Merciless Saints (St. Monarch's Academy 1)

“Okay.”

I let go of Winter’s hand and pull my gun from behind my back. I check the clip and glancing at her, I instruct, “Check your weapon.” I wait until she’s ready, and rising to my feet, I pull her up. “Behind me.”

God, I should’ve left her at home.

Chapter 22

WINTER

The air is loaded with tension as we descend the plane. Damien’s on guard, and it makes me scan our surroundings vigilantly as I follow him to an armored SUV.

He opens the door and shoves me inside. When he climbs in behind me, I shoot him a scowl. “You don’t have to push me around.”

“Don’t start,” he growls at me, his eyes constantly searching our surroundings for any threat.

Alexei and Demitri climb into the front, and as soon as Alexei starts the engine and pulls away, Damien relaxes a little.

His jaw is still clenched, though. I reach up and brush my fingers over his jaw, and it has him leaning into my palm. He places his hand over the back of mine, and our eyes meet.

Damien stares at me for a moment, and then he yanks me closer to him. His arms wrap tightly around me, and I feel his harsh breaths against my neck.

“I’m going to be okay,” I try to reassure him.

“I shouldn’t have brought you,” he growls. “God, what was I thinking?”

I wrap my arms around his neck and press my mouth to his ear. “You’ve seen what I can do. Don’t doubt me now. I’ll hold my own as good as any man.”

He nods as he takes a deep breath. “Just don’t leave my side. No matter what happens.”

“I won’t. I’ll stick to you like glue,” I assure him.

He pulls a little back, and his eyes dart over my face, then he whispers, “Ya lyublyu tebya.”

I shake my head, not understanding a word. Still, it’s damn hot hearing him speak Russian.

He presses a kiss to my mouth then breathes against my lips, “I love you.”

I smile against him as the words settle warmly in my heart. “I love you, too.”

Damien kisses me as if he’s trying to taste the words on my tongue until Alexei grumbles, “Come on. Not in the back seat. It’s all I see when I look in the rearview mirror.”

I let out a chuckle as Damien pulls away from me until I see the bewildered look in his eyes.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Nothing.” The word is short, and it feels as if it instantly creates a distance between us.

I’ve never seen Damien like this, and worry begins to spin a web around my heart.

Does he regret telling me he loves me?

I have to keep the question to myself while we drive to the Cotroni’s villa. When Alexei steers us onto the safety of the Cotroni’s grounds with the other men following behind us, Damien seems to relax a little bit.

He opens the door and pulls me out of the car. The second I’m out, he tugs me right against his side, his eyes scanning everywhere again.

Alexei takes the lead with Demitri a step behind him, and then we follow with the other men bringing up the rear.

The front door opens, and Luca smiles welcoming at us. “Good to see you had a safe trip. Come in,” The head of the Mafia greets us.

Luca shakes the men's hand then turns to me, and it instantly makes Damien tense up. His grip on my hand tightens into a crushing hold as Luca takes hold of my shoulders, kissing me on both my cheeks.

“Sorry for your losses, mi cara.”

“Thank you,” I murmur, flexing my fingers in Damien’s hold so he’ll ease up.

When we step into the villa, I tug at Damien’s hand, whispering, “You’re hurting me.”

His grip on me loosens slightly as we follow Luca to a room where the weapons are waiting for us.

Alexei and Demitri immediately begin to inspect our shipment. Damien tugs me closer to a crate, and it has me saying, “You can let go. I won’t disappear.”

He lets out a low growl as his hand finally frees mine. I give him a questioning look, and stepping closer so only he will hear me, I ask, “What’s going on with you?”

Damien shoots me a dark glare before taking a submachine gun from the crate. He inspects it, checking the clip.

Letting out a sigh, I pick up a Coharie CA-415 with a shortened barrel. It’s the American-made version of the Heckler & Koch HK416, so I think I’ll be most comfortable using it.

“A gift,” Luca says, gesturing to a pile of backpacks. “To take extra ammunition. My scout reports no out-of-the-ordinary activity at Blanco’s villa, but one can never be too prepared. Right?”

“Right,” Alexei chuckles. “Thank you.”

I walk away from Damien and grab two bags. When I turn around, he’s right behind me, a murderous expression tightening his features.