Page 85 of Toxic Attraction
"Armenian family." His voice is flat. "Testing my defenses. Seeing if I was distracted enough to strike."
Not Patrick.
Relief and disappointment flood through me so intensely that I nearly collapse.
But Lev's still talking. "He gave up names, locations, everything. Begged for his life." A dark smile tugs at his lips. "I killed him anyway. Slowly."
I should be horrified. Should flinch away from the casual brutality.
I don't.
"Good." The word comes out vicious. "He deserved it."
Lev's eyes flash. "You mean that."
"Yes." And I do. "They tried to take Mila. They would have—if they'd succeeded—" I can't finish the thought.
He crosses to me in two strides. Pulls me against him again, and this time I feel him shaking. “Thank you.”
I groan softly at the feel of him. “I would do it over and over.”
He pulls back a little to look at me. "You're not the scared little mouse I caught in my bathroom anymore."
"No." I'm not. "I'm not."
"What are you then?"
His. Mila's. Part of this world, whether I intended to be or not.
"I'm whatever I need to be to protect your daughter."
The honesty chips away at something between us.
He kisses me, and this time it's different. Not desperate, or claiming, or angry.
We end up in his bed, still fully clothed, just holding each other. His hands keep running over me like he's checking I'm still here, still whole.
"I was terrified," he admits into the darkness. "When Mikhail called. First time I've felt that kind of fear since I found Katya."
"I was terrified too." My fingers trace patterns on his chest. "But I couldn't let them take her. Couldn't let her relive that nightmare."
"You saved her."
"We saved her." I correct. "Your men, Mikhail, you. Team effort."
"You put yourself between her and a gun." His voice is fierce. "That was all you."
We're quiet for a long time. His breathing evens out, and I think he's finally asleep.
Then he speaks again. "I trust you."
My breath catches. "What?"
"I trust you." He pulls back enough to look at me. "After today, watching you protect her with your life, risk everything without hesitation—I trust you, Valerie. Completely."
The words should make me feel relief. Victory.
Instead, guilt crashes over me.
