With a sigh Rock wrapped his arms around her mom. “Sweetheart, you know Rya’s mind is already made up on this, and Dimitri is right, he’ll be able to protect her better than we can.”
“Mom,” Rya met her mother’s furious glare and saw the fear beneath it. “I’ll be okay.”
“Fuck. That. Shit. You think I don’t know who Dimitri Novikov is? That I don’t know about all the fucked up shit he’s into? He’s a goddamn criminal.”
Rya took a step forward, pulling against Dimitri’s hand as he tried to keep her in place. “You will not talk about my man like that. I know about all the fucked up shit he’s into, but I also know about all the fucked up shit Rock’s into. And don’t forget, mother, the way you’ve lived your life hasn’t exactly been on the right side of the law. I seem to recall having to live with grandma and grandpa while you spent some time in jail.”
Kim’s chin trembled and Rya felt like a bitch for upsetting her. “All I ever wanted was for you to have a good life, a safe life, honey, to not get caught up in all this bullshit. To have a man that you didn’t have to worry about ending up in prison or shot.”
“I know, mom, I do. You’ve given me a great life, and more importantly, you’ve raised me to think for myself and stand up for what I believe in. Well, I believe in Dimitri.”
“You barely know him,” her mom whispered while Rock ran a soothing hand through Kim’s still-dark hair. “And look what happened to you.”
“And you only knew my dad for a week before you two took off for Vegas on his bike. I’m not going into this blind. Yeah, what happened to me is messed up, but bad shit happens every day. It’s the way of the world.”
Kim started to cry and Rock rubbed her back in a soothing manner. “But Russia? That’s so far away.”
Dimitri spoke up, “You will be able to see Rya whenever you want. I will send my jet for you and arrange travel documents.”
Kim glared at him. “What about if she wants to come home?”
“As long as she has bodyguard, yes, she can come home to visit.”
Rock blew out a harsh breath and looked at Rya. “You sure you want to go with him?”
“I’m sure.”
Dimitri looked down at Rya and said in a gentle voice, “We must go. I will leave you alone to say goodbye.”
She didn’t want him to leave, not even for a second, but her mom looked like she was about to lose it so she nodded. “I’ll be right out.”
Dimitri placed a gentle, heartfelt kiss on her forehead before exiting the room and shutting the door behind him.
Before Rya could move her mom was hugging her hard enough to make her ribs hurt. “Ow.”
Easing her hold, Kim leaned back so she was looking Rya in the eye. “You don’t have to go, you can stay here and we’ll keep you safe.”
“Mom, even if my being here wouldn’t put you in danger, I want to go with Dimitri.” She sighed and brushed a tear off her mom’s cheek. “I’ve been miserable without him.”
“Are you-”
Before her mom could finish her sentence the sound of men shouting came from the hallway and Rock pushed past them, slamming open the door with Rya and Kim on his heels.
When Rya saw Gears pressed up against the wall with Dimitri’s hand around his throat, and Maks with his gun pointed at Terror who had a gun to Dimitri’s head, she flipped out.
Shoving past her mom, she ignored everyone yelling at her to stay away and stepped between Dimitri and Terror, putting herself right in the line of fire. “What the hell are you doing holding a gun to my man’s head? What the fuck is wrong with you?”
To her surprise Maks laughed while Terror ignored her and aimed higher so he’d miss her but still have a chance at hitting Dimitri. “Tell him to drop Gears.”
She remained pressed up against Dimitri’s side, but turned her head and examined his furious expression. “Dimitri, what is going on? Please let Gears go.”
Without looking away from Gears Dimitri said, “He tried to stop me from taking you, said you are his woman.”
Sighing, she reached up and gently gripped Dimitri’s wrist. “I’m your woman, Dimitri, and he knows it.”
After Dimitri released Gears the other man snarled, “No fucking way, Rya. You belong here with me, with your family.”
Dimitri growled, but out of the corner of her eye she noticed Terror and Maks lowering their guns. With a sigh she turned to Gears. “No, I belong with Dimitri.”
“I kissed her last night and she loved it,” Gears said with a sneer.