Page 59 of Paid for By the Bratva

Which means I have to protect it rather fiercely—for she’s the kind of woman who could let anyone break her heart and then still forgive.

Never,a voice roars in my head.I’ll never hurt her.

I turn to find her and see her now standing between my sisters, Sofia and Natalia. The three of them are reading something on Natalia’s phone, and from their squeals and gasps, it looks like a rather hot piece of gossip.

I smile to myself, utterly captivated by how easily she fits into my family now. On a certain level, I forget what life was like before Lara came into mine.

"Come, Dima, try this vodka," Vladimir beckons me over, pouring a shot into a small glass. "You won't find anything like it anywhere else. We brought it over from Russia, and it is Lara’s favorite."

"Thank you, Vladimir," I reply, taking the glass from him and raising it in a toast. "To new beginnings and stronger bonds," I say, earning nods of approval from those around me. As the fiery liquid slides down my throat, I can't help but feel a sense of camaraderie forming between us somewhere in the future.

"Did you see how well Lara did today?" Boris asks me, joining in on the shots, genuine pride in his voice. "She really held her own up there and, honestly, convinced me against my own beliefs. Next week, I’m thinking of putting her in charge of the solar panel project."

Her brothers look at each other with disbelief and pride. It is a great honor to havetheBoris Zolotov put Lara in charge of a project this large.

My eyes trail over to my wife’s, heart pounding with joy for her.

“Excuse me,” I say, unable to stay away from her a moment longer.

Lara now stands with my sisters and some cousins, head thrown back in delight. The warmth of their camaraderie radiates throughout the room.

"Come on, Dima!" Lara calls out to me when she notices me nearing, her eyes glowing with happiness. "Join us!"

I can't help but smile at the sight of her so relaxed and carefree. The way she turns her neck to me, her hand outstretched, the light from the fireplace dazzling on her face makes me feel like I’m seeing her for the first time.

Dazzling, radiant, gorgeous.

With Lara, there’s always something new.

"Alright, what am I missing?" I ask, settling into an empty seat beside Lara.

"Genevieve was just telling us about her disastrous attempt at making borscht last week," Lara explains, chuckling at the memory. "Apparently, it turned out more like beet-flavored water."

"Hey, it wasn't that bad!" Genevieve protests, feigning offense before dissolving into laughter again.

As the conversation continues, I watch Lara interact with my family—her family now—with such ease and genuine affection that I find my heart hers. When she laughs, I soar. When she needs a drink, I pour. When she’s been called away to the kitchen, I follow.

The realization hits me like a freight train: I've been deeply in love with this woman for quite some time. For whatever she needs, I wish to provide. To see her hurt, pained, or struggling is a thought I can’t fathom.

I love her for her intelligence, her resilience, and her stubborn determination to prove herself despite the odds stacked against her. I love her for the way she's managed to break through my defenses and become an equal in every way that matters.

She goes out of sight, turning a corner, and I follow. Tonight, I want her by my side. My emotions are far too overwhelming, and I need her to tether me down.

I find her on the terrace, gazing up at the stars. She leans into my embrace with a contented sigh. "Today was wonderful, wasn’t it?" she asks. Something in her tone tells me she’s not talking about the meeting.

“I'm glad they could finally see what I've always known. How special you are," I blurt out without thinking.

She tilts her head up, eyes glinting in the darkness. "And what exactly have you always known?"

I brush a stray lock of hair from her face, my touch reverent. "That you're the only woman for me. The one I want to share all my tomorrows with."

Her lips curve into a soft smile as she rises on her tiptoes to kiss me. When she pulls away, I'm left breathless. Dazed. And I know with absolute certainty that I will spend the rest of my life loving Lara Zolotov.

Chapter 21 - Lara

I’m beyond excited for tonight, humming along as I slip into a figure-hugging black dress, the silky fabric caressing my skin. Dima stands in the doorway, his tailored suit and crisp white shirt clinging to his muscles. For a second, I pause in the reflection of the mirror, mesmerized by howhothe looks. He grins at me, his excitement mirroring my own, and taps on his watch.

“Oh,” I clear my throat, reminding myself to focus, and put on some earrings and a final coat of lipstick before sliding into my heels and grabbing my purse.

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