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"Is it over?" Adalina asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's okay, I've got you," I whisper as I stroke her hair. "You're safe now."
Adalina clings to me, burying her face in my chest. "Thank you for saving me.”
"We need to leave, now." She nods, and I lift her into my arms, holding her tightly. She clings to me. I can feel her heart beating against my chest.
I carry Adalina out of the motel, taking in the sight of a few lifeless bodies scattered around - Maxim's men. Spotting Misha outside, I urgently shout, "Maxim is still upstairs, unconscious. I want him alive. Put him in the trunk and take him to the compound. Lock that son of a bitch in the cell in the basement."
“Okay, Nikolai.”
“Torch this fucking place.”
I don’t let Adalina go as I put her down in the back of my SUV. I climb in next to her. I don’t know why but I put my arms around her. I can feel her warmth against me, and it makes me feel alive in a way that I have never felt before. As my driver drives us away from the motel, I tell myself that Maxim will pay dearly for what he did to Adalina.
When we arrive back at the compound, the lights are back on. I carry Adalina snuggled against me to my bedroom. I am angry at myself for putting her in danger. I knew Maxim had his eye on her. I should have known he was a danger to Adalina. I still need to find out who Maxim is working with. He could’nt have pulled this off by himself – not having two motels and one being a decoy. I would deal with him later, in fact I planned to deal with him over the next several days.
I carefully place Adalina on my bed, holding her tenderly until she drifts into a light sleep. The fear for her safety lingers within me, as I remain unsure of who I can trust. Not knowing how many of my men Maxim has turned against me, adds to the weight on my shoulders. To ensure Adalina's safety, I believe the best course of action is to return her to the hands of the Outfit. They can protect her better than I can.
I make a call to Bobby Vincenzio, informing him that I will bring Adalina to the Windsor Hotel at noon two days from now. Bobby agrees with the plan, and he assures me that her father and his bodyguards will be waiting outside the hotel to receive her. Until that time comes, I resolve to keep a close watch over Adalina, not allowing her to leave my sight.
I remove my clothes, leaving only my briefs, and slip into bed alongside Adalina. I pull her close to me, her back pressed against my chest, feeling her coolness and my own warmth. The rush of adrenaline coursing through me prevents from sleeping. Instead, I find myself staring at the ceiling, my mind consumed by thoughts of the torment I will inflict upon Maxim.
However, my thoughts eventually shift towards Adalina. I wish I could say goodbye without hurting her. Yet, I know it is impossible. I will hurt her. Damn it! I am a cruel and heartless bastard. Fuck. The truth is, she will be better off without me. She deserves a chance at a normal life.
At around 5:00 a.m. in the morning Adalina stirs. I hadn’t gotten any sleep.
“Good morning, Zayka. How are you feeling?” I ask.
“Okay. I need to take a shower.”
Adalina rises from the bed and quietly makes her way to the ensuite bathroom, still clad in the torn dress from the previous day. As she shuts the door behind her, the sound of running water fills the air. After a few moments, I hear the distinct sound of Adalina's sobs coming from within the bathroom.
Sensing her distress, I leave the comfort of the bed and enter the bathroom. There, I find Adalina standing naked in the shower, her forehead pressed against the cool tiles. With her face hidden in her hands, she continues to weep.
Without hesitation, I remove my briefs and step into the spacious shower enclosure. The hot water cascades over me, soothing my skin. Gently, I reach out and turn Adalina to face me, enfolding her within my arms. She wraps her arms around me, seeking comfort in our embrace as her tears flow freely.
“It’s okay, no one is going to hurt you, I’ve got you.” I keep murmuring in her ear. When she finally looks up at me tears are streaming down her cheeks. Her bottom lip is quivering. She is shaking. I pull her under the spray of hot water. I grab my shampoo and gently wash her hair. Then I put shower gel on my hands and slowly rub it on her body into a lather. As I bathe her, she doesn’t speak. I am worried she is in shock. I turn off the water, open the shower door and grab a towel. I dry her off with the towel before I lead her into the bathroom. I rub her hair with another dry towel. I wrap the bath towel around her shoulders. I grab another towel and dry myself off. Then I wrap it around my waist.
I gently run my fingers through her damp hair, untangling the knots with care. With my arm draped around her shoulders, I guide her back into the comfort of my bedroom.
“Are you hungry, Adalina?”
She shakes her head no.
“Do you want to get dressed?”
She doesn’t answer as she crawls on the bed. Unwrapping herself from the towel and burrowing under the sheets. She looks at me as she lays her head on a pillow. There is a neediness in her eyes.
“Nikolai, I need you. Make love to me.”
I pull off my towel and join her underneath the sheets. I wrap my arms around her.
“Fucking is not a good idea, Adalina, you need rest.”
"Please, Nikolai. I need you to make me feel whole again, to make me feel alive. I always feel alive when we make love."
And that is what I do. I caress her nude body while I kiss her mouth. I work my mouth and tongue down her neck and suckle her breasts. I gently suck and lick her pink nipples. She arches her back wanting more.
