Where the hell are you taking me now?” Daphne demanded once they were on the road again. She’d barely had time to dress and brush her hair once she’d taken a shower. She had on the same purple dress she’d worn before, but now it did not seem to have the desired effect of thawing out Nik’s frosty demeanor. He’d hustled her through packing and out the door without so much as a word about the previous night they’d shared. Not that she was expecting wedding bells or vows of undying love, but a little acknowledgement that things had shifted between them or simply asking how she felt might be nice. Feeling cranky and annoyed, Daphne crossed her arms and stared out the window at the receding Chicago skyline, wanting to provoke him into any reaction other than the bland stoicism he’d showed toward her the entire morning so far. “Let me guess, a warehouse. Like in all those cheesy action-thriller movies. No, wait. A whorehouse, since that’s what you’ve been treating me like today.” His gaze flicked to hers, but he remained silent. She poked the bear harder. “Oh, I’ve got it. A strip joint. But that would mean you’d have to share your goodies with the other boys and you don’t seem like the sharing type, at least—”

Kaz snickered from behind the wheel of the Bentley and Nik’s demeanor changed quicksilver-fast. He turned slightly to face her, his eyes hot and his lips compressed. “Enough. If you must know, I am taking you some place safe.”

“Right. Because nothing says safe like having your buddy Rezan ogling me every chance he got.”

“What?” Nik scowled.

“Your friend Rez is a perv. He looks at me like I’m the main course on the menu of something.”

“First, he is not my friend. He works for me. And second,” he gave her a quick glance once more. “If you are wearing things like this dress, I can’t blame him.”

Despite their quarrel, she couldn’t stop the shiver of pride that went through her at his compliment. “I think Rez is up to something. He doesn’t seem trustworthy.”

Nik glanced over at her, then back outside again. “I think you are right.”

“Wait, you don’t trust him either? Then why is he working for you?”

“Because the family assigned him to me. And so I can keep an eye on him. I think he may be dealing drugs on the side to supplement his income.”

“Holy crap!” Daphne straightened. “Do you think he had something to do with your friend’s death?”

“For his sake, I hope not.” Nik pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “Enough questions now. As I said, I’m taking you somewhere safe. A different place.” He glanced at his brother then leaned closer to her, his heat and the clean scent of his shampoo sending an unwanted shiver of lust through her. Last night had been incredible—the things he’d done to her, the way he’d made her feel, the things she’d wanted to do with him—all of it had been an experience unlike any other. But she’d still remained well aware that anything between them would have to be temporary and to give her heart as well as her body to this man would be insane. He’d made it clear the very first time they’d met that he kept his business and his personal life separate and right now, Daphne was squarely in his business-life sector. His job was to protect her, nothing more. He’d be gone as soon as the trial was over and she’d be all alone again. Still, knowing she shouldn’t fall for him didn’t make not doing it any easier. His eyes drifted to her lips briefly before returning to her gaze, and a slight flush dotted his high cheekbones, as if he too was remembering the electric connection between them last night. “We are heading to Winnetka.”

Daphne scrunched her nose. “Winnetka? What’s in Winnetka?”

“That would be his mother,” Kaz supplied helpfully, his tone laced with amusement.

Nik glared at his brother before facing front again, his stoic expression firmly back in place. “Staying at my mother’s penthouse will be perfect. Her penthouse has a doorman and security cameras. And it has been fully vetted by the Bratva. Plus, there is a secret escape route in case we need to make a hasty retreat.”

“Great.” She made her tone flat to suggest the exact opposite. “I’m sure your mom will just love having a complete stranger camping out on her sofa for the next few weeks.”

“She is fine with it.”

“You’ve already talked to her?”

“I have.” Nik gripped the door as Kaz veered off onto the exit for Winnetka. “She understands that this is important business.”

His emphasis on the last word made Daphne’s hackles rise once more. Yep. That just confirmed what she was already thinking. Last night had been nothing but a diversion for him, something to kill time while he was locked in a hotel room with her. She blinked hard against the unwanted sting of tears. What an idiot she’d been to think it was anything more than that.

They pulled up in front of a sleek six-story building covered in shining steel and polished glass. Kaz got out of the Bentley and opened the door for her while the portly, middle-aged doorman rushed to help Nik out of the car.

“Mr. Volkov,” the doorman gushed, nearly tripping over himself to take the bags from Kaz. “And Mr. Volkov. Such a pleasure to see two such fine brothers grace our establishment.”

“This is Miss Daphne Allman,” Nik said, taking her by the arm and escorting her to the door. The doorman rushed ahead to open it for them. “She’ll be staying with us for the next couple of weeks. Please make sure she is well looked after.”

“Oh, yes, Mr. Volkov,” the doorman said, hurrying beside them through the posh marble lobby and over to a set of golden elevator doors. “Anything for you and your family. Your mother already rang down to tell us to expect you and your guest so we are prepared.”

“Thank you.” The elevator dinged open and Nik led Daphne inside, his grip still firm on her arm. Kaz took the bags from the doorman and walked in behind them.

“I’ll be back down for the car in a sec,” Kaz said to the doorman as the elevator doors closed.

Nik inserted a special key into the lock beside a button marked with a P and they rode up to the sixth floor in silence. When the doors dinged open again, it was to a black marble foyer filled with gilt gold furnishings and huge sparkling mirrors on the walls. An enormous round table filled with exotic fresh blooms graced the center of the space. Nik led a gawking Daphne out of the elevator with Kaz trailing behind them with the bags.

“Wow,” she said, staring at the soaring high ceilings painted with frescos. “You didn’t tell me your mother was loaded.”

“I didn’t think it was relevant.” Nik stopped before a set of white double doors and knocked twice using the gold lions’ head knocker. A woman answered—about Daphne’s height, slim, mid-fifties, with dark brown hair the same shade as Nik’s and the same sparkling green eyes as his. She smiled warmly at him and kissed him on both cheeks.

“So good to see you, my son,” she said, beaming up at him. “How are you?”

“I’m good, Mama.” Nik tugged Daphne forward. “And this is the guest I was telling you about. Mama, this is Daphne Allman. Daphne, this is my mother, Regina Volkov.”

“Nice to meet you,” Regina said, shaking Daphne’s hand, her greeting decidedly cooler than the one for her son. “I hope you will be comfortable here.”

“I’m sure I will be. Thank you for your hospitality.”

Regina held her gaze a moment longer, as if searching for something inside Daphne. Then she moved on to Kaz, her stepson, kissing him on both cheeks as well then leading them all inside the penthouse. It was as luxurious inside as the foyer was outside. Decorated in tasteful shades of beige and eggshell, the hardwood oak floors gleamed in the sunlight and the contemporary-style furniture looked both chic and comfortable—upholstered in overstuffed leather and microfiber.

Nik and his brother headed for the kitchen while Regina showed Daphne to the guest room. She felt a bit awkward, not really knowing the woman, but Regina’s friendly demeanor quickly put her at ease. The guest room was clean and tidy, if a bit bland for Daphne’s taste. She liked a kick of color in her surroundings—the Russian red in the master bedroom of the safe house apartment, for instance, though she couldn’t believe she’d ever think longingly of the place at all. “Thank you again for letting me stay here,” she said, setting her bag down near the queen-sized bed. The white down comforter looked like a fluffy cloud and she hated to touch it for fear of ruining something.  “These past few days have been stressful to say the least.”

“Well, you should enjoy your time here and get some rest.” His mother turned away and walked around the room, pointing out the closet and attached bath before heading back to the door.

“My son will do everything in his power to keep you safe, even when it puts his own best interests at risk.” The slight edge in her tone made Daphne’s heart skip. She’d known Nik’s job was dangerous, but she’d never really considered the possibility of him being hurt or… worse. “That’s what happened to my Dima. Gone all these years now and I still miss him every single day.”

The raw pain in her voice struck a chord within Daphne. Even though her mom was still alive, it felt like she’d lost a little more of her each day. “I’m so sorry.”

Regina nodded then turned away. “Make yourself comfortable, even take a nap. I’ll wake you when it’s time for dinner.”

“Thank you.” Daphne waited until she was alone, then unpacked what little she’d brought before finally sinking down onto the edge of the bed because there was nowhere else to sit. It felt so cushiony and safe that soon she lay back and before she knew it was out like a light.

* * *

“Daphne, wake up.” Nik shook her shoulders gently, his heart pinching just a bit at the sight of her so relaxed and vulnerable and lovely. And in that damn purple dress too, the skirt sliding up to expose her shapely legs. She’d looked like that the night before too, after they’d made love. His heart pinched a bit at the memory. He’d acted like an ass this morning, he knew this. Rushing her when they’d left the hotel, purposely avoiding any and all references to their night together—until she’d blatantly brought it up in the Bentley. It wasn’t that he hadn’t enjoyed their time together. Trouble was, he feared he’d enjoyed it too much. In fact, the hours they’d spent together during his assignment had been some of the best in his recent memory. And that was a problem for a man like him. Bratva enforcers were married to their jobs. There was little to no time for a personal life, a life that even if he’d had one, Nik intended to keep entirely separate from his professional duties. Daphne crossed all those lines for him. Worse, she made him want to continue breaking those boundaries and surrender to the sweetness of her touch and the promise of more in her eyes.

But he couldn’t. To do so would be to court disaster.

Last night had been a wonderful one-time thing. And that’s all it ever could be. Because being with Daphne was all-consuming for him. When he’d been with her, inside her, held tight in her arms, he’d forgotten everything else—his job, his duty, his family. All he’d wanted was her, with him, forever.

Muscles tense, he shoved those fanciful dreams aside.

He was a made man, Russian mafia through and through. There was no escape, no changing that. And the truth was, he’d grown to care for Daphne enough that he refused to put her life in jeopardy like that by being with her. Therefore, he’d close those feelings off, like he did all of his emotions when he was on assignment, and get on with it. Because the sooner they put Hornbull behind bars for Tolya’s murder, the sooner he could let Daphne go.

No matter how badly it would hurt.

She murmured something in her sleep and frowned, trying to pull away from him and bury her head under the pillow. Nik exhaled slowly and shook her again. “Daphne, wake up. Dinner will be ready soon.”

Slowly, she peeked one eye open and squinted at him. “What time is it?”

Her husky, sleep-roughened voice sent a shiver of sensual awareness up his spine despite his resolve to steer clear of her again. She’d sounded the same way after she came too.

Nik cleared his suddenly constricted throat and looked away. “Nearly six. You’ve been asleep all afternoon.”

“Oh.” She yawned and stretched, giving him a fine view of all her soft curves. Curves his fingers itched to stroke and fondle again, but he clenched his fists and pushed to his feet instead as she rolled over to face him. “Let me just freshen up and I’ll be right out.”

He nodded and headed for the door. Distracted, he wandered back to the kitchen and found his mother busy preparing a salad to go with the as-yet-uncooked homemade pelmeni she’d made. The small beef and mushroom filled dumplings were his childhood favorite and nothing brought back home more poignantly than Mama’s cooking. He walked up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, leaning around to kiss her cheek then asked in Russian, “Anything I can help you with?”

“Nyet.” She finished tossing the romaine, carrots, cheese, and croutons together then set the bowl aside. She wiped her hands off on the apron tied around her waist then faced him, answering in broken Russian she’d used with his father when he’d been alive. For a non-native, she spoke the language pretty well, having learned from the best—Nik’s dad. “All that’s left to do is boil the pelmeni, but that can wait until your girl is ready.”

“Mama, she’s not my girl.” Nik stepped back and pulled off his suit jacket, tossing it over the back of the sofa in the living room where Kaz sat watching TV. He leaned his hips back against the edge of a table lining the back of the sofa and crossed his arms, staring at his mother across the expanse of the dining room table and granite breakfast bar into the open kitchen. “Daphne is my assignment. Nothing more.”

Kaz snorted. “Yeah, right.”

Nik gave his half-brother a warning glare before stalking over to the table to set out the plates and silverware his mother had waiting on the breakfast bar. “She needs my protection until the trial. Her testimony can put Tolya’s killer away for years.”

“Right.” Kaz glanced back at Nik over his shoulder. “And your protection extends to the bedroom as well then, I suppose?”

“Enough!” Nik snapped in Russian. Unexpected heat prickled up from beneath the collar of his white dress shirt. He was a grown man. His mother knew that. Still, having his love life laid bare in front of her wasn’t something he appreciated. He hazarded a look in his mother’s direction and found her watching him, her expression concerned. “It’s nothing, Mama.”

“Hmm,” she said. “From your reaction, it certainly sounds like something.”

Before he could answer, Daphne walked out from the end of the hallway, looking far too adorable for her own good in the pair of jeans and T-shirt his mom had lent her and stockinged feet. Her blond curls were tied back into a low ponytail and her cheeks were flushed a delectable pink and all Nik wanted to do was take her in his arms and hold her against him until this whole fucking mess was over. His heart dropped to somewhere near his toes. Yeah. Not good. Not good at all.

He exhaled slowly and concentrated on folding the linen napkins and setting out the knives and spoons instead. “Have a seat in the living room with Kaz. Dinner should be ready shortly.”

“Nonsense,” his mother said, waving Daphne into the kitchen with her. “I can use an extra set of hands to help me with the pelmeni.”

Daphne gave him a deer-in-the-headlights stare before reluctantly moving in beside his mother at the large stainless-steel gas stove. His mom had a way of overwhelming newcomers sometimes, so he understood that look. Then again, it was almost as if his mom was trying to teach Daphne how to cook his favorite meal, the way she’d all but pounced on her after turning down Nik’s help so quickly. A huge pot filled with boiling water sat on the front burner and two trays of little flour-dough pouches were on the counter nearby.

Nik moved to the breakfast bar to keep an eye on the proceedings, just in case he needed to intervene. His mama meant well, but the last thing Nik needed right now was her creating more drama between him and Daphne than what was already brewing.

His mother handed Daphne a slotted spoon the same as the one she held herself then showed her how to scoop up the individual dumplings and lay them in the boiling water to avoid any splashing or damage to the delicate dough.

“Good, dear,” she said to Daphne. “Very good. You’re a natural at this. Which is fortunate since these pelmeni are my son’s favorite food. If you stay together, you’ll be making a lot of these for him in the future.”

“Mama,” Nik said, his tone low and full of warning. “It’s not like that between Daphne and me.”

Daphne looked back at him over her shoulder and the flicker of hurt in her gaze nearly knocked him to his knees. Dammit. He’d not meant that as harshly as it had sounded, but being in his mother’s house with Daphne underscored to him the danger of mixing business and pleasure, of all he stood to lose if things went south. He couldn’t let his growing feelings for Daphne affect his work. To do so now could spell death for both of them.

Kaz came up beside him and clapped him on the shoulder, giving him a knowing wink. His half-brother always had been too damned perceptive for his own good. Another trait they’d all inherited from their shared father. “Food ready yet, Mama?”

“Just about,” she said, helping Daphne get the first round of cooked dumplings out of the boiling water and onto a plate before putting in the next batch. “Why don’t you boys take a seat and help yourself to the wine. Nik, can you grab this salad for me?”

“Sure, Mama.” He walked over to get the bowl from the counter, his arm brushing against Daphne as he reached past her to get the salad and the tongs to serve it. She shivered and faced him, their mouths only inches apart. All at once, time seemed to slow and all Nik could see were her soft pink lips, the velvety curve of her cheek, the tiny wisps of curls around her face from the steam. Her perfume—roses and soap—drifted to him and his body tightened despite the surroundings. A clang of spoon against pan tumbled him back to reality and he cleared his throat and stepped away fast, not missing his mother’s inquisitive stare or the heat in Daphne’s pretty blue eyes. He forced a smile then hurried back to the dining table only to find Kaz smirking at him.

“No involvement. Only work,” his brother said as Nik set the bowl in the middle of the glass-topped dining table. “Sorry, bro. Not buying it. Can honestly say I’ve never looked at any of my assignments like that. You two just about set off the fire alarms.”

“Fuck off,” Nik growled under his breath in Russian. “Stay out of my business.”

“Sure.” Kaz rubbed a hand over his stubble-covered jaw and grinned. “As soon as your business doesn’t involve mine, brother.”

Thankfully, the rest of dinner preparation went uneventfully and soon they were all seated around the table, Daphne and his mother across from Kaz and Nik. Nik did his best to keep his head down and concentrate on the delicious food. With his first bite of savory pelmeni—all melt-in-your-mouth tender beef and deliciously earthy fresh mushrooms—the door to his childhood memories burst open. All the good times spent with his parents and siblings, all the laughter and joy and tears. He’d been very lucky to grow up with such loving bonds, despite the violent world his father inhabited. His parents had been truly in love with each other. Even now, their father’s portrait hung above the fireplace in the living room, watching over them all with wary interest.

“This is so good,” Daphne said, finishing her first pelmeni. “I’ve never had Russian food before.”

“Really, dear?” His mother’s interest perked up once more, as evidenced by her quick smile at Nik and her narrowed gaze. “Where are your people from originally?”

Daphne wiped her mouth then sipped her chardonnay before answering. “My mother always said we did have a bit of Eastern European in the lineage somewhere.” She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and met Nik’s gaze across the table then lowered her eyes. “But mainly we Allmans are Irish and Swedish.”

“Guess that accounts for the blond hair, huh?” Kaz said around a bite of dumpling.

Nik kicked him hard in the shin under the table. For reasons he didn’t want to think about too much, the thought of his brother charming Daphne, even in small talk brought out his jealous side.  

“Have you always lived in Chicago?” Nik asked, hoping to keep his mother from asking any more embarrassing questions.

“I was born in Madison, Wisconsin, but my family moved to Chicago when I was eleven.”

“Interesting,” his mother said, dolling out another serving of pelmeni to her sons and Daphne. “And where does your mother live, dear? In the city? What about brothers, sisters?”

Nik’s gaze flew to Daphne and caught her slightly pained look. Beside him Kaz stiffened as he chugged his wine then refilled his glass.

“My mother lives in a nursing home, actually. She’s got advanced dementia. And I’m an only child.”

“Oh, I’m so very sorry.” His mother put her arm around Daphne and pulled her closer into her side. “I never meant to bring up such a painful subject. Taking care of your mother all alone with no one to help you—no shoulder to cry on, no arms to hold you. Believe me, I know what that’s like, to be lonely. I was so grateful for the love I had with my Dima, Nik’s father. Such a blessing to me, even now.”

Daphne blinked hard and the thought of her tears made his chest ache.

Kaz’s phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket then frowned. “Excuse me, I need to take this.”

He got up and walked out to the foyer.

Nik frowned after his brother, torn. Part of him wanted to stay and comfort Daphne. The other part of him knew his duty was to be out there with Kaz, staying on top of Bratva business.

His mother shook her head and frowned at him. “Don’t ever forget what’s truly important, my son.”

Her warning only served to confuse him more. Was she talking about Daphne or his work?

Daphne pushed away from the table and stood, carrying her plate to the sink in the kitchen and Nik seized his opportunity, grabbing his own dishes and following her. He stood beside her at the sink, her warmth doing much to calm the storm inside him. “Are you all right? I’m sorry my mother—I should have told her not to bring up such a painful subject.”

“I’m fine,” she said, though the catch in her voice suggested the opposite. “I’m just worried about my mother and my job. I know I filled out that paperwork and everything, but what if they check up on it and find that I’m not at home, that I lied. If I lose my job, I’ve got no income. And if Hornbull gets to my mother and anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“I’ve doubled the guards around your mother’s suite at the nursing home,” Nik said, setting his plate in the sink then taking her hand beneath the running water. “I swear to you, baloven’, I’ve done everything in my power to protect you and your mother. Please believe me.”

“I do believe you,” she said, meeting his gaze at last. “It’s just—”

“Brother,” Kaz said, poking his head into the living room. “I need to speak with you. Now.”

Nik bristled against the tension in Kaz’s tone. Whatever that phone call had been about, it had not been good. Without thinking, he brought Daphne’s hand to his lips and kissed it. Then he glanced around and saw everyone staring at him and almost regretted his actions. Almost. Because he couldn’t really regret sharing this small tenderness with Daphne, not for all the wealth in the world. He held her gaze a moment longer then let her go. “Excuse me a moment.”

He joined his brother in the foyer and found Kaz pacing back and forth through the black marble room, his phone to his ear and his rapid-fire Russian echoing off the walls. “What the hell is going on?”

Kaz waved him over, his movements impatient. “Per Rezan, Hornbull has his officers at our Bratva warehouse on Wacker Drive. They have a warrant and are demanding to see inside.”

“Fuck.” Nik gritted his teeth. That warehouse was where he stored the Bratva’s smuggled luxury goods—artwork, antiques, rare Persian rugs. And they’d just received a new shipment this morning. There was no way in hell they’d be able to hide all that stuff from the cops. And Hornbull knew that, the bastard. “I need to get over there.”

“I’ll drive you.”

“No. You stay here with Mama and Daphne. Make sure they’re safe. I’ll take the Bentley myself.” Nik stalked back into the living room to grab his suit jacket and slipped it on. “I have an errand to run.”

“Is everything all right?” his mother asked, now standing in the kitchen beside Daphne at the sink.

“I’m not sure yet,” Nik said, pulling out his gun and checking it before sliding it back into the holster at his side. “Kaz will stay here and keep an eye on things while I’m gone.”

Daphne stared at him, a mix of fear and affection in her eyes. “Please be careful.”

“Always,” he said, holding her gaze a moment longer than necessary before heading for the door. “Don’t let anyone in besides me and Kaz. Be back soon.”

He took the keys from Kaz then rushed downstairs to the lobby only to halt abruptly at the sight of the doorman standing outside the glass doors of the building’s front entrance arguing with the cop who’d given Nik a hard time on the curb that first day outside Daphne’s apartment. The dirty cop was waving the paperwork in his hand, which Nik assumed was a warrant to search his mom’s place.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

He’d brought Daphne here, thinking she’d be safe, but now it seemed Nik had put not only Daphne, but his beloved mother in danger as well. Screw the inventory at the warehouse. What was most important to him right now was upstairs and he sure as hell planned to protect it, no matter the cost.

Slowly, he backed into the elevator once more and used his key to head back up to the penthouse. The doors dinged open to the barrel of Kaz’s Glock staring him in the face.

“Shit, bro,” Kaz cursed as he lowered his weapon. “A little warning of your return would’ve been nice. I could’ve blown your brains out. You forget something?”

“No.” Nik walked out of the elevator and headed for the double doors leading into the apartment, his gaze narrowed and his steps brisk as he passed through the lobby. “Hornbull’s men are downstairs. Looks like they’re hitting us on all fronts. We need to get Mama and Daphne out of here. Now.”

“Shit.” Kaz holstered his gun and followed Nik inside the penthouse. “You handle Daphne and I’ll get your mother’s stuff together. Meet at the back door in five minutes?”

“Make it three.”

They each headed for a woman.

“Nik? What are you doing back?” his mother asked, looking startled.

“We need to leave now. Where’s Daphne?”

“In her room,” his mother said. “What’s going on?”

“Some dirty cops are downstairs with a warrant to search this place. I can’t let them find Daphne.” He stalked down the hall and opened the guest room door without knocking. Daphne was sitting on the bed, going through her bag.

“What the—?” she said, frowning as he walked in and grabbed her bag. “What are you doing?”

“Time to leave.”

“But we just got here.”

“Hornbull’s men are downstairs with a warrant. I need to get you out of here now before they find you.”

“Oh, God.” Daphne ran into the bathroom and grabbed her toothbrush and hair stuff, shoving them into her suitcase before Nik closed it and carried it from the room, one hand on the bag, the other tight around Daphne’s arm. “How will we get out if they’re in the lobby?”

“That’s where the secret exit I told you about comes in.” They joined his brother and mother at the end of the hall and he pointed to a panel in the ceiling. “Hope you aren’t afraid of heights.”

Before she knew what was happening, Nik and Kaz had hoisted her and their mother up through the opening in the ceiling, then followed behind them into what appeared to be a maintenance level, filled with rattling, whirring air conditioning units and dim utility lights. Kaz slid the panel back into place just as the sound of pounding on the front double doors echoed through the penthouse.

“C’mon.” Nik took her hand and hustled her through the maze of equipment and concrete walls toward a small window at the back of the building. Through the glass a metal fire escape was visible. He opened the window then tossed her bag through before gesturing for Kaz to help their mother through first. Daphne shuddered beside him and his grip on her hand tightened reassuringly. “Don’t worry. We’ll get through this. Trust me.”

She met his gaze, her blue eyes wide in the dim light. “Don’t have much choice at this point.”

Unable to resist, he bent and kissed her quickly before pulling toward the open window and the balcony outside where his family waited. His mama looked terrified, a look that Daphne shared. “I will take care of you, I swear, baloven’.” He helped her through the window then climbed out behind her. “I will.”

They climbed down a series of ladders to the alley way behind the building then regrouped at the bottom.

“What next?” Kaz asked, pulling out his phone. “We need to get to the Bentley.”

“I wouldn’t recommend that if I were you,” a voice said from behind Nik, followed by the sinister snick of a gun being cocked. His stomach dropped. He knew that voice.

Nolan Hornbull. Nik swiveled fast, pulling his own weapon as he turned, coming face to face with his nemesis at last. They stood across from each other, guns drawn. A standoff.

Hornbull’s icy glare darted to Daphne before returning to Nik. “Guess you’ve got a choice to make, Volkov. Your family’s lives or the girl’s.”

Nik shoved Daphne behind him, without looking at her, a muscle ticking near his tight jaw, and kept his weapon trained on his enemy. He could take the bastard right now and end this shit once and for all, but could he do it before Hornbull fired? Behind him, Daphne’s labored breathing squeezed Nik’s chest with unbearable pressure. And here it was, his moment of proof, proof that work and pleasure should never mix. While his mother stood silent and stoic at his side and Daphne clung to him for protection, what the fuck could he do? Shooting his way out wasn’t an option. Neither was a physical altercation, not with his mom and Daphne so vulnerable.

“Fuck!” he yelled through gritted teeth. He slowly lowered his gun and placed it on the ground near his feet, though it went against every instinct he had. In the end, there’d been no choice at all. He’d promised to protect Daphne and his mother against any threat, even himself. “You harm one hair on their heads and you’ll have me to answer to, you worthless asshole.”

Hornbull merely smiled—all white teeth and coldness—the same emotionless expression as a great white shark just before it devoured its prey. He hiked his chin toward somewhere over Nik’s shoulder and soon, more of Hornbull’s men surrounded them, tying Daphne’s and his mother’s hands behind their backs with zip ties and putting them into the back of a nearby squad car before doing the same with Kaz and Nik, putting them in a separate car.

Then, lights and sirens blazing, they pulled away. Nik wasn’t sure where they were going or if they would even all end up at the same location. The only thing he was certain of was that location wouldn’t be anywhere near a police station. He gave Kaz a look as they huddled in the backseat, a look that said no matter what happens you protect the women.

Kaz gave him a silent nod of acknowledgement and Nik sank back against the seat, praying he hadn’t just signed a death warrant for them all.

Forgive me, Tolya. Forgive me, Dad.