Page 54 of Till Death Saves Me

Lev falls into step beside me as we head towards the elevator. "You're worried," he observes.

I clench my jaw. "Of course I'm fucking worried. These bastards don't play by the rules."

"Since when do you care about rules?"

I shoot him a glare. "You know what I mean. They're unpredictable. And they've already gone after Virginia twice."

The elevator doors slide open, and we step inside. As we descend, I can't shake the gnawing fear in my gut. What if they try again? What if next time, I'm not fast enough?

"We'll get them," Lev says. "Before they can do any more damage."

I nod, but the reassurance does little to calm my nerves. As the elevator reaches the ground floor, I'm already planning my next moves. And they are all focused around my wife.

The thought of her in danger again makes my chest tighten. I can't lose her. Not now. Not when I've finally realized how much she means to me.

As we exit the building, I'm hit with a sudden, overwhelming urge to see her. To hold her in my arms and know she's safe.

"I've got to go," I tell Lev, already heading for my car.

He nods, understanding in his eyes. "Go. Take care of your girl."

I don't bother correcting him. As I slide behind the wheel, my only thought is getting home to Virginia. To keep her safe. To protect what's mine.

"I'll meet you at the warehouse in two hours," I shout back as I slam the door closed.

I race through the city streets, my knuckles white on the steering wheel. Every red light feels like an eternity, every slowdriver a personal affront. My mind's a whirlwind of strategies and worst-case scenarios.

The image of Virginia tied up, scared, keeps flashing before my eyes. These fuckers keep coming after her, and I fear it will happen again. It makes my blood boil, my foot pressing harder on the accelerator.

I screech into the driveway, barely remembering to put the car in park before I'm out and sprinting to the front door. My heart's pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat. I burst through the entrance, my eyes scanning frantically for any sign of danger.

"Virginia!" I shout, my voice echoing through the house. "Malyshka!"

I hear footsteps upstairs and I'm moving before I can think, taking the steps two at a time. I round the corner and there she is, looking confused and slightly alarmed.

"Ivan? What's wrong?" she asks, but I don't answer.

I close the distance between us in two long strides, pulling her into my arms so forcefully that she lets out a small gasp. I bury my face in her hair, inhaling deeply. The familiar scent of her shampoo floods my senses, grounding me.

"Ivan," she murmurs, her hands coming up to rest on my back. "You're scaring me. What happened?"

I pull back just enough to look at her face, my hands cupping her cheeks. Her brown eyes are wide with concern, and I realize I must look half-crazed.

"Nothing," I say, my voice rough. "Nothing happened." Not yet. I don't say. But she must hear it anyway.

Understanding dawns in her eyes. She leans into me, and I wrap my arms around her again, holding her close.

"I'm okay," she whispers. "We're okay."

I nod, but I can't shake the fear. It's lodged in my chest like a block of ice. I pull back again, my eyes roaming over her face, memorizing every detail.

"I won't let anything happen to you," I vow, my voice low and fierce. "I swear it, Virginia. I'll burn this whole fucking city to the ground if I have to."

She reaches up, her hand cool against my cheek. "I know," she says softly. "I trust you, Ivan."

Those words hit me like a punch to the gut. Trust. It's not something easily given in our world, and I suddenly realize how precious it is. How precious she is.

I lean down, capturing her lips in a desperate kiss. She responds immediately, her fingers threading through my hair. I pour everything I'm feeling into that kiss - my fear, my determination, my... love. The realization doesn't shock me as much as I thought it would.

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