Status Updates From Sweetest Surrender (The Ser...

Hmm. So what’s the catch? Because that was too easy

He could have lost her tonight, something he was having a hard time wrapping his mind around. Hell, he didn’t think he’d ever get over seeing her being held by that gun-wielding asshole. It was a stark reminder that no matter what he did to protect her he couldn’t keep her safe all the time. Even though he wanted to.

She breathed a sigh of relief to discover the women’s restroom was empty. After she was done, she washed her hands and stepped out into the small hallway—only to have the barrel of a gun shoved into her stomach. The background noise from the bar faded away as panic slammed into her, the icy tendrils of fear sliding over her skin.

Staring down into his eyes, she realized that she’d completely fallen for Vadim. Not halfway, she was full-on smitten with him. So much so that it should have scared her. There were so many layers to him, something she’d known from the moment they’d met, and she’d only seen some of them so far. She just hoped she wasn’t in over her head.

Not that the sight of any man would do this to her. Only Vadim. “You are too,” she murmured, more to herself than him. “What?” His voice was rough with confusion. “Better than my fantasies.” She was unable to take her eyes off him. The man had starred in so many of her fantasies the past five months and now she could touch him all she wanted.

She was going to be sick. He’d found her. He’d been asking about her. What if she’d led him right back to Vadim’s? Oh, no. No, no, no. Angel jumped up from her seat, terror forking through her like jagged slashes of lightning. She had to leave. To run, right now. Panic battered against her insides but before she’d taken a single step Vadim jumped up and had rounded the desk.

He pulled her into his arms and to his relief, she went willingly. Wrapping her arms around him, she buried her face against his chest. Stroking a hand down her back, he savored the feel of her delicate form pressed so tightly against him—even while he felt like a jerk for being the cause of her tears. Not that it changed his determination to get her out of that place.

He’d been patient for two years, he could wait another night before he started scoping out her place. First he’d figure out if Angel even lived here. Then he’d learn her schedule, terrorize her like she deserved, then destroy her. He was going to make her regret the day she’d ever betrayed and humiliated him.

He was tense, his entire body coiled and ready to pounce. For the first time she understood why some of the other waitresses were nervous around him. Not that she was afraid of him, but she could see that deadly edge now. It was jarring to her senses to see him this way. With her he’d always been so sweet and gentle.

Right then Angel wanted the floor to open up into a giant hole and swallow her. For a brief moment she met Vadim’s pale blue eyes but quickly looked away. To say she had a massive crush on him would be an understatement. So many of the wait staff were afraid of him but she didn’t understand why. He was so sweet and gentle and right now she simply couldn’t bear to have him witness her getting fired.

Not having a good feeling.....