Chapter Ten

CHAPTER TEN

ZEVA

R ev and John set me on the front porch and rings the doorbell, before taking off. They ran between the houses but the holiday decorations keeps them in view for half a block.

The door swings open and the man I love stares at me with a mixture of confusion before he rushes onto the porch to hug me. I exhale in relief, closing my eyes as Andreas folds me into his warm embrace.

“You’re home,” he breathes.

“But I’m still tied up,” I whisper, peeking up at him.

He brushes my hair from my face and stares into my eyes. “I thought I lost you. That my complacency puts your life in danger.”

“You didn’t put me in danger. The three very interesting men who took me are responsible.”

“Three men took you?” He asks, but I get the feeling he’s just confirming. “Did they hurt you?” He finally unknots the ropes holding my hands behind the chair.

“No they didn’t.”

“If they harmed one hair on your head?—“

“All my hair is accounted for.” I cup his face the moment my hands are free and his fingers get tangled in my curls. I lean into his kiss and get lost in his mouth, moving against mine. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Zeva.”

“Eh em.”

Andreas groaned.

I glance around Andreas and make eye contact with a man equaling Andreas in size. His shoulders are broad and his blue eyes rival the sea. The scorpion tattoo peeking out from his black turtleneck, however, gave him a dangerous air.

I frown. “What’s going on, and who are you?” I face Andreas. “Was your aunt’s bed-and-breakfast overbooked again?”

“I’m Allan from Red Rain Security,” the man says. He takes my hand and kisses it to Andreas’s disapproval. “I came to say we are ready, but maybe the mission changed from release to elimination?”

I gasp, glancing between the men. “You were coming to get me?”

“Did you doubt I would?” Andreas says, “Zeva, loving you means protecting you. And I’ll do whatever it takes to grow old with you.”

I exhale loudly, knowing what having enforcers here meant…Andreas traded his freedom to get me back. My chest tightens. “I love you,” I say, sniffing. “You’ll regret—” Andreas places a finger against my lips

“I have no regrets because you love me.” He unwraps the bow around my waist. I hand Allan the nutmeg and push Santos’s note into my pocket before launching myself into Andreas’s arms.

“I would have done the same if someone dared take you from me on Christmas Eve.”

“You’re too good to me. Are we good with my reenlistment?” he whispers.

I nod, linking our fingers. “Let’s go inside.”

“There is something you should know first,” he says. “There are three more of him,” he says, pointing to Allan. “Inside.”

I whistle.

“Gavino does nothing half ass,” Andreas says.

I move closer to the door until Andreas stops me by squeezing my hand. “They found out how much you like decorations and brought … some of their favorites.”

Inside, the four men overwhelm the space in the kitchen. They nod in greeting as Andreas introduces them to me, but I barely register their names. Like with Allan and Andreas, the men are decked out in black turtlenecks and black cargo pants, making a formidable sight. In front of them, the island is covered with guns the men are removing the ammunition from.

“Were you planning on rescuing the president?”

“We’d need a lot more firepower for that job—oof.” Andreas elbows Allan in the side.

“These are nothing more than decorations,” Andreas says.

“Decorations for the NRA?”

Allen chokes.

Folding my arms, side-eyeing them as they hang pistols on the walls. They string up the bullets as a garland on the Christmas tree. And use the red bow I was wrapped in to secure the larger guns.

“See,” Andreas whispers into my ear as his hands circle my waist. “And just in time for Christmas.”

He’s right. I glance up at the clock and it’s five minutes after midnight. How could I be upset with the men when they tried so hard not to ruin my favorite holiday? “I know I’m not as sophisticated as you, but do you really expect me to believe that this was your intention?”

“I don’t care what you believe as long as you believe that no matter who tries to take you, I will always come and get you.”

I lean against his chest. Contentment and joy washes over me as he holds me in his powerful arms. “Merry Christmas, Andreas.”

“Merry Christmas, baby.”