Jake’s first day in the park.
Jake. My hands crushed the frame. The glass cracked under my strength as a roar of injustice stilled in my throat.
It was supposed to be the name of our son. How dare she name the child of her fucking husband after my father?
Throwing the frame on the bed but picking up the photo for some damn fucking reason, I grabbed my jacket and left the house, but not before closing the balcony doors and checking the security alarm.
Right after I shut the door behind me, I slammed my fists into the wall several times, hard enough that blood dripped slowly from the wounds. My heart beat like crazy inside my chest, the only indication I was alive, because everything else was dead.
I could have loved her child and raised him as my own. I could have lived with the fact she tried to move on.
But I couldn't forgive her for marrying someone else while testifying against me in court.
Why did she do it? How could she do it?
I thought my one last revenge would bring me peace, using her body would soothe the longing in my soul for her. I thought it would show me that our attraction and love was nothing more than a novelty I had experienced and blown into epic proportions in my head during my time in prison. I was never into hurting women anyway, so this punishment seemed like a good choice. Along with destroying her family.
But all it did was worsen my condition.
I was the only one who lost in this battle.
Vivian Jackson was forever engraved in my heart, leaving it so scarred I couldn’t see a way of ever getting rid of her.
Placing the phone next to my ear, I waited for Vitya to pick up, and when he did, I ordered, “Put a person on her. She needs to be protected twenty-four seven, with reports. If so much as a hair leaves her pretty head, I’m personally going to kill whoever was responsible for her safety.” Ending the call, I walked to Dima and Petor who had waited outside for me, smoking cigarettes, but they straightened at once when they noticed my expression. “Airport.”
Dima frowned at my order, exhaling smoke. “But we weren't supposed to leave until tomorrow.” Reading my face, he shut up and opened the door for me to get in.
Resting my head on the backseat, I looked at the photo I stole from her and ran my finger over her face. Fucking weak sap, but I couldn't leave it behind. It would be a reminder for me to never go after her because of the kid in her arms.
Vivian broke me.
But no matter how much I tried to forget her, I could never allow anyone else to harm her. And since I planned to start a war, she could be collateral damage in it.
And no one, fucking no one, was allowed to hurt my woman.
No one, but me.
Vivian
Startled, my eyes snapped open. Disoriented, I studied my surroundings. The first thing my mind registered was the empty space beside me.
Running my fingers on the still warm sheet, I called, “Radmir.” But no reply came. Wrapping the linen around me, I sat up on the bed and my legs hit something sharp. “Ouch,” I muttered and then took the frame in my hands, only to see the glass was broken. Where was the picture? Did he take it?
Oh, no. No!
Quickly standing up, I rushed toward the living room. Everything was closed and locked. He’d left. The alarm was on, proving once again Radmir would always care about my safety even though he hated me.
He left before I could explain what happened all those years ago, why I married Alex. My heart ached with unbearable pain, and rubbing my chest, I willed myself to create a box of indifference inside me so it would go away. After all, the technique had helped me through all those years.
He’d come for revenge, and his odd behavior during lovemaking made sense to me at once.
Sobbing quietly, I fell to my knees as my mind searched desperately for a way to calm down.
But how did a person calm down when the world they had dreamed of burned to ashes?
He would ruin your life, Vivian. This is the kind of man you fell in love with.
Turned out my despotic father was right about one thing, as hard as it was to admit. The happily ever after wasn’t meant for our love story.
