The Bought Wife

Stay Behind Me

"What kind of problem?"

Vesper's voice sounded much calmer than she felt.

Nobody answered.

Outside, men in black suits moved quickly between the vehicles.

Their hands rested on weapons.

Their eyes scanned the darkness.

The atmosphere had changed completely.

The playful tension from earlier was gone.

Now there was only danger.

Real danger.

Zephyr's grip around her hand tightened.

Not enough to hurt.

Just enough to reassure himself she was still there.

Vesper looked down.

Then back up.

He still hadn't realized he was holding her hand.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

"Zephyr."

His eyes remained fixed on the road ahead.

"What?"

"You're crushing my fingers."

Immediately, he loosened his grip.

But he didn't let go.

Not even a little.

Cassian noticed.

The look on his face darkened.

Vesper pretended not to notice.

Mostly because she wasn't sure how she felt about it herself.

The driver suddenly spoke.

"Sir, a vehicle is blocking the road."

Zephyr's jaw tightened.

"How many?"

"One."

"Occupants?"

"Unknown."

The answer clearly didn't satisfy him.

Vesper swallowed.

"Maybe somebody just broke down?"

Both brothers looked at her.

Neither appeared convinced.

"Right," she muttered.

"That was a stupid suggestion."

Cassian actually smiled.

"Just a little."

"Thanks."

"Anytime."

Zephyr looked annoyed again.

Apparently breathing in Cassian's direction was enough to irritate him.

A strange warmth settled inside her.

She really shouldn't enjoy it this much.

The SUV door suddenly opened.

One of the security guards approached.

"Sir."

Zephyr stepped out immediately.

The moment he did, Vesper unbuckled her seatbelt.

"What are you doing?" Cassian asked.

"Getting out."

"No."

The command came from both brothers.

Simultaneously.

Vesper stared.

"Did you two rehearse that?"

Neither answered.

She rolled her eyes.

Then got out anyway.

The night air was cool.

A gentle breeze moved through the trees lining the road.

Ahead of them sat a black sedan.

Parked sideways.

Blocking the entire road.

Its headlights were off.

Its windows were tinted.

It looked abandoned.

Yet every instinct told Vesper something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Zephyr immediately moved beside her.

Close enough that their shoulders almost touched.

"Stay behind me."

The order came quietly.

Firmly.

Protectively.

Vesper opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

For once, arguing felt unnecessary.

The security team approached the sedan cautiously.

One guard reached the driver's side.

Another moved toward the rear door.

Everyone waited.

The tension stretched endlessly.

Then—

The rear door opened.

A woman stepped out.

Vesper blinked.

The woman looked to be in her late fifties.

Elegant.

Well-dressed.

Perfect posture.

No weapon.

No threat.

Nothing dangerous at all.

The woman ignored everyone else.

Her eyes landed directly on Vesper.

And immediately filled with tears.

The reaction startled her.

The woman looked as though she'd seen a ghost.

"You're her."

The words came out broken.

Emotional.

Vesper frowned.

"Excuse me?"

The woman took another step forward.

Security immediately blocked her path.

She didn't seem to notice.

Instead, she kept staring.

"You have her eyes."

Silence.

A heavy silence.

Then Vesper's heart skipped.

"You knew my mother?"

The woman's expression crumbled.

A sad smile appeared.

"Very well."

Hope surged through Vesper.

Finally.

Finally, someone who might have answers.

Zephyr remained tense beside her.

Watching everything.

Watching everyone.

Especially the woman.

"What is your name?" Vesper asked.

The woman hesitated.

As though deciding something important.

Then she answered.

"Celeste."

The name meant nothing to Vesper.

Yet the emotion behind it did.

This woman genuinely knew something.

"Please," Vesper said softly.

"Tell me about my mother."

Celeste looked away.

Pain flashed across her face.

For several moments, nobody spoke.

When she finally looked back, tears filled her eyes.

"Your mother loved you more than her own life."

The simple statement hit harder than expected.

Vesper's throat tightened.

For years she'd feared forgetting her mother's voice.

Her smile.

Her laugh.

Everything.

Now a complete stranger was standing in front of her talking about her like she had known her yesterday.

It felt surreal.

"What was her real name?"

Celeste's expression shifted.

Immediately.

The warmth vanished.

Fear replaced it.

Zephyr noticed.

So did Vesper.

"What is it?" Vesper asked.

Celeste suddenly looked around nervously.

Toward the trees.

Toward the darkness.

Toward the road behind them.

As though expecting someone.

Or something.

To appear.

"We don't have much time."

Zephyr stepped forward.

His voice became cold.

"Who's following you?"

Celeste looked directly at him.

Recognition flashed in her eyes.

"You must be Zephyr Draven."

His expression didn't change.

"Answer the question."

The woman swallowed.

"They know I came."

Every guard instantly became alert.

Vesper's pulse accelerated.

"Who?"

Before Celeste could answer—

A gunshot shattered the night.

Everything happened at once.

Security agents moved.

Cassian swore.

Celeste screamed.

And Zephyr grabbed Vesper.

Hard.

Pulling her against his chest.

The second shot echoed through the darkness.

Then another.

And another.

Chaos exploded around them.

But Vesper barely noticed.

Because Zephyr wrapped both arms around her.

Shielding her body with his own.

Protecting her.

Without hesitation.

Without thought.

As if taking a bullet for her was the most natural thing in the world.

Then she heard someone shout.

"Sir!"

A terrible silence followed.

And Zephyr's body suddenly went rigid against hers.