Page 31 of Wicked Refusal

“But you went and got yourself knocked up again. So I’ll do what I should have done five years ago.” His hungry gaze flicks down to my belly. “And this time, I’ll do it right. No more bastards out of you.”

Just like that, I realize what he’s going to do.

I kick, but it’s no use. Try to plead, but my voice won’t come.

I watch Brad make a fist, reel it back?—

“ARGHHH!”

—and then his armsnaps.

“Touch my woman one more time,” a deep, rumbling voice growls, “and I’ll take both your arms, youmudak.”

Yulian.

Brad howls in pain. Yulian slams his elbow into the back of his head, knocking him out cold.

I fall to the floor, gasping for air.

“Mommy!” Eli yells, rushing to my side.

I hug him tight. Right against my belly, with his sibling.My babies, both safe.

I gaze up at Yulian. “Thank you,” I whisper, hoarse.

He looks at me with fire in his eyes. Hot, roaring fire, smoldering from irises gray as cinders.

Then he addresses Eli. “You okay, little one?”

“Yulian!” Eli half-sobs, half-cheers. “You came to save us.”

“You did that all by yourself. I know a battle scar when I see one.”

Eli touches his forehead. There’s a scratch there from his fall—tiny, easy to miss. “I tried.”

“You did good, buddy. Now, I need you to do something else. See that backpack?”

Yulian’s gaze flicks to the floor. Eli’s follows it. It’s the getaway bag I made—the one I left by the desk.

“Could you carry it to the car? It’s out back.”

Eli glances at his father on the ground. “Will he be okay?” he asks, voice small.

“Of course,” Yulian says. “I just put him to sleep.”

Eli considers the scene for a moment. It breaks my heart he had to see it. Then again, he’s seen worse in Bond movies, so maybe this won’t scar him for life.

He looks to me for confirmation. I give him the best smile I can muster. “Go,” I whisper. “We’ll be right behind.”

“Okay,” he finally concedes. “See you soon?”

“If we’re not back within five minutes, I’ll owe you three scoops.”

He grins shyly and grabs the backpack. “Bye, Dad,” he says from the doorway to Brad’s limp body.

Then he’s gone.

Yulian waits for his steps to fade. Hallway, stairs, foyer.