Page 80 of Caught By the Bratva Boss

I took the world’s quickest shower, rinsing off any remnants of stale blood before donning clean boxer briefs and climbing into bed with her.

Instantly, she rolled into me. Her face snuggling into my chest.

“You’re so warm,” she murmured. Already, she sounded sleepy. “I always feel better when you’re close.”

My grip tightened. “Then I’ll always have an arm around you, Lily.”

She didn’t answer me. Her breathing grew slow. Smiling to myself, I stared down at her face, smoothing back her hair so I could get a better view.

She was asleep already and safe in my arms, where she belonged. But suddenly, I wasn’t tired at all. It had been so long since she had looked so content. There were no frown lines on her face, so she wasn’t fighting her nightmares.

Now, if only I could make her living nightmares disappear as well. But to do that, I needed to find the twins and neutralize them. And her good-for-nothing ex as well. Greg was the one who started all of this, and he would pay. All I had to do was find him. Then I was going to rip him apart with my own hands.

I would paint the city red with his blood and leave a clear warning for anyone who tried to touch what was mine. Anyone who hurt those I loved would die bloody and screaming.

“I love you.” I pressed my lips to her ruffled hair. “I’m never going to let anything happen to you. You’ll see.” Over and over again, I kissed her hair. “You’ll see. Today I’ll let the whole world know how much you mean to me.”

She muttered something under her breath. It could have been I love you, too, but I could not be sure.

Finally, my eyes grew sleepy. The last few weeks, I’d thrown myself into seeking revenge because it was the only way I could find any peace, but now I knew there was another way as well.

I could find peace here as well. In the arms of the woman I would do anything for.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Lily

Anya got married in a beautiful candlelit ceremony, looking exquisitely happy in her lace dress and dripping with diamonds. I was happy for her because she deserved to be happy.

What I wasn’t happy with was being around so many people. Not that anyone made me feel unwelcome. They all seemed to know who I was, even if I didn’t know them.

And Daniil never left my side, not even for a second. He’d been there when I fell asleep, and still curled up around me when I woke. Even now, he reached for my hand every time it felt like the panic was kicking back in. A small brush of his fingers against the back of my hand, one second, bringing it to his lips the next.

He seemed hell-bent on making sure I didn’t feel alone.

But I was alone. There wasn’t one person in this grand ballroom who had been through what I had. There was no one who could understand.

I felt isolated, as much a prisoner in my own head as I had been in the cellar.

“She looks beautiful, doesn’t she?” I whispered when the silence between us had gone on too long.

“Yeah.” Daniil’s breath blew across my cheek, and I turned my head sharply to find him leaning in close to me. “But not as beautiful as you. Have I told you that today?”

A smile curved up my cheeks. “Once or twice, yes.”

“Well.” Curling his hand over my cheek, he drew my face to his, and for a second I thought he was going to kiss me, and panic tightened my chest. I had to take a deep breath and tell myself that Daniil wasn’t going to hurt me. I was perfectly safe with him.

“You’re so beautiful that it needs to be said a million times more.” His head lowered another inch so I could feel his breath against my mouth. “You are the most beautiful woman in this room. In the entire world,” he added with a nod.

“Even when I’ve just woken up and have dragon breath?”

Throwing back his head, he chuckled. “Especially when you’ve just woken up with the dragon breath. It’s my favorite time of the day.” His voice grew husky. “Waking up with you is a gift I will never take for granted.”

His eyes darted away, and following his gaze, I saw Anya staring straight at us and nodding. Frowning, I turned my attention back to him.

“Is something going on?”

For a second, Daniil looked guilty. “No.” He lied. “Nothing to worry about.”