Page 18 of The Pakhan’s Accidental Bride

But I can't get Kiera out of my head. The way she looked at me in the club, all fire and fear and desperate courage. The way she felt in my arms when we danced, her body fitting against mine like she was made for me. The way she told me no in the limo, refusing my offer even though I could see the temptation in her blue eyes.

She intrigues me. And it's been a very long time since I've been even slightly interested in a woman, let alone actually intrigued.

"Take me to Kiera's apartment," I hear myself say.

Luca's eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. "Emil. Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"No. But do it anyway."

He sighs, the sound of a man who's had this argument before and knows he won't win. "Look, I get it. She's beautiful. She's got spirit. But getting involved with her, especially now that we know one of her brothers is a cop? That's asking for trouble."

"I don't recall asking for your opinion."

"Yeah, well, you're getting it anyway." Luca navigates through traffic with easy confidence. "You've got the council breathing down your neck about getting married. Fine. Pick someone else. Someone who doesn't come with a police officer brother who knows exactly who you are and what you do."

"No."

"Emil—"

"I said no." My voice drops to that quiet tone that makes grown men flinch. "She's the one I want."

Luca is quiet for a moment, then shakes his head. "You're going to tell me why eventually. You always do."

He's right, but I'm not ready to examine my motivations too closely. Not yet. All I know is that I have this gut feeling, this nagging instinct. And right now, that instinct is screaming at me to check on Kiera.

"How long have we known each other?" I ask.

"Since we were kids in that shithole foster home. Twenty-six years, give or take."

"And how many times has my gut been wrong?"

Luca grunts. "Point taken."

We drive in silence for a while, the city lights blurring past the tinted windows. I think about Kiera's brothers, about the cop who's going to be a persistent problem. Jack Walker isn't going to back down. He's going to dig into my business and try to find something he can use to arrest me or at least scare his sister away from me.

Good luck with that. I've been evading law enforcement for over two decades. One determined cop isn't going to change that.

"She really got under your skin, didn't she?" Luca says finally.

"Yes."

"When was the last time you were actually interested in a woman? Not just looking for a warm body, but actually interested?"

I think back, sorting through years of meaningless encounters and strategic alliances. "Ten years. Maybe more."

"Shit." Luca shakes his head. "And it had to be a woman with a cop brother."

"Life's funny that way."

"Life's a bitch that way."

We pull up outside a modest apartment building in a decent but not expensive neighborhood. I'm about to tell Luca to wait in the car when I see them.

Kiera and her ex-boyfriend, Arnie, at her apartment door on the second-floor exterior walkway.

He's got her by the arm, trying to drag her out of the doorway. Even from here, I can see her struggling, trying to pull away from him. Her face is twisted with fear and anger, and something primal and violent surges through my chest.

"Fuck," I snarl, already reaching for the door handle.