I’m going to fight for the legacy my father left behind. I’m going to fight Yuri.

My eyes lock on Demitri, and seeing the power rolling off him in waves, makes me lift my chin and lower my hands from my ears.

Maybe this is my destiny.

Maybe these people fighting to protect me were meant to become my new family. Because, God, no one has ever fought so hard for me.

I’m overcome with affection for each of them as they put their own lives on the line for me.

When the final shot is fired, the other two vehicles are shot up, and blood and bodies litter the ground.

Demitri comes to open the back door, and I hurry to get out. Throwing my arms around his neck, my breaths race over my lips.

I hear Alexei make a call as Demitri’s one arm wraps like a steel band around my lower back. “You okay?” he asks, his tone calm.

I nod, and pulling back, I press a kiss to his jaw and then his mouth. Not caring who sees, I kiss Demitri with every pounding heartbeat. He breaks the kiss, and lifting his head, his eyes search over my face before locking with mine.

Whatever he sees in my gaze makes the corner of his mouth lift in a sexy smirk.

“Clean-up crew will be here soon,” Alexei says, and it makes me take a step back from Demitri. Alexei might still scare me, but I walk to him and give him a hug.

He lets out a chuckle, and when I let go of him, he asks, “What’s that for?”

Glancing up, I give him a grateful smile. “Thank you.”

Lifting his hand to the side of my head, he brushes his palm over my hair. “You’re welcome, little one.”

“Are we staying or going?” Damien asks.

When I turn toward Damien and Carson, Demitri mutters, “You better not think of hugging them.”

Everyone chuckles at Demitri’s possessive tone.

“We’re going,” he mutters, and taking hold of my hand, he pulls me back to the SUV.

When we get back to the compound, Demitri waits for the others to get out of the vehicles, then he says, “They probably know where we are. We’ll have to keep watch. Who’s taking the first shift?”

“I will,” Carson says. I watch as he pulls a rifle from his SUV, and then he walks toward the house and climbs up the side to the roof without much effort.

It feels like I’m surrounded by my own small army of superheroes.

Everyone seems calm while my heart’s still beating a mile a minute. Glancing at Demitri, I ask, “Is it always like this?”

A slight frown forms on his forehead. “Like what?”

“Action-packed.”

“You get used to it,” Winter answers on behalf of Demitri. “After doing this a while, the excitement fades.”

Yeah, I don’t think that will happen to me.

“Let’s drink,” Alexei says as he turns to the house.