Page 126 of Royal Bargain

ANNIKA

Iblink awake, the world completely dark outside. I stretch, arm reaching instinctively across the bed—only to find cold sheets.

My stomach twists.

Liam’s not here.

I sit up quickly, brushing hair from my face. Lily stirs in her bassinet beside the bed, her little legs kicking beneath her blanket.

I grab my phone from the nightstand.

Liam: Burns needs me at HQ—urgent. Shouldn’t be long. Stay inside. I’ll call soon.

Just then, I hear our daughter fussing from the other room and I smile, standing up to go get her.

Lily’s soft breath tickles the skin beneath my collarbone. Her lashes flutter in sleep, one tiny hand curled around the neckline of my shirt like she’s afraid I’ll vanish if she lets go. I cradle her close, my body curled protectively around hers on the couch, and let the silence wash over me.

For the first time in what feels like forever, it’s quiet—not the tense, loaded kind, but the good kind. The kind you feel deep in your chest. Safe. Whole.

A laugh bubbles out of me before I can stop it. I’m so used to things falling apart, I don’t know what to do with the idea that they might actually come together. That maybe—maybe—Liam and I could really make this work.

I press my lips to Lily’s hair. “Your daddy drives me crazy,” I murmur, smiling against her curls. “But I think… I think he might be worth it.”

The floor creaks faintly, and I glance toward the hallway. Probably just Shane checking the perimeter again. He’s overly cautious, but I’m grateful for it. He and Connor have been on rotation since yesterday—two seasoned guards, Irish through and through, both of them loyal to Liam. I’d rolled my eyes when Liam insisted on that level of protection. Now, I’m not so sure he was overreacting.

A muffled bang from outside jerks me upright.

Then another.

This time, sharper.

Gunfire.

I freeze. My breath catches. Lily stirs in my arms, whining softly.

Then I hear shouting—harsh, angry Russian. I recognize the cadence, even if I don’t understand the words.

“No,” I whisper, holding Lily tighter. “No, no, no.”

I hurry to the door, just enough to peer through the crack.

Chaos.

Connor is already down, sprawled motionless on the floor. Shane is still fighting—his arm bloodied, a knife in one hand, swinging wild and furious as two men converge on him. One catches him in the ribs. He stumbles. The knife clatters from his fingers.

I let out a tiny, strangled sound.

One of them turns toward me.

“Shit.” I slam the door shut and bolt it behind me, heart hammering. I’m out of time.

I rush across the bedroom, Lily wailing now in my arms, her cries sharp with fear.

“Shh, baby, it’s okay,” I whisper, voice shaking. “It’s okay—it’s gonna be okay.”

I throw open the closet door and duck inside, pressing us back into the corner behind old coats and boxes. My hand fumbles for the inside knob, gently pulling the door shut until only a sliver of light remains.

Outside, I hear the door crash open.