Page 73 of Mafia King's Bride

Dmitri leans forward, guilt written all over his face. His shoulders slump, and for the first time, I see regret clouding his usually unshakable demeanor. “I should’ve protected you better, Ana. If I hadn’t called off my men who were tailing you?—”

I cut him off, squeezing his hand. “It’s not your fault,” I rasp, feeling a flicker of sympathy for him. The fact that he feels this guilty over something that clearly wasn’t in his control hits me in ways I’m not prepared for.

A tiny smile tugs at my lips, despite the pain. “I told Bianchi you were coming for him. Told him he’d regret touching Dmitri Orlov’s wife.” I give a little snort, wincing as the movement hurts my head. “And look, I was right.”

Dmitri chuckles, shaking his head. “Only you,kotyonok, would laugh in the face of this.”

“Learned from the best,” I tease. “You’re the infamous Orlov, after all. I’m just channeling some of that energy.”

He leans closer, his lips brushing my forehead softly. The warmth of his breath, the tenderness of his touch—God, it feels like a balm to the ache in my chest, and not just the physical one.

“Anastasia,” he says quietly, brushing a strand of hair from my face, his fingers lingering on my skin. “You’re my love, Ana. I never thought I could feel this much, or that I could change. But you...you’re like a storm, breaking through every barrier I’ve built.”

Wait. What?

Come again?

I blink. Twice. I think I must have just hallucinated. “What did you just say?”

He smirks. “You heard me.”

“No, no.” I shake my head, feeling my heart do this ridiculous somersault thing. “Say it again. Because there’s no way you said?—”

“I love you, Anastasia.” His voice is low, sure, unwavering. “I love you,kotyonok.”

Oh, wow. This is happening. Dmitri Orlov just said he loves me. Me.

The hospital monitor beeps wildly, probably catching on to the fact that my heart is about to explode.

“Relax, you’re going to give yourself a heart attack.” Dmitri grins, clearly enjoying my stunned silence. “Maybe I should wait until you’re feeling better to drop life-changing confessions.”

“Don’t you dare.” I narrow my eyes, half-laughing, half-panicking. “You said it. No taking it back.”

His lips curl into a smirk. “You’re impossible.”

“You love me,” I counter, my voice wobbling as I point a finger at him.

“Yeah, yeah, I do.” His smirk softens into something warmer. He leans down, pressing his lips to mine, just a soft, quick kiss, but it short-circuits my entire brain.

Oh, I am so screwed.

“That’s for staying strong until I found you,” he murmurs against my lips before kissing my forehead again.

“If this is what it takes for you to?—”

His finger presses gently against my lips. “Don’t. I’m not letting this happen again. I’ll make sure you’re protected, always. Two men stationed at your door, security reinstated. You won’t have to worry about a thing.”

I roll my eyes. “There are worse things out there than kidnappers, Dmitri.”

He nods, deadly serious. “Exactly. And I’ll make sure none of them touch you.”

I can’t help but laugh, though it comes out weak. “You do realize I grew up in the Bratva, right? My father taught me how to handle a gun when I was ten. I’m not exactly a damsel in distress.”

His smile is soft, but there’s something in his eyes that says he’ll never stop protecting me. “I know. But you’re my wife, and I’ll make sure nothing happens to you.”

Well, there’s no arguing with that. He always gets the last word, anyway. “Fine,” I sigh. “I guess I could use a bodyguard or two.”

Before either of us can say anything else, the phone rings.

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