Page 92 of Inked Athena

He wants to leave, and I’ll have to watch him go.

“You once asked me if I’d leave everything behind. Surrender the company and the Bratva to my brother and father and disappear. Well, that will never happen. The company and the Bratva, that’s who I am. I can’t give it up, Nova. Even if I tried, it would follow me. This life isn’t something I can quit.”

“I know that now,” I whisper. “And… I’ve made my peace with it.”

“Have you?” he questions. “Because I’m not quite sure you understand what you’ve signed up for.”

I stumble forward half a step, gripping the stone wall. I need something to keep me steady. My knees are wobbling. My entire world is crumbling around me.

“I understand everything,” I croak, my voice surprisingly sharp considering how shaky I feel. Funny how anger can make you stronger even when you’re falling apart. “So don’t use that as an excuse.”

One dark eyebrow rises. “‘Excuse’?”

“To break up with me.” The words are poison on my tongue. “If you want to leave, do it because it’s what you want. But don’t pretend it has anything to do with me.”

Samuil’s eyes snap wide, reflecting the white light of the moon.

Before I can stop him—before I can protect what’s left of my heart—his warm hand wraps around mine. I hate that I still lean into his touch. Hate that my body still recognizes him as home even as he’s tearing my world apart.

Then the asshole smiles. “I’m not breaking up with you,krasavitsa.”

I don’t let myself feel relieved. I stare at him, cautiously tracing his handsome face. He stares back, taking me in like I’m a miracle he just plucked out of the sky.

“Tell that to your speech. Because you just listed all of the reasons we shouldn’t be together.”

Samuil nods. “I did.”

“Why?”

His smile topples sideways. “To illustrate that, despite our differences, we fit together. Despite everything conspiring to tear us apart, we’re still here, Nova—you and me.”

A tiny ripple of relief washes through my chest. “Samuil, I…”

Then he drops to one knee in front of me, and I’m overcome in a wave of the stuff.

Oh.

Oh.

He looks up at me from bent knee and pulls something out of his pocket.

“Oh my God…”

Tears stream down my face like the traitors they are. I swipe at them frantically, not wanting to miss a second of this impossible moment.

“Nova Pierce?—”

I wave a hand at him, stopping him from opening the box. “Are you sure?”

“I’m supposed to be the one asking you a question.”

“But this is— I can’t believe this is happening. I want you to be sure.”

Sam runs his thumb over my hand, circling my ring finger once and again. He looks up at me. “I don’t make decisions I’m not sure about. It’s why I left you alone today. It’s why I locked the library door and sat there all day, wondering if this life is enough for you.”

“It is.”

“Questioning if I can make you happy.”

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