Page 129 of Deadly Knight
Katya’s attention flits straight to me, her expression saying what her mouth isn’t. In my peripheral vision, I notice Vanessa standing up and she and Anastasia leave, shutting the door behind them.
“You’re awake,” she breathes, slowly approaching the bed, yet still too far away for my liking.
I won’t reach for her, even when I crave nothing more. Before my capture, the last time we were face-to-face, she ran, claiming to not love me. A lie we’re both aware she told, but one she either needs to uphold or let die.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better now that you’re here.”
A hint of a smirk pulls at her mouth. “Cheesy.”
“Worked, didn’t it? Where’d you run off to?”
“To see my boss and then my parents. To quit my job and tell them I’m moving back to Russia.”
My mind blanks, all except the few words I’ve longed to hear for so damn long.
Moving back to Russia…
To home.
Fuck this.Now, I can’t help myself from grabbing onto her, to tugging her onto the bed until she topples over me with a giggle, trying to adjust her weight so she’s not pressing on my battered body. While my bruises agree with her, my dick and heart think otherwise and I lock her thighs into place on top of me.
“Katya.” I chew her name around in my mouth, trying to formulate my next few sentences; to figure out how to say what I need to before demanding everything from her. “My unfortunate trip to the past made me realize exactly why you left. Rewatching it,hearingit all over…made me see what I was unable to before. Why you ran then, and why you did a month ago. You never asked to be protected. You wanted to forget, and whether I liked it or not, we were a living reminder to one another. Some, like a therapist”—a tap beneath her chin breaks the seriousness for a second—“might say it was an unhealthy dependence. If that’s how you feel, I’ll respect it.” I won’t like it, and my fingers dig into her hips, contradicting my words. “I’ve never been able to let you go, and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to…but I’ll stop, if that’s what you want. If it’s what you need.”
“Did you not hear what I just said? I’m done living here.”
“I did, but before allowing myself to think this is real, tell me why. What changed?”
Her hand trails up my chest, hovering over but not touching the yellowing marks. “I believed it was best for us both if we weren’t together, because I wasn’t the person you needed—and before you argue—you know it was the truth. Think about it. If I never left, would you have become the man you are today?Would you be the Bratva’s second?” Her eyes flick up to mine, swirling with futures unknown. “Maybe not, and I wouldn’t change the man you are now for anything. I left because I wasn’t good for you or your world. I left because IbelievedI wasn’t strong enough to handle everything. I worried what it might mean having you back in my life, when it wasn’t the same as when we were kids, but truth is, I’ve been missing you every day for the past month. When Vanessa called, Ihadto help. Not out of guilt or anything, but because the thought of you being harmed ruined me. You said you understand my feelings; well, I nowseeyours—needingto see the other person safe. Because that’s what I felt. It drove me more than air, food, and sleep. Seeing you like this”—she cups my cheek—“ithurts, Dimitri. It really does. But it also proves that we were attacked when together, and we were attacked when apart. I’d much rather deal with anything else that comes for ustogether, as a couple, than experience it apart. I love you. I’ve never stopped loving you. I convinced myself I had, only to stay away.”
Her explanation barely dies on her tongue before I’m hauling her to my chest, tangling my hands into her hair, longing to do the very thing I’ve been missing every fucking second since she ran from the mansion.
“I need you to choose, Katya, ’cause if you change your mind later on, you’ll officially have killed me. Choose now, before I never let you go.”
“I’m choosing you,” she whispers, and I seal her agreement with a scorching kiss, the taste of her exploding on my tongue. She pushes me away almost immediately, her cheeks flushing red. “Your cousin and Ana are out there.”
“I don’t give a fuck. They can deal,” I shout the last part, and judging by their chortles, they’ve heard me. “Tell me again,” I murmur, flicking stray hairs away from Katya’s forehead. “Tell me you’ve chosen me.”
“I’ve chosenus. Finally. I love you, Dimitri.”
She said it often when we dated as teenagers, and I was stupid then. Didn’t realize I’d one day have to go without it, and like an addict with a fixation, her reminding me of her feelings, is my drug. Every day, all day, I want—no,need—to hear her.
“I visited my parents to let them know I’ll be moving back to Russia. They’re staying here because they’ve settled well. Work has my two-week notice. I figured it’ll be that long until you’re on your feet again anyway. Then I need to give notice to my landlord.” Eyes sparkling, she gazes into mine. “Here’s my notice, Volkov.”
“Only the owner,” I correct. “Hired a management company to oversee all that shit.”
She laughs and it’s the lightest feeling I’ve had in a long damn time. Much better than the endless screams echoing in my head from being chained to the chair. Her laughter alone is healing.
“Still can’t believe you own this place.”
“I’ll sell it if you’re leaving. Or perhaps we can keep it so we’ll have somewhere to stay when visiting your parents. I’ll maintain the rent on yours, put mine on the market.”
“That’s silly.” She shakes her head. “Hotels exist for a reason. Besides, my parents have a spare room we can use.”
Given the things I plan on doing to their daughter on a daily basis, their guest room isn’t the answer.
“I can’t believe this conversation.”
