I wince. “I’m not glad Misha’s dead. I’m sad—he was my brother. But I am relieved that he can no longer hurt the people I love.”
Enzo stills. “The people you love?”
I nod, forcing out the rest. “He wanted me to poison you for him. He told me he’d kill Svetlana if I didn’t do it. That’s why I slipped away from Antonio today. Why I ran. I was trying to get to Dmitri, to make him help me get Svetlana away from Misha. Because I would never do what Misha was asking of me, Enzo. I could never hurt you.”
He’s silent for a few beats, but he doesn’t release me. He traces my cheekbone in a slow, gentle stroke with his thumb. He makes me feel like I’m delicate and precious, like I’m made of spun glass and any false move he makes will shatter me into a thousand pieces.
“Why not,cara?” he rasps at last, his voice rough with emotion.
“Because I love you.” I pause and take a deep breath. “I know I haven’t given you any reason to believe me, but I do. When I was trapped in that building with Dmitri and we were running out of time, all I could think about was getting back to you. I’ve never felt like this with anyone else, and I…I know our marriage wasn’t either of our choice, but if I had to do it again tomorrow, I would. I’d choose you every time.”
“I love you too,amore mio.”
I wasn’t prepared for his admission. I braced myself for anger, for distrust. But somehow not that.
My hand flies over his. “You do?”
“Hell yes.” He presses his forehead to mine. “Couldn’t you tell? I’m yours, baby. For better or worse. Through all the shit we’ve been through. I feel the same way. I’d choose you every fucking time.”
“You’re not mad at me for what I did?”
“For going dark on me instead of trusting me? I’m not happy about that.” He kisses me slowly, softly. “But I’ll get even with you later, when your ankle’s healed up.”
I hear the sensual promise in his voice, and it makes me smile even through the pain. “What if I like the punishment you give me?”
He growls and kisses me again. “Then I’ll just have to give you another one,cara mia.”
I like the sound of that.
Epilogue
KATYA
Six months later
Marito: When are you coming home, baby? I miss you.
Katya: You just saw me at lunch.
Marito: That was hours ago.
Katya: And?
Marito: Am going through Katya withdrawal.
Katya: Oh yeah? What does that involve?
I chuckle as I type out the question, wondering what my ridiculous, over-the-top, obsessed husband will come up with. I’m the last one in the studio where I’ve been training for my ballet comeback. I chugged the last of my daily intake of water,and now it’s just a matter of turning out the lights and locking up.
Marito: A hard dick.
Katya: …
Marito: Wanna see?
Katya: Am familiar with said hard dick.
Marito: Does that mean you don’t wanna see?
