“Don’t go any farther.” The faint voice came from the shadows behind them. Fuck, Carlos had his gun. Blood pooled down his sleeve from his left shoulder wound. At least he could punch with his right, but what good would that do him now?
Carlos and Drago turned to the voice. As she stepped closer, he recognized the old bitch. It was Belle’s mother, the one who cared more about name brands than her own flesh and blood child. He remembered her sitting at the back wearing her furs, smoking a cigarette while Belle fought as a child. No mercy or empathy whatsoever. She trained a gun on them. On him specifically.
“This was a long time coming,” he said. “Your husband won’t be able to hurt anyone else, and now that the money train is gone, neither will you.”
“Or, my respected husband was murdered by an underground thug. Luckily, I used this gun in self-defense. We wouldn’t want to mess up my dear Randal’s life insurance claim, would we?”
She pulled the trigger, clipping him in the fucking left arm. He grunted and dashed to the side as she wildly waved the gun, trying to get a better aim. She fired again, missing him this time. Then she had him pinned between the house and shed, a wicked smile on her face.
An odd calm flooded his body. At least Belle and Ava were safe. Belle was strong, and she’d be able to start over and live a good life. At least he’d done one decent thing before he died.
Then a dark shadow moved behind her, capturing his attention. When she followed his gaze, a massive right hook knocked her down to her ass. Then another. And another.
Belle pounded her own mother into the dirt until the bitch didn’t stir at all.
Once the initial shock wore off, Drago bolted forward and wrapped his good arm around Belle’s waist, pulling her off her mother.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
“You expected me to listen? You know I can’t control my impulses.” She didn’t sound apologetic, but she had just saved their asses. Belle was beautiful, strong, and had an unbreakable soul. “You’re hurt,” she said when she noticed the blood on his coat. “How?”
“The vest only protects the chest. I’ll live.”
“What if it had been your head?”
He ignored her. “What about Ava?”
“I got Candice’s number from your phone last night,” she said.
“Why? Were you jealous again? Planning to beat her up?”
She scowled. “I needed a back-up plan for Ava if I decided not to listen again. Don’t flatter yourself, old man.”
He backed her up until she hit the shed. Drago pressed his body against hers. When she brought her hands up to his chest, he kissed her bloodied knuckles. His little fighter.
She daintily touched his wound. He fought not to flinch. “We have to get back to the hotel so I can check this out.”
“You’re in big trouble this time,” he warned. “You could have been hurt tonight. We talked about this.”
“I guess you’ll have to punish me,” she whispered again his neck. Even with a gunshot wound, his fucking cock firmed up in his pants. “I’ll have to warn you though, I’m good with my hands.”
“You’re telling me.”
“Can you two get a room? It’s not the best idea hang out at the crime scene,” said Carlos. Drago had forgotten all about his friend once the bullets started flying at him.
“You okay, buddy?”
“Yeah, but you need to get your ass to the doctor.” Carlos went ahead of them on the path. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
They followed along behind Carlos. He knew Belle’s mother wouldn’t be a threat without her father. They left her in the dirt.
This was the night they’d planned for months. He’d wondered if he’d make it back to Belle at all. Now it was over. And they were together. It all felt surreal.
The blood loss was making him dizzy, so Carlos drove them home. One of their underground doctors was going to stop by the condo to patch him up, but he knew nothing was broken.
Now it was time to move forward, put the past behind them, and become a family.
Epilogue
One year later
“Daddy, watch me, watch me.”
Drago watched as Ava dumped the bucket of water over the sand in her attempt to make a sandcastle. He’d made her dozens of castles. And he’d make her more if she asked. He’d never get tired of hearing Ava call him “Daddy”. He’d spend the rest of his life earning the title.
Belle packed up the picnic lunch they’d had over the large checkered blanket. Her blonde hair was loose and fluttering in the warm breeze. She was breathtaking.
“Our first family vacation,” she said.
“Never thought I’d like the beach, but it’s growing on me.”
She swatted him. “You love it.”
They’d rented a cute little cottage right on the water. It was private, the perfect little escape.