We met in the middle. She tried to reach for me, but her hands were tied behind her back, blood seeping from her arm and soaking the fabric of an unfamiliar sweater she had on.
My jaw clenched.
I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close.
She cried. “Please don’t. Please come with me. We can run away from him.”
I cupped her cheeks and wiped away her tears. “Baby, you’re wearing a bomb.”
“I’d much rather die than lose you.”
I shook my head. “Don’t say that. You’re going to live, and you’re going to live a long and happy life.”
“With you. Please, Damien. Don’t leave me. I can’t handle it.”
I leaned down and kissed her, savoring the taste of her lips. Her tears mingled between my lips.
I didn’t think I had a heart, but if by some miracle, I did, she should know it beat solely for her.
“I love you,” I whispered against her lips.
“I love you, too.”
“Go to Mikhail and Nikolay.”
She shook head. “No, not without you. Please. Please don’t leave me.”
I kissed her again.
“Enough!” Luca shouted. “I’m losing my patience.”
“Go, pet,” I said, directing her toward them.
I looked at my brothers. They came up and grabbed her. She struggled in their hold, screaming.
“No. No! Damien. Don’t you fucking dare leave me. You promised me forever! Damien!”
I came to a stop in front of the son of a bitch. “Disable the bomb.”
He shook his head, holding out a pair of handcuffs. “Not until you do this for me first.”
I held out my hands.
He laughed. “Do you think I’m stupid? Hands behind your back.”
I turned around and held my hands behind my back, my eyes meeting Catalina’s. The brown irises were dark with fear. Fuck, if I got out of this alive, I’d work every day for the rest of my life to eradicate that look completely.
Luca handcuffed me and pulled me away, shoving me toward the car.
Catalina’s screams got louder and louder.
I tried to ignore it.
Leo took off as soon as Luca closed the door behind him. I looked at the fucking predatel’ from the rearview mirror. I couldn’t fucking figure him out. What was his game? Why do all this when he didn’t even look smug about it?
Luca moved his hand down my leg.
“Do you really have to feel me up like this?” I asked drily.