Page 82 of Paved in Venom

“We’re being followed,” Lev says, cutting into my thoughts and immediately making my blood turn to ice. I look in the rearview mirror, but it’s busy tonight, and there are several cars behind us.

“Which one?” I ask.

“Black BMW, two cars back.”

We’ve been speaking Russian, so Simona doesn’t know what’s going on, but somehow she can read me like a fucking book, so I’m not surprised when she asks, “What’s going on?”

I look back and smile at her. “Nothing to worry about, sladkaya.”

“There’s a park up ahead,” Lev says in Russian. “It’ll be empty this late at night.”

“Perfect,” I tell him. Grabbing my phone, I call Timofey and tell him to get some men and then give him the address of the park we’re headed to. When I hang up, Simona leans closer and rests her hand on my shoulder.

“Please tell me what it is.”

“Someone’s following us, but you’re safe. We have men on the way, and the SUV is bulletproof. No one’s going to hurt you.”

I can see the fear in her eyes, but she gives me a nod and squeezes my shoulder, trying like hell to be brave for me. I wish I could tell her this is the last time something like this will happen, but I can’t lie to her. My brothers and I do dangerous things. Violence is a daily part of our lives, and there’s no way to avoid it coming closer than we’d like it to at times. I fucking hate it, but I’m also a selfish bastard who’s completely in love, so I can’t let her go. All I can do is make sure she’s always protected. If anyone wants to harm her, they’ll have to go through our entire fucking Bratva.

“What are we doing?” she asks when Lev turns onto the side road that leads to the park. It’s well after midnight, and the place is deserted.

“Meeting them on our own terms,” I tell her and then send a quick message to Roman and Matvey. When I’m done, I turn back to her. She scoots closer, and when I cup her face, I see the terror in her blue eyes, and it fucking kills me.

“You are not to leave this vehicle for any reason, baby. Do you understand me?”

“Wait, what? Where are you going?”

“We’re going to see what the fuck they want.”

“Danil, you can’t.” She clutches at my arms, begging me with her eyes. “Stay in here with me. You said it’s bulletproof.”

I don’t know how to explain to her that my pride would never allow that. I’d rather go out there and get shot than cower in here like a goddamn pussy. I’ve never backed down from a fight, and I’m not about to start now.

“I love you, baby, but I can’t do that.”

Her eyes well up, but she bites her bottom lip and fights it. “I love you,” she whispers, her voice shaky and filled with worry and fear, but it’s not for her own safety. She’s worried about me, scared for me, and it breaks my heart to see it.

“Promise me you’ll stay in here no matter what,” I tell her.

She nods.

“I need to hear you say it, sladkaya.”

“I promise,” she whispers.

I kiss her, surrounding myself with the taste and feel of her, and as soon as I feel the SUV stop, I pull back and let her go, and it’s the hardest fucking thing I’ve ever done in my life.

“Let’s go,” I tell him in Russian, grabbing my gun right as he grabs his. “I love you, baby. Lock the doors behind us. Drive away if it comes to that.” I hold her gaze one last time before shutting the door on her beautiful, worried face.

Pointing my gun at the car that’s pulled up behind us, Lev does the same from the other direction. The windows are dark, and I can’t see inside, but I’m guessing it’s bulletproof just like ours. When the driver’s side door opens, I can’t say I’m completely surprised to see Dominic step out, aiming a gun at my head while three other men get out, each of them armed.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Dominic?” I ask him, keeping my gun trained right on his head. We might all die tonight, but I’m taking this fucker with me if it’s the last goddamn thing I do.

“I want the girl,” he says.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I say, letting out a harsh laugh. “Are you this big of a sore loser? That’s fucking pathetic, man.”

He grits his teeth and takes a step forward.

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