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God.
I suck in another breath before I launch myself at him. I hold him so tight, my heart breaking for what could’ve happened.
I almost lost Misha.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I whisper.
“I didn’t want you to worry until it was done.” He pulls me onto his lap, his arms steel bands around me. “I just wanted to love you as much as I could before my time was up.”
Pulling back so I can see his face, I frame his jaw with my palms and crash my mouth to his. I kiss him with every ounce of the unconditional love I feel for him. It’s desperate and emotional, and in this moment between us, something clicks into place. It carries the strength of a million men, the brightness of a thousand stars, and the depth of the deepest ocean.
I break the kiss, and staring deep into his eyes, I say, “I choose you, Misha.”
His features grow tense. “I choose you, Aurora.” Tenderly he tucks strands of hair behind my ear. “When I faced death, I thought only of you.” He shakes his head. “I can’t lose you, so I need you to prepare yourself for the worst. If your father doesn’t submit, I will kill him because if I don’t, it means you die, and that cannot happen.”
As much as it hurts to think of my father dying, I also understand it’s how our world works. My father knows that by defying the bratva and Italian mafia, he’s putting all our lives at risk.
I hope my dad will make peace with the bratva, and there will be a happy ending, but the odds of it happening don’t look good.
With nothing else to say, I whisper, “I trust you to do what’s best for us.” Taking a chance, I ask, “If it comes to the worst, is there any way we can protect Abbie?”
Misha nods, making relief fill my heart.
“I have to take out her father as well. If it comes to that, she has to submit to the bratva. Viktor will cancel the hit then.”
“Thank God,” I say, almost feeling lightheaded.
“We’ll get through this,” Misha promises. “Then we have to get married.”
A chuckle escapes me, and when I don’t protest, he tilts his head. “You’re okay with marrying me?”
I shrug. “I’ve always known there’s an arranged marriage in my future. I get you as my husband. That’s a win in my books.” A thought hits, and I quickly ask, “Are you okay with it?”
Misha gives me a look like I’ve lost my mind. “Does a bear shit in the woods?”
Laughter bursts from me. “Damn, you’re so romantic. My poor swooning heart.”
He tugs me closer until I’m plastered against his chest, then he grips my jaw and presses a hard kiss to my mouth. With his eyes burning into mine, he says, “I’d marry you today if I could. I want you as my wife, Aurora.”
We find a moment of happiness in the storm raging around us, and it gives me the strength to face what lies ahead of us.
Chapter 34
Misha
This week's training has been grueling. We had to torture each other again, this time with hot irons.
My side is on fucking fire as I walk to my suite to shower before I check in on Aurora.
I’m so fucking proud of my woman. Yesterday she was able to stay in the crate for thirty minutes.By herself. I’m certain she’ll overcome her fear of small spaces.
Just as I reach my door, I hear her call, “Wait for me.”
I swipe the keycard through the lock, and opening the door, I wait for her to dart inside before I head in after her.
Aurora throws herself against my chest and wraps her arms around my waist.
The instant I flinch, she yanks back. “Why did you flinch?”
