Page 51 of Prey of the Bratva

That was it. No questioning. No overprotection. No attempt to take control. Just alignment and quiet agreement. Something in my chest tightened at that because this was what mattered way more than I expected it to.

“Thank you,” I replied quietly, and he smiled.

The rest of the day blurred into preparation as my team continued to map all possible routes and timings. We marked entry points and exit contingencies. Every variable was accounted for, layered, and reworked. This wasn’t just another move. This was a shift. It was true that Anton Sidorov wasn’tVolkov, but he was close enough to matter. Close enough to break something open.

By the time night settled, the house had quieted again. It was not empty, just still. I found Kliment in the kitchen as he leaned back against the counter, sleeves rolled, a glass in his hand he hadn’t touched. His gaze lifted the second I stepped in.

“You’re going to push your foot too far,” he said. “The brave is off, but please be careful.

I glanced down briefly, then back at him. “It’s holding. I truly do feel better.”

“For now.”

“For long enough.”

He didn’t argue. He never argued when I was certain. I crossed the room slowly, stopping just in front of him. There was a different kind of quiet now. The kind which wasn’t laced with conflict and tension.

“Do you trust me to handle this?” I asked.

It wasn’t insecurity but just my need for clarity. His gaze held mine for a long moment, and then he set the glass aside, stepping forward towards me. His hand came to my jaw, tilting my face up slightly as he kissed me. His mouth was slow and certain. He wasn’t demanding anything or claiming me. He simply seemed sure. The kind of certainty that didn’t need to prove itself. I felt my breath shift immediately, my hand coming up to rest against his chest, steadying myself more out of instinct than need. When he pulled back, his forehead rested briefly against mine.

“Yes,” he said quietly.

That was it. No elaboration. No conditions. Just truth.

I let out a quiet breath, my fingers tightening slightly against his shirt. “Good.”

His hand slid to my waist, pulling me closer. It was not urgent or rushed, but deliberate.

“We don’t have time for distractions,” I murmured.

“We will always have time for a distraction or two,” he replied.

I huffed a quiet laugh. “You’re insufferable.”

“And you’re still here.”

“You know, finding Sidorov might change things, right?”

“Yes.”

“There will be no going back because Volkov will know.

“I know.”

I held his gaze for a second longer. “Then we must not hesitate.”

A faint shift crossed his expression.

“I have never hesitated, Misha, and I won’t let you either. We are going in this strong,” he said.

I nodded once, a slight warmth sitting in my chest because now I knew that he was beside me. He would always be beside me.

Chapter 14 - Kliment

“I told you not to turn this into a war room.”

Her voice carried across the patio before I even stepped fully outside, calm but edged with amusement. I paused at the doorway for a second, watching her before announcing my presence. Misha stood near the railing, one hand resting lightly against it, the gardens stretched out behind her in a wash of lights. The wind moved through her hair, softening nothing about her posture. She looked steady, as if all her healing and recovery were done at last. She looked like her old self. Strong and independent.