I didn’t even flinch as I said those words. I closed my heart to the devastation. It was time to let go of those horrors and instead, to use what I knew. Use everything at my disposal to destroy the man who’d terrorised me for years.
“You wanted to go up against Frank Russo, Quinn. You wanted this. And you need my help to bring him down. You can’t do this without me. So we’re going to do this my way. My fucking way, do you hear me?”
He blinked. Honestly, I don’t think Quinn had ever let a woman tell him what to do before and judging by the way his eyes darkened, it grated on his nerves. But also, I was the woman he loved and he’d sworn to do anything for. The conflicting war going on his head right now was written all over his features whether he knew it or not. I’d learnt how to recognise his moods. My temperamental sir who sometimes drove me crazy, but who I loved with fierce intensity. I was his girl and he was going to bow to me. He was going to do what I said.
Behind Quinn, Rory was staring at me with a small smile playing on his lips.
“You think he’s going to blow his fucking top?” I heard Xav murmuring to Eric behind us.
“She has a point though. We can’t do this without her,” came Eric’s reply.
Quinn’s hand fisted in my hair and tipped my head back. I met his eyes with my own determination. He could try and bend me to his will, but he wouldn’t be getting very far this time.
“You are undoubtedly the most infuriating woman I’ve ever met in my entire life and yet… I still love you so fucking much.” His other hand came up and framed my face. “You drive me absolutely fucking crazy, Ash. So disobedient and yet so submissive all at the same damn time.” His eyes were almost as black as night right then. So beautiful in their own way. “I hear you. I don’t like it but I hear you. So you’re going to listen now. You might be the queen of our household, but I’m the god damn fucking king.”
My heart hammered against my chest. He was right. He was the king to my queen. The ruler of my heart and soul. I’d spent a lifetime wondering if I’d even have one soulmate. Turns out, I had four. At the end of the day, I’d fallen in love with Quinn first. He’d always be the one who led us into battle. He had the command. Only now, he had a queen to walk by his side.
“Who is in charge here?”
There was only one answer he’d accept right now.
“You, sir.”
“Did you forget that during your speech?”
“No, sir.”
I could never forget it. Not the way he took control nor the way he punished me when I stepped out of line and how I craved it. Craved him.
“If we’re all going to burn tomorrow, we might as well go down being true to who we are.”
I blinked.
Does that mean…?
“We’re in this together. It’s all five of us or nothing at all. Isn’t that right, little girl?”
I nodded as a lump formed in my throat.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good girl.”
He let go of me, his dark eyes growing soft. Before he could escape, I barrelled my way into his arms and buried my face in his solid chest.
“I love you,” I whispered. “I love you. I love you.”
And I would always love him until I took my very last breath. A world without Quinn or my boys would be no world worth living in.
Quinn held me close and I felt all of his love pouring out of him with that simple hug.
“I spoke to Viktor… he understands. He regrets he cannot attend himself, but he’s insisted on sending someone else in his stead.”
I felt my body sinking as I realised exactly who Viktor would send without Quinn having said it. I pulled away and looked over at Eric, whose features had hardened.
“He’s sending Gregor, isn’t he?” came his irritated voice.
“Afraid so.”
Xav wrapped an arm around Eric and stroked his shoulder. None of us liked the fact my uncle had shoved a gun in his face. I didn’t care what the boys said, I was going to make sure Gregor was aware he couldn’t pull shit like that with my men again or he’d have me to deal with. I wasn’t afraid of Gregor Bykov. Not when I was his younger brother’s daughter. Not when I knew my father would never stand by idly if Gregor didn’t stay in his fucking lane.
“Nothing is going to happen to you. Not whilst you have me right here,” I told Eric. “He better watching his fucking back.”
“See, E, our girl has got you covered,” Xav said.
Eric didn’t exactly look convinced, but there was nothing else we could do about it now. Having Gregor there would kill two birds with one stone. He was Viktor’s eyes and ears and he’d report back to the Russian mafia. No one wanted them involved in this war we were waging against Frank. And this really was war. I wasn’t going to let Frank take away our lives. It’s his life that would end. His not mine.
When I looked up at Quinn, I saw the pride in his eyes. That’s all I needed. We were going to
