Satin Princess(110)

She smiles shyly. “You really think so?”

“I know so,” I say confidently. “And in case you need a little help, I’ll always have your back.”

I lead her to my bedside drawer and open it up. Inside sits a sleek dagger with an embellished hilt. Jessa sucks in a sharp breath.

“It looks purely decorative, but that blade is deadly. So handle it with care.”

“I won’t need to handle it at all,” she assures me.

“But you need to be ready to, just in case. I want you to feel safe.”

She smiles. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”

I take her hand and bring it to my lips. Then I nod towards the knife in the drawer. “Hold it.”

She seems uncertain, but she does as I say and picks up the blade. “It really is beautiful. And I’ve never said that about a weapon before.” She turns it in her hand, and I can tell when she sees the engraving. “You had this engraved?”

I nod. “Can you read it?”

She squints at the fine script that runs along the curved blade. “That… that’s my name.”

“It’s a gift.”

“Most girls prefer flowers,” she laughs. “But this is better. Thank you, Anton.” She sounds so genuine that it makes my heart ache with love for her.

“I hope you never have to use it,” I tell her somberly. “But if the moment comes, don’t hesitate. You understand me?”

She looks uneasy for a moment, but then I see her expression turn to resolve. Pride fills my chest. My woman is a fucking warrior.

“I understand.”

I lean in and kiss her hard on the lips. Then I walk away, leaving her still holding the engraved dagger like it’s a little sliver of me.

I close the door behind me just as six of my men walk up. They’re our latest batch of recruits, and I know they’re of particular pride to Yulian because he trained them himself.

“Don Anton,” the man at the head of the pack says, “Yulian wants us stationed outside Ms. Jessa’s door.”

I nod. “Good. Don’t let anyone get through unless it’s me.”

They give me their assurances and take up positions. I keep moving, feeling my body beginning to ignite with the rush of battle adrenaline.

When I get downstairs, Lev and Yulian are both waiting for me. “I’ve got our teams ready,” Lev informs me. “We have sixty men waiting.”

“And there’s going to be twenty more staying back to guard the house and protect Jessa,” Yulian adds.

I nod, turning to my brother. “I can have Lev stay with Jessa if you want to join me.”

He looks surprised by the offer, but then he shakes his head. “I appreciate that. But I actually want to be the one to stay here and protect Jessa.”

“You do?” Lev asks.

“She’s carrying my niece or nephew,” Yulian says, surprisingly emotional. “This is the most important responsibility I could hope for. I need to make sure she’s safe.”

There’s real sincerity in those words. I feel my gut twist for my brother. He’s a good man when he most needs to be.

But I have a plan in place now and I refuse to veer from it.

“Let’s move out then,” Lev says.

I wave him ahead. “You go. I have to speak to Yulian first.”

Lev nods and heads outside to rally the men. I turn to Yulian, realizing for the first time that this day will make or break us. It’s do or die.

It will be her blood on the floor…

Or it will be mine.

“Marina is no fool,” I tell Yulian. “It won’t be as simple as busting through the doors and killing her.”

“I know that. But whatever she’s got in store for you, you can take her. I know you can.”

“You sound confident.”

“I am,” Yulian says. “The sun will rise tomorrow on a fresh start.”

We clasp hands in the same way we used to do as boys. I take a moment to savor this fleeting feeling. I know I’ll have to hold onto it in the coming hours.

When we break apart, I see the similarities in our faces. My brother. My blood.

There is no going back now.

“Good luck, brother,” he says to me.

I wonder if he’s growing sentimental like I am. I see the flicker of something in his eyes, but in the next moment, it’s gone.

I clap him on the shoulder once more, then I join Lev and the soldiers outside.

“Lev,” I call, “you’re in this vehicle with me.”

Lev joins me in my jeep and we pull out, armed with the location in the valley that Yulian gave me.

I wait five minutes before I lean forward and speak into the comms system that links all twelve of the vehicles in our convoy.

“Men, pull to the side of the road.”

Lev looks at me, confused. “What are you doing?”

“We’re waiting.”

Lev looks around as though he’s expecting someone to jump out from between the trees. “Waiting for what?”

“For Marina.”

Lev frowns. “I don’t understand.”

“Neither did I,” I say. “But my gut has been trying to warn me for the last couple of days. I didn’t listen because it was all too fucking unbelievable. But I realized I needed to trust my instincts.”