Page 29

CHAPTER 29

NICK

“You’ve got company,” Ash says into my ear.

“No shit,” I mumble, my hand wrapped around Scarlet’s wrist like she’s hanging off a cliff.

“I mean, a person’s here. Says he’s here to help.”

“Who?”

At the back door, I scan the skies, cursing the day I bought into setting up the garage with the safe room.

It’s a new build, they said.

Fuck them all.

“Should I let him in?” Ash asks.

“Who?”

“Amir Nooyi.”

Scarlet steps forward, and my arm shoots across her chest. “Stay,” I mouth.

I press against my ear. “Is he armed?”

“No.”

Amir is a slight man who probably hires someone to cut tough steak for him. He’d hire someone to wipe his arse if it were socially acceptable to do so.

His timing is curious.

“Let him in, but keep men on him. Can’t be trusted.”

A plume of smoke twists around to the right of relatively clear skies.

“Letting him in. Tommy says drones are sorted.”

“Copy,” I respond.

I lower my arm and head down the path to the garage, motioning for Scarlet to follow.

“Why do you think they hit in daylight?” Ash asks.

“Testing. Are the authorities on their way?”

“Not yet. It was loud, but I’d bet our neighbors are clueless about what happened.”

True. Drone attack won’t be the first thing a country person assumes. Emergency response could be part of what they’re testing.

“Can you tell what they were targeting?” I ask.

“Based on course direction, looks like the main house.”

I reach the garage, open the door, go to the empty bay, lift a mat, and push a button. The trap door glides open.

“Stay with Amir at the entrance of the house. I’ll be there momentarily.”

“Copy.”

“Ash? Whoever you send with Amir, make sure it’s someone you trust. Someone who’s never met Amir before.”

“Copy.”

Ash is a good man. He’s been on my team for years and oversees the security staff. He’s more of a tech guy, but he’s punchy when needed.

“What is this?” Scarlet asks, staring down the stairs.

“Where you’re going to be until I come and get you.”

“You’re not locking me?—”

“You can open it from inside anytime you want. But they can’t get inside without these babies.” I point at my eyes.

I smack my palm against her bum. “Go on.”

“You’re full of rubbish! They’re after me. Not you.”

“Scarlet…I don’t have the time to debate.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Scarlet. Go.” Christ, I am losing all patience.

“No.”

She stands there, hands balled in fists, chin up, shoulders back, a portrait of bloody defiance.

“You should breathe. You have blood vessels that look like they might pop,” she says, sweet as a lark.

Dear Lord, give me strength.

“I’m skilled. Give me guns. I’ll fight with you,” she says.

“No.”

“Why not? I’m fully?—”

"Because I fucking love you, you stubborn, bullheaded woman."

She goes utterly still, the way she does when she's processing something unexpected. Her fingers uncurl from those tight fists, and bloody hell if she doesn't look like I've just handed her the crown jewels rather than shouted at her.

"You love me?"

“Is it that fucking difficult to believe? You are the most resilient woman I’ve ever met, and I think about you every second of the day. You’ve gotten under my skin and in my head. Every molecule and atom craves nearness with you, and if something happened to you…” Christ . “It won’t come to fruition. Do you understand me? I understand you’ve trained, but dear heart, we are going up against men who hire men who have spent decades training in situations you can’t fathom. I love that you can hold your own in hand-to-hand combat and that your aim is spiffy, but let’s not get carried away that you can tackle a small army.”

“What about you? You haven’t trained?—”

“Yes, I bloody well have. And these are my men. I’m not sending them out there unless I’m by their side. Let me figure out what we’re dealing with and the best course to take. When I retrieve you, you can have your wicked way with me. Whatever revenge you like, I’m game for. But for now, get your arse to safety. Capisce?”

“Nick.”

I press a hand to my ear to hear Ash, all the while glowering at the stubborn love of my life.

“Amir’s getting restless.”

“What’s he doing?”

“Looking around for you. We’re following him, but he won’t do as asked.”

“Get,” I demand. Beg .

It’s those green eyes. So full of passion, life, and grit that do me in. I pull her to me, far more roughly than advisable, and smash my lips to hers. Her fingers curl over the ridge of my hard cock, because yes, all it takes is for her lips to touch mine and my body reacts.

With great reluctance, I break the kiss.

“I’ll be waiting.”

I squeeze her bum and her eyes smile, but she’s too worried for anything else. The trap door closes over her, and I breathe a little easier.

“I’m on my way,” I tell Ash.

“Where the hell have you been?” Amir says, charging through the yard, security on his tail.

“What the bloody hell? You wouldn’t wait where told?”

“Are you testing bombs?”

“That’s brilliant. I’m testing bombs on my own fucking land.”

He has the wisdom to cow. Fuckwad.

“Fair enough. Is it the mafia striking your home?”

“Why are you here?”

“Do you not trust me?”

“Oh, you mean, do I trust the man who told my high-as-a-fucking-kite sister to blow him?”

He runs his hand through his hair and blows out a breath. My security men back up, giving us space. Roger waves a pair of binoculars, a reminder that we’re out in the bloody open.

“She told you about that, did she?”

I should punch the fucker.

“I thought she wouldn’t remember.”

“That’s worse, you fucktwat.”

“Come now. Be fair. We both mess around. Your sister’s not exactly?—”

“Think twice before you finish that sentence.”

He holds his hand up in defense.

“I… Does this mean you’re not going to help me acquire Titan?”

Bloody hell.

“Maybe not the best day to ask,” he says, slinking back.

“Amir, go. Leave. Now.” I look to the pasture. “You drove today, I see. No chopper?”

“I was in the area.” He looks deflated. “Wanted to check up on Lina.” He wiggles his mobile. The screen’s black, but he says, “Hit one of the rags. The place you’ve got her is notorious for celebrity leaks.”

“She’s not a celebrity.”

“Eh, she kind of is. The influencer variety, but…the goings on of the lower levels sustains these rags.”

“And you read them?”

“Only one or two. It’s not a website. It’s like alerts. And if you click, you read the article. If you subscribe to one?—”

I hold up my hand. Bloody Christ. Like I want to hear.

While I’d like to beat him to a pulp and toss him on his arse, I can’t exactly afford to turn my back on a member of the syndicate.

“For the record, I support you. What you’re doing with the Italians helps me.”

“I’m well aware.” That’s why I read him in in the first place. Of course, that was before the fuck played Lina.

His gaze goes to the sky, then he clocks the men standing around us.

“You can’t stay here,” he says to me. “You should go…until things calm down.”

Curious advice. “What do you know?”

Unexpected visits from two alliance members on the day drones drop bombs… What the bloody hell are they up to?

“Unless you’ve got a safe house on the premises, you should go. Take a holiday,” Amir says.

“Who’s behind the attacks? Is it Halston?”

“It’s not a singular person. You’ve awakened the hive.”

“Is that a warning?”

He doesn’t answer, only shoves his hands into his trouser pockets.

“Amir Nooyi’s driver got out of his car and is stretching. He’s carrying,” Ash says in my ear. “Not unexpected, but letting you know. I’ve got two crews coming in for tonight. One crew searching the grounds. Woods are not cleared. Repeat. Do not go near the woods.”

“You’ve got a safe room, right?” The fucktwat sounds concerned.

I hold my fingers over my ear, making a show of listening to the piece in my ear, and scan the grounds, pausing on the garage. If she comes out, I will bloody lose it on her.

“I’m gonna go. If you need me, you know how to reach me,” Amir says.

“We’ll drive up with you,” I say.

As we cross through the house, he looks around like he’s looking for someone, but he knows Lina isn’t here. Is he searching for Scarlet?

We’re quiet as we climb into the back of the Rover. Roger takes shotgun and continues scanning the sky with his binoculars.

“How’d they attack you?” Amir asks, breaking the silence.

“They didn’t share details on the group chat?”

“Drones,” he says, more to himself.

I’m shooting daggers at the traitor when he catches on and scratches his jaw. “Yeah, I knew. I came here to warn you. Mite late. When I told you I’d recommend you leave, I had reasons. There’s a bounty on your head. Best to go. If not, bunker up.”

How much is my life worth? I don’t bother asking Amir.

I trust Ash with my life, but best to minimize the chance that word gets to my security team. I’ll search it up later.

Back at the security gate, I leave the team with Ash, taking the vehicle around to the garage.

When the garage door closes, I wait for facial recognition to do its magic and open the hold. The wise move would be to leave her secured. But it’s quiet outside. She can’t hear crap in the hold. I can show her the security system, so at least she’ll have eyes on the property.

My thoughts keep circling to Amir. He might be right. Authorities never came out to investigate. And the bounty bit…that’ll send some nefarious talents our way. Now it’s me and Scarlet. Racking up to a profitable payday.

“Scarlet,” I call, descending the stairs.

Four different gun bags and ammunition boxes are stacked on the coffee table. Two unzipped backpacks rest beside the table, half full of ammunition.

Scarlet comes around from the other room holding two Kevlar vests.

“Ivanov, you know how to stock a safe room. A man after my heart, you are.”

"About time you noticed," I say, taking in the sight of her—my scarlet angel turned warrior. She's transformed the safe room into a tactical command center with military precision. Pride and something deeper, something that feels dangerously like love, swells in my chest.

She grins, all fire and steel, reminding me exactly why I fell for her. This woman doesn't need saving—she needs a partner. And bloody hell if that isn't exactly what I plan to be.