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My boots hit the hard sand, and as I close in on him, the world narrows to probable scenarios, the guy’s body weight, and which move would disable him quickest.

Reaching the wreck, I slam my hand onto the front bumper and propel my body into the air, the toe of my boot connecting with the fucker’s right eye. As he lifts his arm while his head snaps backward, I swipe the submachine gun from his hands, and landing on my feet, I riddle his body with bullets before shooting at the other two.

I hit one in the arm and shoulder before he drops down the other side of the Jeep, using it as a shield between us.

The other guy, who’s still on top of the wrecked Jeep, runs toward me while letting out an enraged roar. I cut him down just as his feet hit the front side panel.

His body slumps and falls to the ground near me, and my eyes touch on the Glock tucked in behind his back. I grab it and drop the submachine gun, then lock my arms at eye level, the safety off in a split second.

“There’s only one way this is going to end, Wolf,” the remaining Bratva soldier calls out. “With you being fed to Grigori’s rats. He brought them along and is keeping them hungry.”

I remain quiet, not playing into his attempt to get to me mentally.

“Grigori has the whole area covered between here and Panama. You won’t make it out alive,” he shouts again.

Suddenly, he darts from his hiding spot and makes a run for the truck. Just as he opens fire, blowing out the windshield, I pull the trigger, hitting him in the side of the head.

“The coyotes can feed on you,” I growl as I break out into a run toward the truck. I yank the passenger door open, and when Annie’s wide green eyes snap to me, calmness settles in my chest.

“It’s safe.”

She clambers onto the seat, and as her sneakers touch the ground, she stumbles before throwing herself at me.

With the gun firmly in my grip, I catch her against my chest and lift her off her feet. Taking hold of my jaw, she peppers my beard and mouth with kisses, and I soak in the reward she’s giving me.

Her eyes are filled with relief, and I get the sense she was more worried about me than her own safety, then she rambles, “You didn’t say anything when he was talking to you, and then he started shooting at the truck. Jesus, I thought you were injured or worse! And then I heard the last gunshot, and my heart just stopped dead in my chest. God, Rowan, I thought I would never get to tell you I love you.”

I swear the desert goes instantly silent, even the crickets stop chirping.

Annie’s eyes go wide as saucers when she realizes what she just said in all her rambling.

I set her down on her feet and toss the gun onto the seat before I frame the sides of her face with my hands. My body moves in on hers, caging her between me and the truck.

The words no one has ever said to me hit me so hard that my entire world shifts. Something in my chest cracks open and lets all her light in where there has only ever been death and darkness.

Relief rushes in next, sharp enough to sting, then fear follows because now I have something real to lose, something I never thought I’d get to call my own.

I take hold of her hand and lift it, pressing her palm to my face. Her fingers are warm with life, and I close my eyes for a couple of seconds, breathing her in.

Annie’s confession just gave me something steady I can finally hold on to.

Needing the contact, I drag her palm along my jaw, my beard scraping against her soft skin.

My chest tightens, something unguarded pushing through all the walls I’ve built, and as I lean into her touch, the certainty that she’s mine to keep grounds me.

I have only ever owned weapons, clothes . . . objects. Nothing of substance.

Opening my eyes, the possessive word rumbles deep from my chest. “Mine.”

Tears well in her gaze, and I lean down and nip at her mouth before inhaling her breaths, my body stunned like it doesn’t know how to hold all the sudden light and warmth at once.

There is a sense of disbelief mixed with awe.

My lips brush against hers, and it feels like the unyielding hold the past has had on me finally loosens as those three words let me imagine a future I never thought I’d have.

“Say it again,” I groan, desperate to make sure I heard right.

Annie’s eyes soften, and I see how she feels about me before she whispers, “I love you, Rowan.” She caresses the sides of my head and neck, as if she has to touch me to make sure I’m okay. “I love you, my wolf, my darkness, my violent man.” Pushing onto her tiptoes, she kisses me hard. “I understand who you are, and like you said, fighting the inevitable is stupid.”