and pull out a letter also written in his hand. I start to read it, and tears burn in my eyes. I fumble behind me for a kitchen chair and sink into it. Each word burns into my mind, words of his love for me and how he wants me to move on. He left instructions with Lukas to see me as far as I want to go to get out of this life for good.
And I’d never see him again. Ever. He would let me be to keep me safe.
When I read the last line telling me I’m his heart from now until forever, I clutch the letter to my chest and shake my head. Why would he write this and leave it here?
“I told myself if you had to come here, I wouldn’t see you again,” Danya says, and I whirl around to find him standing just a few feet away. “I swore I’d give you a chance at a normal life. A better life. If you still want to go, I’ll keep my word.”
“No,” I exclaim and rush toward him. “No, you hear me? I know this life is shit and crazy and damn dangerous, but you and I were forced apart once. I will not leave you when you need me most, Danya Ivanov, do you hear me? I won’t do it.”
His thumb gently brushes against my cheek as he shakes his head. “And if I turn out not to be the man you think I am?”
I catch his hand and kiss his palm then stand on my toes so I can do the same to his lips. “I know who you are, I always have. I won’t let you forget. I’m your wife, and you are my husband. Whatever happens next, we’ll face it together because we’re stronger together.”
He smiles, but it’s sad. “I always dreamt of being with you and having a family, but now … now the idea of you in danger is enough to make me crazy.”
“Then no kids,” I tell him. “We worry only about us. If we make it out alive, then we can worry about a family. Deal?”
He kisses me in answer, and I sink into him until he grimaces, letting out a stream of rough curses in Russian. “I hate being shot.”
“How many times have you been shot?”
“Three at last count.” There’s a knock at the door and he shoves me behind him until Lukas announces himself. “Come in.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but Nadia is calling for you,” Lukas tells him.
“Tell her I’m busy.”
Lukas’ gaze slips to me long enough for me to know exactly what else Nadia must be bitching about. “She wants me to tell you quite a list of things, but most importantly, that you are required to be at the mansion in two days. They’re going to read Mikhail’s will. All family members must be present.”
“Then we have two days before we need to worry. Thank you, Lukas.”
Lukas nods, winks at me, then exits the cabin.
Danya smiles wickedly as he turns back to me.
“You are hurt,” I remind him as he kisses my cheek, then trails down my neck. “Shot, remember?”
“I’ll live.”
“Danya.”
“Two days, Stella. I’m not about to waste them.”
I grin as I say, “So you don’t want me to play nurse?”
His arm wraps around my waist as he presses me to his chest. “I quite like the sound of that.” Hungrily, he captures my mouth, and we stumble our way back to the bedroom.
Chapter 24
Stella
I tug on my skirt again and try to ignore Nadia’s glare from across the study. The house is currently
undergoing repairs after the gunfight that occurred. Danya sits to my right, holding my hand. His brothers are behind us. I feel them leering at the back of my head. I told Danya I should probably stay out of sight, but he insisted I should be here too.
I am family. Judging from the way his mother is treating me, she wishes I had died with my parents.
Danya’s remaining uncle, Lev, and his cousins sit close by. The lawyer who has been shuffling through papers for what feels like hours finally clears his throat.
“Now then, it appears Mikhail left very strict instructions for how he wishes the family to move forward with the business,” the man with the tiny glasses perched on his nose states. “In the event of Mikhail Ivanov’s death, the business is to fall under the control of his brother, Lev Ivanov, until the following occurs: one of the sons of Mikhail must wed and produce a male heir. Only then will one of the sons inherit his fortune and the business.”
The twins erupt in yells behind me, and I flinch. Danya’s hand tightens on mine as Nadia joins in the arguing. This is not what we expected. Danya and I talked it over last night. He came to the conclusion that he would be able to take over and we’d go from there, no questions asked.
Leave it to Mikhail to throw a wrench in our plans after his death. A child complicates matters. How are we going to get out of this mess now? We still have no idea who the traitor is, and with Danya’s other uncle in control, there’s no guarantee of our safety. A baby. There’s not a chance in hell I’m getting pregnant. I can’t. Not now. I look to Danya, hoping to see agreement in his eyes, but he’s glaring straight ahead. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, and my stomach sinks even further.
I told him I was strong enough to handle whatever came next. Suddenly I’m not so sure I made the right choice in staying. All I wanted to do was get out, and instead, I find myself being dragged right back into this violent world, kicking and screaming. I have to convince Danya that no matter what, we cannot have a child.
I will never bring a baby into this world, no matter what the cost.
END OF BOOK 1
BOOK 2: Stella and Danya’s story continues in Book 2 – Owned by the Boss. Coming July 2020. Pre-order now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BJBTRXQ
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BOOK 2 - OWNED BY THE BOSS
HE MADE IT CLEAR WHAT HE WANTS: HIS BABY IN MY BELLY.
He might have been a good man once.
But all I see now is a monster.
My monster. My husband.
My owner who keeps me chained on a leash.
To do with whatever he wants. Whenever he wants. However he wants.
And what he wants is a baby growing inside of me.
There used to be time where that had been my dream.
But Danya Ivanov turned that dream into a nightmare.
Because I know the terrible truth:
Our baby will become a means to an end.
It won’t just be our child.
It’ll become part of the game.
Part of his game.
PRE-ORDER OWNED BY THE BOSS NOW:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BJBTRXQ
BOOK 3 – HELD BY THE BOSS
I TRIED TO RUN, BUT HE IS A MAN I CANNOT ESCAPE FROM.
He made me his property. Put his baby in my belly.
And he’s just getting started.
I dared to disobey his rules, and he made me beg for mercy.
I tried to run away and he brought me back.
He’s shown me who he really is.
He will show me who I will become.
He will train me.
Teach me.
Turn me into exactly what he wants.
My first mistake was believing I could deny him my body.
My final mistake will be believing that I can deny him my heart.
PRE-ORDER HELD BY THE BOSS NOW:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BJDPXFS
OTHER BOOKS BY BROOK WILDER
ROUGH JESTERS MC SERIES
SAVAGE ANGEL
BROKEN BEAUTY
CORRUPT HONOR
RUINED MERCY
SINFUL HAVEN
TAINTED DESIRE
OUTLAW VIRTUE
WICKED LEGACY
SHATTERED GRACE
SOUTHERN BIKERS SERIES
WRECKED
SHATTERED
DEFILED
PROTECTOR
GUARDIAN
SENTINEL
MONSTER
SAVAGE
HELLION
FRONTIER REAPERS MC TRILOGY
DECEIVED
BETRAYED
FORSAKEN
DEVIL’S MARTYRS MC SERIES
DEVIL’S DEAL
DEVIL’S SEED
DEVIL’S BARGAIN
DEVIL’S PACT
DEVIL’S VOW
DEVIL’S PASSION
GHOST RIDERS MC SERIES
BOUGHT
SHACKLED
UNDONE
GRIZZLY MC TRILOGY
TRAPPED
SNARED
TANGLED
DIRTY CRUISERS MC SERIES
RIDE HARD
RIDE ROUGH
RIDE WILD
RIDE FREE
RIDE DEEP
RIDE HOME
CONTARINI CRIME FAMILY SERIES
CLAIMED BY THE DON
CHAINED BY THE DON
BOUND BY THE DON
BROKEN HOUNDS MC SERIES
RENEGADE
REVENGE
REDEMPTION