I try to plaster a smile on my face, but even I know it doesn’t reach my eyes. Patrick pulls me into his side, and we are approached by a priest with a Bible in his hand. I know what’s about to happen, and I try to dissociate from the situation. It’s the only way I’m going to get through this. My mind drifts to Ivan and our time together. My heart breaks at the idea that the last few weeks are the only moments we’ll have together.
The priest goes through the opening formalities of a wedding ceremony, and as he asks if there are any objections, a loud explosion sounds from somewhere outside. It’s quickly followed by men shouting and loud gunshots.
Patrick pulls his gun out and pushes me to the ground. I use the opportunity to crawl towards the couch and try to shield myself behind it. Another explosion shakes the house, and the gunfire and voices grows louder. I poke my head around the couch just in time to see two men be shot and fall dead to the living room floor.
I hear thundering footsteps and men yelling nearby. The yelling is Russian.Does that mean Ivan is finally here?I’m more worried about keeping myself as small as possible, hopefully making it out of this place alive.
“Emma! Emma, are you in here?” someone yells. I know that voice. I’d recognize it anywhere, even with the ringing in my ears.
“Ivan?” I yell out. I don’t want to fully reveal myself just in case.
“Emma! Where are you?” Ivan calls out again.
“I’m over here!” I yell as best I can, raising my hands from behind the couch.
The next thing I know, Ivan is crouching down and pulling me into his arms. His lips crash into mine as he wraps his arms around me and pulls me closer to his chest. He pulls back briefly to look at me in the eyes and check that I’m really alive.
“Ow,” I whimper. “You’re crushing me.”
“Sorry,lyubimaya,” he says, loosening his hold but not letting go.
“Please get me out of here,” I beg him. I try to burrow into his chest, but his vest doesn’t make it easy.
Ivan doesn’t say a word as he picks me up bridal style and carries me across the living room and out the front door. The shooting has stopped, and I’m too tired to take in the destruction around me, so I keep my eyes closed and inhale Ivan’s scent.
“Grigory, get the door!” Ivan yells at his brother.
Grigory opens the back door to an SUV, and Ivan places me gently on the back seat. There’s a feeling of deja vu as he does so. He takes off his vest and hands it to his brother before climbing into the back with me and closing the door. Ivan pulls me onto his lap and holds me close.
As the SUV pulls away from the house, I start falling apart and let the tears flow. I tighten my grip on Ivan while my tears soak into his shirt. He whispers reassurances in my ear while placing soft kisses on the top of my head.
“Thank you for finding me,” I tell Ivan when the tears finally subside.
“No matter where you go, I will always find you.” Ivan kisses me gently and holds me until we arrive home.
When we pull up to the house, we are greeted by several people. Ivan called during the drive and told them to have a doctor waiting. Apparently, several of his men were injured in the rescue attempt, and he wanted someone to check me out, too.
Ivan carries me into the house and up the stairs to his bedroom. He’s followed by the doctor, his sister who was introduced to me as Lidiya, and Mrs. Ivanova. He places me on the bed and kneels on the floor next to me, holding my hand.
“Ivan, I need to examine Emma for injuries,” the doctor says, trying to nudge Ivan out of his way. I understand his meaning, but I’m not sure Ivan does.
“So examine her,” Ivan says angrily. “I’m not letting her out of my sight.”
“Ivan, you need to let the doctor do his job,” Lidiya says. “Mrs. Ivanova and I will stay here with Emma while the doctor checks her out.”
Ivan goes to stand, and he dwarfs the doctor as he looms over him. His figure even intimidates me, and I’m barely keeping it together.
“If anything happens to her, I’m holding you personally responsible,” Ivan says, pointing directly in the doctor’s face.
“She’ll receive the best care I can provide, Ivan,” the doctor replies.
“I’ll be just outside the door,” Ivan says as he leans over to kiss me gently. “If you need me, just call.”
Ivan reluctantly steps outside the bedroom and closes the door behind him. If I know him, he’s probably standing in the hallway, arms crossed over his chest, staring at the door until it opens again.
“My brother is very protective of you,” Lidiya says to me while the doctor gets set up.
“He is,” I reply. “I love him for it.” My eyes go wide as my brain catches up with my mouth. That’s the first time I’ve said the words out loud when it comes to Ivan.
