Page 119 of Beyond Enemy Vows

This is it. Where I have to face what I've done. Beg that he knows it was not just for my family, but to protect him. Us.

"By the desk," I say, my voice low.

Niko walks over slowly, his limp more pronounced now. He stops beside Stavros's body and just stares down at his father for a long moment. His face is unreadable. No grief. No shock.

"What happened?" he asks without taking his eyes off the corpse.

I step forward, scared. My legs feel weak and unsteady.

"He was poisoned."

Niko's head quickly turns to me. "By who?"

My eyes burn as tears fill them and before I can stop them, they start running down my cheeks.

"Me," I say.

Niko takes a step toward me, and for a terrifying moment, I can't read his expression. "Why?"

The words pour out of me. "Because you know what he would've done. My brothers, they would've come for him and who knows how that would have ended. And you, what he would've done to you, and to me, and our baby. He could have destroyed everything. I couldn't let that happen. Please, Niko. Forgive me."

I'm sobbing now, gasping for air between words. My chest heaves, and I can barely see through the tears.

Niko walks over to me and pulls me tight against his chest.

"I planned on doing it tonight, too," he says.

I look up at him through my tears, not sure I heard him correctly.

Niko nods. "Yeah, I stashed guns and everything, but my plan didn't turn out so well. His men ambushed me. Stavros ordered my death, but not even that could keep me from you,orea mou," he says, brushing my hair over my ear.

"You risked your life for your brothers. For me. For the family we're going to build." He kisses my forehead. "You don't need my forgiveness, Calli. You need my thanks."

I collapse against him, crying tears of joy and exhaustion and overwhelming love. He understands. He doesn't hate me. He doesn't think I'm a monster.

We hear heavy footsteps in the hallway and we both turn towards the door. Keira and Declan burst through, breathing hard, their faces flushed from running.

"Holy shit," Keira says, eyes wide, taking everything in.

"You guys good?" Declan asks, scanning the room.

We both nod.

"We should probably go," he adds, glancing toward the door.

Niko nods and walks over to an air vent near the window. He reaches inside and pulls out a gun.

"Don't ask," he says to Declan and Keira when they stare at him.

"Last gun ran out of ammo," he says, checking the gun. "Now I'm ready."

He walks up and grabs my hand and we start walking toward the door.

"I have a boat we can take. The one my father took here. Seems fitting we leave on it."

40

CALLI