Page 33 of Wyatt

Oh no, she was starting to sound like her father.

Coco wove her fingers into the fence, watching as the door opened and children ran into the yard.

If you’re not careful, you’re going to get your son killed.

The words could still take her apart, that terrible moment the next morning in the hotel room in Moscow.

She’d spent the night, the entire night, in the arms of the man she loved. And every moment was as beautiful as she’d hoped it might be. Wyatt was gentle, and this time she hadn’t been quite so afraid.

In fact, it might have been him who’d been more afraid, asking her in a voice she barely recognized if this was what she wanted. Meeting her eyes with a vulnerability that suggested maybe he wasn’t quite the player the tabloids made him out to be.

“I’ve missed you so much, Coco.” His words whispered into her ear, the scratch of his beard on her skin. He’d trembled in her arms.

He’d reminded her exactly why she’d fallen for him. There was no going back now. As soon as he returned from his early morning practice, she’d tell him about Mikka.We need to talk, Wyatt.

He’d take them both back to America. Marry her. And she would live the life she still longed for.

Then the knock at the door. She’d thought he’d left his key behind, or maybe ordered up room service, like last night. She’d drawn one of the hotel bathrobes around her and answered the door.

Just like that, all her dreams shattered. Because Colonel Natalya Smolsk stood on the other side, dressed in the uniform of the FSB, her dark brown hair pulled back. “What have you done, Katya?”

For a second, Coco had forgotten. Forgotten that she was not only Russian but the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country. Maybe the world.

Forgotten that she didn’t really have choices. That she’d never had choices. Forgotten that her life didn’t belong to her.

Forgotten that she didn’t get to change her life, escape, live in the world she’d dreamed of. That chance died when she’d abandoned her life in Montana and fled back to the man she thought would protect her.

In truth, the generalwasprotecting her. It just felt…

Natalya stepped into the room, shutting the door behind her. “Get your things—”

“No.”

Oh, the look on Natalya’s face.

Coco knew her father’s security chief would have a reaction. She just hadn’t expected it to be pure disgust. Especially as her gaze traveled the room, from the empty champagne glasses to the pizza box to the rumpled covers.

Yeah, Coco had felt naked.

“Did you tell him?” the colonel snapped.

“He’s Mikka’s father.”

“He’s no one. And you are someone. And if you’re not careful, you’re going to get your son killed.”

Cold slivered through her.

Because she didn’t know if that was a threat or a warning.

She got dressed. “I want to talk to him—”

Natalya grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the room.

Two of her thugs-slash-FSB officers stood outside the room, one of them by the elevator.

Coco’s eyes filled. “But he won’t understand—”

“He’s a stupid American hockey player. Do you seriously think you’re the first woman who’s spent the night with him since he’s been here?” She turned to one of the men. “What is this—number five?”

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