Page 139 of Scarlet Promise
I kiss her hair. “Albert showed me you were taken into this elevator.”
“He’s a clever dog.”
“And he loves you.”
“My little family,” she whispers. “The baby will make it complete.”
She looks at me.
“I love you, Ilya,” she says.
She takes my lips with hers, her tongue flirting and dancing with mine, and I feel it everywhere, all the love that’s in that kiss.
And I know I’m the luckiest fucking man in the world.
“I love you, too,” I say.
She kisses me again. “So…can we just go home?”
I laugh as the elevator doors open, and Albert, Isla, and Erin pounce on us.
“Alina!” Isla cries.
I carry her to her room and lay her down on her bed. Erin puts Albert on the bed with her, and he gives Alina frantic doggy kisses.
“Where’s Demyan?” Erin asks me, looking wildly around.
“Taking care of Melor. He’ll be here shortly,” I say. “I can’t believe you ladies snuck in our dog.”
Albert whines as he turns to me.
I ruffle his fur and kiss both him and Alina on the head. “He’s staying. He earned it. You earned it, didn’t you, Albert?”
I straighten and glance at the door as Pavel arrives and peeks in. We give each other a nod before he heads off, clearly going to meet up with Demyan.
As soon as I know my girl’s okay, I’ll be up there helping take care of that traitor .
As soon as I can tear myself away from Alina.
Because there’s no doubt about it. Alina has me caught. Hook, line, and sinker, to borrow an old phrase.
And there’s nowhere on this planet I’d rather be.
Chapter Thirty-Three
ALINA
Ilya seems torn.I think he wants to kill Melor, but he also wants to stay at my side.
But he doesn’t move, which proves he wants to be with me more.
He holds my hand and smiles at me like he’s sayingI’mthe winner.
And I’m glad.
Ilya can kill. He shot that man who took me.
He’s done more for me, more for my brother. He’ll protect and kill if he needs to.
