Page 55 of Sexting the Bratva Beast

“But I don’t want to be protected. I was happy when I had nothing to be protected from.”

I lower my face so that our noses are almost touching. “You always needed protecting, Cartier. The only difference now is that you’re aware of it.”

“I…” She blinks, processing what I just said. “Protecting from who?”

“If your uncle was watching you, then it stands to reason that his enemies would’ve been watching you too.”

Her eyes dart back and forth between my vehicles and the idling bus. “His enemies? You mean your family?”

“Leonid and I have no feud with Yuri Asimov. I didn’t even know that he was in the country until a few hours ago.”

“And now?”

“He dragged you into a situation that I’d have moved planets to protect you from. Now, he has made it my problem because my enemies will be aware of you too.”

“What are you saying?” Her voice has shrunk.

“I’m saying that you’re in danger because of your association with me.”

She shakes her head. “Why didn’t you let me stay on the bus? No one would’ve found me in North Carolina. I could’ve kept on moving.”

“Cartier.” I’m desperate to kiss her, but I need her to understand the severity of this situation first. I need her towantto come with me. “I found you. Yuri Asimov found you. Do you think that my enemies don’t have access to the internet? And I don’t want you to live your life on the run. You have a life in Chicago.”

“Ha!” The sound cracks the air around us. “I’m not sure that I do anymore.”

“You do. I promise to keep you safe, but you must trust me.”

“How can I?” She turns away, but I tilt her chin towards me.

“Because I would take a bullet for you, Cartier.” I brush her fingers with my lips. “I will put your life before mine, always.” I slide my arms around her waist and pull her against me. “You are precious to me. You have made me feel again. My life is in your hands, but you must trust me to keep you safe.”

“Sounds like my life is in your hands.” Her huge hazel eyes lock onto mine, and I’m powerless to resist.

“I don’t trust any other hands to keep you safe.” Our lips meet. Gently, to begin with, but then she slides her arms around my neck and kisses me back. “Do you?” I press.

“Do I what?”

“Trust me to keep you safe?”

“Yes.” A whisper.

It’s all I need.

I gesture to the bus driver to move on and guide her to my waiting vehicle. Cartier leans against me as if the weight of our discussion is too heavy for her to carry.

In the back of the car, I pull her onto my lap and cradle her in my arms until her breathing regulates, and her eyes close. I feel her warm breath on my neck. Smell my shampoo in her hair. Feel her fingers curled around my neck.

What I’m about to do will break her trust in me all over again, but it’s the only way.

She can’t stay in Chicago. Now that her location is known to Yuri Asimov, she isn’t safe. I wasn’t lying when I said that I don’t have the details of what happened to her parents, I just didn’t tell her the whole truth.

Yuri Asimov isn’t who she thinks he is.

But I need time to prove it, and time isn’t on our side in Chicago.

When we pull into the private aircraft hangar, Cartier is in a deep slumber. I kiss her forehead and carry her aboard our private jet.

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