Page 63 of Plus-Size Curves for the Bratva

Suddenly, a familiar voice cuts through the haze like a beacon.

"Denis! Oh my god, Denis!"

I’d recognize that voice anywhere.

Natalia. My heart leaps. She's here. She came. After everything…

"Natalia," I manage, her name a prayer on my lips. I try to turn toward her voice, but my body refuses to cooperate. "You shouldn't be here. It's not safe."

Even as I say it, relief floods through me. She's okay. And if she's here, helping… does that mean she's forgiven me?

"Don't you dare tell me where I should or shouldn't be, Denis Zolotov," she retorts, her tone a mix of worry and that fierce stubbornness I've come to adore. "Now stay still and let me look at you."

A small, pained chuckle escapes me. "As you wish, Nat."

I feel her hands, gentle yet firm, as she assesses my injuries. Her touch grounds me, anchoring me to the present despite all the pain.

"You're hurt badly," she murmurs, her voice trembling slightly. "We need to get you to a hospital."

"No," I growl, mustering what strength I have left to grasp her wrist. "Not until everyone's safe. The workers… did they all make it out?"

Natalia's eyes, wide with concern, come into focus for a moment. "Yes, Denis. Everyone's accounted for. You did it."

At last, I can rest, but it's quickly replaced by a renewed sense of urgency. "You need to go, Natasha. It's not safe here. There could be secondary explosions, or—”

She cuts me off, her tone brooking no argument. "I'm not going anywhere without you, you stubborn man. And don’t worry, our family is here to make sure nothing happens.”

I want to argue, to make her understand the danger, but my vision is starting to fade again. The world tilts dangerously, and I feel myself slipping.

"Denis? Denis, stay with me!" Natalia's voice sounds far away now, but I cling to it like a lifeline.

"It's okay," I manage to whisper, surprising myself with the peace I feel. "You've got this, Natasha. I trust you."

The world fades to black, but Natalia's voice echoes in my mind, a beacon of hope in the darkness. "Hold on, Denis. Just hold on."

I'm falling, drifting, but there's no fear. Only a strange sense of calm, punctuated by flashes of Natalia's face—her mischievous grin, her determined frown, those eyes I've come to adore.

"…multiple lacerations, possible smoke inhalation…" Unfamiliar voices fade in and out.

My body feels weightless, disconnected. Yet somehow, I know Natalia's there. Her small, strong hand clasps mine, an anchor in the void.

"You don't get to leave me, Zolotov," she murmurs against my forehead, and I feel something wet fall on my cheeks. Her tears. "We have unfinished business, you and I."

Even in this haze, I want to smile. My stubborn, beautiful Natasha.

"Did you hear that?" she says, louder now. "That's an order from your wife. Come back to me."

Wife. The word resonates, filling me with warmth. What started as an arrangement, a forced union, has become… everything.

My last thought before surrendering to the darkness: A prayer that I'll wake up to see her fierce, beautiful face again. That this isn’t just a dream.

Chapter 25 - Natalia

I gently adjust the pillow under Denis's head, my fingers lingering for a moment on the crisp white pillowcase. The steady beep of the clock fills the otherwise silent bedroom.

I wasthis closeto losing him. I reach out and my fingers trace the strong line of his jaw, now softened in sleep.

Denis's eyelids flutter, and the first thing he seeks is my eyes. For a moment, neither of us speaks.

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