Page 257 of Unexpected Heroine

“About that,” I start, pointer finger extended toward the ceiling. “Is it safe to assume this is the same mafia that held me and the other women captive?”

Sorrow settles behind his eyes, and he folds his lips in on themselves. A solemn nod is his only response.

I brought it up because I intended to ensure the right enemy was on his radar. Now? I don’t know.

Telling him why they took me will hurt him. Like it did Tomer.

I don’t want anyone else to suffer.

Bet he figures it out on his own before the end of the day.

“Okay. Good.” I blink through the worry and apprehension. “The guy in charge was a-a man named Viktor. Not sure if Tomer told you that yet. But he should be um...”

Stopped. Arrested.

Killed.

Rising from the chair, my father stalks over to me. Lowering his face, he looks at me from under his prominent brows. There’s a deathly calm to his expression.

With palpable vehemence, he vows, “Lettie, I promise you we’ll get him. You have my word. Tomer and I will not stop until he’s paid for what he did to you and the other women. I swear it.”

And I believe him.

Chapter 48

Slap you to sleep

TOMER

She said yes.

I pinch myself in case I’m dreaming. I must be. Either that or hallucinating. Maybe Lenkov fucked with the HVAC system and introduced nitrous oxide into the air vents. Only a few hours ago, she blocked me from her phone and cursed me six ways to Sunday. There’s no way Lettie’s willing to let me drive her back to the shelter.

“That was a yes?” I ask her, confirming it wasn’t wishful hearing.

“Yes. If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind. That’s why I offered. I just didn’t expect you to say yes.”

She holds her hand out straight, gesturing up and down my body. “No kidding. My contact lenses are in, so I can see your shock and disbelief.”

Brat behavior. I love it.

Narrowing her sapphire eyes, she clicks her tongue. “Don’t look at me like that.”

The corner of my mouth quirks. “Like what?”

She crosses her arms at her chest, accentuating her cleavage. “Like you want to eat me for lunch.”

Teasing her, I wipe imaginary drool from my lips. If she brats at me much longer, it won’t be imaginary. “Can’t help it. I remember how delicious you taste.” Holding eye contact, I step forward and lower my voice. “And I skipped breakfast, so I’m famished.”

She stops my advance with her hand to my chest, but it’s clear she does so reluctantly. Time stands still while we exchange heated gazes. When she tucks her lower lip between her teeth, I almost lose it right there in the break room.

Sending her words to me on a pillow of air, she whispers, “So can we go now, or do you need to finish something first?”

Unable to keep my hands off her, I wrap one around the side of her waist. “Sweetness, I won’t downplay it; I have a shit load of work to do. But protecting you is my top priority, and that includes getting you back safely.”

Her breath hitches, and she swallows, the motion drawing my attention briefly to her elegant neck. So fucking tempted to run my tongue along the curve.

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