Page 36 of A Bride for the Bratva Boss
“Danyl?” Liza asks. “Are you okay?” Her head moves from side to side, trying to see through the darkness.
“Yes,” I say. “I’m coming to get you.”
“I know you would.”
The lights come back on as I reach her. I take off the night vision goggles and have to blink a few times to get used to the brightness. I drop to my knees in front of her so fast my joints bark with the impact.
Her breath hitches. Her eyes flood.
“Danyl,” she whispers. It’s not even a word. It’s a sob barely held back.
I lift my hands and cup her face. Her skin is cold. Her cheek is bruised.
There’s a cut at the corner of her lip.
“I’m here,” I tell her, my voice breaking on the last word. “I’m here,milaya.”
She shudders. “I’m so stupid. I should have known my dad was up to no good. He’s never cared about anyone but himself.”
I cut through the ties on her wrists and bring her hands to the front. She winces as blood rushes back into her limbs. I move to her ankles, working slower, softer.
“You listen to me,” I murmur. “Your father didn’t betray you because you trusted him.” I meet her eyes. “He betrayed you because he’s incapable of love.”
Liza’s breath shivers out of her.
“But you,” I continue, brushing my thumb over her cheek, “are not wrong for wanting to believe someone cared about you.”
Her lip wobbles.
I stand, pull her gently to her feet, and she folds into me like she was meant to live in my arms.
Her shaking hits me like a punch to the chest.
I hold her tighter.
Her face presses into my throat, breath warm against my skin, and I swear I’ll kill her father myself before letting him touch her life again.
Rik appears in the doorway, weapon raised. “You good?”
I nod once. “We’re done here.”
“Any survivors?” he asks.
I glance at the biker on the floor. “No.”
Rik jerks his chin. The men behind him move silently and efficiently, while ensuring the clubhouse will never operate again.
Liza lifts her head, eyes wide. “Danyl, you killed him?”
I brush a strand of hair behind her ear. “He touched you, threatened you.”
She doesn’t argue, just clings tighter.
I wrap my arm around her waist and guide her past the broken door, through the front room and into the cool night where our SUVs wait. The air feels lighter now, easier to breathe.
Every step she leans into me, trusting me completely. Something inside me rearranges and locks into place.
Rik follows us out and opens the door to one of the SUVs. He nods at me. “We’ll take care of the rest.”
