Page 43 of The Bratva's Innocent Pregnant Bride
Chapter 28 - Paisley
I huddled on the ground with little Pavel inconsolable in my arms until Emerson ran up and took him from me. I still couldn’t believe what had happened. There was no way this was a coincidence. The murderers at Axon had found me.
I wasn’t careful enough at the airport, or maybe I hadn’t noticed someone following me home when I fled the office. I wasn’t used to criminal activity or being hunted. I thought I was being paranoid and kept my head on a swivel, but apparently not. Now I might have led them here and some of the Fokins were hurt because of me. If the kids hadn’t been further away…
I sank to the ground, my head dropping to my chest. Those people who sent that bomb disguised as a Christmas gift of all things were still out there. They would eventually learn that I survived and try again.
Pavel had stopped crying and Emerson reached down to pat my shoulder, her face full of concern. All the moms were surprisingly calm despite the fact there’d been an explosion only a few minutes ago, and were all clucking about how pale I was, asking if I was hurt.
I brushed off their concern, flooded with guilt. They had no idea I was the reason their babies might have been hurt. “I’m okay,” I said.
“Thank goodness Dan was coming down the stairs at that exact moment,” Daria said, hugging her boy Stephan close.
I nodded numbly, realizing how close I was to reaching out and grabbing the package that held the bomb. If it weren’t for Dan I’d be seriously injured if not dead.
“Is he okay?” I asked. He carried me out but I was dazed with shock.
As soon as everyone assured me he was fine, I slipped away so I could be alone. There didn’t seem to be much choice now, and I pulled out my phone to scroll to the messages I had been ignoring. I could not risk making this wonderful family a target again.
Agent Pierce answered me right away after I explained what happened.
Get out now. Get to the airport and I’ll meet you in LA.
Staring down at the dire warning, I fumbled for a reply. It wasn’t that simple. I only had the clothes on my back. Even my coat was still inside. No one was allowed back into the lodge until the men thoroughly searched it so I had no way to sneak the car keys away, even if I could get past the moms and traumatized kids huddling out front. I only told him that I’d do my best and put my phone away, trying to think of a plan.
More than an hour passed before it was deemed safe to go back inside. I should have been shivering but I only felt numb, lost in a loop of worry and fear. There was only one thing I could do. Grab some things and sneak away.
Dan found me on my way to my room, stopping in the hall so I couldn’t pass unless I shoved him to the side. He had a hard, unreadable look on his face, unlike his normal, teasing grin. Of course there was nothing to grin about, but this almost looked accusatory.
I started to shake. He took me by the shoulders, softening slightly.
“You’re safe now,” he said.
But was he? Were any of his family? I was about to burst from guilt. “The present was mine,” I blurted out.
“There’s no way to know that,” he said. “My cousins are still investigating the source of the explosion.” I tried to say more but he gripped my shoulders tighter. “It wasn’t your fault,” he said. Or was it more of a question? We stared into each other’s eyes for a long, charged moment. “You’re safe,” he growled, yanking me close. “As long as I’m around, you’ll stay that way.”
Oh how I wanted to believe it. Dan made it so easy. When he wasn’t joking away my worries, or annoying them away, he was boldly proclaiming to protect me. He was the reason that Axon hadn’t taken me out of this horrible game.
His eyes dropped to my mouth and the next thing I knew, he was kissing me, his fingers tangled in my hair. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on for dear life. I wanted to believe him as much as I wanted to keep his family safe from the evil that was after me. I should have been on my way to the airport, but he slid his hands down my sides, lifting me off my feet.
One more kiss. Just one more.
He carried me into my bedroom down the hall, closing the door behind us. I became wild, feverish, clawing at his clothes. This was it. The last time with the man who brought me to such soaring heights. Then I’d sneak out later tonight.
He was as riled up as I was, yanking my sweater up over my head and then falling on my breasts, licking and nuzzling them hungrily. I pulled on his hair, eager for more kisses. As soon as his mouth was on mine, his tongue roaming inside, I shoved him backward.
Holding onto me, we tumbled onto the bed. No time to laugh, because he was dragging my jeans down my thighs,groaning as he kissed his way back up my bare legs. He spread them wide, burying his face deep in my wet heat.
I locked my ankles around his back, rising up to meet the swipes and thrusts of his tongue.
“More,” I urged, running my fingers through his silky hair.
He lapped at my clit, making me moan and grip tighter. A muffled laugh rose up as he turned his face up to look at me. “As much as you want, little girl.”
I clamped my legs together, forcing him back down. His deep chuckle vibrated against my tender flesh. I ran my hands from his hair down his neck, gasping when I felt deep scratches there.
“You got hurt,” I said, pushing on his shoulders. My body pulsed with need, but my heart was torn in two knowing the danger he put himself in.
