Page 67 of Bride of Vengeance

"You won't," I say more softly. "But you will push me away if you keep trying to control me."

He looks at me for a long moment, then nods slowly. "Fine. We work the case together. But you take the vitamins."

"Deal."

"And you eat proper meals."

"Within reason."

"And you let me check your bandage from the glass cut."

I'd forgotten about that—the cut from the window when the contractors attacked. "It's fine—"

"Let me see."

I hold out my arm, and he unwraps the gauze carefully. The cut is healing well, just a thin red line now.

"It'll scar," he says, tracing it gently.

"Another one for the collection."

"No more scars," he says fiercely. "No more injuries. No more close calls."

"You can't ask for all that."

"Watch me." He rewraps my arm, then pulls me against him. "I know you're strong. I know you're capable. But you're also mine to protect, whether you like it or not."

"Mikhail—"

"And I'm yours," he continues. "To protect, to fight beside, to argue with when I'm being overbearing. That's what this is—mutual possession. Equal partnership. Can you accept that?"

I look up at him, this man who drives me crazy in every possible way.

"I'm still not taking your money."

"Fine."

"And I'm working on the case."

"Yes."

"And you stop the hovering."

"I'll... try."

It's probably the best I'm going to get.

My phone buzzes again. Alexei's follow-up text:

Harrison filed federal warrants for Mikhail. Murder charges for the contractors at your apartment. He's escalating.

Mikhail reads it over my shoulder, his body going tense.

"He's trying to separate us," he says quietly. "Make me the bigger threat so you'll cut a deal."

"I would never—"

"I know. But he doesn't." He sits back, thinking. "We need to be smart about this."