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No. I could see it in his eyes. The dark, evil glint. He would just use me in the most sadistic ways. He would fuck me until the sheets were red with my blood.
By the time Lyov found me, I would only be a corpse.
A man like Alfredo would never let me survive for more than a few hours, for his enjoyment. And then he would take great pleasure in ending me.
My sweet princess, what would become of her then?
Never again. I would never bow for men like him again. I’d rather die as Lyov’s Angel…a Queen, rather than as a slave.
“Never,” I spat. “I will never allow another man to touch my body. I only belong to Lyov. I would rather die than have you touch me.”
Alfredo grunted in response, and he raised an eyebrow, surprise at my outburst. “Is that your final decision?”
I kept my eyes on him, unflinching. My silence was my answer.
“Well, okay then,” he said.
He stood up and pointed the gun at me. “Why are you doing this?” There was a break in my voice, and I hated it.
“Don’t you know, Maria? The best way to bring a man down is by his weakness. And you, my sweet, are Lyov’s weakness.”
My breathing faltered. Lyov called me Angel, and I always thought of myself as his guardian Angel, the wings that would protect him just like he was my shield. I vowed to be his strength.
But it was in that moment when I realized that I was more his weakness than his strength.
I was his downfall.
I saw Alfredo’s finger on the trigger. My palm cradled my rounded stomach, and I felt my baby girl kick one last time. I wanted to rage at the unfairness. I wanted to hate Lyov for leaving us. But I couldn’t.
The fault wasn’t ours. The fault lay in the cruel game of fate.
For eight years, our lives had been divine and so full of love. But we had been dancing within the arms of death, escaping through it, but for how long? Time ran out, and it was my blood they wanted.
Time slowed and silence took the shape of life, surrounding me with a sharp coldness. Everything flashed before my eyes, my whole life. Everything, every little piece of me was unfolding and scattering around…floating far, far away. I watched it all from a distance. Not exactly here or there, but somewhere in the middle.
I thought of my parents. The accident. I thought of the abbey and all the sisters. I thought of Sophia and my unborn princess.
I thought of Lena. Isaak. Boris. Viktor. Maddie.
My sweet boy. Alessio. I remembered the day he was born. His first breath. His first cry. His first word. His first steps, the first time he walked toward his papa. I remembered how proud Lyov looked that day. I remembered how he had held Alessio close and kissed his forehead.
I thought of my Lyov. Our first look. His first words to me. His first touch on my skin.
My name means Lion. I am a hunter. I like to possess and own things until they are solely mine. But I am also the protector of my pride, Angel.
That also means I am your protector because I happen to love you very much. Fuck, I more than just love you. Love is a weak word to describe what I feel for you.
There are no limits on the hell I would walk through to make sure you are always smiling…always happy.
I thought of my cruel, heartless made man. And then I thought of my sweet lover.
My gaze flittered over my left hand, my wedding ring. It was very simple, with only a single small diamond in the middle. There was nothing fancy about it. Just elegant and perfect for me.
Our wedding. My beautiful white dress. Lyov had twirled me around the dance floor. Then he had leaned down and placed a kiss on my neck, over my thrumming vein.
I thought of Lyov standing at the end of the aisle as he waited for me to walk to him, on shaky legs. I held on to Isaak and made my way to my love. Our unbroken vows to each other.
I, Maria Andersen, take you, Lyov Ivanshov, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad. I will love, cherish, and honor you all the days of my life.
I, Lyov Ivanshov, take you, Maria Andersen, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad. I will love, cherish, and honor you all the days of my life.
Lyov’s smile.
Lyov’s grey eyes.
Lyov’s love.
Lyov’s heart.
In honesty, in sincerity, to be for you, a faithful and loving husband.
In honesty, in sincerity, to be for you, a faithful and loving wife.
