Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
I glance at him and say, “I just want to get Vincent settled.”
He nods and follows me into the house. I go to the living room and place Vincent down on the couch. “What do you want to watch, baby?”
“Shrek,” he mumbles sleepily.
While I switch on the TV, he lies down and gets comfortable.
The movie starts to play, and I press a kiss on his chubby cheek before I walk to where Alek is waiting.
Not once did his eyes leave us.
“Let’s talk in the kitchen,” I whisper.
When I enter the room, I switch on the coffee maker and get two cups ready.
I turn around, and pressing my back to the counter, I lock eyes with Alek.
“Are you calmer?” I ask.
He nods and cautiously takes a step closer. “It’s starting to sink in you’re really here.” Again he moves a couple of inches closer. “I’m sorry I scared you.”
Needing to address what he did in the cottage, I say, “Don’t ever lock me in a room again.”
He nods. “I won’t. I was desperate to keep you with me.”
My heart softens, and as we stare at each other, I ask, “What happened to you after that night? Did you go for the training you mentioned?”
He nods again. “I thought you died, Everleigh. I sent Misha to the field, but your body was gone. There was only blood. It drove me insane.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “If it’s any consolation, I had no intention of leaving you until your father shot me. That changed things for me, and I had to get away from Russia after I woke up in the hospital.”
He steps closer again, a pleading expression tightening his features. I move forward, and wrapping my arms around his waist, I press my face to his chest.
His arms engulf me, and he almost squeezes the life out of me. “It was so fucking hard, Everleigh,” he murmurs, his voice filled with pain. “I lost my mind, and this is the first time I feel whole again.”
I rub my hand up and down his back to comfort him, and remember how they tore the skin from him with that whip.
God, this is the one person who understands what I’ve been through.
He’s the only man I could ever love, and feeling his arms around me transports me to the dark room where we clung to each other.
“I missed you so much,” I gasp, unable to stop my love for him from bubbling to the surface. “I haven’t stopped loving you.”
He pushes me a little back so he can see my face. “But?”
I shake my head, a sob sputtering from me. “But I have to think of Vincent now. You’re still with the bratva, and I can’t have them near my son.”
“Our son,” he corrects me. He tilts his head, and lifting his hand, he cups my cheek. “Alexei talked some sense into my head on the drive here, and I understand you need time.”
This time is my turn to say, “But?”
“There’s no way I’m letting you go, Everleigh. Especially now that I know we have a child.”
My shoulders slump, and I close my eyes. “Don’t do this to me. Please.” I open my eyes again. “Your world tortured and almost killed me. I won’t survive it a second time.”
“There won’t be a second time.”
I take a step back, my voice rising as I say, “You don’t know that, Alek.”
His features grow harder, and there’s confidence in his tone. “The estate is the safest place for you and Vincent.” There’s a flash of grief when he says our son’s name. “I’ve completed my training, and I’ve worked my ass off to become one of the best. You will be safe with me. I can protect you.”
I shake my head. “I can’t take the chance.”
Anger creeps into his eyes, making the golden flecks shine. “What do you expect me to do?”
“I’m not saying you have to forget about us.” He already starts to shake his head. “Alek, you can visit Vincent once in a while. I won’t stand in the way of you building a relationship with him, but there can’t be anything romantic between us.”
He lifts a hand to his hair and grabs a fistful of the long-ish strands. “No.” He keeps shaking his head. “No.”
“Stop saying no and put yourself in my shoes,” I cry.
He gives me an incredulous look. “Am I the only one who remembers what we shared in that room? Why was it so fucking easy for you to forget me?”
“I didn’t forget!” I step closer to him and grab hold of his shirt. “I can never forget, Alek, but I had to move on for our son’s sake.” I suck in a shuddering breath. “In a perfect world, I would run into your arms and never let go. I’d get to have you and Vincent. But we both know this world is far from perfect, and Vincent will always come first. Before you and before me.”