Page 157 of Ruined Vows
I nod, eyes flicking to the map on the screen. “I want every property, every safe house, every shell front he’s used. He thinks he knows the game. Let’s show him how wrong he is.”
Luka nods. “What about Bianca?”
I glance toward the hall.
“She stays here. For now.”
“She’ll hate it.”
“She’ll live.”
I head back to her as the sun cracks gold over the skyline. She’s awake, sitting cross-legged on the couch, hair messy, a mug of coffee cradled in her hands. Her eyes meet mine—hers are calm, mine are set on revenge.
“You’re planning,” she says, and it’s not a question.
“I have to.”
“I hate war.”
I sit beside her, close enough to feel the heat of her. “Bianca?—”
“No, I know you have to end it,” she cuts in calmly. “But let me in.”
I study her and see the fire in her and the determination in every line of her face.
“You really want that?” I ask.
She nods. “We’re together. Your problems are my problems.”
I nod back, slowly and deliberately. “It’s my battle.”
She slips her hand in mine. “It’s our battle.”
Outside, the world comes into focus as the hunt begins.
Before I turned in for the night, I triple-checked the door locks and then turned to her.
Bianca stands in the middle of the room, hugging herself, her eyes too bright. She’s trying to hold it together and trying to be strong.
I cross to her in three strides, hands closing around her arms. Gently. Carefully. Like if I grip her too hard, she might break.
“You have a cut,” I say, voice rough. I brush my thumb along the Band Aids on her arm, rage boiling back up in my chest.
“It’s nothing,” she says, voice hoarse. She shakes her head, blinking fast like she can blink the fear away. “I’m fine, Vukan. It’s just—glass. Just glass.”
I know she’s lying. Not about the cuts. About being fine.
Her whole body trembles under my touch, every muscle wound tight like she’s about to snap.
“You almost died,” I rasp. The words tear out of me. “Right there. Right in front of me. And I couldn’t—” I break off, my jaw locking so hard it hurts.
I pull her against me, wrapping my arms around her, feeling her heart pounding against mine.
“I should’ve pulled you sooner,” I mutter into her hair. “I should’ve trusted my gut. I fucking knew Radovan would come for you.”
“It’s not your fault,” she says fiercely. “You kept your promise. You kept me safe.” Bianca presses her face into my chest, her fingers fisting in my shirt.
“I almost didn’t,” I choke out. I tighten my arms around her, wishing I could pull her inside me, shield her from everything and everyone.
