Page 121 of Savage Reign

I smile at his grumpy tone. “It’s important to me that I make this work on its own—expanding when the time is right.” I brace myself on my forearm to look at him. “I want to live here, at the estate full-time, and travel as needed. How does that sound?”

He’s quiet for a moment, wrapping a strand of my hair around his fingers. “If that’s what you want, moya sladost. You know I’ll never deny you a thing.”

I lay back down and cuddle into him. We stay like that for a while, wrapped in each other, until a thought occurs to me. “Can I see Roman before he leaves?”

He brushes a thumb across my cheek. “Roman and Pavel are staying a few days. Liza’s coming, too. She’ll be here tomorrow.”

“Liza? Really?”

“Of course. She wants to be here for you.”

Happiness unfurls inside me. It hasn’t been that long since we’ve been apart, but I miss Liza like crazy. Then, another thought strikes me. “Can I call Daria and Alex? You know, my two friends that you threatened to kill if I didn’t cooperate.”

He stifles a laugh. “Of course.”

How did you end up working with Roman and Pavel anyway? Did you call them for help when you realized I was missing?”

He makes an amused noise in the back of his throat. “That phone call you made to your sister. The stolen phone…”

I wince. “About that… I was going to tell you after the party.”

“Yeah, well, it’s lucky you did call them because they showed up here to talk and ended up helping to find you instead. The timing worked in our favor.”

“You’re not mad?”

“How could I be? You had every right to try and escape. I’m just glad you didn’t manage to.” His fingers draw lazy designs on my thigh. “Roman filled me in on all your phone calls and the clues you managed to piece together to help him figure out where we were.”

“So, are you guys friends now or what?”

He strokes his chin. “We’re not enemies. Not sure we’re going to be drinking buddies anytime soon. I’m grateful, though. We couldn’t have pulled this off without his help. Although, there’s still plenty of work ahead of us.”

I’m nearly drifting off. His touch more comforting than a warm blanket. A final thought flits through my mind. “Emil,” I mumble. “Please don’t kill him.”

I feel Niko stiffen beside me. “He betrayed me. He’s the reason Igor was able to get to you.”

“I know, but he also saved me. Igor had his hands wrapped around my neck when Emil shot him. He made the right choice in the end.”

Niko clears his throat. “I’ll take that into consideration.”

I pat his arm, already halfway asleep. “Don’t be a dick,” I murmur before drifting off with his arms around me, soothing away every lingering fear.

CHAPTER

FIFTY-ONE

NIKOLAI

Sofiya’s soft,even breaths fill the room as I stand by the bed, watching her sleep. Her lashes flutter against her cheeks, her lips slightly parted, her body curled beneath the thick blanket. For the first time in too long, she looks peaceful.

But peace doesn’t come for me. Not yet.

I tuck the blanket around her more securely, leaning down to press a kiss to her temple, before I straighten and turn toward the door.

I descend the stairs toward the basement to take care of the final task that needs my attention. It’s one I’ve been dreading.

Emil.

He saved her life, but that doesn’t cancel the sting of his betrayal. A festering wound that cuts deep. He was supposed to be loyal. I let him get close, gave him my trust and he used it against me, just like Sergey.

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