It was my second headshot of the night, and no less satisfying.
I ran forward as the man’s body crumpled to the ground. Pulling a switchblade out of my pocket, I cut through the ropes binding her to the chair and pulled her into my arm. Sarah was shaking as she clung to me, her breathing uneven.
“You’re okay,” I said. “You’re okay, baby. I swear.”
“Alexis?” she asked, and I loved her even more because even after what she’d just been through, her first priority was our daughter.
“She’s fine. She’s with your mother at home, and I’ve doubled the guards.”
She let out a slightly hysterical laugh. “I knew you would. After all this, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a whole army of bodyguards following me around.”
I chuckled. “Probably. Anything to keep you safe, baby.Anything.”
Sarah pulled back just enough to look into my eyes. “I love you, Dmitri. I love you so much.”
There were two bodies around us, a half dozen more outside. I had been grazed by a bullet, and she’d been kidnapped. I couldn’t think of a less romantic situation, but I kissed her anyway, as if there was nothing else in the world. It was a desperate claiming.
“I love you too,” I said. Then I kissed her again. And again.
Finally, I just held her, not sure If I’d ever be able to stand having her out of my sight ever again.
“Take me home,” she said, and I lifted her into my arms, ignoring the pain in my still-healing shoulder and freshly wounded leg. I could handle anything as long as I had her in my arms.