I stop, turn slightly.
"Your wife is dangerous. Don't forget that."
I laugh. Really laugh. "You're not wrong," I say, opening the door. "She may be more dangerous than any of us."
I walk out, leaving Artem to his empire while I go back to mine.
Tonight, Gemma's plan failed. But it was a good plan. A smart plan.
It just wasn't enough against someone like Artem.
But it could be. Next time. If I let her learn. Let her grow. Let her become what she's capable of being.
Not just a wife. A partner. An equal. Someone as dangerous as I am.
The compound is quiet when I arrive.
It's late. Past two in the morning. The staff is asleep, and I don't see anyone but the guards as I go to my bedroom—our bedroom.
Gemma is sitting on the bed, fully dressed and waiting.
She jumps to her feet when she sees me, rushing towards me. "You're okay. You're—" She's in my arms. Shaking. "I thought he might?—"
"I'm fine. We're fine." I hold her tight. "It's over."
"What did he say? What did he want?"
I pull back. Look at her. Really look at her.
"He wants peace. For now."
"Peace?"
I nod. "He wanted me to thank you. You got everyone in the room, and he was able to eliminate his enemies without touching our territory."
Gemma looks horrified, just as I knew she would.
"He says he deleted the video."
"He says he did?"
"I watched him, but I don't trust that he'd give up that leverage. But I also don't have a choice." I pull her closer. "We prepare like he still has it. We move carefully. We don't relax."
"Why would he even delete it if he was just going to use it?"
I smile at her. Her eyes are wide like silver orbs, and I take a step back, so I can see her face. These past few weeks, she's eaten more, and her skin looks healthier. She's still thin, but I can no longer see her bones through her skin.
"Because he respects you." I kiss her forehead. "He thinks you are dangerous. That's high praise from someone like him."
"Really?"
I bring her towards me, kissing her soundly. Her lips are soft, and I can smell her perfume. "He's right. I've been wasting you. Keeping you safe. Protecting you. Treating you like something fragile. But you're not fragile. You're dangerous. And I need to start treating you like it."
A tear slides down her cheek, and I kiss it away. The taste is salty on my tongue. "I got Igor killed."
"You made a play. It didn't work. That's not your fault." I pull her back against me. "Artem said your plan helped him. That you got everyone in one room and made his takeover easier. You didn't fail, Gemma. You just played against someone better. This time."
She kisses me. It's desperate and needy.
