Page 92 of The Pakhan’s Accidental Bride

"Me." Emil moves forward with predatory grace, positioning himself between Arnie and me. "You've been looking for my fiancée. Spreading lies about her. That ends now."

"Kiera, tell him—" Arnie starts, but one of the captains grabs his arm.

"Wait." I step forward, my heart pounding. "Emil, this wasn't the plan."

"Your way didn't work." Emil doesn't look at me, his eyes fixed on Arnie. "You tried talking to him. Multiple times. He doesn't listen. So now we do it my way."

"But—"

"I let you have your shot." Now he does look at me, and his expression is gentle despite the violence simmering beneath the surface. "You got to say what you needed to say. You got your closure. Now I'm handling it."

The two captains start walking Arnie toward a back exit. He's struggling, trying to pull away, but they're too strong.

"Kiera!" he shouts. "Kiera, please!"

I watch him disappear through the door, my emotions a tangled mess of relief, guilt, and anger. When I turn back to Emil, he's watching me carefully.

"I'm mad at you," I say.

"I know."

"That wasn't what we agreed on."

"No. But it's what needed to happen." He reaches out and takes my hand. "Come on. Let's get out of here."

We make our way back through the club, Emil's hand firm on my back. Luca is waiting near the entrance with the rest of the security team. As we step outside into the cool night air, I take a deep breath, trying to process everything that just happened.

The street is busy with people coming and going from various clubs and bars. Music spills out from open doors, mixing with the sounds of traffic and conversation. Emil guides me toward where the SUV is parked at the curb.

A sharp crack cuts through all the other noise.

I don't even have time to process what it is before I'm flying backward. Something massive and solid slams into me, driving me to the ground. The impact knocks the air from my lungs. Emil's large body covers mine completely, shielding me from above.

36

EMIL

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch movement in the shadows across the street. A figure in dark clothing, and there's a metallic glint shining from his hand.

My body reacts before my mind fully processes the threat.

The gunshot cracks through the night air, sharp and unmistakable, and I'm already moving. I grab Kiera and throw us both to the ground, my body covering hers completely as we hit the pavement. The impact jars through my shoulder, but I don't feel pain, only the desperate need to shield her from whatever's coming next.

"Stay down," I growl against her ear.

Another shot rings out, the bullet striking the brick wall behind us. Chips of masonry rain down on my back. My men are shouting, weapons drawn, scanning for the shooter. The civilians on the street scatter, screaming, running for cover.

"Luca!" I bark.

He's already moving, sprinting across the street toward the alley where the shots came from. Two of my other men follow, their weapons out, their movements coordinated and efficient. They disappear into the darkness between buildings.

My heart is pounding with the adrenaline flooding my system. I keep Kiera pinned beneath me, my larger frame completely covering her smaller body. She's trembling, her breathing rapid and shallow against my chest.

"Emil," she gasps. "What⁠—"

"Don't move." My voice is hard, commanding. I scan the street, looking for additional threats. The shooter could have a partner. This could be a coordinated attack. My mind races through possibilities, calculating risks and planning our next move.

The street has cleared. People have fled into nearby buildings or ducked behind cars. The music from the club still thumps through the walls, oblivious to the violence outside. In the distance, I can hear sirens beginning to wail.