Page 129 of Sinful Betrayal
“Nina,” he breathes.
The sound of my name on his lips has the last of my strength evaporating.
My body is overcome with sobs of relief as he hurries over to me and gets to work untying my wrists.
“I’m sorry,lapochka, I’m so sorry.” He gently slices through the ropes with a knife. “I never should have kicked you out. I should have listened, I should have?—”
The moment my arms are free, I fling them around his neck, almost knocking him off balance.
“You came for me,” I sob, burying my face in his neck.
“I’m never letting you go.” He tightens his arms around my trembling body. “I’ve got you, Nina.”
I can barely catch my breath as I sob into Anton’s shoulder.
I can’t quite believe that he’s actually here, holding me in his arms, and that makes me cling to him tighter.
“H-he wants to kill…” I shake my head, not able to speak the words out loud.
Anton’s eyes darken with fury as I pull back and put my hands protectively over my stomach.
“He won’t touch you ever again, Nina.” His voice like steel as he tries to control his rage.
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat.
I want to believe him, more than anything, but there’s only one way to know for certain whether our child will be truly safe.
“Is he…”
“Igor’s out cold.” He takes my face in his hands. “Once I’ve got you out of here, I’m going to take care of him.”
“Anton,” I sob, my eyes fluttering closed as he rubs his calloused thumbs over my cheeks.
“He won’t hurt you or our baby, I promise.”
“How did you find me?”
“That list came in very handy.” Anton bends down to gently brush his lips against mine.
“And before anything else, I need you to know I love you,” he whispers against my lips.
I can’t speak past the lump in my throat, so I just kiss him back, hoping that it’s enough to show him how much I love him too.
“Let’s get you out of here.” He reaches under my thighs, lifting me into his arms.
I lean against his warm body, sinking my fingers into his shirt as he carries me out into the main warehouse.
I gasp at all the blood staining the floor and the dozen or so lifeless bodies that litter the floor.
“Keep your eyes closed, Nina.” Anton holds my head against his chest. “You don’t need to see this.”
I do as he says, screwing my eyes shut and burying my face in his chest.
He smells of sweat and blood, but I don’t care. All I care about is the fact that he came back for me, for our child.
That realization has fresh tears stinging my eyes and by the time Anton sets me back down on the ground, I’m overcome with sobs once more.
“Stay here with her.” Anton opens up the passenger door of a blacked-out SUV.