“I had a brief meeting with your father. Hopefully, I won't need to have any more with him in the future.”
“How did it go?”
“Not bad, actually. I told him he's banned from seeing you, although he begged me to give him a second chance.”
“Oh.” She looked stunned.
“He's not coming around you any time soon. But, if you'd like to meet him, it'll probably be best if it's not anywhere around our estate. The choice is yours.”
She smiled, and something about the way she smiled made me want to know what she thought.
“So, do you want to see him?”
“Probably not. I don't know. I guess I'll give it more time. It's a whole lot to take in.”
“He's the worst father you could ever have. And my dad was a Mafia Boss.”
“Life sucks sometimes. We deserve the best, but most of us get shit in return.”
My eyes looked at her lips while she spoke. She gave me a warm stare, and I moved my hand from her left lip to her right. I didn't think twice before I kissed her.
“No, Viktor. I haven't brushed my teeth.” She pushed me away, and I pulled her back.
“Neither have I. So let's get on with it and brush our teeth together.”
I knew I lied, and she knew I lied because she could taste the mint of the toothpaste I used earlier this morning.
We lay in silence for a moment. The morning breeze passed over our ears and hair.
“I'd like you to know something, Vik.”
“What's that?”
She sighed after I asked. “You can tell me anything. I'm all ears for you, my love.”
Emilia sat upright, and I did the same. She held my hands in hers and looked deep into my eyes. “I'd like to return to college. I know that it might sound stupid now, but I really need my degree, even in the midst of all this stuff I think I can't handle.”
“No, sweetheart, it's not stupid at all.”
“You think?”
“Yes. It's not. But I need to know something first. Are you asking for my permission to continue your college work, or are you trying to force me to be on your side?”
She looked up in thought. “The latter.”
“You know you can do whatever you want, right?”
“I know, but…”
“There are no buts in this. You're not my collateral anymore, Emilia. You're my wife. The entire Bratva union answers to you because you are my wife, and no one will stand between the choices you make and approve except me. Feel free and do what you want. If you want to go to school in the Caribbean, I'll support you. If you need to take some air in the Bahamas, I'll be your ride.” She laughed. “You should know that I love you, and I cherish you, Emilia Lobanov. You're my forever now. The faster you realize it, the better.
Her eyes, at this moment, were soaked with tears. “I love you.” She said, right before she kissed me with a fervour that came from raw and intense passion. “I didn't realise how much you loved me before. But now I understand.
All I desired was the best for her, and I'd stop at nothing to make sure I satisfied her in every way.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Emilia's POV.
