Chapter 18 - In the Crossfire
|
Sirens wailed in the distance. The NYPD was coming, but they wouldn't arrest us. Victor owned the police commissioner. Ethan Caldwell, however, was going to spend the rest of his life in a federal prison for attempted murder.
Victor threw his tuxedo jacket over my shoulders, hiding the pistol as Marco rushed us out the back service exit of the hotel.
“Are you hurt?” Victor demanded as he shoved me into the back of the waiting armored Maybach.
“No, I’m fine,” I gasped, the adrenaline finally crashing, leaving me shaking violently. “I shot him, Victor. I actually shot a man.”
Victor slid in beside me, pulling me into his lap. He held me tightly, rocking me as the car sped away from the chaos.
“You saved my life,” Victor murmured into my hair. “You saved my life, Anna.”
We didn't go back to the estate. It was too predictable. Marco drove us to a highly secure, undisclosed safe house in Brooklyn—an industrial loft heavily fortified with steel doors and bulletproof glass.
Once inside, Victor poured a heavy glass of scotch and handed it to me. I downed it in one burning gulp.
Victor paced the floor, running a hand through his dark hair. The calm, calculated mafia boss was gone, replaced by a man deeply shaken by how close he had come to losing everything.
“I should have killed him in the club,” Victor growled, slamming his fist against the brick wall. “I let him live, and he almost took you away from me.”
“He didn't,” I said softly, setting the glass down. I walked over to him, placing my hands on his chest, feeling the frantic, heavy beat of his heart. “I’m right here.”
Victor looked down at me, his eyes dark and tormented.
“I brought you into a world of violence, Anna,” he whispered, his voice cracking with guilt. “You were supposed to be safe with me, and instead, you had to pull a trigger to protect me.”
“I pulled the trigger because I love you,” I said, the truth finally spilling out of my mouth.
May you like
Victor froze. He stared at me, the words echoing in the quiet loft.
Then, he crushed his mouth against mine, lifting me off my feet, the desperation and fear turning into a burning, undeniable passion.
