Page 47 of Bound By You

"I will help as much as I can, but you being with another woman…." I shake my head and rasp, "If the way she looked at you was anything to go by, you destroyed her; she looked at you like you were her whole world. If you want her back, you need to fight." He nods, and I can see the pain and a lot of determination in his eyes.

Alex clears his throat. "Just don't go about it the way we did, because watching your whole life bleed out in front of you and then waste away in a coma for months, I don't recommend it." I can hear the pain in his voice, and I place my hand on his cheek, and he looks down at me.

"I'm okay," I murmur, and he nods as a tear slips down his cheek.

I wipe it away, my big badassbrigadier.

We spent the next half an hour brainstorming, before my uncle storms in. Sergi doesn't even look his way, and my heart breaks for him. I was hoping they'd have talked by now, with me being in a coma.

"I've given you enough time with her; now it's my turn." He looks at Sergi for a second. Pain enters his eyes, then he looks at me and narrows them. "You ever fucking do this to us again, and I'll kill you myself." The men chuckle and, despite not wanting to, Sergi can't help but laugh with them.

I shake my head at Uncle Juan as he walks toward me. He leans down and places a kiss on my head.

"Don't fucking scare me like this again; your men, your family, they need you, especially Alexandr. I've never seen someone go off the deep end as badly as he did. And your aunt, she was distraught. We can't lose you."

I nod and hug him.

"I'm sorry,Tio."

He nods, then turns to Sergi, who isn't looking at him. He sighs before sitting in the chair near him, making me smile. He's not giving up. Alex strokes his fingers through my hair, and I look at him and smile. We have a long way to go, but it's safe to say that nearly dying puts things into perspective. I just wouldn't recommend it.

He still has a lot of groveling to do.

My smile quickly vanishes when the door opens again, and my father walks in with Selene, the Volkov clan, coming right behind them, with Abby trailing. My eyes soften at the sight of her, and then a heavily pregnant Sofia with Mila holding her hand enters the room.

When Mila sees I'm awake, she screams out, "Phe-Phe!" and she runs toward me.

Alex helps her up, and she wraps her arms around my neck, starting to cry, her little body shaking. My tears fall as I hold her close. I look up at Abby and Sofia as they come over, too, and Alex moves to stand next to his parents as they wrap themselves around me, crying.

When they pull back, Mila keeps hold of me, and I place my hand on the baby growing in Sofia's belly. The baby kicks me, and I smile while Maria, Alex's mother, comes forward with Maksim, and he starts to push away from her to get to me. I look at her in surprise as Dimitri walks up behind his wife, before she places the beautiful boy on me, and he hugs me tight, too. He's a chunky little nine-month-old, and a spitting image of his dad.

I hold him just as tight.

"Did you really think we wouldn't bring him to see you or show him pictures? You are his aunt, and we missed you," Maria whispers with tears in her eyes.

I reach over and grab hold of her hand, overwhelmed by everyone, and I rasp, repeating myself, "I'm okay."

They both nod, and Dimitri bends down, kissing my forehead.

He whispers, "I can't take seeing you like that again, Phoebe. No parent should see their daughter like that, and youaremy daughter; you hear me." I sniffle and nod, giving him a small smile as he runs his hand down the back of my head. I've never felt so grateful to have these people as part of my family.

After a few minutes, they both take the children. Mila cries, not wanting to leave me, so Alex walks over to her, picking her up from his mother's arms. "I promise, sweet girl, you can see yourtetyaagain in a few days; she just needs to rest, okay?" He kisses her forehead. She nods and goes back to her grandmother, and my heart feels ready to burst at the love they're all showingme, and the fact he's calling me her aunt in Russian—so much love.

His parents leave with the kids, and Sofia sits down on her husband's knee as Abby sits on the other chair, while Sergi stands near the back wall with Juan sitting next to him. I withhold a chuckle, and he narrows his eyes at me, but I give him the most innocent smile. He just shakes his head. Alex sits near me on the bed.

My father comes into view, tears shining in his eyes, eyes that hold pain, regret, and love. I'm glad he gave the Volkovs the space they needed to see me. It was probably hard for him, but he knows they're more of my family than he has been. Selene follows behind him; she has the biggest scowl on her face, clearly pissed she couldn't get the inheritance. Even though it would have gone to Sergi anyway, I fucking made sure of it when I left.

"How are you feeling,Mikrí prinkípissa?" A tear leaks down his cheek, and I lift my arm a little as he walks over, grabbing my hand. I pull him toward me and hug him tight.

"I promise I'm okay, Daddy." He sobs, and my heart breaks. He's made many mistakes and let himself be manipulated by my sister, but he meant the best for me.

Plus, he's still my father.

When he pulls away, I wipe his tears, and he whispers, "I'm sorry for everything."

I nod and wipe my tears as I rasp, "It's okay."

He just shakes his head, and then sits on the edge of the bed, keeping his hand in mine.

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