Page 204 of Captive Ruin

“Lukas has been shot!” I shout. “We’re at his house, in his car! Where do I go? What do I do?”

His voice sharpens. “Out of the gates, turn left. A field two miles down the road. Wait there. I’m sending a helicopter.”

“Okay… okay…” My hands are steady on the wheel. I don’t know how, but they are.

I can do this. I have to do this.

All that matters is saving my husband.

Forty-Four

Lukas

It’s nice to wake up. Even nicer to see my Little Stray in a chair beside my bed.

She’s asleep, her legs tucked beneath her, wearing doctor’s scrubs. Her hair is freshly washed, clean of my blood.

She’s never looked more adorable.

The pain management is making me fuzzy around the edges, and it’s extra effort to concentrate. An IV runs into my arm. My leg is strapped up and raised. The thigh doesn’t concern me; that’ll heal easily enough. Neither do my ribs, which will scar but it was only a graze. My shoulder is the greater concern, and I flex my hand, relief loosening my chest when everything works as it should.

So the bullet missed the nerves. A few weeks, and I’ll be mostly recovered. A few months, and I’ll be fit again. I need to be able to defend my wife. And hell, I need to be able to pin her down.

That wide-eyed expression she gave me when I kissed her and told her I loved her? I wasn’t going to die after that. I need more of it. I need it more than food, or water, or air. She’s my strength, my reason to live, my all.

As if she can feel my scrutiny, Amelia stirs. She blinks sleepily, then meets my gaze. I smile at her. She glares back.

“You… bastard, Lukas. Don’t ever do that to me again.” She’s out of her chair, dashing her sleeve across her eyes, reaching for my hand before she stops herself. “Can I… are you…”

“I’m fine.” I take her hand in mine and tug her down to sit on the edge of the bed. “You called me Lukas.”

She glances away, biting at her lip. “I think you said it was your name.”

“And yours is Little Stray.” I give her hand a squeeze. “Thank you for saving my life.”

She meets my gaze, tears glistening. “Thank you for saving mine.”

“Anytime,” I murmur.

“What happened?” The pulse in her wrist ticks against my fingertips, too fast. “Who was it? Why did they come?”

I clench my jaw. Whoever it was will die for bringing that note to my Little Stray’s voice. “I assume Volkovs. I’ll find out, and I’ll make sure—”

“You said it was over! You said—”

“I know. I’m sorry.” They’ve made a liar of me… again. I’ve let her down… again. Rage unfolds within me, cold and sharp, clearing my mind of these damn opioids. I welcome it; I want to be thinking clearly.

She shakes her head. “They broke into our house! What if they’d killed you?”

“They didn’t. We’re both fine.” I take a breath, thoughts racing ahead. “I need to speak to Bastien. I will hunt them down for this. I swear, I will—”

“No,” she cuts me off, eyes flashing. “You said you quit! You are not running off for another three months on some crusade.”

I hear the hurt in her voice and close my eyes, my anger dissolving in the face of her need. Then I open them once more, and she’s looking at me with such yearning. How could I abandon her again?

“I’m sorry, you’re right,” I say softly. “I won’t leave you. We’ll find a way, but I’ll be at your side every moment.” I pause. “Is that what you want?”

“Yes, it’s what I want,” she says, like it’s obvious. “You’re my husband, damn it. I love—” She cuts herself off, eyes going wide.