I pull her to me and she snuggles into my hold, sighing when I cover us both.

We sleep wrapped around one another so tight, she’s the only thing I breathe. She smells of roses and sex and belonging.

Lia is the only person I’ve ever wanted to belong to me, no matter how illogical and impossible that is.

A tap on the door pulls me from sleep’s clutches.

I check the clock on the nightstand to find it’s only six in the morning. Lia is sprawled all over my chest, breathing against my skin.

Another knock comes before Kolya’s voice surges through. “Emergency, Boss.”

Sleep immediately leaves my brain as I slowly ease my wife to her back and cover her. Kolya isn’t the type who would call a situation an emergency unless things are indeed getting out of control.

I pull on a pair of pants and a shirt, which I don’t bother buttoning as I step out of the room, closing the door behind me.

My second-in-command stands in the hallway, his eyes bloodshot and a frown etched between his brows. He’s in barely put together army fatigues, which means he was also urged out of sleep.

“What is it, Kolya?”

“Sergei is demanding your immediate return.”

“What for?”

“Vladimir.” Kolya runs an agitated hand through his blond hair. “He brought forward evidence that you’re behind Richard’s death.”

“What type of evidence?”

“I don’t know, but it’s strong enough that Sergei and the others are livid. They’ve been calling me non-stop the past hour since they couldn’t get a hold of you.”

If they’re putting their weight into this, it’s definitely serious.

“Prepare to leave.”

“Boss, no. You have to stall until you find something to counter their accusations. Staying here for a bit longer will placate their anger.”

“Or make it worse. Sergei will think I’m guilty.”

“You are guilty, Boss. You shouldn’t have killed Richard.”

“He touched Lia. I would kill him a thousand times over if I got the chance to repeat it.”

He runs his hand through his hair again. “There’s something else.”

“What now?”

“Mrs. Volkov might not be what we’ve thought all along.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Since Yan was drunk last night, I managed to make him talk.”

“About?”

“The night she was kidnapped. Boss…Yan heard it all. She knew the man, and from the information we gathered, he was indeed Luca Brown.”

“I suspected as much. But why would that make Lia not who we thought she might be?”

“According to Yan, Luca told her she had one mission.”

“What mission?”

“He didn’t mention that, but here’s the thing, Boss. If my speculations are correct, it has something to do with your assassination attempt at Mikhail’s party last year. Since Luca hired that Spetsnaz he killed and threw off the cliff a few weeks ago, all evidence points to the likelihood that he also hired the mercenary we found dead at the party.”

Kolya’s words strike me like a lightning bolt and I have to take a moment to steady my breathing. “What does Lia have to do with any of that?”

“Mrs. Volkov was the one who pulled you down right before the gun went off. I didn’t think about it much at the time, just figured she had a quick reflex. However, the facts are that she saw something before you or I or even Damien and Kirill did, and she couldn’t actually have quicker reflexes than the four of us or Kirill and Damien’s guards. I believe that the only way she could’ve managed to pull you down that fast is because she knew about the hit beforehand.”

Even though I’m hearing him and I’ve somehow come to the same conclusion myself, I don’t want to believe it. “Yan could’ve lied.”

“Not when he’s drunk. He begged me not to say a word, said he believes she didn’t mean to and must have had her reasons. But what reasons could those be?”

“Kolya…” I grind out. “You’re saying that my fucking wife had a hand in my attempted assassination.”

“And that’s why it’s the only attempted assassination we haven’t been able to solve. You’re too blinded by her to see it.”

“Shut up.”

“She betrayed you, Boss. All evidence points at her.”

“I said, shut the fuck up.” I raise my fist and punch him in the face. He staggers backward, blood exploding from his lip.

My senior guard straightens in front of me again and for the first time since we were growing up, he grabs me by the collar of my shirt, his voice rising. “Wake up, Adrian. You’re a traitor to the Bratva because of her and if you don’t use your brain, you’ll be executed by Sergei. I don’t give a fuck if you kill me, but I will not allow you to die now after how far you’ve come.”

I breathe so harshly, my pulse roars in my ears. My chest aches to the point that it’s about to explode, because I know, deep down, that Kolya is right.

And this might as well be the end.

20

Lia

Pain lodges at the back of my head when I open my eyes.

Moisture clings to my lashes as I blink tears away. Was I crying? But from what?

I cradle my temples while I try to recall the nightmare I just had and why I’m on the verge of bawling my eyes out.

My teeth chatter and I decide not to ponder over the nightmare. Instead, I hold on to last night’s memories.

A tender ache blossoms between my legs, but it’s the delicious type, the type that brings a smile to my lips. I remember each and every one of Adrian’s touches, the way he was considerate, passionate, but also slow, taking his time in owning my body.

While Adrian has the best aftercare, last night was the first time he’s been that affectionate during the act itself. As if he wanted to engrave himself beneath my skin and stay there. Not that he needs to. He seeped through my bloodstream like a potent potion long ago.

One thing’s for sure, something changed between us last night, because, in a way, I feel closer to him now more than ever. But it hurt to confess my feelings for the second time and get silence again.

I try convincing myself that I’m used to this, that I’m already aware of Adrian’s inability to have those feelings, that his care and attentiveness are enough.

But I guess I’m too greedy to settle for that.

I’m too greedy for the touch I felt yesterday, for how he held me, kissed me, and worshipped every inch of my body as if it were the first and last time he’d be with me.

The hangover headache is worth it.

Though I would’ve preferred he be by my side this morning. Did he perhaps go to train with Kolya and the others as usual? Or maybe Jeremy tried to barge into the bedroom and Adrian decided to have breakfast with him.

I take my time waking up, trying not to trigger my already blinding headache. When I straighten to get out of bed, I startle when I notice Adrian sitting on a chair by the door. He’s wearing a white shirt and black pants, his elbows on his knees and his hands forming a steeple at his chin.