Fuck.
I slam my mouth to hers and pour everything into that kiss, every second I thought she was gone, every breath I fought to take without her.
Tears fall, and I don’t know if they are hers or mine.
I don’t give a damn about how it looks.
This is anything but weakness.
If they mistake this for softness, they are catastrophically mistaken. I have never been more dangerous than I am now.
For her, there is nothing I wouldn’t do. I would set the world alight and watch it burn without a flicker of regret.
I pull back only to press my mouth to her forehead, her nose, her cheeks, her hands, anywhere I can reach.
She’s here.
She’s alive.
Fuck.
She’s alive.
Footsteps approach, and then that revolting laugh slices through the room. I grind my teeth and turn toward the sound.
Viktor Markev.
I help Octavia to her feet, keeping her close.
She is glaring at him—pure, murderous hatred in her eyes—and the sight of it tears at something deep in my chest.
He doesn’t even acknowledge me.
His attention remains fixed on her… and my skin crawls.
I step forward, fully prepared to tear him apart, but her fingers close around my arm, stopping me.
A sinister smile spreads across the face of the pathetic excuse for my father.
“Well,” he says, a laugh slips from him, “I must admit, I’m wounded you traded me in for the younger version.”
He smirks, his eyes never leaving her. “Imagine my surprise when I discovered my son had acquired himself a little girlfriend. And then, of course, I learned that his little girlfriend is none other than my kukolka…”
His eyes narrow on her, the smile never leaving his face, and I catch the slightest flinch from Octavia.
My jaw locks so hard it fucking stings.
This bastard.
“How I’ve missed my beautiful little doll.” He tilts his head, almost contemplative. “I could never quite find anyone who screamed as exquisitely as you.”
That does it.
There is nothing human left in me now.
Chapter 73
Milo
