will never change. Determination for the things I want and the people I love will be something that I never let go of.
Ella’s eyes light up. “Yes, that would be so fun. Xander and I are considering putting a pool in so maybe after we get that done?”
“Now, now, don’t be getting ahead of yourselves, we need to plan accordingly,” Ivan warns, and I merely roll my eyes at him. Such an overprotective bear. I can’t help but love him. I lift my gaze to Xander. I don’t know all that him and Ella endured to get their happily ever after, but I’m sure it was just as much as Ivan and I had endured.
“Thank you for keeping her safe, for finding her…” I trail off, feeling tears sting my eyes. Xander’s face is devoid of emotion so I have no idea what he’s thinking but it doesn’t matter to me. I don’t care, not really. All that matters is that I said what I wanted to say.
“Things weren’t easy at first, and I’ll save you the story of how shitty of a man I was to your sister in the beginning, but I can promise you that I’ll always care for her, love her, and make sure she’s well protected. So long as I’m alive, no harm will come to her. I promise you that.”
I nod, feeling my heart beat out of my chest.
Happily ever afters were something I lost hope in not long ago, but looking at the three people sitting at the table with me, at the man who safe guarded me and risked his life for me, I know that they exist.
I know because I’m now living my own happily ever after.
The End
Tame Me
Book Four
She was a broken angel that had the light beat right out of her.
I was the man responsible for her life, her protector…
Rescued by my brother and shoved into my arms, I never expected to fall for the fragile woman with soft eyes and lips that begged to be kissed.
I know what she saw when she looked at me; a ruthless fighter, a man with a broken past, too far gone to be reached, sinking deeper and deeper into the darkness.
Still, somehow her light reached me, the innocence inside her called to me and the moment her soul touched mine I was tamed, ensnared in her love.
But love comes at a cost, and in our world, you pay with your life. With all the danger surrounding us, I don’t know if I can protect her. Not only from myself, but also from a past that refuses to let go.
Prologue
Sophie
I feel nothing, even though I know I should feel something…anything. Maybe I numbed myself because my body can’t handle any more pain…or maybe I’m just broken. My body and my soul…broken beyond repair.
I stopped feeling anything a few days ago. I don't know exactly how long because I haven't been able to keep track of time. Hours bleed together in this cell, like an endless string of useless time.
Feeling nothing is better than the overwhelming pain and all-consuming dread.
How could my family do this to me? How could they just forsaken me this way, discard me like I’m nothing?
There was a time, not long ago, where praying would have been my answer. I would pray for the pain to go away, pray for my family to take me back, pray for strength to forgive them…
But after everything, after the beatings, being sold for money, my family took that faith from me. I never doubted anything they said. I believed in all they taught me, just to find that all of it was a lie.
My whole life a charade—a means to an end.
All my parents ever wanted was the money and power.
I see this now, but it’s too late.
Now I’m broken, my heart and mind fractured straight down the middle, and there’s nothing that can heal that kind of misery.
23
Roman
All eyes are on Ivan and me as we make our very first round through the compound he used to run for Rossi. Now that Rossi is dead, Ivan’s taken over the whole fucking operation. Big money is made in this place. All the high-dollar shit is made, kept, and processed here. A lot of things are changing, and a lot of these assholes don't like change.
You know what I say to that? Fuck them.
I groan at the shit Ivan made me wear. My muscles and torso feel so constricted, like I’m wearing a damn