Page 45 of Zafira

“In the meanwhile, I was in jail, where your father and Viktor’s father had me incarcerated because I had the audacity to love you.”

“I didn’t know. You never told me.” Tears formed in her eyes. “Why, Bogdan? Why did you never tell me the truth when you returned? I would’ve believed you. I never loved Viktor. I became fond of him, but I never loved him. When you came back... you could’ve told me!”

Bogdan stared into her eyes, watching the memories of the past play in their depths like a nightmarish movie reel. The hold on her throat relaxed as he gently moved his fingers in circles to soothe her abused skin.

“You were a very good actress then, Zafira. I believed you were happy, content, and in love with your husband. That day I returned, seeing you with Arian and smiling lovingly at Viktor was like a knife in my heart.”

“Why did you stay?”

“The look in your eyes. In those years, you hadn’t learned to mask your true feelings from me. Why and for what, I didn’t know at the time, but it told me that you needed me. I couldn’t walk away from you, Zafira. I loved you.”

“Loved...” her voice turned sad. “Past tense.”

“For love to be sustained, it has to be fed... watered with a daily dose of the same. It’s not a one-way street. I am not a young man anymore, and I am tired of going through life alone, hoping that one day you would have the courage to look into your heart and realize you have been living a lie. It’s been over forty years. I am done waiting. It’s time for me to move on.”

“What if I ask you to stay?”

“To what end? More of the same? Be your puppy dog that laps adoringly at your feet? No, thank you.” The sigh he released was wrought with acceptance and sadness. “I am a powerful man in my own right, Zafira. You just never realized it, and I was happy to let you be, but I am past that. I have no interest in being controlled and ordered about by you in a professional manner any longer.”

“I have come to the same conclusion over the past few weeks myself. I never want you to feel that way ever again.” Her fingers trembled as she brushed them over his cheek. “I have missed you so much, Bogdan. Not as my protector or puppy dog lapping at my feet as you say, but as the man who has always held my heart in his hands. That’s why I always felt safe, content, and happy. Because you were there.” She placed her fingers over his lips to stem the words threatening to fall from them.

“I know it was selfish and wrong. I suppose pride kept me from admitting my feelings. Maybe I wanted you to be the one to force me to acknowledge them. That day you walked away, I was shocked. Even though I chased you away, I never believed you would leave. That was the day I broke down... for the first time and only time in my life, until that night in the dungeon, I cried real tears.” She smiled wryly at his look. “Yes, the mighty Comare sobbed her heart out.”

“Are you ever going to say it, Zafira?”

Her eyes turned soft and filled with so much devotion, his breath caught in his throat.

“I love you, Bogdan Rusu, with all my heart. You fill my soul and awaken my body to euphoric heights I never knew existed.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Is there a chance that you could ever forgive me for doubting you?”

Bogdan cupped her chin to stare deep into her eyes. For long moments, he didn’t say anything, losing himself in the emotions she didn’t hide from him. She was as confident in showing her love for him as she was in every aspect of her life.

“I do love you, Zafira. You captured my heart as a young girl. I tried to move on when I was younger... God knows I did. I never could. No one could ever take the place reserved for you... only you.”

“Then it’s time, don’t you think?”

“I am not interested in a loose relationship, Zafira. You’re going to have to be more specific.”

“It’s time for us to get married and be happy. Become what we were meant to be before life interfered and tore us apart. We belong together, Bogdan. You and me. I want to walk the final journey of my life with you by my side. As my husband... and as my partner in the New Bratva Order.”

“I accept, Ms. Guzun. The husband part, at least. The partnership... that’s a discussion for a later stage.” He ignored her gasp of surprise when he picked her up and headed to the exit. “For now, I’m taking you home. I’m going to need the rest of the night to expunge the hunger you awake in me, and I have no intention of doing it anywhere but in my own bed.”

“Only your bed?” Zafira’s eyes glimmered with happiness as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Do you seriously want me to believe you don’t have a dungeon at your house?”

His laughter boomed through the vast entrance hall as he strode to the door. “You got me there, love. We’ll start in my bedroom, work our way through the dungeon, and see where we end up.”

“That’s more like it, Master Slayer.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Three months later, the luxurious estate of Andrei and Vanya Rusu, Chiverevo, Moscow Oblast, Russia...

“I can’t believe the day has finally arrived,” Vanya gushed as she faffed over Zafira’s hair. “You wasted so much time. The two of you should’ve been married years ago.”

“Hard-headedness runs both ways insofar as Bogdan and my relationship is concerned. Yes,”—she smiled at Vanya’s look of reprimand—“I know I’m the one to blame, but it’s all in the past. We can’t turn back the clock. All we can do is look ahead and make the rest of our life’s journey a happy, loving, and lasting one.”

“You’re right. Hard-headedness runs in the family. All of us had our share of almost losing our chance at happiness because of that. Luckily, love endured and conquered all.” Vanya stood back and clapped her hands. “Perfect. You’re going to take Bogdan’s breath away.”

“Good. Knowing how gorgeous he looks in a tux, at least I won’t be the only one gawking like a fish on dry land when I first see him.”

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