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"Until next time, friends," Demetrius says, turning around.
We watch them drive away and I finally breathe a sigh of relief. It went better than I had expected and hopefully, things will continue to go smoothly.
"Let's go, Rose. I can feel my brother's anxiety from here." He smiles and we head to the SUV we came in.
"Thank you, Demetrius."
"For what?"
"For being my friend. For supporting me. For giving us a chance. And most of all, for being the brother that Vlad has needed."
"You are most welcome. I will always be here for both of you. Now all I have to do is call a meeting."
Chapter 45
Vladimir
ObservingRosethroughthescope was difficult. I understand she possesses strength and can defend herself, yet it is my instinct to safeguard her. She has endured an abundance of hardships in the past few months and requires no more. She is truly remarkable, exuding an air of tranquility and composure. She handled herself with elegance. In my eyes, she is the most exquisite being in the entire world.
My heart beats solely for her. She possesses an unparalleled fire and passion. And she belongs to me. I know that there are more challenges to come, and I yearn for her safety. I desire her presence beside me. However, she needs the opportunity to confront him and attain the retribution she deserves, even if she does not wish to end his life.
It is crucial for her to face him, not only to earn the respect of others but also for her own sake. She must show that he does not hold power over her, that she is in control. I understand she avoids discussing the past and tries not to dwell on what occurred, but I know the nightmares plague her. Her mind has endured so much. Upon our return, I will do everything in my power to assist her. Each day, I will ensure she knows how deeply I love her, that she is secure and protected. She will require time to heal, and I will be there for her.
We had agreed that we would be close enough to make sure she was safe. Once the meeting was over, it was time for us to head down and meet them. From where I was, it looked like things went well. She and Lena hugging and the look of rage on Aldo's face. I could see he didn't like what he was hearing.
"Vlad, it went well," Demetrius says as soon as I get into the vehicle.
"That's good. I have a bad feeling though. Are you sure they can handle it and he can get the information we need? I know they don't have the resources we do."
"We will have the upper hand. The idea is to sneak in and deal with him alone. Aldo has a good plan. He just needs a few days to gather all the intel. They will let us know when and where and we can go in. We need to have the men ready to attack a warehouse as a diversion. He has to believe it's a full attack. So that he sends most of his men away to handle it."
"What if he comes for us first?" she asks
"Then we kill him," I answer plainly
"But that's not the plan."
"Fuck the plan. No one will take you away from me."
Observing the expression on Demetrius’s face, I realize he shares the same thoughts as me. Rose remains silent, attentively observing our conversation. I gently pull her onto my lap, embracing her tightly. The mere idea of someone snatching her away again is unbearable. I feel her hands caress my back as she whispers softly, though I struggle to fully comprehend her words. Nevertheless, her gentle and soothing voice pacifies my tumultuous heart.
"You are my everything, Rose, my reason for living. My queen. My love."
"I love you, Vlad, forever. Always. You are my heart. My soul. But this is the best way to do this. I know you don't want me in danger, but we both know this is how it works. I have to be the one to kill him. Besides, I am owed my revenge."
I can't argue with that. I want her to have her revenge. I also want him to suffer for what he has done. But she is right. This is her battle, and I have to let her fight it.
"You are my queen, and you deserve the world. But I thought you didn’t want to kill him?"
"I don’t, but I know it’s the only path I will have. Besides, you are my king, and you are the only one I need."
"If you two are done. We have work to do," he says with a smirk.
"I'm sorry. Let's get to work."
Over the next few days, we began laying out the plans, and just like he said he would, Aldo called and gave us all the specifics. Not that we don't trust him, but we have also had Luna's father, Falkner, monitoring everything. I don't want to put Rose in any more danger than is needed if I can help it. We had meetings with the Sovietnik, the Obshchak, and a few of my brother's most trusted brigadiers. We discussed tactics and the best ways to go about it while Rose gave us the layout of the house she grew up in.
She desires to make a grand entrance, striding confidently through the front doors. I must confess, when faced with challenges, she transforms into a warrior. I have witnessed a fierce strength within her, a necessary attribute to overcome all the obstacles she has faced. I observe her meticulously plan out her intentions and the manner in which she intends to execute them. I puff out my chest with pride as I watch her.
