She gazes over at me before she bursts into laughter.
“What’s so funny?” I ask. “I hope you’re not laughing at my sexual prowess.”
“No. I’m laughing because I’m happy.”
“You’re happy?”
She rolls onto my chest and gives me a contented smile that warms my heart. “I am. I’ve never been this happy in my entire life before. I used to be so scared because of my dad. He kept me locked away. He kept me in fear. But you showed me that I don’t have to fear life. That even if something tragic happens, you’ll be there for me. I may still be afraid of a lot of things but having you at my side… it all seems less scary.”
“So, you’re no longer afraid of me?” I ask, running my hands along her spine.
“No. You took a bullet for me, Maksim. You saved my life. I’m not afraid of you. I know you’re nothing like my father.”
“He won’t bother us ever again. Not if he doesn’t want us spilling his secret.”
“And your dad?”
“My dad will always be a pain in my ass but I can deal with him. As long as I have you to come home to. That’s all that matters.”
Her gaze darkens. “What about Enzo? Nikolai left him alive.”
“Enzo is going to be a problem. But I don’t know how to fix it. Killing him isn’t an option. It will piss off the Italian mafia but leaving him alive to cause problems… I don’t know. I don’t have the answer. I just want to hold you in my arms right now.”
“I just want to be in your arms right now too.”
“Then let’s not worry about anything else.” I plant a soft kiss on her lips, feeling the happiest I’ve ever been my entire life.
Chapter Twenty
Maksim
“What are we going to do about Enzo?” I ask over a meal with my dad and Nikolai. We’re at Nikolai’s restaurant in the back booth. It’s full of people tonight, enjoying their dinner without a care in the world, while we have the weight of the world on our shoulders.
My dad and I haven’t spoken since Natasha told him off at the hospital. We’re both here to discuss business with Nikolai, so we’re being cordial. But I can tell my father isn’t happy with me. When is he ever?
“Enzo already tried killing one of my guards,” Nikolai says, wiping his mouth with his napkin. “My guard survived and Enzo got away but he’s growing reckless. He’s pissed he lost.”
“I’m sure he’s angry you knocked him out and could have killed him but didn’t,” I say. “A blow to his ego.”
“Exactly. And his ego won’t go away anytime soon. He’s only going to get worse.”
“But we can’t kill him,” Gregor says.
Nikolai sighs, running his hand over his face. “I know. But we have to do something. Find a way to subdue him or…”
I raise an eyebrow. “Or?”
“Or work with him.”
We all go quiet for a long moment before I scoff. “Work with Enzo? How? He would never agree to it and besides, he kidnapped my wife. And shot me in the fucking shoulder. I want him dead. I’ll never be able to work with him.”
“But if working with Enzo could prevent Natasha from being in danger again, wouldn’t that be a good thing?”
I stare at Nikolai. The eyes of my best friend and yet, I feel like I don’t recognize him in this moment. “Yes,” I say slowly. “It would be a good thing to keep Natasha safe. But we can’t trust Enzo. He could fuck us over and Natasha could be hurt. Or your wife, Irina, could be hurt.”
“I know. But I was thinking of a way that could keep him in line. A way that has worked for us before.”
I frown. “What are you talking about?” Judging from my father’s frown, he doesn’t know either.
