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“I overheard Violetta talking to her lieutenants. They’re going to strike at midnight—”
“You let us take care of it from here,” I tell her. “You’ve done more than enough.”
“She needs rest,” Natalya tells me. “A good night’s sleep and a light painkiller should do the trick. Doctor’s orders.”
“Let’s get you inside,” I say to Alina before scooping her up in my arms.
She’s light. She really has lost a lot of weight. It’s concerning as hell and triggers something in my hindbrain. The first thing I’m going to do is get her tucked into bed and then make her something to eat. I need to protect her, provide for her. Who better suited to tend to her needs than her husband?
Mikhail’s guest room is already made up for her. I lay her down on the bed, mindful of her shoulder as I diligently cover her up with the softest of blankets. I go so far as to fluff her pillow and adjust the thermostat so the temperature in the room is a touch on the warm side.
“I’m going to get you something to eat,” I say dutifully.
“Pyotr, wait…”
When she reaches out to me, I’m at her side in an instant, kneeling at her bedside. I take her hand and lace her fingers through mine, relishing the way she squeezes it lightly.
“Stay with me for a moment,” she says softly. “Please. I promise I’ll eat, just… I want to be with you.”
I nod. I feel the exact same way. “I’m here, Alina.”
The corner of her lip curls up into a weary smile. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too. More than you know.”
She stiffens. “Is Ben… Mother shot him as we were leaving. Is he—”
“He’ll be fine. It’ll take him some time to recover, but he’s in stable condition. Once he’s well enough, the police will be questioning him. He’s facing several charges, including accessory to kidnapping.”
Alina chews on the inside of her cheek. “Pyotr?”
“Yes, lyubimaya?”
“About that night… I’m sorry we fought. I dumped a lot on you all at once. It wasn’t fair of me to put you on the spot.”
I shake my head. “You have nothing to apologize for, Alina. I’m sorry I was such a repressed asshole that I couldn’t tell you how I truly feel.”
Her eyes are droopy with sleep, but she still manages to arch a curious brow. “How you truly feel?”
Bringing her hand to my lips, I kiss the back of her fingers. “Alina, these past few weeks have been hell for me. I was worried sick about you. You were on my mind morning, noon, and night. It killed me not knowing where you were or if you were okay, and seeing what Violetta’s done to you…” My rage bubbles to the surface, the muscles in my jaw ticking. “I’m not good with words, Alina. Sometimes I don’t know how to… express myself.”
Alina smiles gently. “You don’t have to, Pyotr. I get it.”
“When you told me you were falling in love with me, I was over the moon. You took me by surprise, is all. I wasn’t ready to tell you then, but I am now. I’m in love with you too, Alina Antonov. I would do anything to keep you, if you’re still willing to be mine.”
She gently caresses my cheek and smiles, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she does. “That sounds a lot like a wedding vow.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Come here, silly. Of course I’ll be yours.”
I rise to my feet and climb onto the bed with her, cradling her as gently as I can. Our lips come together carefully, every kiss tender and true. This time when I kiss her, I take my time savoring the taste of her lips and tongue. I commit to memory her soft sighs and sweet touches. I’m not the type of man who gets nervous easily, but I’m nervous now. I’m worried I’m going to hurt her, that I’ll move too fast or take too selfishly.
My Alina deserves so much more than that. She needs to know just how much she’s cherished and adored. So I kiss her slowly, the rest of the world fading away as an afterthought. Now that I finally have her in my arms again, nothing else truly matters.
“My beautiful wife,” I murmur against her mouth.
“My handsome husband,” she says with a quiet giggle.
