“No. But I'm glad you came.”
“I promised I'd take good care of you, didn't I?” She smiled with a wide grin, and I was happy that she was once again in my arms.
But while we marched forward. I heard more footsteps walking in unison, and I was puzzled.
I pulled Emilia close. Her head rested on my shoulder, and for a second, I was calm. We moved fast. Dimitri covered our rear. Mikhail’s faction had already cleared the path, and we made our way out.
We reached the car, and I threw Emilia into the back seat before climbing in. The road was as dark as night, and I wanted to leave before anyone caught up with us.
She slept while the car was still in motion. I let myself believe we won.
We arrived home, and Emilia woke up hours later. She looked at me sadly, and I could only imagine what she had to gothrough because of me. Her hand stretched out to my face, her fingers traced out the lines and contours.
“You were amazing, and terrifying,” she said softly. I smiled at her, not knowing if it was a compliment or an insult.
“I know I could have done better. But I also know that it’s my terror that binds you to me.”
She pressed her forehead to mine, and I felt her. The thought of everything I would've done better in my rescue of her came in a rush, but I knew that she understood that all I did, I did it for her.
The sound of sirens graced the streets, and I smiled in full knowledge of what had happened overnight. At least the cleaning had begun. The rivals would know better than to mess with me next time. But I knew they wouldn't let this go or forgive me. I knew they'd want to take vengeance, and their vengeance was my death. But they couldn't even muster a blow at my face without getting burned down to the crust.
I looked at Emilia, and I knew that she had changed me. She wasn't being all resistant again. She opened up to me, and I knew that it was because of my love for her that I became the monster I had tried holding back for so long.
“Viktor,” she said while she watched with her beautiful almond eyes that made me want to fill her up with all of me. “Promise me that all this will end well? I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want to put myself in a situation I can't handle.”
“I understand.”
“I'm not asking you to understand. I'm asking you to promise me that all this ends now.”
“I will end it,” I said. “Danger follows me wherever I go. And unless you're in my good books, duty demands of me that I do what I must to protect the union and to protect you. But don't fret. I'll make sure everything ends well, and you don't have to fear getting taken by the rivals anymore.”
She smiled. Her fingers traced my lips right before she kissed me. This was it. The moment I knew would come. Emilia had finally opened herself up to me, not as the calm good girl she once was, but as a Bratva. And I couldn't wait to see what she'd carry out as the queen of my manor.
Chapter Nineteen
Emilia’s POV.
Whoever said that we are never free unless we die tasted real freedom. I guess the idea of being free only comes when you notice you're captured. The chatter of the men around the warehouse grew simultaneously. Insults were being thrown around, and I sat with my hands bound. My head spun around. If I had the chance to free myself from this dusty cave, I'd do it and run back to Viktor. The bald man with the silvery canine held half a glass of whiskey and laughed uncontrollably at something one of his counterparts said. My ears were blocked at this moment. My tongue was swollen with thirst, and I found it hard to breathe with my mouth closed.
“Hey!” I called out. They all turned and faced me with keen attention. “I need some water.”
The bald guy came close and placed his whiskey in front of me. Damn, right now I really could drink anything, but I wasn't into alcohol. I'd never drunk alcohol before, and I wasn'tplanning to start now. Yet, the brown pigment of the whiskey materialized in front of my eyes while the round lining of the tumbler touched my lips.
“Drink.” He said. I found the smell offensive and immediately turned my head away. I felt nauseous, and I almost barfed on his black shirt.
“What's the matter, honey? You don't drink?”
“I requested water, not alcohol.”
“Oh. I see.” He drank the entire glass and breathed out with his eyes shut tightly. “There's a nearby river. I guess it would be much better to take you to the docks and throw you in so you can drink to your fill.” He smiled and turned to his men.
“What do you think, guys?”
“It's a good plan.” They all chorused. I didn't think they were serious about taking me to the docks until the bald man held out the black duct tape.
“Stay still or else you'll get hurt.”
I turned my face around, and two solid hands held my head. One wrapped his hand around my neck, and the other pulled on my hair until my head raised up.
