Page 36 of Zafira

Arian picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, his expression relaxed and unburdened for the first time in his adult life.

They quickly became lost in a mutual raw passion that was in complete contrast to the gentle touch of his hands and the promise of unbound pleasure in his eyes.

The world fell away as their bodies reunited in a blend of passion, desire, and unconditional love.

Afterward, their ragged breathing quieting down, Arian hugged her against his chest. With eyes closed, he held her, savoring her essence soaking through his skin.

Finally, he felt at peace. He was home.

Gently cupping her chin, he tilted her head back and kissed her in a meshing of warmth, passion, and need. The same bond they had formed the moment their eyes had met so many years ago.

“Thank you, my dearest wife, for setting me free. Now, our future can finally begin.”

Izolda returned his smile as she pressed her fingers against his chest, where his heart beat rapidly.

“Our future... I like the sound of that.”

Chapter Seventeen

A week later, Ferma La Guzun...

“I’m surprised Bogdan isn’t hogging your private space as usual,” Vanya quipped as she joined Zafira in the sunroom of her mansion.

“I chased him off. Sent him to exercise my horse since I’m not allowed to ride.” Zafira snorted delicately. “Why I even allow that Goliath to order me around is beyond me.”

“Really? Do you want me to spell it out for you?”

“Vanya, stop. I already told you, I am not in love with Bogdan Rusu.”

“Hmm.” Vanya selected a sandwich from the tray on the coffee table and sat back. “You do know there’s a difference between being in love and loving someone, right?”

Zafira pressed her lips together. Her daughter was too forward and too persistent. Once she caught wind of something, she wouldn’t let go until she was satisfied with the outcome.

“Drop it, my darling. I refuse to become one of the projects you need to fix. The relationship between Bogdan and me is beyond that. In fact, it was torn apart before it truly began.”

“Do tell!” She finished the sandwich and picked up a chocolate croissant. Biting into it, she sighed heavenly, “Ohh, this is sooo good.” Glancing at Zafira, she prodded, “You know I’m not gonna stop, so you might as well tell me the dirty tale.”

“It doesn’t put Bogdan in a good light, Vanya, and I know how much you love and respect him, so let’s just drop it, please.”

“Now I’m even more intrigued. C’mon, Mother, spill the beans!”

“We were in love. It was inevitable but my parents and the Guzuns had struck a deal that your father and I should marry. We were the perfect match to form a Bratva allegiance between the two families. Unfortunately, Bogdan was the one my heart wanted. My parents refused to listen to reason and continued to make wedding arrangements. On our wedding day, I put my foot down and pleaded with them to understand my love for another and why I couldn’t marry Viktor. My father showed me a check stub where he had paid Bogdan off to forget about me.”

“A check stub means shit, and you know it.”

“My mother confirmed that she had seen the cleared check. The fact that Bogdan wasn’t at the wedding, even though he was Viktor’s best man, was the only reason I went along with the marriage. It was the only confirmation I needed that he had taken the money. His love for me was worth a measly ten million rubles.”

“That’s bullshit.” Vanya jumped up and turned on Zafira. “Did you even bother to look into what Andrei said about Bogdan inheriting the duke’s title and entire estate?”

“Yes,” Zafira admitted with a crestfallen look. “It doesn’t change anything. Secrets like those were what had destroyed the trust we supposedly had. Don’t you see that?”

“No, Mother, what I see is a woman refusing to admit she made a mistake in believing her parents, even after all these years. Bogdan inherited billions two years before Granddad offered him that money. You know as well as I do that wealth never held meaning to him. If it did, why would he have lived a life of an underling to Dad? I’ll tell you why.” She stabbed a finger in the air. “Because he loved you, and he knew the day would come that you would need protection.” Her voice lowered. “And you did, didn’t you? All those years, that’s how you coped living with a man you never truly loved... because the one who did own your heart was by your side every day, protecting your life as much as your heart.”

“What was that?” Zafira’s head jerked at the dull popping sounds coming from the patio where Antonio and two guards kept watch. She ran to the window and cautiously peered out. Two of the guards were lying in a pool of blood. Antonio was hunched behind a large concrete pot plant. He furiously gestured for her to get out of sight while he made a phone call. “Blyad’! They’ve been shot. Get to the study. Run, Vanya! Go, now.”

Vanya didn’t ask questions but sprinted down the hallway to the study, where their escape route was waiting for them. Viktor had ensured the house was prepared for situations like these, and a shadow wall leading to an underground tunnel offered them safety.

Another volley of shots from the front of the house echoed through the hallway, followed by the crash of the front door giving way under a heavy boot.

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