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“I will,” I promise.

Andrei has been blaming himself nonstop for what happened with Luke. No matter how many times I tell him it wasn’t his fault, he still feels guilty. The day after the attack, he finally told me everything. Luke only got inside the compound because Viktor helped him, knocking out the guards, drugging the dogs. The plan had been for both of them to take me, but Viktor left Luke to finish the job alone after receiving that text from Andrei pretending to be Cillian.

Viktor had been working with the Irish the whole time, planning to take down Andrei and seize control of both territories. I still shudder every time I think about it. You really can’t trust anyone.

My father has been trying to reach out, but I’m not interested in whatever he has to say. So I ignore all his calls and those of my stepmom and her daughters.

Andrei pulls me closer, pressing a kiss to my forehead like he can read my thoughts.

“I’ll be fine,” I whisper, more to convince myself than him. “I have to start living again.”

I step into the restaurant and immediately hear my name being called out in excited squeals.

“Rosie!”

Angie, Mabel, and Lucy are already on their feet, waving me over with huge grins. The moment I reach the table, they swarm me in a group hug, all talking at once.

“Oh my God, we’ve missed you so much!”

“Where have you been hiding, girl?”

“You look amazing!”

I laugh, hugging them back tightly, warmth spreading through my chest. “I’ve missed you guys too. I’m so sorry I’ve been MIA lately. Work has been crazy.”

I feel terrible keeping things from them, but telling them the truth isn’t an option. Becoming part of Andrei’s world has taught me that some details are better left unsaid. Not because I don’t trust them but because they wouldn’t understand.

They’d worry. They’d freak out. And the last thing I want is to drag them into danger or scare them with the reality of what my life sometimes looks like. The less they know, the safer they are.

The bruises on my face have almost completely faded. The ones that haven’t, I covered carefully with makeup this morning.

We settle into our seats and order mimosas. Mabel leans in, studying me with a mischievous glint in her eye.

“Seems like you’ve been busy with more than just work,” she says, pointing at my neck.

I glance down and feel my face heat up. There’s a very obvious hickey just above my collarbone, courtesy of Andrei this morning in the shower. After we finished in bed, we decided to shower together… and he ended up fucking me against the glass wall until I could barely stand.

I quickly tug at the collar of my blouse, trying to cover it, but it’s too late. The girls burst into laughter.

“Damn, girl! Someone’s been getting some!” Angie teases.

Lucy wiggles her eyebrows. “Andrei doesn’t play, huh?”

I cover my face with my hands. “Oh my God, stop.”

They don’t stop. They keep teasing me through the first round of mimosas, and I let them. I’ve missed this.

We spend the next few hours talking, catching up, laughing until my cheeks hurt. After brunch, I insist on taking them shopping, my treat.

“Come on,” I say, linking arms with Mabel. “Let me spoil you guys today.”

As we head out of the restaurant together, I feel lighter than I have in weeks.

Later that night, the three of us are curled up in the living room, the lights dimmed low while a colorful cartoon plays on the big screen. Anya is happily settled on Andrei’s lap, her little head resting against his chest. She giggles every few minutes at the silly characters on TV.

I have my head on Andrei’s shoulder, one arm wrapped loosely around his waist, breathing in the comforting scent of him. His free arm is draped around me, fingers gently stroking my back in slow, soothing circles.

This is my favorite part of the day.