Page 15 of Till Death Saves Me

Istretch out on the lounge chair, soaking in the warm sun. Anya's infectious laughter rings out beside me, and I can't help but join in. It feels good to laugh, really laugh, for the first time since this whole mess began.

"Girl, you should've seen his face," Anya says, wiping tears from her eyes. "I thought steam was gonna come out of his ears!"

I snort, picturing my stoic husband's reaction. "I can't believe you did that! Weren't you scared he'd be furious?"

Anya shrugs, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Nah, Ivan's all bark and no bite with me. Plus, he kinda deserved it after he ratted me out for sneaking out."

"You sneak out?" I ask, intrigued. I've never even thought about breaking the rules before.

"Rules are made to be broken, honey." Anya winks like she knows what I was just thinking. "Sometimes a girl's gotta live a little, you know?"

I nod, feeling a surge of admiration for Anya's boldness. "I wish I had your courage. I've always played it safe, done what Daddy told me to."

Anya sits up, fixing me with a serious look. "Listen, Ginny. This life... It's not easy. But you can't let it crush your spirit. You gotta find ways to be yourself, even in the craziest situations."

Her words hit home, and I feel something shift inside me. Maybe I don't have to be a passive player in my own life anymore.

"You're right," I say, sitting up too. "I can't just sit around feeling sorry for myself. I need to make the best of this situation."

Anya grins, holding up her bellini. "That's my girl! To new beginnings and breaking a few rules along the way!"

I clink my glass against hers, giggling. "To new beginnings!"

As we settle back into our chairs, I feel lighter than I have in weeks. Anya's friendship is like a lifeline in this strange new world. For the first time since my wedding day, I feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I can carve out a place for myself here after all.

As Anya and I lounge by the pool, our conversation drifts to childhood memories. I'm surprised by how easily we click, our laughter echoing across the water.

"So, tell me about growing up with Ivan," I say, curiosity getting the better of me. "Was he always so... intense?"

Anya snorts, nearly choking on her drink. "Oh, honey, you have no idea. That man came out of the womb with a furrowed brow."

I giggle, picturing a tiny, scowling Ivan. "No way!"

"That's what I hear! He was ten when I was adopted, but my earliest memories were of him scowling."

I shake my head. "I can't imagine having him as an older brother." Granted, I can't imagine having an older brother at all.

"But you know what? He's the most loyal person I know." Anya's voice softens. "When I was 12, some kids at school weregiving me a hard time. Ivan found out and... let's just say those kids never bothered me again."

I raise an eyebrow, both impressed and a little intimidated. "Wow. I guess there's more to him than meets the eye."

"Don't get me wrong, he's still a pain in the ass," Anya says with a wink. "And yeah, he's Bratva. You don't fuck with him… But he's got a good heart under all that grumpiness."

I hum thoughtfully, filing away this new information. "What about you? What were you like as a kid?"

Anya grins mischievously. "Oh, I was a little terror. Always getting into trouble, driving Ivan crazy. But he never stayed mad for long." She chuckles. "My papa always said I was made for this life, that's why he adopted me. No one else would have ever been able to keep up with me."

As Anya regales me with tales of her childhood antics, I find myself sharing stories of my own upbringing.

"I was pretty sheltered," I admit. "Daddy's little princess, you know? But I had this secret obsession with spy movies. I'd sneak downstairs after bedtime to watch them."

Anya laughs. "Look at you, rebel! Did you ever get caught?"

I grin, remembering. "Once. I thought I was so slick, but I fell asleep on the couch. Daddy found me in the morning, curled up with a bowl of popcorn."

"What did he do?" Anya asks, leaning in.

"He just scooped me up, carried me to bed, and never mentioned it. But the next week, he got me my own TV for my room."

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