Page 119 of The Pakhan’s Accidental Bride

Kiera's hands shake as she pulls up Kevin's number and hits call. I watch her face as she waits, counting the rings. On the fourth ring, I see relief flood her features.

"Kevin? Thank God." Her voice cracks. "Listen to me. You need to stay exactly where you are. Don't go anywhere. Someone's going to come pick you up and bring you to Emil's estate."

I can hear Kevin's voice through the phone, raised and questioning, but I can't make out the words. Kiera's jaw tightens.

"I don't have time to explain. Just please, trust me. Stay where you are." She pauses, listening. "I'm fine. I'm safe. But you won't be if you don't do what I'm saying. Please, Kevin."

Another pause, then she nods. "Okay. Thank you. I'll see you soon."

She ends the call and immediately dials the next number. Jack answers quickly, and the conversation follows a similar pattern. Devin takes longer to pick up, and I can see Kiera's panic rising with each ring. When he finally answers, she nearly sobs with relief.

Kaleb is the last call. He answers on the second ring, and Kiera goes through the same explanation. By the time she's done, she's visibly shaking, her face pale and drawn.

"They're all okay," she says, looking up at me. "They're all home. They'll wait."

"Good." I take the phone from her hand and set it on the table, then pull her against my chest. She comes willingly, her arms wrapping around my waist as she presses her face against my bare skin. I can feel her tears, hot against my chest, and something in me clenches painfully. "They'll be safe. I promise you."

"How can you promise that?" Her voice is muffled against me. "You don't know who's doing this or what they want."

"No. But I know how to protect what's mine." I stroke her hair, feeling the silky strands slide through my fingers. "And your brothers are under my protection now. Anyone who touches them will answer to me."

We stand there for a long moment, her trembling gradually subsiding as I hold her. The hot tub jets continue to pulse behind us, and steam still rises in the air, but all I can focus on is the woman in my arms and the threat hanging over her family.

My phone buzzes, and I reluctantly release Kiera to check it. A text from Luca. All four captains have reached their destinations. The brothers are secure.

"They're with my men," I tell Kiera. "They'll be here soon."

She nods, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "What do we do now?"

"Now we wait." I move to the closet and pull out clothes, dressing quickly in dark jeans and a black T-shirt. "And when your brothers get here, we're going to that meeting location."

"What?" Kiera's eyes widen. "But the caller said I had to come alone."

"The caller can go fuck himself." I pull on socks and boots, my movements efficient and controlled. "You're not going anywhere near that location. But I am. With Luca and as many men as I need."

"Emil…"

"This isn't negotiable, Kiera." I turn to face her, and I know my expression is hard. I'm the Pakhan, not the man who was just holding her. "Someone threatened your family to get to you. That means they're willing to use innocent people as leverage. I need to know who and why."

She opens her mouth to argue, then closes it again. Smart woman. She knows when it's time to back down.

Twenty minutes later, we're in my office. Kiera sits in one of the leather chairs, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. I stand by the window, watching the driveway. Luca is beside me, his expression grim.

"The brothers are arriving now," he says quietly.

I watch as four black SUVs pull up to the front entrance. My captains get out first, scanning the area before opening the rear doors. Kevin emerges from the first vehicle, his face tight with anger. Jack follows from the second, his cop instincts clearly on high alert. Devin and Kaleb come from the third and fourth vehicles, both looking confused and worried.

"Bring them to the library," I tell Luca. "Kiera can explain what happened while we prepare."

Kiera stands, her movements stiff. "I'm coming with you."

"No."

"Emil, they threatened my brothers because of me. I have a right to⁠—"

"You have a right to stay here where it's safe." I move to her, cupping her face in my hands. "I can't focus on finding this person if I'm worried about protecting you. Let me do this. Let me handle it."

She stares up at me, and I can see the war playing out behind her eyes, the need to be involved and take action warring with the knowledge that I'm right.