Page 48 of The Bratva's Plus-Size Bride

“Shit, they’re running,” says Viktor, taking off after them.

I’m not leaving Ella. “Go with him,” I tell Luka. “I’ll bring her out when it’s safe.”

He takes off after Viktor, and I spin back to Ella. She’s on her feet, flushed, and I sweep her into a hug. God, I’ll never get enough of having this woman in my arms. And those bastards who touched her? I’d have ripped their arms off if I’d had more time to play.

She leans into my chest. “I’m okay, I’m okay. Are you?”

I drew back just to kiss her. “Better now.”

Something moves behind me. I turn, keeping Ella behind me, and kick a pistol that’s aimed at my face from the man’s hand before he can fire. Idiot never should’ve gotten that close, but that’s his loss.

I follow my kick with a punch to his face and send him reeling backward, clutching his jaw. Drawing my blade costs me a moment and he’s back, charging me, as I bring it up. He’s quick. I can’t sidestep and risk him getting to Ella, so I brace and take the charge, grunting at the impact but bringing my knife up into his side in three quick jabs.

He screams and rips away, clutching a hand to the gaping wounds, but I’m not done. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I register Ella’s gasp as I lay into the man, slicing his face and neck and stomach, everything I can reach, until ribbons of blood coat his body and he goes down hard.

I wipe the blade on my pants and check the hallway. Clear, for now. Shit, I’m covered in gore, and maybe that attack was a little much. Ella’s going to be fucking terrified of me.

It’s a hopeless case, but I wipe at some of the blood on my front before turning back to her, succeeding only in smearing it more. Warm arms wrap me from behind, and the sweet vanilla scent of her overpowers even the iron tang of blood.

“You saved me,” she murmurs into my back.

She’s not running? My heart starts to beat again. I palm my knife and grab hold of her with my other hand, kissing her longer and deeper than I should, given the locale, but she tastes like heaven. Only the sound of boots in the hall makes me stop.

“It’s us, Anton!” Luka calls.

“Let’s get out of here.” I grab her hand, and we step out into the hall. My head’s still on a swivel because I’m not taking a single chance.

Luka and Viktor stand with a handful of Shevchenkos, none looking worse for wear, though a few blood spatters tell me there was more action than just what I saw.

“Car?” I ask. I don’t give a damn if it’s curt, and I should be thanking them for helping out, I just want to get Ella out of here. Alliances can wait.

“Out front,” Viktor says. “Take it. We’ll clean up here and meet later.”

I take the keys and lead Ella past the men, out into the car. Once she’s buckled into the passenger seat beside me, I finally feel the fear start to fade. She’s safe. She’s here. She’s mine.

“You’re so fucking brave,” I tell her, starting a circuitous route to our new hotel for the night, checking the rearview constantly in case we’re being followed. All clear. “Have I told you that? Brilliant and brave.”

“And you’re…” she trails off, and my heart skips a beat. Did I completely freak her out again? Is she going to run? “Incredible.”

“Incredible?” I glance at her from the corner of my eye and find her eyes already on me.

She wraps her hand around my arm and sets mine in her lap. The touch quiets my fears.

“In every way—you saved me. There were so many of them, and I was terrified they would hurt you, but you were simply unstoppable.”

“I told you I’d save you. Wherever you are, Ella, whatever the situation. I’ll always come for you. There’s nowhere they could take you that I wouldn’t find you.”

When I look at her again, her eyes shine with tears, and her brown eyes are so big. “I know.”

Epilogue - Ella

“I can’t believe it’s finally happening,” I say, pressing my face against the window. The city is dizzyingly far below, and the lights are blinding tonight.

Anton comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “You did it.”

He feels warm and solid behind me, and the press of his body against mine sends my thoughts spinning in a decidedly less businesslike direction. The months since the kidnapping have felt like a dream. Moving in, merging our lives together, and spending every minute I can with him while chasing the high of a good deal? I’m living my fantasy.

“We did it,” I remind him, knowing we’ve been in this together every step of the way. There’s no chance I could have done it without him, and I also know he couldn't have done it without me. We’re a team.

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