Page 79 of Beyond Enemy Vows

The men drag me through the door and down the hall, their grips bruising my arms. When we reach the foyer, I make my move. I drive my elbow hard into the man on my right. He doubles over, gasping. I twist free from the other's grip and deliver a crushing blow to his throat.

He drops to his knees, choking. I don't wait to see if more are coming. I turn and walk to my car, holding my hand out to tell my driver to stay put.

I open my door and get in.

"Go," I snap, slamming the door shut.

The estate falls away behind us, but the burn in my chest doesn't fade. I grip my phone until my knuckles ache.

If Stavros is threatening to go after her, I need to get to her first.

I unlock my phone, scrolling to the airline app. Fuck taking our jet, he'll have it locked down by now.

I'm going to Chicago.

She's mine. And no one takes her from me.

Not my father.

Not her brothers.

Not while I'm breathing.

And if I have to put a bullet in someone if they get in the way, so be it.

But I am fucking coming for her.

26

CALLI

"I'm pregnant."

The words hang between us, suspended in sunlight like those tiny particles you see floating in a room.

I wait for Niko's face to change. For shock, anger, or fear to replace the warm smile he's given me.

But his smile only grows wider and his dark eyes light up from within.

"You're serious? A baby?" he says, his voice filled with wonder. "Our baby?"

I nod, tears of relief spilling down my cheeks. "I wanted to tell you in Rome, but then?—"

Niko's hands are warm when they cup my cheeks, the rough brush of his thumbs catching a stray tear before it can fall.

"I love you," he says, pulling me into his arms. "Both of you," he says, kissing the top of my head.

I can barely breathe, barely believe that it's happening, that I'm finally telling him.

But this is how it should be. This perfect moment, this perfect man. No war between families, no brothers plotting revenge, no father to avenge. Just us, creating something new from all this love.

He pulls back and looks at me. "God, Calli, you've just given me everything." His hand slides down over my stomach. "We're going to be a family."

Then the sound rips through the air.

A single gunshot.

The warmth drains from his body in an instant.