Page 45 of Embrace of the Russian Tiger

I stared up at him, torn between the anger still simmering inside me and the undeniable pull I felt toward him. He was dangerous. He was controlling. But he was also... everything I had.

I closed my eyes, my breath shaky as I tried to steady myself. I hated him. I hated him for what he’d done, for what he’d put me through.

But I also needed him.

Before I could stop myself, I stepped closer, my hand gripping the front of his shirt as I pulled him down toward me.

"Then stop keeping things from me," I whispered fiercely. "If I’m going to trust you, I need the truth."

Maxim’s eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might push back. But instead, he cupped my face in his hands, his thumb brushing over my cheek.

"You have my word," he said softly, his voice rough with emotion. "No more lies."

And then his lips were on mine, fierce and demanding, and all the anger, all the frustration melted away in the heat of the kiss.

EPILOGUE

The room was empty now, save for the quiet hum of the air conditioner and the soft rustle of papers being packed away by the attorney. The formalities had ended, and all that remained was the heavy, tangible weight of reality settling over both of us.

Anna stood by the long oak table, her fingers tracing the edge of the surface as she stared at the now-signed documents in front of her. Her brow was furrowed, lips parted slightly as if she was trying to comprehend the enormity of it all. Millions. No, more than millions. Real estate, businesses, investments—it was more than anyone could reasonably grasp in one sitting.

Her world had just changed, irrevocably.

For a long time, neither of us said anything. I watched her, standing just a few steps behind, wanting to give her space to process. The transformation of the woman I had pulled into this world wasn’t lost on me. She was no longer the naive girl caught in the middle of a mafia feud. Now, she was the rightful heir to one of the largest criminal empires in Europe. And it was all on her shoulders.

"I can’t believe this is mine," she whispered, her voice small, almost as if speaking too loudly would make it all vanish.

I stepped closer, my hand resting lightly on her shoulder. She flinched slightly at the contact, but after a second, she leaned into it. I could feel the tension in her body, the uncertainty, the fear mixed with a kind of awe that mirrored my own.

"You earned it," I said softly, keeping my voice low. "Whether you wanted this or not, it's yours now. And you’ll know how to handle it. I’ll make sure of it."

She turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting mine. There was something vulnerable there, a hesitation that made me want to shield her from the world and hand it to her all at once. She blinked, her gaze dropping back to the table, her fingers fidgeting with the corner of one of the papers.

"But it’s so much," she admitted, a tremor in her voice. "I don’t even know where to start, Maxim. How am I supposed to handle all of this on my own?"

I felt a pang in my chest. There was something about her vulnerability that made me soften in ways I didn’t expect. For so long, I had been cold, calculated. I had built my life on control—on not letting anyone see the cracks. But with her, those cracks felt... safe. Like I could let her see the real me, and the world wouldn’t come crumbling down around me.

"You’re not alone," I said firmly, stepping closer until I was standing beside her. I placed my hand over hers, stilling her nervous movements. "I’ll be here. Whatever you need, whenever you need it—I’m here. I’ll help you run everything. I’ll teach you. I’ll do whatever it takes."

She let out a shaky breath, nodding, though the uncertainty still lingered in her eyes. "I’m scared," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I know," I said softly. "But you don’t have to be."

For a long moment, we stood in silence, the gravity of the situation weighing on both of us. I could feel the shift happening—this wasn’t just about power or assets anymore. It was about trust. It was about something deeper that had been growing between us, something I hadn’t been ready to face until now.

"Maxim," she said suddenly, her voice pulling me from my thoughts. "What if... What if I make the wrong decisions? What if I’m not strong enough for this?"

I turned her to face me, cupping her face in my hands. Her skin was soft, warm under my touch, and for the first time in years, I felt something stir inside me that wasn’t anger or vengeance. It was... love.

"You’re strong enough," I said, my voice more certain than ever before. "You’re stronger than you think. I’ve seen it in you from the beginning. And with me by your side, you won’t fail. I won’t let you."

Her eyes searched mine, as if looking for the truth in my words. I could see the wheels turning in her mind, the fear still lingering, but something else was there too. Something softer, more trusting. Slowly, she nodded.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But I’ll need your help. I’ll need you, Maxim."

I felt something in my chest loosen, a weight lifting as her words sank in. She needed me. And, as much as I had resisted the idea, I realized I needed her too. More than I had ever needed anyone.

"You’ll always have me," I said, my voice rough with emotion. "Always."

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