“You touched her,” I say quietly. “You threatened my child.”
I pull my knife and press it to his throat. “You don’t touch what’s mine.”
Then I cut. Blood sprays. Artyom goes still.
I turn to Elena. She’s on the floor, staring at me with wide eyes, blood splattered across her face.
I cross to her and cut the zip ties. She gasps when her arms come free, then throws herself at me. Arms around my neck, face buried in my chest, body shaking.
“I’ve got you,” I murmur. “You’re safe.”
“I’m sorry—they were waiting—I didn’t know.”
“Later. We’ll deal with it later.”
I hold her while my men secure the building. Hold her like she might vanish if I loosen my grip.
“What Artyom said,” I ask quietly. “About being pregnant.”
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“We’ll find out at home. Right now, we’re leaving.”
***
Back at the house, I dismiss everyone. Take her to the bathroom and start cleaning blood from her face.
“I can do it myself.”
“I know.”
I check her wrists—bruised, cut from the zip ties. Her ribs where they hit her. Bruised but not broken.
“Why?” The question explodes out. “Why did you run? You could have been killed.”
“I’d rather die trying to be free than live as your prisoner!”
I grab her waist, pull her close. “You belong to me. Not as property. As my wife. Mine. That means you’re protected.”
“It means I’m trapped.”
“It means you matter!” My voice breaks. “You think I shut down the city for strategy? Killed Artyom with my bare hands for business? When you ran, when I thought I’d lost you—”
The space between us evaporates. My mouth is on hers, desperate and demanding. She kisses back with the same desperation, hands fisting in my shirt.
I lift her, carry her to the bedroom, never breaking the kiss. Lay her carefully on the bed.
“Your ribs are bruised.”
“I don’t care.” She pulls me down. “Please.”
I strip her carefully, cataloging every injury. When she’s bare beneath me, I pause. Just look at her. Memorize her alive, here, choosing this.
“I thought I lost you,” I say, voice raw.
“I’m here.” Her hands frame my face. “I’m alive.”
I kiss her again, my hands sliding between her legs, finding her already wet.
