Darkest Sins (Perfectly Imperfect, #9)

by Neva Altaj

“Long time no see, tiger cub.” The deep, raspy voice washes over me. Hearing it is like being swaddled by a thick fluffy blanket. I’m safe and secure, in a place where no one can do me harm.

“I missed you, too, cub,” he whispers, raising a big black gun, fitted with a suppressor. “Do not move.” My breathing stops. The muffled gunshot wheezes through the air.

One of my former colleagues had a saying: “Never presume someone is dead until he’s sporting a hole in his head.” It’s a solid mantra.

“No ‘thank you for saving my life’?” I mumble. My mysterious stranger stops, but he doesn’t turn to look at me. “You’re alive, aren’t you?” “Yes. So?” “That’s the biggest ‘thank you’ anyone ever got from me, cub.”

If I let myself be taken out, I wouldn’t be able to make sure the girl is okay. I need to make sure she’s safe, and that need is stronger than the wish to finally end my existence.

But I want to give her something. More than a kiss on her hand. I’ve actually never kissed anyone or anything before. I don’t have much to offer, so that night, I gave her what I had. A kiss for the hand that treated my wound with such care. But, I can also give her safety.

And I will not allow a potential threat to live anywhere near my tiger cub.

Just as animals in the wild can sniff out other members of their species from miles away, human predators recognize their kind. And I can see it as clear as day—this man was going to hurt my girl.

For some reason, keeping an eye on my little savior has an unusually calming effect on me. She did save my life on the night we met, but not in the way she probably thinks.

How could I watch over my girl if I’m dead? The night she tied her scarf around my thigh and then offered me her hand, my life became hers.

Never before had I been this turned on just by looking at a woman. It made me feel like a fucking freak, but I couldn’t look away.

Something that started as quick checkups every couple of weeks, has now turned into hours-long sessions of just watching her. Keeping my eyes on her, because nothing can touch her on my watch. Nothing can harm her when I’m near.

I won’t dare set my dirty hands on something so pure and innocent as her, even if it’s just to feel her hair. For me, she’s like a treasured painting in a museum, open to view, but marked with a brass sign warning “Do Not Touch.”

The establishments she frequents are fairly subdued—more like neighborhood pubs—and not very likely to attract major problems, but I won’t take any chances with her. I want to be sure she’s safe. No. It’s not just a want. Need. I need to know that she’s safe.

I push away from the railing, intending to head over there and demand to know who has made her unhappy so I can kill the little shits,

“You looked more beautiful than the bride.” “And how would you know that?” There is no answer, just the steady sound of his breaths. I crack one eye open and find him watching me. His head is bent, our faces are barely inches away. “You were there, weren’t you?” “Yes.” He holds my gaze, unblinking. Waiting for my reaction. “Why?” “Too many people. Too many potential threats. I needed to know you were safe.” “I don’t need a guardian angel,” I whisper and lift my hand to trace the line of his chin with the backs of my fingers. His breath brushes my hand as he leans into my touch ever so slightly. “Good. Because that’s not what you got.” “And what did I get?” He dips his head until our noses almost touch. “A demon, tiger cub.”

“I don’t like anyone touching my hair,” he says. I suck in a breath. Considering all the pinching, prodding, and squeezing I’ve done while patching him up, I didn’t expect that he would care if I touched his hair. “I won’t do it again.” His eyes lower to my lips, and linger there for a heartbeat. Then, he quickly looks away. “I don’t mind when you do it, cub.”

“You, my tiger cub, are a ray of light in the absolute darkness my life has become and has been for a very long time.”

“I didn’t see you.” “I’m only seen when I want to be.” “What about those other times, when I did notice you?” “Maybe I wanted you to see me in those instances.” “Why?” “So you could have fun with your friends without worry. And know that nothing would happen to you because I was watching over you, cub.”

“For the light to shine, darkness must retreat. It’s what’s meant to be.”

“Even if all hell breaks loose, I’ll be there, tiger cub.”

“I dream about you, tiger cub.” Whispered words, just before he places a fleeting kiss on my fingertips. “But my every dream is interrupted by an alarm clock.”

“Light and darkness don’t mix, tiger cub. They cancel each other out.” He dips his head and kisses the tip of my finger. “And I would never dare to shroud your flame.”

“I’ll annihilate anyone who dares to touch a hair on your head.” His deep voice is infused with so much menace. “No one. Nothing will ever do you harm. I thought you understood that.”

Fourteen days. Two weeks without seeing my girl. I don’t know how I’ll ever survive being apart from her for so long.

“THE FUCKER HAS MY TIGER CUB!”

“Do you know what demons do to their victims?” The rough timbre of his voice penetrates the silence, making me shudder. I smile and squeeze my legs around him even tighter. “What?” “They consume them, tiger cub.”

“Please, fuck me.” “Fuck you? No, I don’t like that term.” He grabs me behind my knees, pulling me closer. “I’m going to take you, Nera.” “What’s the difference?” I pant while the tip of his cock teases my entrance. “What I take, I keep forever,”

“I’m never going to leave you,” he says. “Even if I wanted to, I know I never could. I’ll be watching over you till the day I die, cub. And as long as I live, no one will dare touch a hair on your beautiful head.”

“I don’t care how much better than me the motherfucker is, or if he’s more worthy of you. I will fucking gut any man who comes within fifteen feet of what is mine.”

“Nothing on this earth would stop me from coming back to you, my tiger cub.” I slam my mouth to hers. “I promise.”

Massimo lifts his handcuffed hands and lightly brushes Zara’s cheek with the back of his fingers. “Hello, Zahara.” His voice is strange as he says it. Softer. Almost like it was before.

Sal hunny what are you doing here?!? Where is Melene?

Going back to my tiger cub at last. I couldn’t risk doing so before taking care of Kruger, but now, nothing will keep me away. She might not be mine anymore, but I’m still hers. And I will watch over her and make sure she’s safe until my last breath.

I will fucking crawl if I have to. No one is harming my cub today. Or ever. For as long as I live.

“It doesn’t make a difference, tiger cub. I’m staying until I’m convinced you’re safe.” “It’s not your job to keep me safe.” “Maybe not. I’m still going to do it.” “And then, you’ll leave for good?” “Yes,” I lie. As long as I live, I’m never leaving her again.

Not only do I still love you. I fucking live for you, tiger cub.”

“Every breath,” he continues. “Every heartbeat. Every drop of my blood is yours. It has all been yours from the moment we met all those years ago. If you want it, I’ll carve my fucking heart out and lay it at your feet. It’s yours, and always will be.”

“Oh, I’ll find the man who dared to hurt you,” he growls. “And when I do, I’m going to enjoy the sounds of his screams while I rip off his arms. And his legs. Then, I’ll twist his fucking head off and put it on a spike to rot.”

“I didn’t like the way he was looking at you.” Kai stops at the street light and takes my chin between his fingers. “I don’t share, Nera. Not even in the platonic sense. You better make sure he’s out of my sight if you want him to keep sucking air.”

“I’ll never forgive myself for not being there for you. But, I’m here now, and no one will so much as look at you wrong going forward. Whoever dares, will instantly meet his maker.

Another one of my babies

I just love her

“I’m going to tell her that her dad is Kai Mazur. The man who’s been watching over me for years, keeping me safe. Who took a bullet for me. The man who has barely slept in weeks because he’s been protecting us. Who spent hours simply watching her sleep, instead of getting rest himself. Our guardian angel. The love of my life.” I tilt his head lower until our lips touch. “The man who loves her and her mamma more than anything else. Just as we love him. That’s what I’ll tell our daughter.”

“Kai. Let me . . . let us love you. Please.”

“It’s the dream I’ve been dreaming but never dared to hope would come true. People like me are not allowed such ambitions, tiger cub.”

06:34 Kai: I need you to do something for me. A minute later, an audio file arrives. So he didn’t forget my little problem with reading. 06:35 Felix: I’M SLEEPING!! 06:36 Kai: It’s urgent. 06:36 Felix: Are you starved, dehydrated, and dying in some dump again? Because if you’re not, it can FUCKING WAIT. 06:38 Kai: No. I need a priest. I want to get married. A few minutes pass without a reply, and then: 06:40 Felix: Send me your location and stay put. Is it the Mexicans again? I’ll have Sergei come get you out. When was the last time they drugged you? 06:41 Kai: I’m not high. Find me a priest and have him delivered by the end of the day, or I’m going to gut you real slow the next time I see you.

“You are my reason for living, cub. And, in this life, I don’t need a signature or a ceremony to confirm that you’re mine. You are. And I’m yours, every cell of my body. Till my dying breath. And even when I perish, in whatever afterlife awaits.” He cups my cheek in his palm and bends his head so our noses are almost touching. “But I want to do this thing right.”

“I don’t know much about marriage vows, cub, but I know they mention loving, cherishing, and keeping their partner safe. In good times, and bad. I won’t swear to you over a bunch of old papers. I’ll give you my oath on the weapon which will take the life of anyone who would ever think of doing you, or our daughter harm.” I lift her hand to my lips and kiss the tips of her fingers. “I’m yours. And you’re mine.”