Read Online REGENCY: Loved by the Duke (Historical Billionaire Military Romance) (19th Century Victorian Short Stories) by Serena Vale, Tencia Winters - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Serena Vale, Tencia Winters
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was, just shook his head sadly at her. “No, I know where the manuscript is. You have it hidden, in the ceiling of your apartment. The men I sent were incompetent, but believe me, Ms. McAllister, I will have the artifact in my possession shortly after your unfortunate demise.”
The edge of the barrel cut roughly into her skin as the man, her attacker, gripped her by the arm and lifted her to her feet. Panic tore through her with the force of a hurricane, obliterating any rational thought except that she would never see Valentine again, never see their baby.
“Don’t struggle. Don’t make a scene. Or I’ll start shooting, got it?” Hope just nodded her head, numb with terror as he pushed her with the gun at her back in the direction of a dark alley. She knew as soon as they made it there, she was dead.
She remembered Valentine, watching, listening, and hoped against hope that he would be able to save her, but as they neared the alley, that hope began to desert her. She pictured his face, his blue eyes staring down at her, and felt hot tears threaten.
Suddenly, the sound of sirens and flashing lights surrounded the outdoor courtyard of the café, causing chaos to erupt. A close, familiar voice shouted, “There, over there, he has a gun!”
As the attacker turned back to see what was happening, a strong punch flew at him from behind, startling him and knocking him back a few paces. Just enough for Valentine to grab her hand and drag her behind him as he flew down the alley. They paused for a moment at the other end, just long enough to see police surrounding her would-be killer. He was screaming at Mr. Jones, who was trying to sneak away, but as the entire café was surrounded he had nowhere to go.
“You promised me! You promised me I could kill her!”
Hope couldn’t hold back a small smile as both men were handcuffed and escorted into police cars. She looked up at Valentine.
“You saved me.”
He met her gaze with one of his own, a small lopsided smile on his lips.
“Not yet.”
They ran back to the hotel room, Valentine explaining along the way that he had called in the anonymous tip that there was a man with a gun at the café.
Hope looked over at him, her eyes shining. “You’re pretty good at all this spy stuff.”
“I’m not a spy, Zvyozdochk a.”
“Well, either way, you’re good.” He chuckled, but the sound slowly faded as he noticed the worried look on her face.
“What is it, Hope? What’s wrong?”
“What am I going to do now? You heard him, the police are probably looking for me right now.”
“Well, as for that, I called in a few favors…” He gave her a sideways glance. “That is if you want to come live in Moscow with me.”
“I would love to, but, my brother…”
Valentine stopped, turning to her.
“I can have him in one of the best hospitals in Russia today. He’ll be okay. You don’t have to take care of everything on your own, you know? You have me now.”
Hope smiled tremulously up at him, her heart so full of love she could barely contain it. She kissed him.
“You’re incredible, Valentine.”
He just shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “I know.” He took a deep breath, then continued, “So, what do you say? We can be on a private jet, flying home, in less than an hour.”
Hope was struck by the unfamiliar uncertainty shimmering in his pale blue eyes. She twined her fingers around his tightly, never intending to let go. “Home…Home sounds perfect.”
THE END
Italian Billionaire’s Holiday Bride
Chapter 1
Bliss Valentine gave up, she could not repress her urge of laughter any longer.
It started with a tickling sensation as if someone was working on her body’s most sensitive particles with a tender feather. A discreet chuckling developed into a series of a lot more noticeable titters. Then some shameless giggling before she lost the control completely. Every word Ricardo Drago uttered from the other side of their table was
The edge of the barrel cut roughly into her skin as the man, her attacker, gripped her by the arm and lifted her to her feet. Panic tore through her with the force of a hurricane, obliterating any rational thought except that she would never see Valentine again, never see their baby.
“Don’t struggle. Don’t make a scene. Or I’ll start shooting, got it?” Hope just nodded her head, numb with terror as he pushed her with the gun at her back in the direction of a dark alley. She knew as soon as they made it there, she was dead.
She remembered Valentine, watching, listening, and hoped against hope that he would be able to save her, but as they neared the alley, that hope began to desert her. She pictured his face, his blue eyes staring down at her, and felt hot tears threaten.
Suddenly, the sound of sirens and flashing lights surrounded the outdoor courtyard of the café, causing chaos to erupt. A close, familiar voice shouted, “There, over there, he has a gun!”
As the attacker turned back to see what was happening, a strong punch flew at him from behind, startling him and knocking him back a few paces. Just enough for Valentine to grab her hand and drag her behind him as he flew down the alley. They paused for a moment at the other end, just long enough to see police surrounding her would-be killer. He was screaming at Mr. Jones, who was trying to sneak away, but as the entire café was surrounded he had nowhere to go.
“You promised me! You promised me I could kill her!”
Hope couldn’t hold back a small smile as both men were handcuffed and escorted into police cars. She looked up at Valentine.
“You saved me.”
He met her gaze with one of his own, a small lopsided smile on his lips.
“Not yet.”
They ran back to the hotel room, Valentine explaining along the way that he had called in the anonymous tip that there was a man with a gun at the café.
Hope looked over at him, her eyes shining. “You’re pretty good at all this spy stuff.”
“I’m not a spy, Zvyozdochk a.”
“Well, either way, you’re good.” He chuckled, but the sound slowly faded as he noticed the worried look on her face.
“What is it, Hope? What’s wrong?”
“What am I going to do now? You heard him, the police are probably looking for me right now.”
“Well, as for that, I called in a few favors…” He gave her a sideways glance. “That is if you want to come live in Moscow with me.”
“I would love to, but, my brother…”
Valentine stopped, turning to her.
“I can have him in one of the best hospitals in Russia today. He’ll be okay. You don’t have to take care of everything on your own, you know? You have me now.”
Hope smiled tremulously up at him, her heart so full of love she could barely contain it. She kissed him.
“You’re incredible, Valentine.”
He just shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “I know.” He took a deep breath, then continued, “So, what do you say? We can be on a private jet, flying home, in less than an hour.”
Hope was struck by the unfamiliar uncertainty shimmering in his pale blue eyes. She twined her fingers around his tightly, never intending to let go. “Home…Home sounds perfect.”
THE END
Italian Billionaire’s Holiday Bride
Chapter 1
Bliss Valentine gave up, she could not repress her urge of laughter any longer.
It started with a tickling sensation as if someone was working on her body’s most sensitive particles with a tender feather. A discreet chuckling developed into a series of a lot more noticeable titters. Then some shameless giggling before she lost the control completely. Every word Ricardo Drago uttered from the other side of their table was
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