Page 50 of Untouchable Queen
She’s not so much fighting with Saturo as she is arguing with him, but my sense of dread continues to grow every second I’m not by her side. She was right. She was right about all of it, and now she’s facing off with the most devious, deceptive man in the room.
She looks dangerously bold and dignified as her chin tips up in a look of defiance. I know that face. Whatever it is they’re arguing about, she’s not giving in to theoyabun’s demands.
“Damn it, Tatiana,” I growl, my panic rising, and I raise my gun to put a bullet in the yakuza man standing in my path.
I’m almost there, and I surge forward as the path between us clears. Then my vision turns red as Saturo lashes out, backhanding Tatiana with such force that she drops like a stone. With an iron fist around my chest, I throw myself across the lastfew feet between us, catching Tatiana’s limp form just before she hits the cold cement.
“Tatiana!” I shout, jostling her as I try to look at her face.
Her head lolls dangerously on her neck, her dark hair spilling over my arm, and I catch a glimpse of the quickly purpling welt on her cheek. The bastard knocked her out cold.
“Saturo!” I bellow, raising my gun from my place on the ground as I cradle Tatiana’s body against my chest. But he’s already halfway out the door.
He whistles a shrill call to his men, and the yakuza beat a hasty retreat, the conflict ending almost as abruptly as it began. He left several men behind—bloody corpses that will be floating in the river before morning. And from a cursory glance, I don’t think Tatiana or I lost any men, though several are badly injured.
I’m tempted to send them after Saturo, but the yakuza have a head start and a quick escape—and Tatiana’s well-being is more important. Teaching Saturo a lesson can wait.
“Is she alive?” One of her burly bodyguards limps toward me on what looks like a broken leg, his hand clamped over a gash on his arm that’s bleeding excessively. He must have taken on a very hard opponent—or more than one—just by the number of injuries covering his body.
Her other guard is face down on the ground, though he appears to be breathing as another of her men stoops to check on him.
“She’s alive,” I confirm, dropping my gun so I can cradle her face. Her cheek’s already swelling, and her upper lip is split right near the corner. He must have hit her hard to knock her unconscious with one blow, but I can’t stop thinking about how pale she was before she even started talking to Saturo. As gently as I can, I check the rest of her body for any visible injuries but find nothing. “Was she hurt before she came inside?”
I look back up at her man, and his lips twist into a sardonic smile.
“No, ourpakhanshacan’t stand the sight of blood.”
It takes a minute for the meaning behind his words to sink in, and another puzzle piece drops into place—why she seemed so disturbed about the way I discipline my men, how she could so quickly sue for peace between our families. My wife—the leader of New York’s most powerful Bratva—can’t stand violence. Somehow, that only makes me love her more.
“You are an enigma, aren’t you?” I murmur, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.
Slowly shifting so I won’t disrupt her, I lift Tatiana in my arms and stand. Around me, it’s a bloody battlefield.
“Romeo,” I call, and my captain quickly comes to my side.
“Get rid of the bodies and hose down the warehouse. Move the supply—maybe take it to our warehouses on the far end of the port, as far as you can get it without drawing any more unnecessary attention. I’m sure this warehouse will have an inspection after the ruckus from tonight.”
“Sure thing, boss,” he agrees.
“I’ll leave some men to help,” Tatiana’s guard says.
“No, you’ve all risked more than enough,” I state. “This is my mess. We’ll clean it up. I can’t put Tatiana’s men at further risk when she’s not even conscious to make the call. Get them back home safe for her? You can come check on her at the compound once you’re patched up if you’d like—or take the day off. I’ll ensure Tatiana is safe and well cared for until you return.”
Tatiana’s guard studies me for a long moment, his dark gaze assessing, as if to ensure he can trust me at my word. But then he extends his hand to grasp my shoulder. “Thank you.” Then his eyes cast down to Tatiana. “You’re lucky she’s got such a good heart. The rest of us would have let you die.”
“I know.”
“We’re lucky too. Leaders like her don’t come along often. So you better look after her. If I find out you’ve done anything to put her at risk in my absence, Iwillkill you when I find you.”
I’m not sure whether I should be impressed or frustrated by the number of men who have threatened to kill me in Tatiana’s defense. I suppose that’s what happens when my wife is the single most sought-after woman in New York. She deserves their protection—not that she’ll ever need it. Not from me.
My on-call doctor is already waiting for me when the car pulls into the compound, and I’m relieved because Tatiana still hasn’t regained consciousness. Unwilling to hand her off to anyone, I carry her up to our bedroom and put her gently on the bed.
Dr. Rossi knows better than to ask questions, and he pulls on a pair of rubber gloves before he leans in to inspect the quickly purpling bruise on Tatiana’s swollen cheek. He gently parts her lips, checking inside her mouth, and I’m grateful when he states that Tasuro didn’t manage to break any teeth or cut her gums.
It eats at me through the entire exam—that I’m the reason my wife is lying here unconscious. She never would have been there tonight if I hadn’t insisted on going through with the deal. I let her be my backup. And when she proved her instincts were right, she’s the one who got hurt, not me. I never should have questioned her judgment.
“I want to take some blood work, just to make sure she didn’t suffer any injuries that are less apparent to the eye,” Dr. Rossi explains, and I nod, gesturing for him to do whatever he thinks best as I keep my eyes on Tatiana’s beautiful face.
