Before starting.....
Hey sweetheart i forgot to upload i just noticed its been months im so sorry guys🫠
I love you all so much....take care of yourself my sweetsugars!! 🫶💜
Let's begin....
Mariya
Staring at the wedding dress, hanging against the wall in my bedroom at my parents' house, I feel super emotional.
Even though Luca and I are married, I'm anxious. I've worked hard the past three months to make sure the wedding is perfect, and now that everything is out of my hands, and the day has arrived, I'm a nervous wreck.
When Dad comes in, he takes one look at my face, then holds his arms open. I rush into his safe embrace and give in to the nerves
As if I'm not emotional enough, Dad says, "No matter where this life takes you, you'll always be my baby girl, printsessa."
"Oh, Daddy," I sob like a baby.
He cradles me tighter to his chest, his voice hoarse as he says, "The day you took your first breath... Christ, Mariya," he inhales deeply, trying to compose himself, and it only makes me cry harder. "You had me wrapped around your little finger from day one. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."
I nod against his chest, sniffling, "I know. I'm so lucky to have you as my father."
"You've chosen well, baby-girl. Luca will give you the world while killing anyone who threatens you." He takes a deep breath. "You chose well."
"I know. I've got good taste, I chuckle. Pulling back, 1 look up into my father's eyes. "I'm glad you approve."
Dad lifts a hand and tugs on one of the soft curls 1 styled my hair in. "If you ever need me, I'm just a call away"
I nod, a tear rolling down my cheek again.
"Besides your mother, there isn't a soul alive I love more than you. You're my world, Mariva."
"Jesus, Daddy," I mutter as the tears come faster, then I hug him again. "I love you so much." My dad holds me until I manage to calm down again, but I have to swallow hard as 1 look up at him. "Thank you for being the best father in the world and spoiling me rotten"
"You're welcome, my little printsessa."
I grin at him as I wipe the tears away from beneath my eyes. "You haven't called me little in a long time."
"Because you've grown into an amazing woman
"Only because of you and Mami."
Just then, Mom comes into the bedroom. She takes one
look at Dad and me, then points to the door. "Alexei! Stop
making Mariya cry Look at her face! The wedding is in two.
hours, and you've got her sobbing."
Dad chuckles as he walks to Mom and silences her with a
kiss, then he says, "I love it when you get all bossy. It's a turn-on."
"Daddy," I shriek. "I don't need to hear that."
"How do you think you were made?" Dad chuckles as he walks out of the room
"God, the older he gets, the more impossible he becomes," Mom mutters as she grabs a tissue and starts to dab it at my cheeks. "You're all blotchy."
"The makeup will cover it." I assure her.
Walking to my dressing table, I sit down. Then 1 pause and look at Mom. "Is there anything emotional you want to tell me
that will make me cry?"
Mom lets out a chuckle as she comes to stand behind me. She adjusts some of the curls falling to the middle of my back. "No, sweetheart. Just enjoy every second of your big day."
A sudden burst of excitement hits, and I jump up to hug Mom. "I'm getting married," I shriek.
She lets out a burst of laughter, then shoves me back down on the stool. "Makeup time. She scrunches her nose. "I
should've hired someone to help you with your hair and makeup"
I shake my head. "Hell no. I want to do it myself and know it's done right. I'd kill the person for the slightest mistake."
"Just like your father," she mutters.
I chuckle, finding it amusing because I'm actually more like her
Violet comes rushing into the room. "Sorry, I'm late. I totally overslept." Her eyes land on me. She hugs my mom
and gives my shoulder a squeeze
"It's okay." I smile at my friend.
Luca's mom joins us, and together we spend the rest of the afternoon getting ready.
My heart is full, and the tears keep threatening to fall as the time to walk down the aisle comes closer.
The past three months have been both difficult and extraordinary. When my cast came off, I was given a leg brace for support. It was a huge relief and although I can't stand for long periods, being able to walk is fantastic and something I'll never take for granted again.
Some function has returned to the ring finger of my right hand. I can't straighten it all the way, but anything is better than nothing. I took the win and made peace with the rest.
Even though there were hard times, Luca never wavered.
Instead, his love for me grew, and he made a point of showing
me every day that I'm the only woman for him.
I'm lucky.
I have everything my heart desires and so much more.
After our mothers and Violet leave the room, Dad appears
in the doorway. Our eyes meet in the mirror's reflection, and
my throat instantly tightens with overwhelming emotion.
"I can't cry," I warm him. "Don't say anything. Just walk me down the aisle." When I turn around, I have to breathe as Dad's eyebrows draw together and tears start to shine in his
eyes
"Christ, printsessa," he rasps. "You look like a vision."
I suck in deep breaths, fanning my face with my hand.
"My makeup."
Pride fills Dad's eyes as he holds out his arm for me to
take. I place my hand in the crook of his arm, and we leave the
room, both doing our best to breathe through the emotions.
We stop just shy of the sliding doors.
We're ready," he tells Violet, who quickly gestures to the intimate orchestra Dad arranged for today.
The opening notes of Pachelbel, Canon in D Major, start to
fill the air
"Oh God," I groan, blinking furiously.
Dad sucks in a deep breath. "It's been my greatest honor raising you, Mariya."
"Daddy," I whimper, the tears starting to flow.
"I might be giving you to Luca, but you'll always be mine."
I can only nod as we step through the sliding doors. My eyes lock on Luca, and then there's no stopping the tears
CHAPTER 42
Luca
I fidget with the rose gold cufflinks and glance at Vikior
"You've got this," he offers me some encouragement. Mom comes down the aisle, and seeing her, has wwallowing hard. She takes Dad, then waves at
I smile at my parents, se glad Mariya and I are getting to celebrate this day with them
When Aunt Bella comes tighurs into a bull of nerves take a scut stonuich
"Fuck, you can face a group of armed mes, but marrying Mariya has you looking like a nervous wreck," Viktor mutters under his breath
I let out a chuckle tight as elegant piano notes silence the guests
I turn to face the aisle, and when my eyes settle on the sliding doors, Mariya and Uncle Alexei step out. A cello joins the pianist, the music so fucking perfect as my bride takes her first step toward ine.
The punch to my heart knocks the breath from me, and for a moment, I sway from the intensity
God, she's so beautiful. I try to memorize the sight of Mariya in the black wedding dress, but I can't focus on anything but her face and the emotion clearly visible with the tears spiraling over her cheeks
My throat strains again, and when the woman I love mate than anything locks eyes with me, I can't hold the emotions in.
A tear escapes, but I couldn't give a fuck. I'm marrying Mariya Koslov, the badass princess, the strongest woman, my vulnerable love
Uncle Alexes stops igit hefore the end of the aisle, which is not planned. Knowing what he wants, I step down the small podium and walk toward them
When I stop in front of them, he says, "I'm giving you my life, Luca.
"Which I'll guard with my own."
Mariya lets out a sob as her father takes hold of her hand and holds it cut to me. "I'm not losing a daughter but gaining a son"
Christ
1 take my bride's hand, and locking with her. I can only stare at her. "You take my breath away, mia regina" I lead her to the podium, where Viktor looks just as
emotional as me
When we'm facing the prest, I give Mariya's hand a squeeze. A shortened version of the ceremony starts, so we
don't keep Mariya standing for too long.
When it's time for our vows. We turn to eachother She flicks a tear away from her her cheeks, then says "I don't know why brides wear makeup we cry it all off"
There's a wave of chuckles froin vur families and friends
Mariya lifts her gaze tu mine, and overflowing with kve she says, "I want you so promise me that every mathing when 1 wake up, you'll be there because I won't survive a day without you. She pauses she sucks in deep breaths, her voice straining as she continues, "I don't want the sun to rise without you, so could you please stay with me until we're old and we've lived every day dus life gave us A tear trickles down her cheeks. "And when time comes, I want you to held my hand because I'm certain God negatiates, and we can get another life together out of the man upstairs"
While the guests chickle again, my eyes rest softly on my
wife, her vows filling every inch of my heart.
"Eleven years ago, I fell in love with an Italian boy. I spent might after night waaving fairytales around him." Another teat escapes my eve, and Mariya reaches up in
brush it away "Thank you for giving me the fairytale love I never imagined I'd have."
We beth breathe for a moment before 1 aty, "I promise to
share every sunrise with you because no day would be worth.
living if I don't see your beautiful face. I take hold of her
hand and, helding it in both of mine, I swallow hard on the imensity of the moment before I continue, "I'll never let you go, Mariya. I'll follow you to the highest heaven and the deepest hell. I'll fight all the gods and all the demons who might stand in our way, I'll burn down this Earth and give you. the universe."
She gasps past a sob, tears falling from her chin to land at our feet.
Stepping closer to her, I wrap my hand around the back of her neck and rest my forehead against hers. "I love you with all that I am. My heart. My body. My entire being." I press a tender kiss to her trembling lips. "You are the light of my life, and I promise to treasure, protect, and love you all the days. I'm given until my last breath."
We exchange rings, and once we're declared husband and wife for a second time, I sweep Mariya up into my arms, bridal style, and demand, "Kiss me, amore mio."
She wraps her arms around my neck, and with a world of happiness shining from her eyes, she takes my mouth with all the passion and love we'll share until the end of our days.
Cheers and applause break out, and I feel Viktor patting my back
When the kiss ends, I stare into Mariya's eyes and stepping off the podium, confetti rains down on us.
I watch as Mariya laughs and catches a piece of black and rose gold confetti, and too soon, we're swept up by guests congratulating us
I put her down on a vacated chair and take a moment between people clamoring for our attention to ask, "How's your leg."
She beams up at me. "It's fine, my husband."
I grin at her like an idiot as I crouch in front of her. "Thank you for marrying me again."
"I'll marry you a million times, Luca. Only you."
"Il mio," I murmur, so fucking proud that I get to call her mine.
Mariya's hands frame my jaws, and she leans forward, sealing our mouths together.
Not giving a single fuck about our family and friends. watching, I kiss my love possessively, desperately, and with the inferno of emotions only she can evoke in me.
CHAPTER 43
Mariya
We arrived at Luca's family home early this morning. We spent our wedding night sleeping on the private jet. Sure we could've delayed the departure by a couple of hours, but we were both in a hurry to start our honeymoon.
I stare out the window at the vast lawn that ends on a cliff. The Mediterranean sea is a stunning shade of blue this morning.
God, I love Italy
Hearing a splash down below, my gaze lowers to the pool. I watch as Luca swims a couple of laps before he lifts his powerful body out of the water.
A smile spreads over my face
Yeah, it was definitely the abs that made me fall head over heels for the man
With Luca's parents visiting mine in LA, we have the villa to ourselves. I strip out of my shorts and tanktop, then leave
the room butt naked.
When I walk through the wide-open glass doors and take the steps down to the lawn, Luca's eyes land on me. He stops patting the waterdrops from his chest and drops the towel.
"Christ, now that's one hell of a sight to see first thing in the morning," he grins.
"Morning, my husband," I say as I reach him. I wrap my arms around his neck and stare up into his darkening eyes.
"Mio marito," He tilts his head. "Italian for my husband."
"Mio marito," I repeat after him.
Luca wraps an arm around my lower back, lifts my feet from the ground, then falls into the water with me.
The moment my head breaks through the surface, I laugh, "Shit, it's cold."
"I'll warm you up soon enough," he growls, his hand slipping between my legs.
"Let's make the water sizzle," I moan before slamming my mouth to his
I savor his lips kneading and tasting mine as he slowly slips his middle finger in and out of me.
I brush a hand down his chest until my palm lays flat over his abs, drinking in the feel of the muscles rippling as he moves us to the side of the pool where it's not so deep.
Luca shoves his swimming trunks down, and freeing his deliciously hard length, he enters me hard, the water splashing over the edging.
I hold on tight as my husband fills me with his love, and we connect on the intimate level I need more than the physical touch.
His pace is relentless, his lips parted, and the drops trailing over his face, making him look hot as sin.
The things this man does to me. No one would understand even if I tried to explain.
Only he can make my heart thunder in my chest. Only he can make me gasp for air. Only he can give my body pleasure.
It's always been Luca. From the very start, he captured my heart.
My soul chose this man long before my heart knew he would be the love of my life.
With Luca filling me with punishing thrusts, the tension in his features making him look like an Italian God, my orgasm sweeps through my body.
I hold eye contact with him as I moan and whimper, relishing in our special connection.
"Thank you for making my dreams come true," I gasp, my lips brushing against his.
Luca comes hard, his arms locking around me like steel bands. I feel his groans on my mouth, his cock jerking deep inside me, his body pressed hard against mine.
Once the pleasure fades, he tenderly nips at my lips. "I'm so fucking glad you fell in love with me."
I smile against his mouth, our breaths one. "Have you seen your abs?"
Luca lets out a chuckle as he pulls out of me. "Christ, i better not let myself go."
We move through the water that now feels warm, caressing our bodies with soft fingers. "Don't be silly. I don't just love you for your abs."
He raises an eyebrow at me. "Yeah?"
Slowly i shake my head, then I start to pepper his face with kisses. "I love your arms and hands." Kiss. "I love your cock. A lot" Luca laughs, then I continue, "I love your brilliant mind." I lock eyes with him. "I love how ruthless you are when it comes to our enemies and how gentle and loving you are with me. Kiss. "I love that I'm the only woman you look at." Kiss. "How possessive you are of me." Kiss. "But above all, 1 love the way your intensity wraps around me until you're all I can think about." Kiss. "Having your attention on me makes it feel like a spotlight shining on me."
His eyes are filled with satisfaction as he stares at me. "You fill me with so much awe, Mariya."
I hug him, just floating with him in the water as the sun rises higher in the sky.
"You know what my dad said before the wedding?"
"Tell me."
"That I chose well," 1 murmur. "I always get what I want, and for years I thought you'd be the one thing I couldn't have, but my soul chose you, and I just couldn't let go."
"I'm glad you never gave up on your love for me," he says as he brushes wet strands from my face. "If I had known how you felt, I would've married you the day you turned eighteen." I scrunch my nose. "And miss out on all the fun of pining after each other?"
"Fuck yes," he chuckles.
CHAPTER 44
Luca
After I checked in with my men here at home and showed Mariya some of my favorite sights, we took our private jet to the Netherlands.
The past couple of days has been pure bliss Although I'm constantly on guard and worried about when Pavlović will make his move, I'm doing my best to hide the worry from Mariya
Lying in bed with my wife, safely in my arms, my thoughts revolve around the Serbian man, who's as elusive as fuck.
Mariya presses a kiss to my throat, then to my jaw, groaning, "I want to feel you deep inside me again"
The worry vanishes like mist before the sun as she moves over me, straddling my hips.
"What my woman wants, my woman gets, I chuckle, loving how sexual she is. Even if we argue, she doesn't withhold sex. She allows me to fuck her while she gives me a piece of her mind.
Her eyes are dark with need as she rubs herself on my cock that's ready to please her. I love that we can't get enough of cach other. We've spent the entire night naked in bed, and this probably won't be the last time before sunrise.
Our desire for each other is insatiable.
"So good," she moans, tilting her head back. Her firm breasts and toned stomach are on full display, my hands. burning over her skin.
I'll never get enough of her body.
She takes hold of my cock and positions me at her entrance. Our eyes are locked on each other as she sinks down an inch, only allowing the head to push inside her.
"Christ, are you trying to kill me?" I growl, my hands gripping hold of her curvy hips.
"Do you need me to move?" she teases, her eyes sparkling.
"Fuck yes," I groan as I thrust up, sheathing myself to the hilt inside her exquisite heat. "Fuck." I sit up and wrap my arms around her, holding her tightly to me, chest to chest. Mine.
Mariya wraps her arms around my neck, then purrs, "Fuck me hard, Luca."
My mouth slams down on hers, and I begin to move while she swivels her hips, meeting me thrust for thrust. We set a punishing pace, her nails clawing at my shoulder blades.
I claim her mouth while pounding harder into her, wanting to devour her cries and moans,
She whimpers, and it has me framing her face, our bodies moving as one
Her nails dig deeper as she whimpers again, and it only makes me increase my pace until sweat beads on the back of my neck.
I feel her clench around my cock, her pussy greedy for every inch of me. I push my hand down between us and start to rub the ever-loving shit out of clit.
"Oh God," she whimpers. "Luca. Yes."
Mariya cries into my mouth, and I swallow the sound as i
force her to the edge where she explodes, her body convulsing
and her inner walls clenching the fuck out of my cock
She starts to sob against my lips from the intense orgasm tearing through her, and it fills my entire being with satisfaction and pride.
Only I can make Mariya orgasm. Only I will hear her cries and whimpers as I make her fall apart.
Pulling my hand from between us, I lock eyes with my wife while I fill her with deep and slow thrusts, relishing in the intimacy we're sharing.
"Ti amo, I breathe as I lose myself in every thrust. "So. Fucking. Much."
Her eyes are filled with everything she feels for me as she breathes, "It's always been you. Only you. My heart has never and will never belong to another."
My orgasm sizzles down my spine hefore taking control of my body and rendering me powerless.
Mariya watches as I ride the wave out, a look of awe on her face. "You're so hot when you come for me."
With one last thrust, I bury myself all the way inside her, keeping her body imprisoned against mine until the last of the pleasure fades.
With Mariya's fingers weaved through mine, we walk from stall to stall in a market where various foods and items are on display.
We sample pastries, cheeses, and meats, and Mariya purchases the weirdest shit we'll probably never use. But I let her be, knowing she's happiest when shopping. I'll get a storage facility to keep everything if I have to.
One of my guards drops to the left of us, and I react, grabbing Mariya and shoving her behind a table. Marco is right behind me, pushing at my back so we'll move faster.
"What the hell?" Mariya gasps. She takes one look at me, then her face pales, "Oh, Jesus."
I pull the two Heckler & Kochs from my back and mutter,
"Stay down, baby."
Only then does my heart explode into a wild beat while the shock of the attack shudders through me.
People start to scream, and a shopper is shot in the head while he tries to run for cover, falling face down on the ground. The other shoppers run, some stepping on the lifeless body in their panic.
"Is it a random shooting, like back home, or do you think we're under attack?" Mariya asks.
"He's after us," I breathe as i quickly glance around the table, looking for any possible positions Pavlović could be shooting from. Just as I pull back, a bullet tears through the table cloth near the spot where I was.
"Luca!" Mariya shouts as she yanks me closer to her.
"Don't do that again! Jesus Christ!"
I pull free and, keeping my voice calm, I say, "I've got this, baby. You need to trust me and let me do my job."
Mariya takes deep breaths, calming down as much as she can under the dire circumstances.
"Don't yank me, and just stay next to me, I order, my voice firmer so the words will register with her.
"Okay. Just be careful"
Locking eyes with one of my soldiers, where he's taken cover by a table opposite from ours, I shout, "Find out where the fucker is." Turning my attention to Marco, i order, "No matter what happens, you stay with Mariya." "Yes, boss," he agrees, taking a position behind my wife.
"Give me a gun, Mariva says, her voice tight with tension.
I nod at Marco to hand her one of his guns, then ask her, "When were you last at the shooting range?"
"Last week. It's a weekly date I have with Dad."
Dad. No longer Uncle Alexei
I almost grin, but then another body drops near us.
I can't let more innocent people die. "Mariya, get ready to move."
"Okay"
I stay behind the table as I move toward the other corner, then glance up at the buildings surrounding the market.
I see a glimmer of light reflect from a municipality
building, then yank back just as a bullet slams into the table.
Remembering the escape routes I subconsciously planned out the second I brought Mariya to the market, my eyes lock on the busy street where cars are still moving, oblivious to
what's happening. "We're going to make a run for the street." Mariya presses closer to me, "Don't look back and run for the mall"
"Okay," she murmurs, looking much calmer now that some of the shock has faded.
Fuck, her leg's still healing.
"Duck and run zig-zag." I say as I shove my guns back. into the waistband of my pants.
"Okay"
I take a deep breath, then ask, "Are you ready, baby?""
"Yes"
"Now!" I shout. Mariya's up like a deer, sprinting as fast as she can. I'm right behind her, mirroring every step she takes while keeping my body between her and Pavlović's scope.
When we reach the street, cars swerve to avoid us, horns blare, and glass shatters as Pavlović takes shots at us.
I hear a grunt behind me, and knowing Marco was just hit, I grab hold of Mariya and drag her down behind a large trashcan
So fucking close. Just a couple more feet.
I quickly glance around the trashcan, my arms locking my wife to my chest. Seeing Marco's body on the pavement, anger floods my veins.
Get Mariya to safety, then you can avenge your friend.
"One last sprint, baby," I say, "Straight ahead. Just make it into the mall."
"Okay," she breathes, her face showing signs of pain from the extreme strain on her leg.
"You can do this," I encourage her.
Mariya nods, her tongue darts out to wet her dry lips, then
she trains her eyes on the entrance to the shopping mall.
Pushing to my feet, I yank her up and shove her forward. I stay behind her to take any bullets flying our way while we sprint as fast as Mariya can
Fire spreads down my arm.
Almost there.
Another bullet hits my lower left side, and knowing the fucker is only playing with us, makes rage explode in me.
I shove Mariya inside the mall, glass shatters, and I hear her scream.
CHAPTER 45
Mariya
When the glass shatters, I scream from pure frustration.
Luca grabs hold of my arm, and then I'm airborne as he throws me over his shoulder. Without me holding him back, he runs faster than I can with a healed leg, shoving anyone and everyone out of his way.
My eyes land on the crimson stain soaking through his shirt
"Blood," I cry as I strain against his hold. "Luca, you're bleeding!"
He keeps running until we exit via a different entrance. Finally, he stops, and breaking the side window of a random car, he unlocks the door and shoves me inside.
Luca slams the door shut, and as he runs around the front, 1 quickly unlock the driver's side door. He climbs behind the steering wheel, and luckily the vehicle is an old model, so he manages to hotwire the engine.
Only when the tires are screeching and we're peeling down. the road does he mutter, "I'm fine. He didn't shoot to kill. They're only flesh wounds."
"They? How many?"
His eyes sweep over every inch of me to ensure I didn't get shot, then he answers, "Two, but I'm fine"
Now that we're out of immediate danger the shock of what happened hits. Marco was killed, and who knows how many of the other men.
It's just Luca and me..
My breaths are shallow, while Luca is deadly calm. He used his body as a shield to protect me. Jesus.
I don't know why it surprises me. I know he loves me but seeing with my own eyes that he's willing to die for me... that does something to my soul
"What do we do now?" I ask "If we can get to St Monarch's, we'll be safe."
"I'm going to make sure you get safely on the jet, then I'm going to hunt the fucker and put an end to this."
My eyes widen. "I'm not leaving you!"
"Mariya," he snaps, his eyes locked on the road. "I can't do my job and protect you."
"I can help." I argue. "I've trained for this all my life."
When Luca remains quiet, frustration coils in my chest "I went up against a group of Albanians and survived. You've seen what I can do. Let me help"
He thinks for a moment, then much to my relief, he nods.
He pulls the ear to the side of a road, a channel of water to our left and a neighborhood to our right
Taking out his phone, he pulls up a photo "This is Pavlović It was taken a year ago We're going to ourselves to the teeth and hunt the fucker down."
"Okay"
Together we can take out the threat so we can enjoy the rest of our damn honeymoon.
Watching my man load a clip into his gun is so freaking hot.
Now's not the time, Mariya
But, damn, he looks badass in black cargo pants and a long-sleeve shirt.
Luca lets me clean his flesh wounds and bandage them. 1 didn't even broach the topic of going to the hospital, knowing he wouldn't stand for it.
Thank God.
Luca's phone starts ringing. "It's Viktor," he tells me before taking the call.
We've been waiting for Viktor to track Pavlović, which he's able to do now that the man has surfaced from his hiding place,
Coward. He doesn't have the balls to come face to face with my husband.
Luca puts Viktor on speaker, so I can hear
"I've tracked him from Amsterdam to Utrecht. The last footage I got of him was at a traffic light on Voort... fuck 1 can't pronounce it. I'll text you the name of the damn street."
"Thanks," Luca replies "We're hitting the road now. Let me know if you get new info on his whereabouts"
"I can be there in ten hours if you want to wait for me"
"No, I'm not giving him the chance to get away," Luca snaps. "We're ending this today."
"And Mariya?" Viktor asks.
"I'm going with," I answer.
"Kick ass, little sister," he growls. "Empty your gun in the fucker for me."
"I will," I promise.
Ending the call, Luca and I take our luggage to our rented SUV, then go back to the suite to arm ourselves to the teeth.
Not giving an ounce of shit what the other guests in the hotel will think about the two of us carrying weapons and wearing armored vests, we leave the suite again.
"You look so hot," I mutter as the elevator doors shut behind us.
Luca chuckles as the doors slide open on the third floor, and an elderly lady blinks at us before they shut again.
I let out a sigh, "We definitely won't stay here again."
"Yep," Luca agrees.
The elevator doors open on the first floor, and we step out. People move out of the way, whispers following behind us.
Just like my parents, we'll become the power couple to fear after taking care of Pavlović.
Once we're in the SUV, Luca drives us to Utrecht, only twenty to thirty minutes awav.
Viktor sends us an update
Van Deventerlaan. The Express Holiday Inn.
I type out a quick reply,
Got it. Thanks.
When Luca stops at a red light, I show him the name of the street where Pavlović is. With the help of GPS, we find the motel and slowly drive past it.
"I can go to the reception and pretend I'm a whore. They might give me the asshole's room number."
"There's no fucking way." Luca growls.
"There are easily a hundred rooms in that building. How will we find out which one he's staying in?"
"We're going to wait and watch."
Luca
We only wait two hours until I finally lay eyes on the man who's shown more skill than most in our world.
"Ground floor. Comer room," I mutter.
"I see him," Mariya replies.
"You ready, baby?"
"I was born ready," she mutters as she shoves her car door open
The sun throws colors across the sky as it starts to set, and there aren't many people moving around.
In the back of my mind, I worry why the fucker decided to make an appearance now.
After getting out of the SUV, I say, "Stay behind me."
"Okay,"
I love how Mariya obeys my commands without question. Well, besides, when I asked her to leave me so I could focus on hunting down Pavlović. But she was right, I've seen her in action and know she can hold her own.
Not bothering to take a stealthy approach, I walk toward Pavlović. His eyes lock on us, and slowly he comes to a stop,
his hand reaching behind him. Mine flies up, and the fucker darts to the left.
I break out in a run, my finger squeezing the trigger repeatedly. One bullet slams into his back, but he's wearing an armored vest, the force of the shot only making him stumble before he ducks around a corner,
Mariya manages to keep up with me, and as my shoulder slams into the brick wall when I take cover, she's right behind. me
"You good, baby?"
"Yes. I'll keep up. Do your thing."
I peek around the corner, and not seeing Pavlović, I move forward, my arms up with a gun in each hand.
Movement on a small hill behind the motel catches my eye, and I break out into a run again, setting after Pavlović.
Crossing a quiet street in a residential area, the fucker ducks behind a tree.
Mariya and I take cover behind the low wall of a house on the corner.
"It took you a while," I hear Pavlović shout.
I take a deep breath of air before I reply, "Good move using Kastrati as a decoy."
"Thank you. I thought you'd like it."
I peek over the edge of the wall, and only see Pavlović's head pop out from behind the tree for a second.
Wanting answers to the many questions i have, I ask, "Why go after Europe when you don't have an army to rule it
with?"
"I don't want Europe." There's a moment's silence. "I only want your life."
I frown at Mariya, who looks confused as hell. "Maybe you killed someone close to him?"
"Fuck if I know, I mutter.
Then Pavlović shouts, "You killed my father six years ago."
"I've killed many people," I say as I rise to my feet, done with this fucking cat and mouse game.
"Luca," Mariya hisses, then she stands up, training her weapon on the tree.
"Why stay hidden for so long, only to give your position away today?"
"I wanted you to find me, or you still wouldn't have a fucking clue where I was," he chuckles. "I want to meet face to face so that I can get my revenge." Pavlović quickly peeking around the tree.
"Well, you're shit out of luck." With the barrel of my gun on the tree, I say, "Today, you'll join your father."
Pavlović darts out from behind the tree, and then a fuck- ton of shots are fired between us.
Bullets rattle his body, and he drops to his knees, blood spurting from his mouth in a cough. I keep my weapon trained on him as I walk closer.
A smile spreads over Pavlović's face. "I won't be going alone.
Too late, I see the detonation device in his hand. It's not an armored vest.
Christ
I tum around and run for Mariya, shouting, "Down, baby! Get down."
"Luca!" she screams, darting toward me
A wave of heat blasts into my back as I grab hold of Mariya and dive over a low wall with her. A second. That's all I have before debris flies everywhere, bricks from the wall slamming into me.
I cover Mariya, not feeling the pain immediately.
A hissing sound fills my ears, and disorientated, i lift my head, glancing around us as burning leaves and bark rain down on us
I push myself up, the movement jarring my body. It feels like my back was shredded.
Not thinking of myself, I search my wife's body for any wounds. When I'm sure she's okay, I sit flat on my ass, sucking in deep breaths of air.
People come out of their homes, the owner of the house where we took cover gaping at us with wide eyes.
Mariva lets out a shocked burst of laughter, shakes her head, then focuses her eyes on me. Her lips part, a gasp tearing from her.
She darts up and crouches behind me. "Jesus".
"I'm okay." My back hurts like a fucking bitch.
"The armored vest has been shredded," she tells me before
she starts to peel it from my torso. I feel her hand brush over
my back, then her arms wrap around me, and she presses her face into the back of my neck..
I take it as a good sign. If I were hurt badly, she'd be screaming my head off right now.
Climbing to my feet, I groan, pretty sure the force of the blast cracked a rib or two. "Come, baby, we have to move."
Mariya glances around us, then quickly picks up our guns before gluing herself to my side.
As if nothing happened, we walk away from the scene.
I guess that means we can't come to the Netherlands again, she mutters as she checks over her shoulder.
"Nah, I'll pay a couple of people to cover it up."
"Oh, good. There was still a lot I wanted to see." I chuckle, then flinch
"I saw that!" She starts to inspect me while we're heading over the hill.
"I think I broke a rib. Or two."
She lifts my shirt, making sure I'm not wounded, before saying, "You feel fine otherwise?"
"Yeah, just hanged up." As we near the SUV, I ask, "How are you liking your honeymoon?""
Mariya grins up at me "Dodging bullets and killing our enemies? It wouldn't be our lives if it were any different."
I tug her closer and press a kiss to her mouth. It quickly grows wild until we're devouring each other in front of the motel for all to see
Another enemy is dead.
With my wife by my side, we'll face whoever else comes. at us. We'll win every time, and together we'll rule.