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“Do you think your uncle could’ve?”
I inhale slowly and release my breath before I answer. “I’m really not sure. Years ago, I would’ve said he didn’t, but I truly don’t know. Being trafficked made me view the world in a completely different way, and I don’t blindly trust people anymore. I trusted my uncle because he was my father’s brother. Still, people always have their own reasons for doing something so crappy to people. I just want to know how I ended up in the circumstances that I did. It might’ve just been circumstantial, but I do want to know.”
“I understand. You want answers, and it’s only natural. I can look into it if you’d like.”
“Yeah, I’d love that, actually. I… I do want to talk to you about something, Nazyr, something I probably should’ve brought up before.”
“Sure, what is it?” Nazyr cranes his neck a tad as he waits for me to respond.
There’s no easy way for me to bring this up, so I’m going to put my heart on the line right now and pray I don’t get hurt. “Are you so kind to me because I belong to you, or is it because you’re actually invested emotionally in me?”
“First of all, you don’t belong to me. You can walk out those doors any time you want. All I’ve done, and all I’ll ever do, is try to keep you safe. You’ve suffered enough, Mona, and I won’t be the man who keeps making you. I… I have an intense connection with you, and I would very much like to keep exploring it. You took me by surprise, but not in a bad way. I’ve been waiting for a woman like you to sweep me off my feet for a long time, Mona, and I hope you’re that woman for me. What is it that you want?”
I swallow hard, and relief washes through me. “I want to see where this goes because you make me feel things I haven’t felt in a very, very long time. I… I trust you, Nazyr. I feel safe with you. I feel like you wouldn’t let anything bad ever happen to me, and I think that’s rare for a woman to feel so safe.”
“It is, and I’m glad I make you feel this way. You’re always going to be safe with me. No one will dare harm a hair on that pretty little head of yours, and if they even think about it, they’ll have to deal with me.”
Nazyr pulls me against his chest and holds onto me tightly. “The meeting is taking place in three weeks. Think you can get the girls’ room ready for them by then?”
“Yes, totally.” I laugh and squeeze him a little harder.
Nazyr is a dream come true, and he’s not someone I’m going to let slip through my fingers.
Chapter Fifteen
Nazyr
Another two weeks have flown by in the blink of an eye. I can hardly believe how fast the days are going, but at the same time, we’ve all been so busy, so it’s not too much of a surprise. When I told Mona about our plan to get her daughters, she seemed so happy at first. I am too. But a couple of days after we talked about it, she seemed a little down.
We ended up having a conversation, and she said it was happening a bit slower than she expected, but I assured her that we’re only doing things the best way we can. Mona isn’t a dumb woman by any means, though she doesn’t know too much about how criminal families operate or how we handle threats. So I put it in layman’s terms for her: the turtle is slow and steady and wins the race. I know why she’s anxious to have things happening sooner rather than later, but I also know she understands why we’re taking our time with this.
We’re going to get her children, but we have to do it the right way. At this point, we’re a little over a week away from the exhibit at the gallery in London, and my nerves are slowly beginning to settle in. There’s a lot riding on this meeting going well, and I want to make sure it goes flawlessly. If I fail Mona in any way, and if I fail those little ones, I don’t know if I will ever forgive myself.
Over the last couple of weeks, things between Mona and me have moved along exponentially. However, extracting her children from Duarte’s estate is constantly lurking in the back of my mind. I’m trying not to fuck up, trying not to ruin what we’re building. I don’t know if she’d necessarily blame me for whatever happens with her children… but I do think that she has a lot of hope and faith in my abilities.
I head into the girls’ bedroom, and Mona is folding a few throw blankets, placing them into the closet in the corner of the room.
“Hey there,” I say to her, and as she finishes putting the blankets on the shelf, she turns around with a beaming smile.
Mona’s been working tirelessly getting the girls’ room ready, and now it’s perfect for when they arrive. Mona has thought about every tiny detail, from the curtains to the art on the walls to the shade of the comforters and the throw pillows.
“Hey. How’s your day been?”
“It’s been pretty damn good. I just got off the phone with Ruslan a few minutes ago.”
Mona raises both of her brows, no doubt anxiously waiting for me to say something. I can tell she teeters on the line of asking me about calls with my brother. I think it’s because she knows what my family does for a living, and she’s never sure if it has something to do with business or if it has something to do with our effort to get her daughters. She isn’t saying anything, so I speak up.
“It was a good call. He’s spoken directly with Duarte, and he’s scheduled to be in London next week for the exhibition at the gallery.”
Mona smiles, and I can tell relief has washed through her system. “So, everything is going according to plan?”
“So far, yes. Something could pop up later, but as of right now, everything is going as well as we can expect. I want you to know something, though. Even if something happens and ruins this opportunity for us, we’re going to find another one. We’re going to get them back. I think you understand that I don’t make promises or vows without fully intending to make sure I can honor my end of the deal.”
“I do. I know. I am just praying so hard that this goes down the way we want it to.” She offers me a half smile and walks over to me, then wraps her arms around my body.
I hold onto her, knowing her children are the only thing that’s gotten her this far in life. Without her children, I don’t know if Mona would’ve stayed in Duarte’s home. I don’t know if she could’ve refrained from killing herself if she didn’t have something to live for, and what better thing to live for than your children?
“I don’t want to jinx it, but I have a good feeling. You’ve done an amazing job with their bedroom. I’m sure they’re going to love it,” I tell her honestly, looking around the room. She’s put so much thought into it, and it makes me wonder what Mona wants to do long-term.
