“Tough luck, bitch,” Kavinsky sneers.
“Luck?” I can’t help but laugh. “I can’t say I’ve ever been accused of that one before.”
My heart is pounding overtime, making my chest heave. Iosif’s dagger lands between Kavinsky’s legs, so close to his balls that he squeaks. There’s nowhere to go but up against the wall behind him.
Who’s scrambling now?
“You crazy fuckingwhore—”
“Mrs. Yuri’s fine,” I correct sternly, like he’s no more than a misbehaving child.
He doesn’t stick around longer after that. He scrambles a leg over the dagger’s handle and takes off, nearly tripping over his own feet in his haste to get away.
Holy fucking shit.
Laughter bubbles up my throat all over again, fizzy as champagne. My head is light from it, threatening to float up into the sky like a lantern.
“Did you see that?!” I shriek, excitedly looking up at my husband. “Iosif, did yousee?”
“I couldn’t look away,” he says firmly, never looking away or backing down.
His eyes are ablaze with unmistakable pride. And it’s all for me. No one has ever looked at me like that before. Then again, what has Iosif Yuri brought me but a tsunami of newness?
I don’t even think about it. My arms are around his neck before I’ve decided to walk back to him. “Thank you,” I press into his jugular. “Thank you for tonight. For teaching me. For—”
“Nell,” Iosif interjects, his hands on my hips. “It’s all you, doll.”
I think we both know that isn’t true. Some of it is me, yes—I can see that now. This strength has been in me all along. But when he offered me that open door months ago, I hadn’t imagined that door wasinsideme.
He’s blown it wide open now. Every day, it blows me away, the angels and demons that spill out of it.
I stay huddled against his chest, ensnaring him to my body like an anchor to keep me from slipping away with the tide of adrenaline.
Eventually, it’s he who has to disentangle himself. My heart skips a beat when he takes my hand.
“Come,” he commands, hoarse. “Let’s go home.”
***
By the time we’re back at the penthouse, I’m drunk on euphoria.
Okay, and the rum—and the champagne I’d demanded before Iosif steered me out of the Pit. But, mostly, it’s the euphoria.
“Did you see how fast he scampered away?” I bounce in my seat with undiluted glee.
The elevator doors open, and I stumble out, my heartbeatwhooshingin my ears.
“Easy there,” Iosif tuts.
I’m too distracted by how his touch burns at my waist, his hold cinching to keep me upright. I like everything about it.
I like everything about you,I think.
“Dear God,” he laughs tiredly, and sweeps my legs out from under me, lifting me against his chest.
I must’ve said the words aloud.
“What’re you going to do with all your free time now that I can save myself?” I tease him, bumping the tip of my nose into his jaw. His stubble scratches me. I could purr about it.
