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She let me help her undress until she was just in her panties and her bra. Lena’s chin wobbled, and I could tell she was about to cry again. I knew the pain wasn’t just emotional but physical too. I kept a firm grip on her arm and walked her into the shower. When she was under the cascading water, I took a few steps back, giving her privacy. I even turned around. “Do you want me to leave?”
Lena didn’t answer, and I kept my back to her. After picking a new towel and a pair of underwear from her bathroom drawers, I placed them on the counter. There was still no sound except the water running.
I took a peek over my shoulders to see Lena standing still under the water, staring into the distance. She still hadn’t moved from the position I left her. My shoulders slumped, and I took a deep breath, trying to ease the ache in my chest.
My feet took me forward, and then I stopped. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to help, but I was scared it wouldn’t be welcome. And then I wasn’t sure how to help.
Lena wrapped her arms around herself as her small body trembled. Seeing her so fragile, so vulnerable, I made my decision without thinking twice. She needed me now, more than ever.
My dress pooled at my feet as I quickly disrobed. I left my underwear on and joined Lena in the shower. She barely acknowledged me until I touched her hands and tried to uncurl her arms from around her waist. Lena grimaced, and then she whimpered.
Her eyes met mine. “Maria.” Her whisper was strained and hoarse, coming out from deep within her. I saw a hint of relief there, when she realized she wasn’t totally alone.
We didn’t speak as I lathered up her body and hair. She let me help her as I massaged her scalp. Her eyes closed, and she sighed, her body relaxing the slightest bit. That was enough for me.
After washing away the soap and shampoo, I let the warm water cascade around her. Lena breathed a long, deep breath, and she finally opened her eyes. Her hands gripped mine tightly, as if she was scared I would let go. But I didn’t plan on doing so, ever.
Lena and I, we were a team. It had been like that since the very beginning—the first day we met and she decided we would be best friends. There was no separating us.
I pulled her out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her body. She shivered as I scrubbed her dry and then helped her into one of Boris’s shirts and her pants. I did the same with myself, pulling on my dress again. We left the bathroom together, without sparing the pool of blood another glance. My throat felt heavy with a lump again.
The door closed behind us, and I helped Lena onto the bed. I went to kneel behind her on the mattress and combed through her wet hair until every single strand was untangled. She then laid down, and I joined her, pulling the comforter over us.
“Thank you,” she croaked. Two simple words that meant a thousand things between us.
In response, I hugged her close, and she curled into me. “Thank you,” she said again in my chest. Lena softly cried herself to sleep, and my tears fell down my cheeks silently. I rocked her gently until I knew she was asleep.
I am here, Lena. It will be okay.
One day soon, our babies would play together. That dream wasn’t shattered. It was cracked, with a few pieces missing. But it was not forever gone.
Chapter 20
Lyov
“Well, congratulations are in order, Mr. Ivanshov. You are now the proud owner of a new hotel chain. How do you feel?” Isaak smirked as he brought his glass of scotch to his lips.
I flipped him the finger before taking a long drink from my own glass. I thought of all the things that had happened the past few months.
Just like I had promised my Angel, The Royalist had been shut down. Valentin gave me shit. Carlos didn’t let go easily either.
It was a hard, dangerous game to play.
“You can’t do that, Lyov,” Valentin snarled.
“I can and I will. Watch me,” I replied with the same steady cold voice. There was no room for argument. Solonik bristled at my tone, and I saw him wanting to end me, right then and there. His fingers were probably itching to take his gun out and pull the trigger, a bullet right through my heart.
But he was a pathetic man.
He knew he stood no chance.
He knew killing me would only bring war upon all of us. And there was no guarantee he would make it out.
That was why he never could become the Pakhan. The Bratva needed someone, a kingpin, without fear or weakness.
