“Butterfly.”
At the sound of Hans’s whisper, I drop the gun and turn.
I don’t even make it a step before he’s there. Before his strong arms wrap around me, and he lifts me against his body.
I circle my arms around his neck and hitch my legs around his hips.
My Hans.
He’s here. Right here.
Behind Hans, Karmine and several of her soldiers enter the room. Two of them step over Gabriel’s corpse to check the room he came from, while Karmine and the others go to the three women who are still standing along the wall.
“Thank you,” Hans murmurs into my neck, holding me tightly. “Thank you, Cassandra. My Girl. My Butterfly.”
Over and over, he thanks me, and all I can do is cling to him while I cry against his shoulder.
Tears of relief.
Tears from the fear I felt.
Tears for all of the women who have been through too much.
I hug Hans tighter.
I don’t know how he’s dealt with so much on his own. But never again. Never again.
“I love you.” I choke out the words.
He squeezes me to him until it’s hard to breathe. “I love you so fucking much.”
A small laugh bubbles up in response to him cursing while telling me he loves me.
I lift my head so I can look at him.
Blood is spattered across his face and in his hair. His eyes are rimmed red. And I swear I can feel his heart pounding through the thick vest he’s wearing.
“Don’t ever fucking scare me like that again,” Hans growls, then presses his lips to mine. “Thank you.” He presses a softer kiss to my mouth. “I-I hate that you had to do that.” His eyes are so bright, so alive. “But…” He gives his head the smallest shake. “Thank you, Cassandra. What you’ve given me…”
I unhook one arm from around his neck and press it to his cheek. “I’d do anything for you.”
He nuzzles his stubbled cheek into my palm and exhales. “You thought I was obsessed before.”
I snicker, imagining a Hans even more obsessed.
He leans in like he’s going to kiss me again, then he stops, his brows furrowing. “I saw blood. Where are you hurt?” He starts to lower me as he asks it.
“My feet!” I tighten my legs around his hips so he can’t put me down.
Hans instantly rights himself and boosts me higher. “Your feet?”
He cranes his neck to try and look at my feet behind his back.
“While I was knocked out on the plane, that big asshole took my boots off,” I explain. “And the stupid marble floors were too slippery with my socks on, so I took them off. But then I stepped on—it doesn’t matter. It’s just my feet.”
He shifts so one hand is under my butt, and then he uses his other to gently brush the backs of his fingers against my cheek. “It’s not just your feet.”
My chin wobbles as I think about all the parts of me that hurt, including my butt, but I don’t mind that right now.
Hans wraps his arm back around me. “You’re going to tell me about every single bruise. Okay, Butterfly?”
I nod. “Okay.”
“If it helps”—he gives me a soft smile—“I cut the big asshole’s hands off after I shot him. Twice.”
I sniff and nod my head. “That helps.”
Hans turns his head to where Karmine is talking with the women. “You good?”
Karmine says one last thing to the women, then turns to Hans. “We’re gonna need to check the garages for a vehicle. I want us”—she tips her head to the three new bodies who will be joining our exodus—“to have our own ride.”
“Take the one we rode over in, and I’ll find out if Nero can fly a chopper.”
My eyes widen at that.
“Sounds good.” Karmine nods, even though it does not sound good. “We’ll triple check every room, but it won’t take us long.”
“Copy that.” Hans starts to turn, then stops. “I heard over the radio that someone found a store of gasoline in the garage, which is handy. All things considered, it’ll probably take about ten minutes to rig the place.”
Hans’s reply is so casual. And it’s a reminder that even though this was absolutely the worst day of my life, they’re used to this. It’s what they do.
He gives Karmine a nod, then turns and strides toward the door, me still in his arms.
I lift my gaze over his shoulder and lock eyes with one of the women.
I hate the reasons why Hans and Karmine are so used to this violence. But I am glad they’re so good at it.
The woman gives me the smallest smile. And I give her one back before Hans carries me out of view.
