Page 3 of Kidnapped Bride

Muzzle flashes strobed in the darkness and a rapid chain of gunshots echoed off the buildings on both sides of us.

People on the sidewalk screamed and scattered, running for doorways, ducking behind cars, and Kira's body locked up.

"Niko—" Her whole body was shaking in fear, even as I sheltered her. "Niko, oh, God, oh, God?—"

I didn't bother wasting time looking to see if my men were successful. I turned her in my arms and started moving her quickly. "We have to get out of here," I said sternly. It was easierto act like I was concerned than it was to pretend I was happy or falling in love. This part felt more natural to me.

"Oh, my God," she whimpered as tears streaked down her cheeks and she pressed her palms over her ears. Every step we took carried us farther away from the chaos.

"It's okay, just move faster," I coached, willing the thrill out of my tone.

Giddiness swelled in my chest as with one arm around her shoulders, I walked her across the street.

Yakov had already pulled the Escalade to the curb ahead of us, and I met his eyes through the windshield.

My plan was working perfectly.

Removing her by force had never been an option in this city.

Markin had men watching everywhere.

But in this chaos, walking her out under her own volition made perfect sense.

She was my willing participant, going with me for her own safety.

Kira didn't even question the car or ask whose it was or why it was waiting or how it got there so fast.

So naive, so trusting, she climbed into the back seat and I climbed in after her.

And before we had even moved, her face buried into my neck and I could feel her body shuddering in tears.

I nodded at Yakov and he pulled out, merging into traffic.

"Oh, my God, what happened?" she whimpered, but her grip on me was loosening.

She sat up and wiped her eyes, then looked over her shoulder at the scene vanishing behind us as we sped away.

"I'm not sure, a drive by or something." Reaching up, I wiped a few tears from her face and cradled her cheek. "Are you okay?" Feigned compassion was almost impossible for me, but she was probably so out of it thanks to adrenaline that she hardly noticed how I struggled not to gloat.

She nodded, then wiped more tears and turned to face the front. "You, uh… you should just take me home." Her hands trembled as she straightened the hem of her dress and adjusted it on her knees.

"We've hardly gotten a moment…" I frowned in manufactured sadness. "Come to my home. Let me cook for you."

Kira's head shook, her hair starting to come loose from its pins. "I don't know, Niko. We should've stayed there. We were witnesses."

"There were hundreds of witnesses, Kira. They'll hardly miss us. We can call the police if you'd like, but we're safer in this car." The logic won her over, but still she resisted.

"I just think I should go home. I'm scared and?—"

"Please," I said, taking her hand. I brought it to my lips and pressed a kiss to her palm, then to her wrist. "I promise, I am a perfect gentleman."

Her eyes rose to meet my gaze and with her bottom lip trembling, she tried to smile. It didn’t matter what she said at this point.

She was going to my house, like it or not.

She was already in my possession and I had no intention of letting her go.

But her willingness would make it easier to get her out of my car and into my house without my neighbors hearing, at least.