I stare down at the plastic-wrapped corpse and feel absolutely nothing except satisfaction.
"I'm good."
"Then go home to your woman. She's probably climbing the walls by now."
He's right. Ava will be frantic, wondering what happened, if I'm safe, if her father is dead.
I need to get to her. Need to hold her and reassure her and claim her all over again now that this obstacle is finally removed.
I nod and head for the exit, already pulling out my phone to call Jasmine.
She answers on the second ring. "She's okay. Anxious, but okay. Laney's got her watching some terrible reality show and eating ice cream."
"I'm on my way."
"Good. She needs you." A pause. "It's done?"
"It's done." I end the call and climb into my car.
The drive back to the hotel feels longer than it should. My mind keeps replaying the phone call this morning. Ava's voice, strong and angry as she confronted her father. The way she chose me over him without hesitation.
She is truly mine now. No more obstacles. No more threats. Just us. And the future we're going to build together.
I park in the underground garage and take the private elevator up to my floor. When I open the door to my suite, I hear voices from the living room.
"—not that bad," Laney is saying. "Yakov's actually very sweet once you get past the whole 'I'm going to murder everyone' exterior."
"And Adrik is surprisingly romantic," Jasmine adds. "Who knew the silent type could be so good with words when he wants to be?"
Then Ava's voice, soft and uncertain: "What if he changes his mind? Now that my father's gone, what if he doesn't need me anymore?"
"Are you kidding?" Laney laughs. "The Korolyov’s don’t do stuff by halves. They are obsessive and possessive in all the best ways.” She wriggles her eyebrows for emphasis and I can’t help but laugh. “They don’t claim a woman if they don’t intend to spend the rest of their lives with them."
"Plus," Jasmine adds, "you're sleeping in his bed. He told the entire family you're his and put out word to keep you safe. Korolyov men don't do that unless they mean it."
I clear my throat, and all three women turn to look at me.
Ava's on her feet instantly, her face pale. "Is it—"
"It's done," I say.
She makes a sound somewhere between a sob and a gasp, and then she's across the room and in my arms, trembling.
Laney and Jasmine exchange looks.
"We'll give you two some privacy," Laney says, grabbing her purse. "Ava, call me if you need anything. Us Korolyova wives need to stick together."
"She's not a wife yet," I say, though there's no heat in it.
"Give it a week," Jasmine retorts with a grin. "Adrik's already called the judge."
They leave, closing the door softly behind them.
Ava pulls back to look at me, her eyes searching my face. "Did he suffer?"
"No. It was quick."
"Good." She touches my chest, my arms, checking for injuries. "You're okay?"
