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CHAPTER SEVENTY – TWO ROSE AMARA'S POV I swallow the clog in my throat and open my mouth. Ever since that day I first gave Ethan a blowjob, I swore to never do it to any other man after him. Ever since that moment, I felt like every part of me belonged to him and him alone. Now that I'm in this situation, I can only think of him and how much I wish he were here because if he were, no one would ever touch me. But since he's not, I need to get this done myself. As soon as the bald guy's dick is inside my mouth, I bite it as hard as possible. A metallic taste explodes on my tongue. The guard by my side kicks me in the stomach, so I release his boss. I grunt as I push away from him. The bald man wails, and I back up, using their distraction with their leader to reach Aleksander. They're too busy to notice me, one imprisoning her and the other trying to shove his dick inside her. I use all my energy to kick the one holding her down and steal his gun. Aleksander kicks the other one, then holds him in a headlock. As he screams, she steals his gun, then breaks his neck, the sickening crack echoing in the air. I shoot one of the bald man's minions in the leg, turn to the leader, and shoot him in the dick. Then one more time in the forehead, for good measure. We run out of there, back-to-back, in case the others follow. Aleksander holds her pants up with one hand and buttons them. Wait, it's not Aleksander, though. 'Is your name Aleksander?" I ask. 'Do you prefer I call you that?" 'It's Aleksandra," she whispers, not meeting my gaze. 'Thank you for helping me." 'Any time." We sprint toward the nearest exit even though I'm about to collapse. My breathing is harsh and irregular, and the slightest movement feels like climbing a mountain. Both of us are panting by the time we hear distorted voices. They're after us, and by the sound of the thudding footsteps, it seems the number doubled from when they first barged inside. Aleksandra and I exchange a look, and then we hide behind a wall across from one another. If we have to fight to the death, so be it. We fire at the ones following us, then move positions so they miss us. Our bullets are running out, though. They will catch us again at this rate, and it'll be worse than the first time. Bang! Aleksandra and I freeze at the sound of the explosion. That was some sort of bomb. Sure enough, soon after, a multitude of gunshots follow. No one is shooting at us anymore or following us, but the sound doesn't cease. Pop. Pop. Pop. Then, we hear Russian voices. Aleksandra and I stare at each other and smile. They came for us. We carefully slide out of our hiding spot and follow the sound of the guns. Sure enough, Pharaoah and his men are at the front, eliminating anyone in their path. Pakstan is there, too, shooting out bullets like they're candy, an ammunition belt slung casually over his shoulder. My heart leaps out of my throat when I glimpse Ethan pushing a guard to the ground. He usually prefers sniping positions that are far away from any conflict. This is the first time he's willingly gone into a battlefield. He has three Albanians kneeling in front of him when his gaze meets mine. They're still as hypnotizing as ever, but they're dark and enraged, as if he's been thrust into a different state of being. One where his primary purpose is to kill and maim. He places a gun at the back of the first guard's head. 'Did he touch you?" I nod. He's one of the two who held me down. Ethan doesn't blink as he pulls the trigger. The body falls to the ground as he moves to the next. 'Did this fvcker put his hands on you? Did he touch what's mine, Rose?" The guard is about to piss his pants, lips trembling and pale. It's my first time seeing his face, so I shake my head. Ethan shoots him anyway. 'He participated." And then he finishes the third one without even asking me. Their bodies lie lifeless at his feet, but he still watches them as if contemplating a way to bring them back to life so he can kill them all over again. It's one of the rare times Ethan lets me see this side of him up close and personal—the merciless killer. The one who will finish life as if it's a fly's. And he did it for me. For some reason, it's like he learned everything up to this point so he could kill for me. I should feel bad or be struck by some sort of remorse for being the reason behind so many people's deaths, but I don't. They're sick motherfvckers, and they made many other women's lives hell. Aleksandra and I would've met the same fate if Ethan hadn't arrived. And then, I wouldn't have seen my husband's face again. I don't allow myself to think as I run toward Ethan and jump on him. My body crashes into his, arms wrapped around his neck and legs caging his waist. He staggers back a little at the force of the impact but loops both his arms around me, including the one with the gun. He inhales me, and I do the same, allowing myself to let my guard down for a second. When in his embrace, I'm protected and safe. I probably shouldn't feel this way around someone I don't fully trust, but I can't ward off this strange feeling of belonging. 'Are you okay?" he whispers slowly. 'Yeah." 'Really?" 'Really. I'm glad you came, Ethan. I'm so glad." I don't know how it would've ended if he weren't around. I try to get to my feet, but he doesn't release me, at least not until Zeth and Eya rush toward us. I squeeze his bicep so he sets me down, but he does that reluctantly and keeps an arm around my waist. Eya watches me with moisture in her eyes. 'Miss…we're so sorry we weren't there." 'What are you sorry about? I'm the one who sent you off." 'But—" 'I'm fine, Katy. It takes much more than this to hurt me." 'But you look pale," Zeth says. Ethan places two fingers under my chin and lifts it up so I stare at him. "You do." 'It's nothing." I smile, forcing Ethan to release me so I can assess the situation around us. The Albanians are entirely wiped out, at least the ones here. And judging Pakstan's expression, he's not amused that it ended so soon. Pharaoah is barking orders at his guards to clean up since we don't want the authorities at our backs. Aleksandra stands to the side, and Pharaoah dismisses her when she attempts to help. Her eyes meet mine, and I smile at her. She approaches me and clears her throat, adopting her ‘male' voice. 'Thank you." 'Likewise, Aleksander." I take the hint to call her by the name she goes by in public. If she doesn't want people to know, I won't tell. 'You can call me Sasha, miss." She bows and heads to Pharaoah, who has been watching us the entire time while wiping blood off his glasses. As Aleksandra—Sasha—joins him, he gives me an 'I'm watching you' gesture. He then pushes Sasha to walk before him on their way out. The asshole doesn't deserve a diligent worker like her. I didn't like her guts and her loathsome loyalty to Pharaoah when she was a man, but now that I've discovered she's a woman, I'm sure dire circumstances pushed her to hide her gender. Maybe I can steal her away. "What are you thinking about?" Ethan turns me around to face him, and I stumble. The room starts spinning, and my vision blurs. Ethan clutches me by the small of my back, and his hand digs into my arm to keep me upright. "What's wrong?" 'I…I don't know." 'You should see a doctor." 'There's no need. I think it's because of whatever they gave us." I stroke his collar, lowering my tone. 'How about you take me home?" 'I'm taking you to a doctor, Rose," he says in his non-negotiable tone. I shake my head as I let him carry me toward the car. A doctor is the last thing on my mind right now. All I want is Ethan for myself.