Page 13 of Owned By Shadows

My phone dings as we make our way off the aircraft, and I notice the sim I bought before we left has kicked in. I also have a message waiting for me. One that has those damn butterflies rioting.

Hunter

You are in so much fucking trouble, Peaches. You won’t be able to sit down for a fucking week. We’re on our way. I love you xxx

My throat tightens. He’s mad like I knew he would be, but he’s coming, so is Rowan by the sounds of it, and he still loves me, which is all that matters.

Bubby’s phone dings as we walk through the airport to customs. I glance over as he cringes.

“Everything okay?” I ask, and he rubs the back of his neck with his hand.

“Yeah, just Hunt threatening my balls and a slow, painful death if anything happens to you,” he answers, and I shake my head, scoffing.

“He wouldn’t hurt you, Bubby,” I tell him, joining the back of the queue to go through security.

“He wouldn’t have to,” Bubby says from beside me, and I look over at him. His face is set in determined lines, his eyes deadly serious. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Iris. I’ll protect you and your baby with my life.”

“Oh, Bubby,” I whisper, throwing my arms around him and hugging him close. He takes a moment, then the arm not holding our bags wraps around me, pulling me in tight. “You shouldn’t have to protect me. I should protect you. You’re only a kid.”

He stiffens, pulling back, but his hand takes mine. “I can protect you. I may be young, but I know how to fight, how to shoot.”

My brows furrow as a lump forms in my throat. He shouldn’t have to know all those things. He should be worried about girls, gaming, and the latest TikTok dance.

“How about we protect each other? Keep each other safe?” I look up at him—yep, he’s taller than me and he’s only fifteen.

His smile breaks out, like the sun bursting from the clouds. “Deal.”

It doesn’t take too long to get through security, and as we have no bags to claim, we head straight to the exit. There are a few people waiting for their friends and family to arrive, but one face stops me in my tracks, Bubby nearly colliding with me.

There’s a scar that runs down the left side of his face, his dark blue eyes locked on mine.

“Who’s that?” Bubby asks, inching in front of me and pulling me behind him. I place a hand on his arm, reassuring him it’s okay.

“That’s Dima, one of Nik’s men,” I say in a soft voice, leading Bubby towards the huge Russian man. “Which means that Nik is here.”

My heart beats like a war drum inside my chest, because even though I was almost a hundred percent certain that it was Nik who messaged me, there was always the chance it wasn’t. Seeing Dima confirms my hope though. He wouldn’t be here if Nik wasn’t.

“Hello,zaya,” he rumbles in that crazy deep voice of his. “Nik said you’d be arriving this morning.”

It’s still dark outside. It’s the early hours of the morning, around two, I think.

Something eases further inside my chest, his words confirming Nik is here.

“How is he?” I blurt out, forgetting all manners, because if Nik is here, surely Roman is too.

Dima glances around us before bending down so he’s closer to me. Bubby stiffens next to me, but he doesn’t stop Dima.

“He’s recovering. Still sore, but Andrei is a great healer and he’ll be okay.”

I take a gasping inhale, tears filling my eyes as I look at this gentle giant with gratitude.

“Thank you,” I breathe out, the tears falling down my cheeks.

“Of course,zaya. Now, I shall take you to them. It’s a long drive, so best use the bathroom now if you need it.” He looks pointedly at my very pregnant stomach, and a watery laugh escapes me.

“Good point,” I reply, turning to look for the restrooms. I go to head to them, but my hand pulls me back, still clasped in Bubby’s.

“I’ll come with you,” he states, his eyes hard as he looks around us, landing on Dima. There’s a wariness from Bubby, like he doesn’t quite trust Nik’s man.

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