Page 153 of Caged

Our story might not have started the way a typical love story would.

I am no hero.

What I am, however, is a fiercely devoted father and husband, who would scorch the earth for his girls without so much as blinking.

And I’m in love with a woman who would return that favor for me.

My heart is safe with her, and so is my daughter.

So I know, we will be together in this life and the next… wherever we end up.

The second her dark eyes land on mine, I choke up.

A tiny part of me will always hold onto my past. The life I lost. I know Katerina will be looking down on me and will be proud of me. Or, I hope so.

I believed my heart died with her, but I was wrong.

It was just broken for a while until Mila barged in, took it in her hands, stomped on it, and then healed it completely.

Her eyes never leave mine as she walks toward me and Daniil.

I clear my throat, this damn collar feels too tight.

As soon as she steps in front of me, I can’t help myself, I grab her face and kiss the life out of her.

“That dress, Mila. Damn. Divine, baby.”

Her cheeks flush and I steal another kiss.

“Your favorite color, right?”

I lean in, grazing my lips just below her ear.

“Yes. Second to the red of your ass after I spank it.”

I stand straight and a similar blush creeps up her throat.

“Later.” I mouth as the judge nods to us to start.

The ceremony goes by in a blur, life outside looking into Mila’s eyes doesn’t exist to me.

We say our vows, never breaking eye contact.

As she slides the ring onto my finger, it’s as if everything inside me settles. I’m at peace with her.

I have my purpose and my future. My family.

I peer over and Elena is cuddled into Daniil’s side. He is very similar to Mila in his traits, a tender soul beneath the wall of stone. I guess that is what a lifetime of fighting does to you.

It’s no different from myself.

With pain comes shutting down, self preservation in a sense.

If you lock your heart up tight enough, no one can hurt you.

And I am glad I did, because it meant that I could heal enough to allow Mila the key. That is one of the many things I love about her.

Her fire, her fight. She set me free.

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