I look over at Gavriil, noticing slight ridges under his clothes where bandages were placed over his wounds. A satisfied smile crosses my lips. “Good. Thank you.”
Gavriil nods. He shifts on his feet like he’s going to move closer to us, but he stays rooted to the spot, watching us instead.
“Please be careful out there. Both of you,” I tell them as I glance between them, my pulse thumping from concern.
“We will,” Dom promises me before he meets Gavriil’s gaze. “We’re not going to do anything reckless.”
“We’ll make it back to you,” Gavriil agrees.
The three of us stare at each other, varying emotions playing out silently. There are so many words left unspoken between us, and I can only hope that we get the chance to say them after the fight.
But I don’t know what’s going to happen when they leave the bunker and storm the house. This could be the last time that I see them alive.
The thought steals the air out of my lungs, leaving me breathless.
48
Dominik
HavingGavriil’s confidence in me to take over for him makes me feel like I’m ten feet tall and bulletproof.
And I’m pretty sure that Alina is the reason he’s willingly handing over the crown, even if it’s only temporary.
She’s changed him for the better.
I want Alina to be mine but loving her means accepting that my brother has a claim on her heart too.
It’s as deep as the connection that I have with my brother. Not as complicated, but it’s ingrained in my soul all the same.
That’s why I’m not upset when she winds her arms around his neck, hugging him tight before pressing a kiss on his lips, then his cheek.
He needs her the way I do. And I’m certain that Gavriil won’t ever hurt her again.
Besides, how can I be jealous when Alina immediately gives me the exact same treatment she gave to him.
“Be careful,” she says against my lips, her fingers stroking the back of my hair. “Come back to me.”
“We will,dikaya koshka,” I promise her.
Despite my reassurance, worry shadows Alina’s face.
She takes a deep, steadying breath and straightens up, nodding, then crosses her arms over her chest, making her stance that much sturdier. “Okay,” she says. “I’ll find a mic and give you guys updates.”
She was already tough when we first met, and she put up a hell of a fight. But her time with Gavriil helped her grow from fiery and reactive to steady and strong. She’s become more resilient, and that makes her more dangerous and ready for the fight ahead.
She’ll never cower and run if things get hard.
“We’ll listen for you,” Gavriil tells her over his shoulder as our men start grouping together, ready to go.
I cup Alina’s cheek and press another gentle kiss against her lips, a silent but loving goodbye.
Gavriil doesn’t turn away. He only nods to me when I pull away and says, “I’m ready when you are,Bratishka.”
I respect him for wanting to dive back into the fray despite everything that’s already happened. I can tell that he’s hurt, but he’s trying not to let it show. I know that he doesn’t want to worry Alina.
He cares. He actually fucking cares about her, and I’m…happy about that.
Fighting alongside him is as natural as breathing to me, and if I had to pick anyone next to me in a fight, it would be him. He’s the best, after all. It doesn’t matter how many times that we’ve fought against each other, he never loses.
