Tempted by Deception (Deception Trilogy #2) - Rina Kent Page 0,89
“Lia…what the fuck did I say about pulling away from me?”
“I just saw you murder another man in cold blood, so excuse me if I don’t want you to touch me with the same hands.”
“If I didn’t kill him, he would’ve fucking killed you and Jeremy. Is that what you want?” My voice rises with every word. It’s the first time I’ve bellowed at her like this, and it doesn’t go unnoticed as unshed tears rush to her lids.
“Do you expect me to see this as normal? I didn’t even get to greet my child properly.”
“You know who I am and what I do, so don’t pretend all of this is news, Lia.”
“I’ll never get used to it if that’s what you’re insinuating.” A sob catches in her throat. “A child can’t live like this.”
“So what are you suggesting?”
A small spark lights the deep blue of her eyes. “We…we can live in another house and you can come visit if you like. We can be normal.”
Humorless laughter bursts from me, one that makes her stiffen. “They already know who you are. The moment you walk out that door, you’ll be murdered or kidnapped and raped to get to me. You’re my wife and that means you belong by my side. So don’t you ever—and I mean fucking ever—think you can get away from me.”
A knock sounds on the door, and it takes everything in me to say in a semi-normal tone, “Come in.”
Ogla walks inside with various supplies and I leave without sparing another glance at Lia. If I do, I’ll be teaching her where she actually belongs, but I can’t do that when other matters are more pressing.
I trust Ogla to take care of her, but I’ll make sure to return as soon as possible.
My blood boils with different things altogether. One, Lia’s foolish belief that she could live away from me, which means she’s been thinking about leaving me all along. Two, the sorry fucks who thought it would be a good idea to attack my wife and child.
Gun in hand, I click the earpiece. “Kolya.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“Where are you?”
“Doing some pesky cleaning.”
“You got rid of them?”
“All but two.”
“Bring them to the guest house.” I’m going to enjoy torturing the answers out of those fuckers before I kill their boss. If need be, I’ll convince Sergei to start an all-out war on them. Lazlo would back me up.
“One of them talked,” Kolya says.
“Already?” I don’t hide the disappointment at Kolya ruining my fun.
“He’s a Spetsnaz fucker.”
“Why would the Rozettis hire Spetsnaz?”
“That’s the thing, Boss. I don’t think the entire hit was orchestrated by the Rozettis. I suspected it at first, but there was too much manpower for their level.”
“Then who is it?”
“He says his contractor never showed his identity. They did a transaction over some app.”
“Mercenary?”
“I believe so.”
Fuck. They really picked the worst day to try and assassinate me.
“Bring him and the other one over.”
“On it, Boss.”
I don’t usually revel in torture, but I’ll enjoy every fucking second of making those assholes talk before I kill them.
No one threatens my family and lives.
I pause at that train of thought.
After Aunt Annika’s death, I considered myself without a family.
This is the first time I’ve felt like I have a family again.
Lia and Jeremy.
If I have to destroy the world and everything in it to keep them safe, so be it.
31
Lia
I rock Jeremy in his crib, smiling at his sleeping form. His tiny fist is curled around my index finger and the other is resting near his neck.
He’s so small and soft and the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. He smells of baby and summer and happy memories.
It’s been five weeks since he came into this world, and sometimes, I still can’t believe that I gave birth to this little human who looks like the purest of angels.
The events surrounding his birth are the subject of my nightmares, though. Every day, I wake up in a cold sweat, imagining Jeremy drowning in a pool of blood.
The recurring nightmare is similar to the one I used to have about breaking my leg before it happened. My subconscious is telling me something, and I’ll be damned if I don’t prevent it this time.
Although I had a strong connection to Jeremy when I was pregnant, the moment I held him in my arms for the first time, something inside me shifted. I’m ready to slaughter the world and everyone in it to keep him safe.