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He kisses my forehead and murmurs, “Thank you.”
I pull back and look up into his blue-gray eyes as my eyebrows pull together. “For what?”
He chuckles softly and shakes his head, a smile gracing his lips. “I have so many things to thank you for, Calla. I’m not even sure where to start.”
I nod slowly, understanding what he means. “I understand. I should be thanking you as well.”
“No,” his voice is a rasp, “you never need to thank me. Being your husband, loving you, it’s a privilege. One I’m grateful for.”
I kiss his chest right where his heart is beating, knowing Idohave things to thank him for. He changed his whole life because he married me. He left the life he was living behind, which is clear from the way he defended me to Hazel tonight in the club. He could have kept quiet or enjoyed women fighting over him, but he didn’t. He had my back.
“Calla,” he calls my name softly and I look up to find his worried eyes looking down at me. “I bought a house for us not far from the mansion.”
I rear back and sit up quickly as I gasp loudly. “You did what?”
He sits up slowly and rubs the back of his neck, looking unsure. “I figure we could use our own space. It’ll be a clean slate. You can decorate it however you want. As long as you’re there, I’ll be happy.”
Tears fill my eyes. “You bought us a house?” He nods slowly and laughter bubbles up, giddy laughter filled with joy. I launch myself at my husband and pepper his face with kisses. “I can’t believe you bought us a house.”
Viktor’s body relaxes and he lays back down with me, holding me against him. There might be some things I’m still unsure of, but I am sure of him. Of this.
I fall asleep in the arms of my husband, satisfied while knowing we’ll figure out what happens next together.
CHAPTER 10
VIKTOR
The room is filled with tension while we wait for Pavel to show up. I make eye contact with Nikolai, and he gives me a small chin lift. It’s all I need to see—he’s in charge of this meeting and he knows it. No matter what Pavel tries to do, we won’t be letting Calla go, not now that she’s family.
Sergei looks like he’s casually sitting across the room, but I know he’s on high alert too. Ivan doesn’t have a bored expression on his face, today his eyes are sharp and knowing. Mistie is barely keeping a lid on her rage. Pavel will probably discount her because she’s a woman, but that would be a mistake.
A man like Calla’s brother could never understand the power the women of our family hold. It’s granted to them because of the way we need them. He’s the kind of man to see the hold they have on us as a weakness, but it is really our greatest strength.
I’m glad I have my family with me for this meeting. It’s a show of force, but also support. I didn’t realize how much I needed it until I led Calla into the room to find our family already waiting for us. I even had a text waiting for me when I woke up from my sister, Laurel, apologizing for not being able to be there along with her husband Vlad to show their support for me and Calla.
I never expected her to be here, but knowing she has my back, even while she’s in Atlantic City, makes me feel a warmth in my chest.
I glance at Calla who has her fingers laced together on her lap. She’s the picture of calm and collected, but her knuckles are turning white, the only outward sign of her being worried and scared. I reach over and grasp her hands to give her my comfort.
When her crystal blue eyes meet mine, she offers me a small smile. It’s not much, but I’ll take it. I made sure to tell her how much I love her before we left our wing. No matter what happens today, no matter what vile words Pavel spits, I never want her to question how I feel about her.
I never thought I would be grateful to Nikolai for setting up the arrangement that brought Calla into my life, but I am. My purpose in this life burns in my chest. Her. Always her.
Sergei stands when we hear a car approaching and he gives a nod toward Nikolai. I almost smirk, to not have the head of the Orlov family greet Pavel at the door will be the first slight he’ll experience today.
Pavel thought that this marriage would strengthen him and give him allies. Maybe it would have, but then he had to go and show exactly the kind of man he is—a kind of man we despise and work to take down. He will find no friends in this house, least of all his sister.
We hear the front door open and the rumble of my brother’s voice before a red-faced Pavel and one of his bodyguards enter the formal living room. He flicks his gaze around, no doubt looking for threats and weaknesses. He won’t find any, at least none that we don’t want him to find.
He’ll have no idea that we have men stationed around the house and near other entrances into the living room. We’re not alone here and the loyalty the men who follow our family doesn’t thrive in cruelty. Which is stronger? Pavel will find out if he’s not careful.
When Pavel’s eyes land on Calla, his lip curls up in a sneer. “Calla,” his voice is cold, but there’s an underlying fury.
He’s tried to call her a few times since the conversation I overheard, but she hasn’t answered. I told her not to because there’s no reason to welcome his kind of filth into her mind and our lives.
It’s ironic considering I’m far from innocent. I’ve dirtied her up in ways she doesn’t even realize, but we are what the other needs. She makes me a better man and I allow her to fly and find herself beyond the confines of expectation.
Her life with me will be better than it could have ever been under her brother’s rule.
