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Tonight was no exception. After Konflict finished with me, he’d wrapped his arms around me and I drifted off, feeling him deep inside me, safe and claimed. When I opened my eyes in the darkness, I knew it was still night. My husband was sleeping heavily, not noticing as I shifted. That was just as well because I needed to slip away for a few minutes without raising his suspicions.

I was six weeks pregnant, and the morning sickness wasstarting to hit. Thankfully, it wasn’t bad enough that Konflict had noticed yet, but I doubted I could hide it much longer. I had no intention of keeping this pregnancy a secret from him. The moment I decided to give him my heart, I’d also chosen to give our marriage another chance, to build our family. I just… wanted to tell him in a special way. He was supposed to come with me to my next doctor’s appointment, and that’s when he’d know everything. I only had to hold out and hide my nausea for a few more days.

Moving carefully so I wouldn’t wake him, I slipped out from under his arm. His dick had softened and slid out from my pussy a while ago. I left the bed without a sound and made my way down the hall to my old room. Thank God the bedrooms were at opposite ends of the yacht. I rushed straight to the bathroom, dropped to my knees, and emptied my stomach into the toilet.

When I was finished, I rinsed out my mouth, pulled on some sweatpants, a t-shirt, and a sweater, then headed to the kitchen. I needed a little something to eat before slipping back into bed, otherwise Konflict would notice I’d been gone too long.

I’d just opened the fridge, searching for something bland to nibble, when a hand clamped over my mouth. Fear shot through me, panic flooding my veins. My heart hammered as I tried to figure out who it was and what they wanted.

“Shhh… Serenity, it’s me. Don’t make a sound.”

Valery.

Relief and confusion mixed together as she let go and I spun around.

“I don’t have time to explain. You need to come with me right now. Trust me,” she whispered, gripping my hand.

She started pulling me toward the exit, but I planted my feet. “Wait, you have to explain. I can’t just leave. I have to warn Konflict.”

She stopped, grabbed my face in her hands, and held mesteady. “Listen to me. We don’t have time. There’s going to be a shootout in a few minutes. Krash and the others are coming as backup for Konflict. You can’t warn him. If you do, Krash’s plan will fall apart. They think they’re taking him by surprise, but he already knows what to do, and his team will be here just in time to take these people out. But you… you’re pregnant. I refuse to let you go through that kind of stress. My job is to get you out quietly, without alerting anyone. Let your man and his guys do what they do best: protect you.”

My panic spiked as she explained, but if Krash and the others were ready and the plan was to get me out, I believed her. Still, my heart was pounding for Konflict.

“Valery, who are these people? Who’s attacking us?”

“Probably men Sawyer sent to finish things with Konflict. You know they have unfinished business. As long as that man’s alive, you’ll always be in danger. Please, Serenity. There’s a speedboat waiting. You trust me, right? You know you’re like a little sister to me. I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you.”

“Okay, I’ll come. But promise me Krash is coming. I don’t want Konflict left alone in this.”

“Trust me. My man has it all under control. Let’s go.”

My heart was thudding like crazy as I followed Valery off the yacht and down to the small boat. The yacht was anchored far from the shore, so it took a few minutes to reach land. The whole time, I kept looking over my shoulder, worried about Konflict. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I shouldn’t have left without telling him. If something this dangerous was coming, he should have warned me, right?

“Valery, are you sure? I feel like I should have spoken to Konflict before leaving.”

“Serenity, just trust—”

Ratatatatatata.

Gunfire exploded from the direction of the yacht. My heartnearly burst and panic crushed me.

“Valery, we have to go back. Konflict is alone. I didn’t see Krash or anyone else.”

I tried to persuade her to turn around, but she ignored me, steering the boat to the shore.

“Come on, Serenity. You can’t go back, it’s too dangerous.”

“You don’t understand! I can’t just leave my husband like that. I’m going back, whether you want to or not. If you’re too afraid to face what’s happening, then go, but I won’t abandon him.”

“Do you really think the best solution is to put yourself in danger so he can’t fight back because he’s busy worrying about you? You want both of you to die?”

I knew she was right, but it was hard to accept. I couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to Konflict. I would never forgive myself. I couldn’t imagine life without him. But Valery was right. If I stayed, I’d only be in his way, but one thing was certain—my husband was a fighter. I’d seen it with my own eyes. I had to trust him.

We’d barely made it a few meters from the shore when more gunshots echoed over the water. My heart pounded harder, my worry mounting. The gunfight sounded intense, several weapons firing at once. I could only hope Konflict wasn’t alone, that Krash and the others had made it to him.

“Hurry! We have to go, now. I need to get you somewhere safe,” Valery urged.

“Where do you think you’re going?” A man’s voice rang out from the darkness, directly where Valery and I were heading.