Chapter 24 I can't think, can't breathe, as I hold on to Dimitri. How he ever reached me, the miracle of it, I can't even begin to understand, but I'm not sure I care. They'll have to kill me before I let go of his leg. Which feels like a distinct possibility as I hear the click of a gun's hammer. I jolt against Dimitri. His response? He drops a light hand on the top of my head, his fingers massaging my scalp. "Sorry, Dimitri, but you're going to have to hand over the girl." "I don't think so," Dimitri answers, his fingers not changing tempo, just continuing their light strokes. My fingers dig into his thigh as though I'm preparing for an onslaught. My grip is so tight, I'm likely bruising his skin. This is my worst nightmare. Five men running at me with the intent of forcibly taking me. I grip Dimitri even tighter. He promised me no one would ever hurt me. In this moment, I cling to that promise exactly like I cling to his leg. "You don't have a choice." "Oh, but he does..." the man in black answers. If Dimitri is frightening with his tattoos, this man... He truly looks like the devil. Dark hair and eyes and the sharp sort of locks that add this sinister air to his appearance. He swings one of the two pistols around, pointing at Dimitri or Trent. I can't be sure. "You can try..." he drawls in this emotionally detached voice that makes the hair on my neck stand up. "But you'll never make it to your Porsche." "You think you can stop a Russian?" Trent spits. "Me alone? Probably. Yeah. But my four brothers are waiting for you just in case I don't." The man in black replies, sounding equal parts bored and confident. Trent lowers the gun a foot, a grimace pulling at his mouth. But the man in black isn't finished speaking. "Just so we're all on the same page, Dimitri, he betrayed you and sold you out to your father, to get his Anastasia returned. Jake tapped his phone." "I had already puzzled all that out," Dimitri answers with a quiet calm that helps my arms relax. Dimitri doesn't sound worried, his touch remaining light. I tilt my head up to look at him, his fingers stroking through my hair. "I had no choice," Trent rumbles, baring his teeth. "Your father made that clear." He doesn't look down, his gaze fixed on Trent. "Where is he?" "I don't know." Dimitri makes a small snarling noise. "You had better be lying, because if you're not, you're a fool." "You ought to understand," Trent fires back, his voice taking on a snarl. "Anastasia is the love of my life." Dimitri's jaw goes rock hard. "I do. But I also know that I'd never sacrifice another person's loved one for my own goals. I'd just fight harder." Trent roars. "I tried to protect you. Telling you about her spying and her deceit. She betrayed you. You should let her go, trade her for your sisters, while your father still thinks she holds value to you." Blood roars in my ears. Would Dimitri do that? Would he trade me for them? My eyes squeeze shut and a small sob breaks from my lips as I realize the men hunting me was not my worst nightmare. This is. The idea that the person I let past my defenses won't love me back. That I'm too broken, not lovable. This is why I've hidden myself away all this time. Clung to Cadence. Because letting another person in, it opens me to experience the hurt all over again. Dimitri's fingers move from my scalp, down to my jaw, the tips lightly dancing over my skin. "Hush, milaya," he whispers into the night. "You're safe with me." I look up at him, so strong and tall, his jaw set in a resolute line. And I just know... I can trust Dimitri. I press my cheek to the inside of his thigh. Dimitri has always been a man of principle. Even before my mind could believe it, I felt it deep in my heart. He'll do everything in his power to keep me safe. And there isn't anything I wouldn't give to him. By his side is where I am meant to be. I hear the thundering footsteps of more men, and I freeze in fear once again, my grip growing impossibly tight on Dimitri's leg. Just like always, his hand remains gentle. "Those would be my guards," Trent crosses his arms over his chest. "You didn't think I'd do this alone, did you? You will give up the girl in exchange for Anastasia and your sisters It's a good deal and you should be thanking me." The massive man who'd been on the ground, the one who almost reached me stands up, his hand rubbing over his jaw. "What's wrong with your woman?" "Wrong?" Dimitri asks. "Get back on the ground," Trent spits, swinging the gun toward the other man's chest. The rough fighter ignores Trent and looks down at me. "She was victimized," the tattooed man with the guns answers. Dimitri makes a noise deep in his throat. "How do you know that?" "My wife has some of the same behaviors." Wife? That man is married? He looks too scary. Then again, looks can be deceiving. I open my eyes to look at him. His gaze meets mine and I swear, I see warmth in his eyes. "But don't you worry, Ava," he calls, sounding calm and reassuring. "They'll have to get through me and I'm devilishly difficult to take down." A small squeak comes out of my throat. The other fighter steps closer, his shoulders expanding as he stares back at Trent. How is this the group of men where I have found real champions? Men willing to stand up and protect me. Warriors. That's what they are. A realization fires through me. Real strength, real masculinity protects, it doesn't harm. Which means, maybe Cadence's plan wasn't quite so crazy after all. The other fighter, the one who'd been hunting me moments before, takes another step to stand at Dimitri's side. "I'll stand with you." "Price?" "I'd like to compete next time for free." The fighter speaks like they're bargaining for a used car, not a life-or-death situation. "Done." Dimitri answers. Another man, also in black, steps out of the woods. I only have a moment to wonder if this is friend of foe when the devil rumbles, "Tris." "Don't start, Killian." He comes to Dimitri's other side, creating a ring of men around me. Behind Trent appears a line of guards, dressed in black, with their faces covered by bandanas. I squeeze my eyes shut again. "Whatever Trent paid you, I'll double it," Dimitri calls to them. "It wasn't money," Trent sneers. "Their families are safe because⁠-" I feel the slight jostle as the man next to Dimitri grabs at his waist, and then the sound of the gun pops. I scream, shrinking even closer to the ground. I hear the thud and my eyes spring open again. Trent lays dead on the ground. Shock rolls through me. I squeeze my eyes shut again, as I press my lips together to keep from screaming. I'm surprised, I've never seen death like this. But I can't say I'm sad. That man just kidnapped me and dragged me here. The other guards shift awkwardly in a line, as though they're not certain what to do. "Killian," Dimitri calls. "Would you be so kind as to take Ava to my car?" "No," I whimper. "I want to be with you." Dimitri leans closer. "Milaya, you can trust him, I promise." "Triston will take her," Killian answers. "He scares women way less than I do and besides, he's less skilled with a pistol." A man bends down, smiling at me with an easy grace that makes me relax. He's so handsome, he looks like a GQ model. "Hi, Ava. Triston Smith, pleasure to make your acquaintance." How can he sound like that with a dead body a few feet away? Despite that thought, I start to relax but then realize his effect and give him a side eye. "Has anyone ever told you that you're almost too handsome?" A laugh bursts from Killian's lips. From somewhere in the grass a man moans. One of the hunters? It stops Killian's laugh, but Tris gives me another easy smile. "Yes. All of my brothers and most of my ex-girlfriends." "Tris," Dimitri rumbles. "Through the woods. Now, please." Triston offers his hand and I take it, unclenching my muscles, though they don't want to work. He reaches for me, I'm sure he's trying to help, but I lock up again with a whimper. "Hush, Ava," Dimitri says before he bends down and grabs me himself. I unlock instantly, and he lifts me up, my body naturally bending toward his. But before I can get my arms around his neck, he tosses me to Triston like I weigh nothing at all. Triston catches me and crushes me to his chest as he sprints toward the woods. But we've barely made it into the line of trees when the sound of more shots fills the air. We're down in a second, Triston's body covering mine. Was he hit? I scream, an ear-piercing noise that I can't control. It's the fear bubbling out. I know he doesn't want to hurt me, might be hurt himself, but I'm too raw. I can't control the reaction. "Are you all right?" he rumbles, his hands coming to my ears to cover them from the noise. Those words help penetrate the bubble of fear that controlled my mind. "I...men..." I can't get any more words out as I draw in a jagged breath. But he only leans his head closer to mine. "I'll get you out of here. Don't worry." I clutch at his shirt, shrinking into him. It only takes another thirty seconds before I hear the crash of footsteps again. "Ava?" "Dimitri," I gasp. Triston lifts his head and then I catch sight of Dimitri charging toward us. "Is she hurt?" "N-n-no," I push out. "Just scared." Triston places a gentle hand on my face. "I wouldn't let anything happen to you, promise." I don't have a chance to tell him that his body on top of mine, was what had me so frightened. Dimitri pushes him off of me and bends over to check, his hands running up and down my limbs as he checks for injuries. I relax into the ground, a long deep breath leaving my lungs. "Are you hurt?" I ask him. "I'm fine, sweetheart." He runs his hands over my ribs, my stomach, before he picks me up, cradling me against his body. I close my eyes and wrap myself around him. "How did you ever make it to me?" "He was fueled by love," Killian calls from behind him. I expected his tone to hold mockery, but he sounds absolutely sincere. Dimitri kisses my forehead. "He's not wrong." I close my eyes at the feel of his warm lips against me. "What happens next?" "The new nanny is with Anna?" "That's right." "In that case, I think we stay right here and wait for my father to come."