“Sloane.” A humorless laugh pulls from me. “We own most of the police in this state. And if she tries anything, it will be the last thing she does.”
Her eyes widen. “Do you mean…”
She can’t even finish the thought, just stares at me like I’m both the hero and the villain in her story.
And that’s exactly what I am.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
SLOANE
Sittingin Kirill’s car on the way to my sister’s house to get Milo, I can’t stop my leg from bouncing.
I’m about to become the wife of a man in the Russian Mafia. That isn’t something you take lightly. And somehow, that isn’t even the scariest part.
I’m about to face my sister with my future husband, who wants to kill her. And those two in the same room together is a recipe for disaster.
My husband. I seriously didn’t see this coming.
What is happening to my life? It’s like everything’s been turned upside down overnight. But I’m going to get Milo back, whatever it takes, and that’s all that matters to me.
Kirill’s hand settles over my jittery knee, his palm pressing down to still the frantic motion.
“Don’t worry. She won’t say no to me.” A faint, dangerous smirk touches his mouth. “Trust me.”
That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.
His thumb brushes back and forth. “Everything will be okay.”
I glance at him. His attention is on the road, but his hand doesn’t move off me.
“I won’t let anything happen to you or Milo.” The certainty in his voice gives me some sort of comfort.
“You don’t understand.” I let out a sigh, staring out the windshield. “I’ve wanted him back since the day she kicked me out, and I never thought this moment would come.”
He focuses on me as the light turns red. “You never have to worry about that again. A child should always be with the mother who loves him. What she did to you was cruel and unforgivable.”
My hands twist in my lap. “I was a mess for a long time. With the drinking…with everything. I made mistakes. I got involved with people I never should have been around. But I never drank when I was pregnant with him. Not once.” My throat thickens as I force the words out. “And I’m not that person anymore. I’m not. But she doesn’t see that. She never will.”
The homes outside the window blur as we drive past.
“You don’t need her approval. Some people aren’t satisfied until they drag everyone else down with them.”
There’s something in his tone that makes me glance over again. Something darker. Something personal. And I wonder if he’s thinking about his father.
Neither of us says anything after that. The silence stretches between us as the car turns down a familiar street, and the second my house comes into view, my stomach flips violently. Kirill pulls the SUV to the curb and shuts off the engine.
This is it.
I stare at the front door of the small house, unable to move even though I’ve been waiting for this very moment.
Kirill gets out first and walks around the front of the car. A moment later, my door opens, and he’s standing there waiting for me, one hand resting on the frame as he studies my face.
“Come on.”
But I can’t. My fingers grip the edge of the seat, and my chest is too tight to breathe properly. Kirill lowers himself until he’s kneeling in front of me and gently takes both of my hands in his. That simple touch alone makes me feel cherished.
“I’m here.” His thumbs brush across my knuckles. “You’re safe. I promise.”
