Page 45 of Between Power and Passion

"Everything will be fine now," I say firmly, locking eyes with her even though I can't move to comfort her just yet. "You're safe now."

Alexei quickly moves to untie her restraints. As soon as she's free, Valentina rushes into my arms, burying her face against my chest and crying uncontrollably. My hands are still bound behind me, but I lean into her touch as much as I can.

"Alexei," I say urgently over her shoulder.

He chuckles lightly and walks over to me with a swagger in his step. "Ohh sorry," he says teasingly as he starts working on the knots around my wrists. "I didn't want to interrupt your moment."

As soon as my hands are free, I wrap them around Valentina tightly, pulling her closer against me. She sobs harder into my chest, and I whisper softly into her ear.

"You're safe now," I murmur over and over again, trying to soothe her fears with every word. "You're safe."

Her cries slowly begin to subside as she clings to me desperately. Alexei stands nearby with an almost fond smile on his face as he watches us.

I hold Valentina tighter, feeling every tremor that runs through her body as she releases all the pent-up fear and tension from the past few days. Everything went according to plan.

Chapter 21 – Valentina

I wake up to a stark, white room. For a moment, I wonder if the rescue was just a dream and if I’m actually dead. The sterile scent of antiseptic fills my nostrils, and the steady beeping of machines surrounds me. Slowly, I realize I'm in a hospital. Relief washes over me.

Dmitri sits beside me, his hand enveloping mine. His eyes are closed, his face showing signs of fatigue and pain. Bandages cover parts of his body, evidence of the fight he endured. Why didn't he get admitted? My heart aches seeing him like this.

I shift slightly in the bed, and his eyes snap open. "Are you in pain?" he asks immediately.

I shake my head no. His hand brings mine to his lips so he can place a tender kiss on my knuckles.

"The baby?" My voice comes out as a whisper.

He smiles softly, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. "The doctor said our baby is a fighter. He's hanging on just fine."

Tears blur my vision as I take in his words. I cry, not out of sadness but sheer relief and joy. Dmitri squeezes my hand gently.

"Don't cry," he murmurs softly. "Everything is over now."

"I love you," I say through my tears, my voice choked with emotion.

"I love you, too," he replies, leaning in to press a gentle kiss on my forehead.

I lie back on the hospital bed, my body still trembling from the aftershocks of our ordeal. Dmitri's hand never leaves mine, his touch grounding me in this new reality. I look into his eyes, searching for answers.

"What happened?" I ask, my voice shaky.

Dmitri takes a deep breath, his gaze never wavering from mine. "We managed to capture Mikhail," he says. "But your father... he got away."

A chill runs down my spine at the mention of my father. "What are we going to do?" I ask.

"That's for me to worry about," Dmitri replies firmly. "Right now, you need to rest and recover."

Before I can protest further, the door swings open, and Alexei walks in with a basket in his hands. His eyes immediately find Dmitri.

"Why aren't you resting like the doctor instructed?" he asks, a hint of exasperation in his voice.

"I'm fine," Dmitri says dismissively, though I can see the fatigue in his face.

Alexei shakes his head but doesn't push further. He sets the basket down on the bedside table and turns to me with a warm smile. "What do you want? I've got fruit, snacks... whatever you need."

I think for a moment before answering. "Oranges," I say softly. "I'd love some oranges."

Alexei nods and starts peeling an orange for me, his movements precise and careful. As he works, I can't help but wonder how he managed to find us in time.

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