Page 102 of Blind Devotion

“I can run, you know.”

We both knew she was more than capable, but right now wasn’t the time to get slowed down by anything. Especially when I needed the feel of her body against mine—warm, tangible, and alive—to keep my agitation at bay. I almost lost her, and that was sending my desire to keep her close into overdrive.

Out of our five vehicles, two were already pulling out. Red and blue lights flashed in the distance, and the sirens blared. Our time was almost up. We’d have to cut through the grassy fields. Erel sat in the front passenger seat of the furthest vehicle, directing the remaining men between his car and another. He aimed and shot at one last Russian who darted out of one of their broken-down cars and made a run for the fields. The moment Tessa and I reached the back of my SUV, he nodded and shut his door.

“Go,” I yelled the instant Tessa, Alizé, and I were safely in the back seat. All three of our vehicles peeled out of there as quickly as possible in a cloud of dust and debris. Another vehicle departed, headed further south. Not one of ours.

Our vehicle jolted over the uneven terrain, avoiding trees, but I couldn’t let go of Tessa. Instead, I buckled my seat belt over us both, her straddling my lap.

“Adrien, let me sit.”

“No.” I grabbed her by the back of the neck and pulled her forehead to mine. “You could have died.”

“That’s par for the course for us.” Her fingers combed through my hair, and I leaned into her touch.

“Not anymore. Never again. You’re not permitted to die.”

“Get a room,” Alizé grumbled beside us.

“I can’t lose you, Tessa.” My lips burned into hers, marking their territory. “It’s us or nothing at all.”

The car swerved hard to avoid a wooden fence and then again around a large oak tree, forcing us all sideways. I caught Tessa’s head with my hand before she hit the window.

“Careful,” I barked at my driver.

“Sorry, sir.”

“Are they following us?” Tessa asked, gazing over my shoulder in the direction of the blazing barn. The fire glared back; it was so bright. Its orange color spilled into the vehicle from the rear window, along with flashes of red and blue. How much could she see from her left eye?

“No, doesn’t look like it,” Alizé replied casually. “Too busy with that fire right now. Carry on, you two.”

I glared at my sister. “You couldn’t find your own damn car.”

“Yes, because your need to frolic was my biggest concern between gunshots, fire, and the police.”

“Hey.” Tessa caressed my cheek, pulling my attention back to her. “We’re alive.”

I squeezed her tighter to me, her green eyes shining with the firelight. Between the white scar within her right iris and the scars around her eyes, she looked like a fierce warrior goddess of old times. My goddess. No one else would ever compare. She was unique and perfect for me in every way.

“You’re everything to me.”

“I need more than pretty words from you. I need you to talk to me. I need you to be truthful and open.”

I nodded. “I know.”

“No more hiding from me. No more omissions or lies about us. We do this, we do it openly. Can you agree to that?”

“Yes.”

There was this urge to ask her to be mine again, to wear my ring and bear my name, to demand it of her. I held off, shoving my possessive beast deep down as it snarled at me to trap her in this with us. We would talk first.

“Good. I’m still mad at you though.” Her head nestled against my chest as she yawned. “Take me back to the hotel, please. I need some rest before my audition tomorrow.”

The car veered off the field and onto a thin country road.

I had to control that urge again. Rurik Leontyev was still loose. The snaky fuck probably escaped the police, and if he didn’t, he still had reach. We should be going home to Saint-Tropez, where I could guard her better, but this audition meant so much to her. I couldn’t deprive her of this now, after everything she had gone through.

“I’m staying with you.”