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She trusted him. She worried, but she did trust him. "I'm in your arms naked, aren't I?"

"You are." He kissed her again. "And you love me."

He kept repeating that. Had he not known? "I do." She kissed him back, focusing all her love in that kiss.

Another damn early morning. Nik paced within the small room, a pack of his best men watching him. "Chan done with his preparations?"

"Yes, Boss." Pavel folded his massive arms.

They had a copy of the floor plans, a map of Chan's land. The men knew where they'd be positioned. They'd have snipers and ground crew and even a man in the air. Was there anything they missed?

"Have a team look over the grounds as soon as we arrive." Nik didn't trust Chan. He didn't doubt that the house would be locked down. Chan was paranoid, lately doubly so, fearing the assassin was after him, not Tatyana. What concerned Nik was that protecting Tatyana wouldn't be Chan's first priority.

She was his first priority. She loved him. Him. Not his wealth, that didn't impress his Walmart-shopping girl. Not his family, she saw them as much of a pain in the ass as he did.

But him.

He wouldn't lose her.

"You have the vests?" Nik asked again. The bullet proof vests weren't much protection against a trained killer, but they were better than nothing.

"Yes, Boss."

"Grandfather's limo?" Grandfather's vehicle was a moving safe room. So secure it could possibly survive a nuclear bomb. That he offered it for Tatyana's transport signaled how concerned he was.

"Guarded and waiting by the private entrance, Boss."

His phone hummed against his hip. Nik glanced down at the screen. A text message from Boris. Tatyana was ready.

Time for the pep talk. He stood, hands folded behind his back. "Today, we face a threat to our family," Nik addressed his men. "A serious threat. You are the best of the best and this best will be tested. We cannot make mistakes. If we make mistakes, family members will die." He paused, allowing that thought to sink in, before continuing. "Our goal is to stop this asshole and we will stop him. But not by putting our women at risk. Our first priority today is to protect my fiancee, is that clear?"

The men rumbled uneasily. Did they have a problem with those orders? "What the fuck is it?"

Pavel stepped forward as spokesperson. "Sergei communicated that you were to be protected at all costs, Boss."

That interfering old man. "You report to me, not to my grandfather. I would protect your wives before I protected you. I expect you to protect my fiancee before you protect me, understand?" He looked at each man, ensuring they nodded agreement before his gaze settled on Pavel.

"Understood, Boss." The big man's eyes glittered.

He was laughing at him. Because his feelings for the brat showed. Nik glowered. "I can protect my own damn self." And he'd protect Tatyana, too.

"Yes, Boss."

Eight

"The best protection a family has is preparation."ȄSergei Kaerta
Perched on Nikky's knee, Tatyana squirmed. "This vest is uncomfortable." It was hot and heavy.

"A bullet in your gut is more uncomfortable, Brat." Nikky surveyed the collection of guns on the limo's leather seat.

"I could move faster if I didn't wear it." The vest had to weigh at least ten pounds. She wouldn't be able to run with it on.

He strapped the harness with a holster and ammo carrier around her shoulders. "If you don't wear yours, I won't wear mine."

He'd used that threat on her all morning. She sighed. The problem was...it worked. "You're a bossy man, you know that?"

"But you love me." He picked up a small gun, balancing it in his palm.

"But I love you." If she was to be so open about loving him, just once she'd like to hear 'I love you' from him. She wouldn't hear those words. Tatyana glanced across from them.

Pavel talked into a phone. Boris grinned at her. At least, not now. Not in front of his men.

Nikky set the gun down and picked up another. "One gun or two?"

"One. If you want me to remain upright, I can't carry much more." She already had her bra stuffed with plastic wrapped dressings laced with hemostatic agent, her pants pockets full of gauze and bandages. "And I'd like it to be the gun I used in the shooting range. I know where the trigger is on that one." Some of the weapons looked too complicated to use.

Boris chuckled.

Nikky's head snapped up. "You think this is a laughing matter?"

The laughter stopped. "No, Boss."

"Because this isn't. People are going to die today." Tatyana shivered at the certainty in his voice. "One of those people better not be my fiancee." Nikky picked up the gun she was familiar with. "This is loaded and ready to go, so be careful." He tucked it into the holster.

"I'll try not to shoot your ass." It was only half a joke. Her aim was good with a target, but she doubted the man coming after them would be standing still.

"Language, Brat." The car slowed. They were already there. Tatyana had hoped the drive would go on and on.

"Nikky."

"No need to worry." He gathered her hair up in his hands, moving it to the side, kissing her exposed neck. "I'll protect you."

But who would protect him? Every loved one had faced death and died. Everyone. Why would Nikky be any different? "Nikky." Her grip on him tightened.

"You'll be fine." Nikky gently extracted his hand. "Stay here. I need to talk to Chan." He brushed her lips with his.

Tatyana needed to talk to Pavel and Boris. She would have liked to talk to Ivan also, but he sat up front with the driver.

The door closed. Nikky and Chan talked outside the vehicle, hands flying. She couldn't see Nikky's face, his back to her. Would she ever see his face again? After today?

"Keep an eye on him, Pavel. You too, Boris." She studied the bodyguards. "No matter what happens to me, protect Nikky."

Boris turned to Nikky's top man as if for direction. Pavel's chest heaved. "Are you going to let him out of your sight?"

Tatyana scowled. What kind of stupid question was that? "Of course not. The ass'll do something idiotic and get himself killed."

A glimmer of a smile balanced on scarred lips. "I doubt the boss will leave your side until this is done, so if we protect one of you, we'll protect the other."

"As long as that one is Nikky, I don't care." She didn't have time to argue. Nikky would return any minute. "This is his medical information." She tapped the file folder tucked into the door pocket. "The nearest hospital isȄ"

"No need." One huge hand raised, palm facing her. "We have a medical team standing by."

"There's a letter in there." She wrote it this morning. She didn't want Nikky blaming himself if anything went wrong. "If something happens to me..." Her words wobbled.

"I'll see that he gets it."

"If he needs blood, I'm a universal donor. No matter what state I'm in." She'd give up her life for his.

"We have pints on site, ready."

They had everything covered, didn't they? But then, she had thought that before and people still died. "If the ass dies, I'm going to be pissed."

"He won't die." That would have been more reassuring if Pavel met her gaze. Why couldn't he look at her? Because Nikky could die? Tatyana's hands twisted.

"The boss has been in worst situations," Boris volunteered.

"Then this is normal for him?" Tatyana's voice rose. He put his life on the line all the time?

Like hell she was going toȄ

Pavel groaned. "Not normal."

The door opened. Nikky ducked into the car, his handsome face grim. "Come, Tatyana." He offered his hand to her.

She took it, allowing him to pull her up. "You're not to take stupid risks, you hear me?"

A chuckle rolled behind Nikky. "Hush, Brat. Everyone heard you." His embrace was fast and hard, the vest blocking some of his comforting warmth. "I know what I'm doing."

"Because you do this all the time." She glared at him. One of these days, he'd get his fool ass killed and see if she cried for him then.

"Yes, because I do this all the time." But he lied. His eyes darkened.

"Don't you dare die on me, Nikky." She gripped his lapels.

"I'm not going to die." He kissed her quickly and turned her around, pushing her forward.

"You remember Joey Chan."

The ass was dismissing her. Her. Fine. The hell with him. She stepped toward his enemy.

She didn't need him.

Chan's lips curved into a grin as though he knew what she was doing. "Miss Tatyana." He raised her hand to kiss it. "You are a ray of sunshine today." Laughter lurked in those dark eyes.

Nikky hadn't found her neon yellow shirt humorous. She tossed the ass a defiant glance before smiling sweetly at the pock-faced man. "I thought about wearing a bull's-eye." As she was the target today.

Chan laughed. "Your Tatyana has a sense of humor, Kaerta."

"I'm not his Tatyana." She gave Nikky another scornful look.

"Brat." A growl.

"I'm my own woman and I refuse to love someone intent on dying. I've seen enough death, damn it." She tucked her hand into Chan's arm.

"Language, Brat."

"She's intelligent, also." Chan commented like she couldn't hear him. "Love only causes pain. Better to make decisions with your brain, not your heart." He patted her hand. "Shall we?" He led her into the house, Nikky's men in front and behind them.

"Welcome to my humble home." Chan waved a hand.

Humble? She peered up at the huge chandelier. His home was a mansion. No, Tatyana remembered the gates and guards, it was a fortress. Would Nikky's future home be as intimidating? Not that he'd live long enough to have one. She glared over her shoulder.

Nikky glared back, his brown eyes stormy with emotion.

"I only regret your visit is under these circumstances," their host continued, as though unaware of the undercurrents.

"This isn't a social visit, Chan. Save the tour for your other women." Nikky's jaw ground.

"Pavel, are the men in position?"

"Yes, Boss."

It was one thing to dismiss her, but now he was dismissing Chan, the man who was opening his home up to them, to this. The least they could do was be polite. "It's a gorgeous house,"

Tatyana cooed, giving her best impression of awe. "Very big."

"Too big for one person." Chan leaned closer to her as they walked.

One person because his wife was dead. He'd killed her. His tiny, pregnant wife. No, she'd killed her. Tatyana looked down at her hands. Would blood cover them again today?

Nikky's blood?

"Too big to easily protect." She'd forced this confrontation. Had she made a mistake? Killed them all?

"My home is secure." Chan straightened. "You don't have to worry, Miss Tatyana."

"People keep telling me that," she grumbled. She didn't believe them. They didn't know what they were up against. She did. "DeathȄ"

"Tatyana," Nikky warned her to stay quiet.

They stopped at the largest office Tatyana had ever seen in a private home.

"This is it?" Nikky prowled around the perimeter, books lining the walls. "The safest room in the house?"

"No." The mobster chuckled. "The safest room in the house is my bedroom. If you'd like her positioned there, I can accommodate you."

Men were such idiots. All this arrogant posturing with a killer nearby.

"This is not a joke." Nikky's face darkened.

Her fiance was spoiling for a fight. Soon, too soon, he'd get one. Tatyana moved toward the huge picture windows, looking out at the green lawn, the perfectly groomed trees. There was a flash of something like sun reflecting off metal. Metal. A gun. "Could he shoot Nikky from across the lawn?"

"Bullet proof glass." Chan tapped on a pane. "Your Nikky is safe. Sorry." He held up both hands. "Not your Nikky. I forgot you won't love someone whose job involves death."

"Someone intent on dying." Many jobs involved death. "There's a difference."

"Is there? No one is intent on dying. No one puts themselves at risk recklessly. We do what we have to do." A shrug.

For the safety of the family. Nikky looked grim. He wasn't enjoying this any more than she was. Tatyana drifted closer to him. He was doing what he had to do and she wasn't making it any easier on him.

"I worry," she admitted, slipping her hand in his. "Because I love you." She needed him to know that.

"I know." Nikky kissed her, a gentle, soft brush against her lips. "Courage, Brat. We can do this."

Nikky didn't release her hand as he discussed entry options with Chan. His palm was rough and warm and comforting. He wouldn't die, Tatyana told herself. He had everything under control.

As soon as she started to relax, a man rushed into the room, hurrying over to Chan. She couldn't understand what was said but the words were frantic, fast. "We have a man down," Chan explained in English. "East perimeter."

A man down. Death. It had found her again. Her first impulse was to run as far away as she could from here, taking Nikky with her.

Nikky put an arm around her waist, preventing her. "Fuck, he's fast." He pulled out his gun.

Tatyana did the same. She'd protect him. She wouldn't lose him. She couldn't. "Pavel?"

There was rumbling from the bodyguard into his phone. "No response from the same sector, Boss."

Ivan positioned against the exterior wall, Boris at the doorway. "Nikky?" Fear trickled down her spine. They should run. This standing to fight was a bad idea. Running, running worked. She shifted, looking beyond Boris to the hallway.

Nik tightened his grip on his skittish girl. Her body trembled next to his. "Courage, Brat," he repeated. "I'll protect you." He'd try. Gunfire in the distance. Too soon, it was too soon. They weren't prepared yet.

The bastard counted on their unpreparedness. He attacked before they solidified their defenses. Smart. Nik would have done the same.

Pavel looked at his phone. "Inner circle breached, Boss."

He could hear that, the gunfire getting closer. Nik stood in front of Tatyana.

A blast boomed at the front door. "One more of those and it won't hold." As Chan spoke, shots rang from inside the house.