Page 129 of Break Me

“We all keep ourselves protected using whatever mechanism we have in our arsenal.”

She half laughed. “Including you, one big strappin’ Russian.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing to be.”

Every lilting if not nervous laugh was driving me crazy. I was aching all over just to hold her in my arms. “Not bad at all. You came after me. You knew where I’d gone. You came to protect me.”

“Of course I did, Halle. I’d do so with my life. Do you honestly think I will ever allow anyone to hurt you ever again? I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”

“Why, Alexsey? Why would you do that?”

“You know why.”

“No, I guess I don’t. It’s crazy,” she insisted.

I’d had enough of both of us tiptoeing around the subject of how we felt about each other. Noticing a sign up ahead, I made a quick decision, making a sharp right turn into the park.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“You’ll see.”

I pulled out my phone, dialing Mario. He was lucky I hadn’t beaten his ass for failing me. Maybe a little of Halle’s good-natured soul was rubbing off on me. “Hang back.” That was all I needed to say.

In a few seconds, I headed to one of the many parking lots. The small plot of land was one of the few green areas in the city, a well-maintained park complete with hundreds of trees and grassy knolls, flowers, and even a small manmade lake.

The setting was perfect for what I wanted to say.

Cutting the engine, I immediately ripped off my seatbelt. “Now, you’re going to listen to me, Halle O’Leary, and listen good.”

“O-kay. What?”

God, I adored her demanding voice and attitude. “I’ve almost lost you a couple times. When I heard somehow you’d managed to escape, I was pissed off. Then I had to remind myself that you’re a very naughty girl.”

“You need to listen to me.”

I turned toward her, immediately placing my hand across her mouth. “No. You will let me finish. If not…” I gave her one of my stern looks. “Now, tell me you’ll be a good girl.”

After tossing me one of her rather venomous looks, she nodded.

“I mean it,” I growled. “As I was saying. I was pissed off for about two seconds. Then I was frantic with worry. I couldn’t get to you fast enough. All I could think about was what I’d do to anyone who dared hurt you.”

When I took a breath, she opened her mouth and I held out my finger again.

“You’ve grabbed a part of me, Halle, that no one else has. I think that happened the very first moment you opened your mouth telling me what a horrible person I was. You just had me. You defied me. You surprised me. You captured my heart. The thought of losing you or Emily sticks a knife directly into my heart. And don’t you dare try and tell me I don’t have a heart. I do.” I looked away briefly. “It was just dormant, incapable of feeling much of anything until I met you. Do you know what it would have done to me had I not been able to protect you, to save you?” I groaned and glanced out the window.

“What are you trying to say?” she whispered.

“I’m trying to say if you ever pull a stunt like that again, I will keep you chained in the house. I’m saying I cannot and will not lose you. No matter the cost or danger. If anyone does try and harm you or Emily, you’re damn right I’ll go napalm. That’s what I am saying. And that we’re going to get fucking ice cream when we return to the condo. I always keep my promises. One last thing. If you’re a good girl, which is very difficult for you, I have a surprise for tomorrow night. A concert I think Emily will love.”

Huffing, I rubbed my jaw, realizing my entire body was aching.

She was silent. Really? The silent treatment? Perfect.

I heard a sound and realized she’d unfastened her seatbelt. Somehow even in the small front compartment of the Porsche, she managed to straddle my legs, sitting on my lap. With her arms hung over my shoulders, a wicked smile crossed her shimmering face.

“I’m curious, big boy,” she purred. “Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?”

“No one who lived.” I rubbed my hands down her back, yanking her even closer.