I thought I was done with him when he moved back to Russia and never bothered to contact her. My plan had almost come to the grand finale. Soon, she would’ve been mine, and of all time, he had to show up again and ruin it for me.
The man had no business sniffing what was not his; even Jake was more mine than his. Where was he all this time? It was me present during his first hockey game, me who got to hear his heartbeat in her stomach, and it was me who sat in the room while she delivered the baby.
I was so worried that fucking bastard would kill her. Trying to get rid of the kid while she was pregnant didn't help. The little shit is tenacious, just like his father, one of the reasons Vivian had to get away from them both.
If only Jake had anything from his mother, but he was the spitting image of Radmir, and in her new life, she didn't need to be reminded about her past.
My beautiful Vivian deserved to have the perfect life she had always dreamed of and a man who’d never leave her. I was by her side through all this time, and even though she didn't realize it, I was her one true love.
I could never hurt even a hair on her head. But I would kill each member of her family if it were needed, in order to ensure we had our forever.
Soon, very soon, my love, I’ll free you from this nightmare and hide you away where no one will be able to find you.
“Hold still, woman,” Radmir growled the words, hugging me closer as his hands wrapped around mine. I held the small gun and raised it to point at the target at the shooting range.
“Umm hello, a gun here?” I felt the need to mention that again, even though laughter bubbled up inside me while Dom, Yuri, and Gleb hooted loudly, chilling on the grass and smoking joints.
“Try not to kill us while you're at it, will you?” Gleb joked.
Radmir barked, “You all shut up.” Then he leaned closer to my ear, his hot breath instantly awakening my body. “Take a deep breath and focus on the target. Let all other thoughts fly away.” Closing my eyes, I inhaled his smell and it instantly calmed me as I willed myself to do the job.
Although I grew up in Texas with a dad who had a gun collection, somehow it didn't transfer to me, and I never in my life held one, let alone knew how to use it. But Radmir thought it was important for his woman to possess the skill, since he lived in such a dangerous world.
“Now,krasivoglazaya.” At his order, I pulled the trigger and it fired right straight through the middle, creating a wide hole as the smoke emerged from the target.
The guys whistled and clapped—those damn idiots.
I dropped the gun, which became heavy in my hands, spun around, and wrapped my arms around Radmir, who gazed at me smugly.
“Not bad for a newbie,” he mused, and I laughed, while he swirled me around.
Was I ever this happy? As much as I tried, I couldn't remember having this peace yet deep desire to live that settled inside my heart once Radmir showed up in my life.
We had been together for the last month and a half, where we traveled around Russia as he showed me his favorite places, while conducting various business. He never spoke about it and I didn’t question, understanding he couldn't and wouldn't share it with me.
After our first night together, he gifted me a camera and told me to do whatever I wished with it, and I did. I loved snapping pictures of people and nature performing their tasks. I took pictures of everything I loved and what called to me.
Baikal Lake during the storm as the waves angrily crashed against rocks, and boats rocked while humans seemed powerless against nature.
Sunny days on Red Square as tourists wandered around, admiring beautiful architecture and the rich history of the place. I could walk through the souvenir shops for hours, loving the golden figurines they had and their national artwork.
Grand Ballet, where my eyes drank in the outstanding dance techniques while emotions poured into the performance, and even I couldn't hold in the tears.
Ice skating classes, because Radmir loved hockey and found it hilarious I didn't even know how to skate. While most of the time he tried to protect me from a fall, I did have several bruises plastering my ass.
Afternoon walks on the outskirts of the town as the guys watched over me while Radmir had to do his job. He even took me to church; I had never been to an Orthodox church before. Basically he gave me an amazing tour through the beauty of the city, teaching me to fall in love with it as much as he had.
I could envision our future together, and he even bought us a house, the crazy man.
However, I had a hard time accepting the whole Bratva thing, especially that their pakhan acted as if I didn't exist, which angered Radmir a lot. But since Vasya mostly dealt with some issue in Provence and Radmir had to take care of Moscow business, it worked.
Still, I realized we had lived in a bubble here: we were engaged, had a house, and all in a span of a month and a half.
Common sense nagged at me that it wasn't possible, wasn't wise, considering he was a mafia member. But then he’d look at me with love, we’d have fun with the guys, and it didn't seem like being with him was wrong.
That these people, even though dangerous, had hearts and were capable loving as much as the rest of us.
“Get a room if you wanna kiss,” Yuri called, flashing a grin for a second but covering it up with faux annoyance. Mostly he stayed silent or showed zero emotions, although he had his nice moments. I was kind of used to all of them by now, so I didn't mind.
