Right here, with the three of them surrounding me, everything will be different from this point on.
I’m panicking.
Justifiably.
But—and that’s a hugebut—I’m not just being influenced by my own emotions.
They are Aleksei’s.
And while his emotions mirror mine in chaotic and growing intensity, he’s also adding other more leveling emotions and feelings, like wonder, awe, peace, and sweet acceptance to the mix.
No wonder I’m struggling to deal with everything. This Alpha is making me feel like we could right all the wrongs in the world while falling in love and finding our happily ever after.
I desperately want to believe the dream.
The sound of my husband’s voice, the cold hard facts of where I am and all the reasons why, make it hard to.
Obviously.
Aleksei is oblivious to everything except what he is doing. He holds my hand with tenderness and swipes at the exact spot where his bite sits, until the makeup is gone and only the silver scar remains.
All the romantic notions and visions I was feeling through his emotions somehow solidify when he looks at me with a simmering rage and blazing fury in his eyes.
“Itwasyou.”
Chapter Thirty
QUINN
Idon’t have time to blink, and Aleksei is lifting and placing me in the middle of Kade and Santiago.
“Roshka, Nalla.” He snaps a series of commands off at them in Russian, and the dogs transform from shields to protectors.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
His wrath gentles ever so slightly, but instead of answering, he points at Santiago. “Give her your jacket. Cover her up.”
He goes to leave, and perhaps if I hadn’t seen the darkness in his eyes, or smelled the rage on his skin, I’d let him go. “Aleksei… stop, what are you doing?”
Before he answers, he arms himself. “One of them filmed on their phone.”
“Do you need to rush me out for that?”
“You were the one trying to run,” he whispers, a tiny smile hitting his lips.
And a smile should just be a smile, except when you’ve just bonded your Alpha, apparently, because it’s a whole lot more than a smile. It’s like I’m seeing the sun for the first time. Made a hundred times more intense because I feel the emotion behind the expression hit like a bullet train. I stagger under the weight of what Aleksei shares in the bond, but to everyone else, he appears as nonchalant as ever.
“I’d prefer you not watch what I’m about to do. But more so, I’d prefer you freshen up before he does something I won’t be able to ignore.” His gaze drops to my hand, but it’s so quick I might have imagined it.
I’m struck by his sudden openness, considering only a handful of minutes ago, I was sure he had no clue who I was.
So much is happening because of the moment we both endured, it’s like doors have unlocked deep inside me, and it makes me feel like I’m in the middle of a storm. It’s confusing. But I lean in to what I know; I’m safe with them. Whether right or wrong, there’s no disputing I do feel seen and protected by them, and always have.
I watch Aleksei stride towards a man I didn’t notice before. He raises his arm and barks in Russian. It’s enough for me, and I refocus on leaving. Behind me, the scene unfolds in typical mafia style, with angry denials and cold accusations. The argument only stops when the sound of a gun goes off and a body drops.
As I race away, nearly past the door, Bambi grabs a hold of my arm to shove me out of her way. Her fingers barely grip my forearm, and she freezes on the spot, the sound of her gasping in time with the rumbling threat of warning from Santiago, who catches her arm the way she has mine. But he drops her hand just as fast, like she’s poison ivy.
“You do not put one finger on her. Fucking ever,” he hisses.
