Page 52 of Dark Desires

He curses in Spanish. I don’t know what the hell he’s saying, but I can tell by his tone that he’s pissed as hell.

Another gunshot rings out, and I whip my head around to see Alexei dropping the second-to-last attacker like it’s nothing.

“Alexei!”

He’s there in an instant, his hand latching onto the guy’s neck and jerking him backward with all the strength he has. Alexei calls him something choice in Russian, rage dripping from his words.

The guy lets go of me, snarling, and I tumble back into the car, clutching the doorframe to steady myself. I watch Alexei drag him away like he’s taking out the trash.

They disappear behind a nearby dumpster.

I take a shaky breath, trying to calm my nerves. My hands are trembling, my whole body buzzing with adrenaline.

Pop.

The gunshot echoes in my ears, and I freeze, my breath catching in my throat. Then silence. My hands are still trembling when the passenger door swings open, and Alexei steps in like he’s just finished a stroll through the park.

He doesn’t say a word, just pops open the glove compartment and puts his gun inside. Once that’s stored, he takes out a handkerchief.

I watch, wide-eyed, as he methodically wipes blood off his hands. No rush, no panic. He’s calm, collected, like he didn’t just end five lives in the span of two minutes. Meanwhile, I’m scared out of my mind.

When he’s done, he folds the handkerchief neatly, tucks it back into the glove box, and closes it with a soft click. Then he turns to me.

“You OK?”

“I… I…” It’s all I can say. I’m too shaken to think straight.

“You’re fine.” He takes my hand, clasping it in his. Right away, I feel better. “But we need to get out of here.”

I nod, mostly because I don’t know what else to do. My brain is still catching up to the fact that I’m alive and that Alexei just saved my life.

Again.

He starts the car, driving around the vehicle in front of us. Night’s beginning to fall, and my heart’s still beating like crazy.

I squeeze his hand hard—probably harder than I mean to.

“Ow.” He smirks. “I need that hand, Isa.”

Despite myself, I let out a shaky laugh. “You’re indestructible, remember?”

“Not entirely. And I’m sorry.”

That throws me. “Sorry? For what? You literally saved the day.”

His jaw tightens, and his thumb brushes over the back of my hand.

“I shouldn’t have let him get that close to you.”

“Alexei, I’m here. I’m breathing. You saved me. That’s all that matters.”

He shakes his head. “It’s not enough. No one will ever get that close to you again and live.”

The way he says it sends a shiver down my spine. Not because I’m scared of him, but because I know he means it. There’s no bluffing with Alexei. He’d burn the world to the ground if it meant keeping me safe.

The rest of the drive is quiet, but my mind is anything but.

When the gates of the Mancini mansion come into view, my stomach twists. Dad’s standing there at the entrance, a grim expression on his face that makes it clear he’s not happy.