I wrap an arm around her waist, hold her steady, hold her close, unable to stop myself.
For a moment, the world stops.
No gunshots. No enemies. No blood.
Just her heartbeat against mine and the terrifying truth that I almost lost her.
Again.
Chapter 20 – Vivian
I can’t sleep that night.
Every sound makes me flinch—the creak of the house settling, footsteps in the hall, even the distant hum of the noise outside. My nerves are shot, stretched thin like a wire ready to snap.
I had begged Dimitri to stay. I wasn’t ashamed of it. Not after everything.
But he’d kissed my forehead, promised he had “work to do,” and said he’d come to bed later.
That was hours ago.
Where is he?
I lie there in the dimness, wide awake, my wounded arm throbbing in sync with my heartbeat. Fear curls tight in my stomach, but beneath the fear is something else—something I can’t ignore anymore.
An ache.
Because when he walked into my room earlier, covered in my dried blood, chest heaving, eyes wild until he saw me…something inside me shifted.
I don’t see him as just my captor anymore. Not the man who once cornered me, caged me, controlled me. Tonight, I saw the man who threw himself in front of bullets for me. The man who shielded me with his body. The man whose hands shook when he realized I was bleeding.
And now I can’t lie in this bed another second without knowing where he is.
I slide out from under the covers, careful not to jolt my injured arm. The floor is cold under my feet. My breath trembles as I pull the door open and step into the hallway.
His house is silent, but not in a peaceful way.
In a heavy, waiting way—like the walls themselves know something broke today.
I wrap my good arm around myself and move quietly, searching for him.
Because I’m scared.
Because I’m restless.
Because I ache for him in ways I’m not ready to admit even to myself.
But mostly because I need him tonight.
And I’m going to find him.
I check his office first.
Empty. The lights are off. His chair sits slightly askew, like he stood up too fast.
My pulse spikes.
I move on—past the dining room, past the sitting room, past the shadow-soaked hall that leads to the gym.
