My eyes move to Gris, who gives me a sympathetic wince in return. Rush looks from me to Ryker like he doesn’t know who to side with.
But it’s Killian who steps to the edge of the bed and then squats down so that his face is level with mine. “I’ll stay with you, Sasha, so that you’re safe. You don’t need to worry about that.”
“Killian,” Ryker grits out.
Killian doesn’t look at his brother. Instead, he keeps his eyes locked with mine. “When I met Chloe, I knew she was different. But I clung to the old me, my old ways. It took a while, longer than it should have, but her love burned that other man away, leaving a better version of me than I ever dreamed possible. It’s one of a woman’s many gifts.”
My lips part as I take in those words. He gives me a half smile, but it’s not creepy at all. In fact, Killian’s eyes glow with a warmth I never imagined possible. “You’re better for having married Chloe?”
“I’m better for her love, yes.” Killian touches my shoulder as he leans close to my ear. “Only you and Ryker know if you’ve done that for him. But as a man in the business of gambling, I’d say the odds are very much in your favor.”
His brother doesn’t really think…
The sound of Ryker’s phone ringing jars me from my thoughts.
He looks down at the screen, his eyes narrowing as he picks up the phone. “What is it?”
But he’s hardly heard a word when he surges to his feet. “We need to get Sasha out of here.”
“What’s happening?” Killian asks.
But Ryker doesn’t have a chance to answer as an explosive bang fills the kitchen.
I sit up, ignoring the pain of using my hands to push me into the position.
For a second, silence follows the noise and then…
Sver appears in the doorway. His eyes sweep over the room, landing on me.
He stares, his lips pulling into a snarl as I cower, drawing my knees up to my chest. “Tell me right now, Sasha…” his deep voice fills the silence. “What have they done to you?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Sasha
The soundof Sver’s voice rips through me.
Both Ryker and Dimitri rise, standing like a wall between me and him.
“Stay away from her,” Dimitri spits in Russian.
Sver’s eyes move to my brother. “The king’s son.”
Dimitri’s shoulders stiffen as he straightens even taller. “Not by choice and not by design.”
“What are they saying?” Ryker asks me.
My mind is still sluggish, and the words are of no real consequence. “Posturing, mostly,” I answer him, the sound of my voice drawing Sver’s eyes again. He looks me up and down and takes a step into the room.
The Smiths close ranks, surrounding the bed like a protective ring.
My mouth falls open, because I never… I know I’ve been promised protection, but Sver is a murder machine. They can’tallbe prepared to give their lives for me.
I swing my feet over the edge just as Triston steps forward. “Surely we can work something out,” he says to Sver, putting on his glossiest CEO voice.
Sver lunges forward, pushing Triston with such force that Triston crashes back into the far wall. I’ve seen Triston fight before, he holds his own, which is why I know we’re in trouble.
I let out a scream, my bandaged hands flying to my face.
