21. Viktoria
21
VIKTORIA
“ N o, no, no,” I whispered over and over. I dropped to the floor, Lee cradled in my arms. The blood drained from my head, and I blinked at the darkness trying to impede my vision. “Lee!” I shouted, squirming to free my legs from under his body.
Lee groaned as two men knelt beside him. They looked so much like him that they had to be his brothers. The one with the longer hair ripped Lee’s shirt from his pants and forced it up. The one with the crew cut ran his hands over Lee’s body armor.
Lee let out a wheeze. “ Goddamn, it hurts. What happened to Katrin?”
“Tied her up,” said Crew Cut. “She’s neutralized.” He moved Lee’s shirt higher, revealing a bullet hole in his armor, right over Lee’s shoulder blade. “You’re fine,” he declared. “Bullet’s lodged in the Kevlar.”
Lee’s other brother slapped his bicep. “Stop being a wimp in front of your woman.”
Lee coughed again and planted his hands on the rug. “Who’re you calling a wimp? That’s going to leave a mark for at least a month.” Sitting up gingerly, he rolled his arm. “Don’t call Viktoria ‘my woman.’” His amber eyes flashed, landing on me. “After witnessing her skill with a blade, I’m afraid she’ll cut off something I prize. She’s made it clear my place is?—”
“At my side,” I interrupted, leaning in close. “If you’d stop hurling accusations at me for one minute and let me talk, I’d finally be able to tell you that I’d love to be your woman, but only if you’ll be my man.”
“What?” He blinked, resting his elbows on his knees. “Did Katrin drug you? Did you get hit in the head? The way we left things…you’re not making any sense.” He gripped his hands together. “On the plane, you made it clear I’m just the help. I’m not like you, don’t know you, don’t understand your life.” He shot me a look. “I call BS on that, by the way. I know you better than you think.”
Remorse shot through me. “I know you do.” I reached for his hands. “You’ve always seen me . Those things I said…I was scared and lashed out.” Time to just put it all out there . “I’m falling for you, Lee McCallister. It feels right when I’m with you, and I don’t want to you to walk away from me.”
His jaw dropped open. “But I heard you and Katrin?—”
“No,” I snapped, shaking my head. “You heard Katrin . I never agreed with anything she said, but I couldn’t say anything during the party.” Fury whipped through me. So many horrible things had happened thanks to that stupid fashion show. “Those people like to gossip—rich people, you know. It’s like high school never ended. If I’d defended you, the gossip would have spread like wildfire.” I bit my lip, pushing the betrayal and loss to the side. I needed to focus on the one positive thing I had left. “I didn’t know how you felt about me, and what we had was so new. I didn’t want to put you in a position that made you uncomfortable?—”
He pulled me forward by the back of my neck and kissed me. Softly. Slowly.
I answered his gentle kiss with my own. Telling him with my mouth how much I meant my words.
Breaking the kiss, he breathed against my lips, “Tell me again.”
It took a second to figure out which part, then I grinned. “I’m falling for you, Lee McCallister. My beautiful heathen. My perfect match. I’m trying to be courageous enough to hold on to you with both hands.”
The smile that spread across his face lit him up completely and melted me thoroughly. “And I’m falling for you, Viktoria Jonsdottir. My gorgeous warrior woman. I want you to own me as much as I want to own you.”
Peace descended over me, and I sat back. My entire world had imploded, but I knew I’d be able to handle it with this amazing man at my side.
Movement caught my eye, reminding me we weren’t alone. Heat flamed in my cheeks. I’d forgotten about his brothers, who were both grinning like Cheshire cats. “Um…” I got to my feet as regally as I could. “Hi. I’m Viktoria Jonsdottir.” I smoothed a hand over my T-shirt and grimaced. I didn’t want to know how disheveled I was.
“We know,” Crew Cut chimed in a sing-song voice. “I’m Harris McCallister, Lee’s wiser and cooler older brother.” He shook my hand.
“Oh!” I clasped his hand. “The brand-new, soon-to-be daddy. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” The way his face lit up told me the man was over the moon about becoming a father.
“Chance McCallister.” The longer-haired one thrust his hand toward me. “The oldest of the bunch and the most sane.” The handshake was quick and firm. “I hate to break this up, but I told Brady to call the cops. We want to be gone before the tranquilizers wear off or more guards show up.”
Harris helped Lee to his feet.
A devilish light sparked in Lee’s eyes as he gathered the tranq gun I had dropped to fight off Katrin. “I think I’m having second thoughts.” He motioned to all the unconscious bodies littering the floor. “If this is what life with you is like, well…”
I shrugged and played along. “I’d say this is no more than a bi-annual occurrence.”
Everyone laughed like I’d hoped. Today had not been normal by any means, and I prayed I never had another day like it, save one detail. Entwining my hand with Lee’s, I allowed him to lead me through the French doors to the pool deck.
Keeping to the shadows, I followed the brothers as they stole across the lawn and out through a gap in the fence. I squeezed Lee’s palm as we raced along. “I want you to meet my father.”
Lee shot me a double look and slowed to a jog. “I’m not sure now is the time. Besides, your father kind of hates me for letting you get kidnapped.”
I fought off a storm of emotion—sadness, anger, betrayal, a new sense of freedom. “I need to fill you in on the details, but now is the only time we have. Father might be going to jail.” I couldn’t believe I’d just said that, but it was true.
Lee tripped. “What?”
“I’ll explain, I promise. I just don’t think you two should meet for the first time in a prison visiting room. It’s just wrong.”
“If that’s what you want,” Lee answered, confusion, skepticism, and protectiveness showing in his expression. “But even in prison, I can guarantee I’m not the kind of guy Jon Aronsson had in mind for his daughter.”
“No, you’re not,” I truthfully answered, glad to be free of my father’s expectations. “But I couldn’t care less what he thinks anymore. Why should I be the perfect daughter of an imperfect father? I don’t have to hold myself to an unachievable standard.” Warmth rose inside me, and I embraced my growing feelings for this man. “But someone taught me a valuable lesson today. From now on, I’ll be filling my life with what makes me happy, not just responsibilities. Not just business, just work.”
“One of the best things I’ve heard all day,” Lee answered as we plunged through a small stand of trees.
The SUV was waiting on a quiet road. Chance climbed in the front. Harris took the left passenger seat, while Lee helped me up to sit between him and Harris.
I assumed the big Black man in the driver’s seat to be Chance’s friend Brady, but he didn’t say a word. He just hit the gas. Seconds later, sirens filled the night as cop cars raced past us on their way to the mansion.
“I swear,” Harris griped, “we can’t take Lee anywhere.”
“Tell me about it,” Chance grumbled, turning in his seat, his eyes sparkling. “His dates always end up like this.”
“Ha. Ha.” Lee shot each of them the finger.
“True.” Harris pointed at Chance. “But the sword fight was new.”
“A very nice touch.” Chance slapped Lee’s knee. “Usually it’s just boring ol’ gunfights…”
I placed my lips close to Lee’s ear. “Thank you for coming to get me. Seriously. Thank you.”
Turning to face me, his exotic eyes darkened. “Always. I promise.”