Chapter 22
GRACE
Standing out on the veranda, I watch as the sun sets over the lake.
I’ll never grow tired of this view.
It’s been three weeks since Dominik and I made love for the first time, and my feelings have steadily kept growing.
I think I love him.
We’re so secluded up here in the mountains, living in our own little bubble, I’ve never been more happy in my life.
There are times I forget Dominik is anything other than my hermit.
The wind sweeps my hair away from my face, and wrapping my arms around myself, I rub some warmth into my biceps.
I feel the air shift, and the corner of my mouth lifts.
Dominik’s arms wrap around me, and I lean back against his chest.
“Hi,” he whispers.
“Hi.”
I enjoy the feel of my husband behind me, and thinking he has single-handedly healed me from the trauma Braden inflicted on me, I begin to feel emotional.
He performed a miracle in my life and gave me so much to be thankful for.
Suddenly, the sound of his phone ringing fills the air.
Not wanting him to answer the call, I let out a groan, “Ignore it.”
“I can’t, milá?ik. ” He pulls away from me, and digging the phone out of his cargo pants, he taps on the screen to answer, “Varga speaking.”
When the expression on his face darkens until he looks downright murderous, my stomach sinks.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. Lay low.”
He ends the call, and before I can ask what happened, he sends a voice message to Evinka, “Bring the private jet. We need to get our asses to Peru. We were attacked, and the bratva took over the factory in Puerto De Lomas. Bring extra weapons.”
He sends the message, and clenching his jaw, he turns away from me.
I dart forward and take hold of his arm. “Are you okay?”
He keeps his face turned away while growling, “Go pack a bag for us, Grace. We need to leave.”
“Hey,” I murmur as I place my palm on his jaw, nudging him to meet my eyes. “Why won’t you look at me?”
“Because I’m angry as fuck.”
“Dominik,” I whisper lovingly. “It’s okay. I understand you’re pissed off, and it’s not directed at me.”
Finally, he lets me turn his head, and I stare up at my husband, whose expression is nothing short of fire and brimstone.
Even though I’m confident he won’t hurt me, fear still slithers down my spine.
“You will do exactly as I say during this trip,” he orders.
“Yes.”
He lifts his arm and wraps his fingers around my throat, and pressing his forehead to mine, he says, “If shit goes down, just stay by my side or with Evinka. No matter what happens.”
“Okay,” I breathe.
He gives me a hard kiss then pushes me toward the sliding doors. “Go pack. We’re leaving in an hour.”
As I walk away, I hear him send another voice message, “My factory in Peru has been taken by the bratva. I expect you all there with your men to retake what’s mine. I’ll send the address.”
The message must be to the alliance members. I guess we’ll find out if they’re all really in or out.
I rush to our bedroom, and yanking a bag out of the closet, I quickly place it on the bed and begin to pack three sets of clothes for each of us. If we need anything else, we can always just buy more.
When I’m done adding our toiletries, I quickly change into a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a pair of boots. If there’s a chance I might have to run, I’m not doing it in high heels.
Pushing the bag out of the bedroom, I notice the door to Dominik’s office is open, and when I peek inside, it’s to see him grabbing guns and knives from a cabinet.
I leave the luggage in the hallway and step inside. “Can I have a knife?”
His eyes flick to me. “You don’t want a gun?”
I shake my head. “I’ve never handled one.”
“We’ll fix that once we’re home,” he grumbles, looking like a thundercloud. He comes toward me, and crouching, he straps a holder around my right thigh and tucks a knife into it.
Glancing up at me, he asks, “Comfortable?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
As he rises to his feet, he says, “Stab any fucker who dares to get close to you.”
“Okay.”
I watch as he throws the weapons into a duffle bag before I head out of the office, pushing the luggage down the hallway. At the top of the stairs, Dominik grabs the luggage and carries it down.
I hurry to the front door and key in the code before pushing it open so he can just keep walking. As I pull the door shut, I glance into our home, hoping we’ll both come back in one piece.
I rush to catch up to Dominik, and as we head to the Hummer, I’m thankful he isn’t leaving me behind. I would lose my mind with worry, but at least this way, I’ll be with him at all times.
“Thank you for bringing me along to your meetings and missions.”
“You have to learn about the business,” he mutters. “If something happens to me and Evinka, I want you in a position where you can take over.”
“Nothing will happen to you,” I grumble.
“Not anytime soon,” he says as we reach the vehicle.
I climb into the passenger side while he puts the luggage and weapons in the trunk.
When he gets in behind the steering wheel, I place my hand on his thigh and say, “You’ll get your factory back.”
“The fuckers messed with the wrong person.” He starts the engine, and making a U-turn, he steers the Hummer down the dirt road. “Worst mistake they could’ve made.”
The danger in his tone has my heart beating faster, and I’m so glad he loves me and I’m not his enemy.
We’re flying directly to Peru, totally skipping a layover.
There’s no sign of my loving husband as he talks to Evinka. “They’ll have access to missiles and grenades.”
She signs something, to which he replies, “You’re staying with Grace.”
She shakes her head hard, and her hands move fast.
“The alliance will be there in time to back me up,” he snaps angrily. “I’m not leaving Grace alone while we’re fighting a fucking war.”
Evinka signs something again, anger tightening her features.
“No, I’m not leaving her with the guards. You’re the only person I trust with her,” Dominik mutters.
“Can’t I stay with you?” I ask, not liking the sound of being separated from him.
“Not when we attack the factory. There’s a chance the place might blow up with all the missiles and grenades being produced there.”
“Then, at least take Evinka with you. You need her more than I do.”
“ Jebat , Grace! Enough!” he shouts, making me startle in my seat.
The moment Dominik raises his voice at me, remorse tightens his features. In a heartbeat, he stalks to me and kneels down on one knee in front of my seat. Grabbing my hands in his, he’s much calmer when he says, “I’m sorry, moja láska . Forgive me.”
He presses a kiss to the back of my hand giving me a pleading look.
Pulling my hands free from his, I frame his jaw and give him a soft kiss on his mouth before saying, “I understand that you’re under a lot of pressure. Just don’t do it again.”
He lets out a heavy breath, and it sounds as if it’s dragged from his soul.
I need him to take a break so he can recharge a little, and knowing the only way he won’t argue, I murmur, “Sit with me for a while. I need you to hold me.”
Dominik moves to his seat beside mine, and placing his arm around my shoulders, he pulls me to his chest. I quickly wrap my arm around his waist, squeezing him tightly while pressing kisses to his neck.
Suddenly, he unclasps my seat belt and shifts me onto his lap. Wrapping me in a tight embrace, his body curves around mine and he cradles me as if I’m the most precious thing to him.
His breath shudders from his chest, and I wrap my arms around his neck. Knowing he loves it, I lightly drag my fingers through his hair.
I feel how he relaxes, and I hold him for as long as he allows me.
When the pilots announce that we’re starting our descent, I pull away from Dominik and move back to my own seat.
While I put on my seat belt again, he tells Evinka, “Please stay with Grace. There’s no one else I trust.”
I watch as Evinka lets out a sigh before nodding.
She signs something that has Dominik replying, “Yeah, I know you’re not happy, but it will make me feel better.”
As soon as the plane touches down, Dominik and Evinka get up from their seats, and I watch as they each arm themselves to the teeth. After they’ve put on armored vests, Dominik brings me one as well.
I quickly get up and let him strap the bulky thing onto me.
When he’s done, he picks up a machine gun and places the strap across his chest so he has easy access to the weapon.
The sight makes my abdomen tighten with desire.
We need to role-play him saving me again, so I can show him how grateful I am.
Dominik glances at me, then shaking his head, a dark chuckle slips over his lips. “Now is not the time to look at me like that.”
“Oops,” I murmur as a seductive grin tugs at my mouth. “I can’t help myself when you look so hot.”
“ Jebat ,” he mutters, then he notices Evinka chuckling silently. “Wipe that smile off your face, Evinka.”
She grins at me before heading to the door to open it.
The guards disembark first, and Evinka follows them. Dominik walks ahead of me, and as we descend the stairs, something pings into the metal railing right beside me.
Before I can comprehend what’s happening, Dominik’s arm wraps around my waist, and my body goes airborne as he flings us over the side of the staircase.
Gunfire erupts all around us, one bullet after the other hitting the plane.
I brace for the fall, but Dominik takes the brunt of it, giving me a much softer landing on his chest.
“ Z kurvy syn ,” he hisses as he quickly leaps to his feet with me pressed firmly to his chest.
When he starts to run, I cling to him, and I can’t help but shriek when bullets hit the tarmac dangerously close to us.
Oh God!
The next moment, fire and intense heat explode from the private jet, and I slam hard against the tarmac as Dominik throws himself over me.
Jesus.
I gasp for air as I struggle to process the shock that we’re under attack. My breaths burst over my lips while my heart thunders in my chest.
God, we were almost blown to pieces.
I’m yanked up again, and this time, Dominik hauls me over his shoulder before he runs toward the SUVs. When he returns fire, the blasts of his machine gun make my ears ring.
Barely able to lift my head with all the jostling, I catch a glimpse of Evinka practically flying through the air before she wraps her legs around a man’s neck. I hear a sickening crack, and the man drops dead on the tarmac.
Holy shit.
There’s another explosion, then I’m hauled down the front of Dominik, and he uses his body to shield me.
Where Evinka is all badass superwoman, I’m nothing but a rag doll who’s in the way.
I hate it. The moment we’re home, I want Dominik to train me.
I’m shoved behind his back and still catching my breath from being tossed around, I watch as Dominik runs toward two men who are storming us.
Shit. It’s two against one.
I grab my knife from the holster strapped to my thigh, but before I can take a step forward, Dominik slams his palm into the first guy’s chest and sends him flying backward.
What the hell was that move?
Suddenly, he spins his body into the air, and his foot connects with the other assailant, knocking him out cold.
Grabbing the machine gun that’s attached to a strap around his chest, Dominik opens fire on the two men, riddling them with bullets.
I’ve seen people being killed and dead bodies before, especially while I was married to Braden, but it still gets to me. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to watching someone die.
Dominik grabs my hand, and I run as fast as possible so I don’t hold him back. When we reach the SUV, he yanks the back door open before shoving me inside. “Get down and stay down!”
I quickly squeeze my body into the space between the seats, and seconds later, Dominik climbs into the passenger seat while Evinka slides behind the steering wheel.
“Go, go, go!” Dominik shouts as he lowers his window.
The tires squeal when the SUV shoots forward, racing away from the chaos on the tarmac.
I gasp for air and realize my heart is beating so fast it’s nothing but a fluttering mess in my chest.