SILK AND STEEL

Chapter 17

MARSHALL POV

"WHY did you have to be so good to me?"

He approached her silently, his bare feet sinking into the cool sand, masking his footsteps against the rhythmic crash of the waves.

Seeing her like this—collapsed on the shore, her shoulders shaking violently as she wept—completely shattered the image of the cold-blooded killer his brother had warned him about.

The dangerous Mafia assassin was gone. In her place was just Zhera. His wife. A woman crushed under the weight of a life she never asked for.

As he closed the distance, his mind raced with the impossible choice ahead.

He knew the rules of her world. Mr. Rugger wouldn’t let her go easily, and by keeping her here, he was drawing a target on his own back.

He should be figuring out how to secure the island, how to call for backup, or how to lock her away for his own safety.

Yet, looking at her grief-stricken silhouette, walang kwenta ang lahat ng iyon. Hindi siya nakakakita ng kaaway. Bagkus, nakikita niya lang ang babaeng natutunan na niyang mahalin na unti-unting nawawasak.

He quietly lay down in the sand beside her. He didn't speak. He didn't demand answers. Instead, he wrapped his strong arms around her trembling frame, pulling her back against his chest.

Naramdaman niya ang bahagyang natigilan si Zhera. Nanigas na para bang nagpigil huminga.

Mariin niyang niyakap ang dalaga, isinandig ang kanyang baba sa tuktok ng ulo nito, at hinayaan itong itangis ang lahat ng taon ng sakit at dilim sa kanyang balikat.

Whatever came next—whether they had to run, fight the entire Italian syndicate, or face his own family—he made his decision right then and there. He wasn't letting her go.

"Hindi kita bibitawan, Zhera. Para sakin, asawa kita... walang pagbabago. Kahit paulit ulit mo akong saksakin sa likod, ipagtabuyan, lalapit at lalapit ako sayo...yayakapin kita hanggang dulo," mariin bulong niya at hinahaplos ang nagulong buhok nito.

He felt Zhera return his embrace, burying her face deep into his chest.

"Why? Why are you doing this to me? I don't deserve this... I don't deserve you. I'm a bad person. My hands are dirty... I don't have a heart," she wept.

He tightened his grip around her, as if his embrace could shield her from the sins of her past.

He leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers, forcing her to look into his eyes.

"I don't care about your past, Zhera. I don't care how dirty you think your hands are," he said, his voice thick with raw emotion. "You say you don't have a heart? Then explain to me why it's beating so fast right now against my chest. You feel this, right? This isn't a lie."

Zhera gripped the fabric of his shirt, her knuckles turning white as fresh tears spilled over.

"You don't understand, Marshall ! If Mr. Rugger finds out that you're alive, and if he finds out that I'm here with you... he won't just kill me. He will destroy everything and everyone I've ever touched. He will kill you."

"Then let him try," he fired back without a shred of doubt, his gaze fierce and protective.

"We are in this together now. I didn't marry an assassin, and I didn't marry a mission. I married you. And I will burn down the entire Mafia syndicate myself before I let anyone take you away from me."

She stared at him, completely breathless, caught between the terrifying reality of her world.

Lumipas ang mahabang minuto sa pagitan nilang dalawa. Dahan-dahan niya itong itinayo mula sa buhanginan, habang ang isang braso niya ay mahigpit na nakapulupot sa bewang nito para alalayan ito.

Zhera was physically exhausted, at ang dati nitong lethal stance ay napalitan ng isang mabigat at talunang bagsak ng katawan. Magkasama silang naglakad pabalik patungo sa safehouse.

The shattered bedroom door and the broken window were stark reminders of the violence that had just occurred. Shards of glass and wood splinters littered the floor, reflecting the dim light inside.

He guided Zhera to the small living room, steering her away from the mess, and made her sit on the sofa.

Lumuhod siya sa harap nito, dahan-dahang hinawakan ang malamig at nanginginig nitong mga kamay.

"Stay here. Lilinisin ko lang 'to, at pagkatapos ay kailangan nating mag-empake ng ibang mga gamit. We can't stay in the open parts of this house anymore."

Inilibot ni Zhera ang paningin sa buong paligid ng bahay, ang mga mata ay mabilis na tumitingin sa mga kaluskos sa labas dahil sa instinct.

"Ang shotgun nasa labas pa," bulong nito, halatang strained ang boses. "Kung may makahanap man ng lugar na 'to—"

"Ako na ang kukuha," he cut in smoothly, habang hinahaplos ang dalawang kamay nito para kumalma.

"I'll secure the perimeter at isasara ko ang mga shutters. No one is getting to us tonight."

Tumayo siya at naglakad patungo sa kusina para kumuha ng walis, habang ang isip niya ay unti-unti nang nagpaplano ng susunod na gagawin.

Tapos na ang emotional storm, at ngayon ay gumagana na ang kanyang mga tactical instincts.

Kailangan niyang i-check ang kanyang hidden weapons cache, i-secure ang satellite phone, at alamin kung gaano pa karaming oras ang mayroon sila bago malaman ni Mr. Rugger ang kinaroroonan nila.

Alam niyang sa mga sandaling iyon, alam na ni Mr. Rugger na buhay siya at si Zhera.

Habang naglilinis, napahinto siya nang maramdaman si Zhera sa likod niya. Nagtatakang humarap siya sa asawa.

"Zhera..."

Walang babalang sinunggaban siya ni Zhera... hindi para saktan, kun'di siilin ng mapusok na halik sa mga labi. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya dahil sa kabiglaan.

Gayunman, buong puso niyang tinugon ang mainit at mapusok na halik nito. Matapos ang matinding laban nila kanina, ibang adrenaline ang nararamdaman niya ngayon.

Malakas na napadaing si Zhera nang tuluyan gumalaw ang dila niya sa loob nito upang galugarin ang mainit nito bibig. Kusa naman yumakap ang mga braso nito sa batok niya at kasabay ang pagtalon saka iniyakap ang mga binti sa beywang niya.

Binuhat niya ang asawa paupo sa Island counter habang patuloy naglalaban ang kanilang mga labi. Walang may gustong bumitaw, walang may tumigil na para bang uhaw na uhaw sila sa isa't isa.

Hanggang sa parehas silang kapusin sa paghinga. Nagtaas baba ang kanilang dibdib. Nakatitig sa isa't isa. Ngumiti si Zhera. Isang ngiting hindi niya inasahan.

"I.. miss you," anito na habol pa rin ang paghinga.

He let out a soft chuckle. Did that just make him blush?

"You have no idea how much I missed you too, my dear wife."

The corner of her lips tugged upward. "In the bedroom... or right here in the kitchen?"

"I want you now. Fúcking you here would be so damn hot."