“Time to talk, Nina,” he says, his tone firm. “Your life is about to change. Everything you’ve ever known. Your routine. Who you obey. What you eat and drink. How much time you get with your daughter. Sleeping.” He shakes his head hard, his eyes narrowing on me. “It all changes today.”
My first instinct is to feel fear, but before it can flood me, he says, “No one will ever keep Simi from you again. If she needs you, you go to her, day or night. You don’t ask permission to be her mother. She is yours, and she will not be used to control you. Understand?”
The words hit so deep I can only stare.
Lifting his hand, he waves it through the air. “This is your home now. Yours and Simi’s. I was serious when I said I’m not letting you go, so you need to make yourself comfortable.”
It should sound like a threat, but it doesn’t. I’m not being told to remain in the basement until I’m called for.
Georgi’s gaze lowers, sweeping over my jeans and T-shirt before returning to my face. “Is this all you have to wear?”
Heat creeps into my cheeks. “We don’t have much.”
His jaw clenches in a way that makes it clear my answer upsets him.
“We’ll take care of that tomorrow.”
I hesitate before asking, “Uhm…how? I don’t have money.”
Georgi’s eyes sharpen on me, and it feels like I just said something wrong, almost as if I insulted him.
“Nina, I will take care of all your needs. When I say we’re getting something for you or Simi, it means I’m paying for it. We will get you a hell of a lot more clothes and whatever toys Simi wants. Don’t question it ever, and don’t worry that I’ll expect something in return. You are my responsibility.”
Again, emotions explode in my chest because in mere seconds, Georgi is turning out to be the prince Simi wanted with all her heart.
We stare at each other for a long moment before I dare to ask, “Why would you do all of this for us and not expect anything in return?”
He lets out a heavy breath, and his expression softens slightly. “I care about you, Nina, and I will lose my fucking mind if anything bad ever happens to you again.” He shrugs, then admits, “I’m not going to lie. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Yes, the attraction is there, but what sealed the deal for me was witnessing your determination to survive. Christ, I’m in awe of you.”
Stunned, I gape at Georgi as he shifts my entire world on its axis.
This big man, who was strong enough to free us, cares about me.
He lets out an incredulous-sounding chuckle, then adds, “And Simi is fucking adorable. I’ve already fallen in love with her.” His expression darkens in a split second. “What’s her last name?”
My voice trembles as I answer, “Pavlova. Simona Pavlova. I named her after my mother.”
“It’s a beautiful name,mishle.”
My chin begins to quiver from the tentative happiness creeping into my heart. “What are your rules?” I want to learn them so I won’t do anything to upset him.
Something dark flits through his eyes, but instead of frightening me, it makes my pulse race faster.
“You want my rules?” he asks, leaning in even closer until the heat of his breath brushes over my skin. “Rule number one. You don’t run from me.”
Possession is woven tightly through the words, and they shouldn’t, but they warm my heart.
“Secondly, you don’t go anywhere without clearing it with me first. If I don’t know where you are, I’ll assume something is wrong, and I’ll tear this city apart until I find you.”
A tremor moves through my body at the promise of violence in his tone.
“Third, you’reneveralone with another man.”
My brows draw together. “Will they try to hurt me?”
Georgi lifts his hand to my face and brushes his fingers over the bruises on my cheek and lip. “I won’t allow you to be alone with another man, besides my dad and Santino, because you are mine, Nina. I’m a very overprotective man, to the point that it’s made my sister unhappy. After what happened in that fucking basement and Simi almost dying…” Rage moves like a shadow over his face. “I won’t take risks with your safety.”
The words hit with such force that my breath catches.
