Page 46 of Dangerous Refuge

“Paul attacked my men. It was just vengeance.” My chest is tight. Her fingers tracing over my abdomen tingles my skin. I want her in my arms, but to say that would be to admit weakness. My enemies cannot see weakness in me, which means it cannot exist. I have to kill it.

“No, Sven. You told Paul you were doing it for me, because of what he did to me. You love me.” She steps closer and rests her hand on my hip. “I don’t know why you can’t admit it, but I know you do.”

I tense, squaring my shoulders. “You’re wrong.” I hate that she’s right. I hate that part of me that defies my father and brother. It’s supposed to die. I’m supposed to kill it. I’m supposed to be a trained killer with no inroads into my life whereupon my enemies travel.

“Sven!” Rico’s voice meets my ears and I sigh, letting my chest deflate.

“You woke him?” I ask her, feeling like Samson the moment Delilah cut his hair, or Icarus the moment his wings began to melt.

“Sarah did… He asked for you.” Allie looks up at the window of Sarah’s apartment that overlooks the street and I follow her gaze with my eyes. Rico leans out the window. It’s too far away to see his expression but because of his tone of voice, I know he’s upset.

“Sven! Please come back. Please don’t leave. Or take me with you. Please, Sven.”

“My god,” I grumble, feeling my mind changing without my consent. I’m a killer, not a lover.

“He loves you too, Sven.” Allie slides her bloodied fingers between mine. “I will marry you, and we will raise Rico together. And we will shelter him from the family as much as we can.”

“Sven, please, don’t go,” Rico sobs.

I look into Allie’s eyes and realize I want that more than anything. This entire time it’s all I have wanted, even when she was nasty and hateful toward me. I saw what I wanted and I went after it. “I’m a hitman, Allie.”

“Do business out of a different office. Keep it out of the house. Marry me and protect me. That was the deal.” Her tone is firm, but damn if that trembling lip isn’t sexy.

“You’re giving me orders now?” I ask, though I’m not upset by that. A dominant female is the only kind who survives the Bratva.

“Yes. Now, go get my things and our son and let’s go home.” She lets go of my hand, and the instant there is separation between us, I know I never want to feel it again. I grip her head between my large hands and pull her toward me, kissing her hard.

“My son?” I ask her, our foreheads pressing together.

“You’ve been more of a father to him than his own.” Allie’s hands rest on my biceps. “He needs a man in his life, just the way I do. Now are you coming with me, or should I have Tucker pick you up later?”

“God, you’re hot when you’re bossy.” I kiss her again, harder this time, parting her lips. Her tongue dances across mine and I hear Rico upstairs cheering. Allie smiles against my mouth and leans into me.

“You like being dominated?” she asks in a cheeky tone, and I’m surprised to see her being so playful after the ordeal she’s been through tonight. I put my hands on her waist and pull her against me hard.

“Does this mean anything to you?” I ask her, grinding my swelling cock against her abdomen. “Your sassy attitude and that snarky tongue you have really turn me on.”

She rises up on her tiptoes and kisses me again, and when she lowers back to flat feet she looks serious. “Sven, I’m sorry for not believing you or trusting you. Paul really fucked me up. It took something this severe to make me see where I really belong.”

I touch her bruised eye gently and shake my head. “That man was a complete monster. You deserve so much better, Allie. I just need to know that this is real now. That you’re not going to change your mind when another bloody man comes walking through my front door. I lost Lacy; I won’t make it if I lose you.”

The confession would have me ousted from the family inner circle if my father heard it. So thank god my father isn’t around here.

“I’m not changing my mind.”

“What if it’s just Stockholm syndrome?” I chuckle but she keeps her firm expression.

“I’m in love with you. Now take me home.” She turns and calls over her shoulder to Rico, “Get your things! We’re going home.”

Rico shouts back, “Sven’s house?”

“Yeah, buddy. Home… Odin misses you.” I watch my words bring a priceless grin to his face and then he vanishes.

“But we’re putting limits on his game time,” she chides and I kiss her again. I have to leave the mothering to her, but I am thrilled they are coming back. I knew they belonged with me the whole time.

25

ALLIE

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