Consumed by Deception (Deception Trilogy #3) by Rina Kent

Strong arms hug me from behind, whirling me around, and I stare up at Adrian. His brow is furrowed and there’s dried blood on his lips. He’s rugged, hurt, and not his usual composed self, but he’s alive.

He’s back.

Oh, God. He’s back and he’s alive.

“Do you have a fucking death wish, Lia?” He shakes me, threat and what seems like pain creases his brows. “Why did you get in the way of the bullet? If I hadn’t changed the direction at the last second, you would’ve been shot.”

“I…I couldn’t let you harm Winter.”

“She has a fucking syringe.”

“She wasn’t going to hurt me.”

Kolya strides inside and snatches the syringe from her hand. She doesn’t fight, not that she could, and lets him confiscate her weapon. Tears roll down her cheeks as Adrian’s second-in-command yanks her arms behind her back, imprisoning her wrists with one hand.

“I didn’t mean to… Please don’t hurt me.” She shakes her head, eyes meeting mine. “Lia, please.”

I pull myself from Adrian’s hold and face them. “Kolya, let her go.”

He doesn’t make a move, his gaze meeting his boss’s. So I direct my attention to my husband.

“Adrian…tell him to let her go.”

His critical gaze studies Winter closely, obviously trying to figure out why she’s awake. “Not until I make sure she’s not a danger.”

“She isn’t.”

“You don’t know that.” My husband pulls me to his side with a firm hand around my waist and addresses Kolya. “Keep a close eye on her until further notice.”

He turns to leave, then throws over his shoulder, “And tell Yan and Boris to plan their fucking funerals.”

And with that, he drags me out of the room and the guest house. I squirm, trying to get away, but Adrian’s firm grip prevents me from doing anything significant.

When we walk inside the house, he releases me because of my constant wiggling about.

I plant my feet on the floor and place a hand at my hip. “What is the matter with you? Winter didn’t do anything wrong.”

“She thought she could take your place. That’s enough to be considered wrong in my dictionary.”

“I did it. I’m the one who convinced her, so if you want to punish someone, punish me.”

“Oh, I will punish you, Lia, and it has nothing to do with Winter.” He grabs me by the elbow. “What the fuck are you doing here? You should’ve stayed in Russia as I ordered you to.”

“And wait patiently for news of your death?” I jab a finger at his chest. “I would never do that. I won’t sit still when I can help you.”

“Help me by exposing yourself to Lazlo? Do you think he’ll leave you alone now?”

“I don’t care about any of that. The only thing I could think about was getting you back alive.” My voice cracks and the tears I resisted last night barge into my eyes. “How could you do that to me? How could you leave me behind as if I mean nothing?”

“Nothing?” His jaw and voice tighten. “If you meant nothing, I wouldn’t have walked toward death for you.”

“Who asked you to walk toward death for me? Since when are you a hero? You’re a villain, so act like one and take responsibility for your actions.”

“My actions?”

“You made me addicted to you and unable to function unless I get my fix, so don’t you dare think you can leave and expect me to let you go without a fight.” Tears cascade down my cheeks and my throat closes from the straining force behind my words.

“Lenochka…” He extends a hand to me and I step out of his reach.

“Don’t Lenochka me. I’m mad at you right now. Do you have any idea of the number of scenarios that went through my head when I ran after the car and couldn’t catch up? I thought it was the last time I’d see you, that I’d be widowed, that Jer would be orphaned. You would’ve killed me right along with you and ended the life you spent a lot of time and effort to save. Just what were you hoping for? That I’d get over you and pick up the pieces of my life as if you were never in it?”

“With time, yes. Isn’t that what you wanted all along? A life away from me?”

“Idiot. Fucking idiot. You think I can live away from you when you’re the one who gave meaning to my life?” I sniffle. “I only said those words because of my fears and never once meant them.”

His usually savage eyes soften, despite the map of bruises on his face. “No?”

“No! What about you, then? Did you really want me to move on? What if I found myself another man, huh?”

All softness disappears and his eyes rage with an intense gray as he clenches his jaw. “Kolya would kill him.”

“He couldn’t possibly kill all of them.”

“He could.”

“Then I would meet them behind Kolya’s back.”

“Lia…” he warns.

“What, Adrian? What? You’re the one who wanted me to move on.”

“Fuck that.” He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me to him, flattening my front against his hard chest as he breathes harshly. “You think I would ever want you with another man? That’s like gutting myself with my own hands. You’re mine and I only ever want you to stay mine, not someone else’s.”