Page 75 of Reclaiming Izabel

Later that evening,I tidied up the kitchen, unloading the dishwasher while Izabel put Ana Lisa to sleep. The barbecue was a resounding success and, thankfully, I didn’t have to lecture anyone regarding the proper way of cooking a steak because I’d had not one complaint about the MadDog special. Although that could have been because Izabel’s coworkers were afraid to criticize her SEAL husband.

It’d also been great to see Hank, and I would have loved for him to stay overnight and catch up, but he had several stops to make in the SEAL community before he headed for the West Coast. I owed a lot to him in keeping me sane these past three years I couldn’t be with Izabel.

A sound like a car door closing reached my ear. I carefully lowered the plate I was holding, opened the cabinet directly above me, and pulled out the Sig. I checked the round in the chamber before I lowered it to my side. Moving quietly to the staircase, I listened for sounds of activity. I heard Izabel singing to Ana Lisa.

Protectiveness surged through my system. If that was a thief, he picked the wrong house to rob.

My ears picked up the scrape of boots on the pavers and before I could sneak up on the door, the knock came.

I was familiar with that staccato rap.

Irritation and relief battled inside me. I double-checked our visitor through the peephole and confirmed his identity.

I threw open the door to Viktor Baran.

A ghost of a smile played on his mouth, but I suspected the man was feeling amused because of the irritation on my face.

“Good evening, Maddox.”

“Jesus, Viktor, ever heard of texting?” I waved my arm to let him in. “I could have shot you.”

“You’re not that reactive.”

I pointed to the second floor. “My world is up there. I don’t give a shit if I’m overreacting as long as they’re safe.”

“Nice house,” Viktor remarked as though I hadn’t just given him the third degree about showing up unannounced.

But this was exactly how this man operated—in the shadows—and I knew if Viktor really wanted to sneak up on us, I wouldn’t have heard a sound.

“You missed a good barbecue,” I told him.

“Not fond of them.”

“Why are you here?”

“No!” Izabel cried. She flew down the stairs and ran right up to us. Before I could stop her, she inserted her tiny frame between Viktor and me. “You’re not getting your hands on him again.”

“Izabel.” My fingers grabbed her shoulders and pulled her against me. “I’ve got this.”

She spun around, color heightened, eyes blazing as if she was spoiling for a fight. “I know you do, but I’m here by your side. And I will fight for you.”

“That’s well and good, baby, but you get I’m the man in this house.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” she shrieked.

“It doesn’t sit well on my balls that my wife is facing up to a man triple her size trying to protect me.”

Her eyes flashed. “Then what’s the use of training me in self-defense to protect against men your size?”

I clamped my mouth shut.

Viktor emitted a rare chuckle. “She has a point, and I’d volunteer to test your skills.”

“Don’t put ideas in her head,” I muttered.

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Maddox. I just came by to congratulate you on a beautiful house. And I believe I haven’t congratulated you both on the birth of your daughter.”

Izabel wasn’t convinced and looked at Viktor doubtfully. “This isn’t a trick, is it?”

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