Page 114 of Stolen Seconds

“What?”

He pursed his lips, contemplating his words before he said, “She told me to tell you that Irina loves you and that she would never leave you behind on purpose, even if that was how it seemed.”

My gut twisted, bile rising in my throat. I didn’t deserve Aurora’s concern when I’d been selfish in not visiting her these past few weeks. She was family and I cared for her, but I couldn’t face her. My pain was raw, the torment of living every day without Irina visible to anyone who set their gaze on me.

I couldn’t hide it. Ididn’twant to hide it. It was the last feeling she left me with and if this grief no longer existed then I’d have nothing.

We sat in silence for some time, the air thick with a strange tension.

My thoughts were chaotic, scattering in all directions until it became difficult to grasp and I found myself asking aloud, “What if we were wrong?”

Roman sighed, glancing at me briefly. “We’ve been through this before, Luca.”

“Then why do I still feel her in here?” I pointed to my chest, a sharp pang striking through me.

I refused to accept that she was gone. Accepting it would mean that our story had ended before it even begun, and I’dneverbe done with Irina Morozov.

“Because you loved her.” He came to sit beside me, setting a hand on my shoulder. “But she’s gone, Luca.”

Shrugging him off, I stood and turned to face him. “I’m going to Russia.”

The crease between his brows deepened, something he did when he was stressed. “Don’t do this to yourself.”

“She’s not dead.” I had deluded myself the past few weeks when I should’ve gone after her. What if I’d been wrong?

No one had told me what I wanted to hear when I’d woken up in the hospital. Irina’s body wasn’t in the house when I’d been found, which led me to believe that her father took her.

“Irina was shot in front of your eyes,” Roman said, grabbing my head between his hands as if he was trying to snap me out of my thoughts. “You saw her die.”

“She’s not dead,” I repeated, anger spiking through me from his inability to understand what I was telling him. “I’m going to bring my girl home, and no one can stop me.”

Maybe my sanity had finally shattered into pieces, leaving my mind in ruins but I couldn’t repeat another day like this.

Ivan Morozov might’ve shot me and presumed I was dead, but I knew he’d never let Irina see the same fate.

If she was truly gone, the tender place between my rib cage where my heart beat only for her would’ve dissipated.

I wouldn’t let the memory of her dying be my last.

Chapter 33

Luca

“Am I going to regret sending you off without security?” Roman asked, stealing one of my cigarettes before lighting it.

I’d fought tooth and nail with him until he accepted that I wasn’t going to change my mind. I needed to do this alone.

“This is my choice and mine alone.” Either way, I’d be with Irina. Whether that was in life or death, the outcome would be the same.

The sun beamed against my face and for the first time, I appreciated the warmth it brought me.

“You’re a crazy son of a bitch, Luca.”

I exhaled a puff of smoke, side eyeing him. “You took me as I am.”

He chuckled softly. “That I did.”

A sleek black car pulled up next to us before Nico stepped out and walked toward us, his stridespurposeful. “I’m going with him,” he said, his words directed at Roman.

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