Page 26 of Owned By the Mob Boss
Seth reaches out and takes the wad, staring at it like he can’t believe it’s real.
“But…why, Viktor?” he asks, his voice barely even a whisper. “Why are you doing this?”
Why indeed.
The old Viktor would have ended his life in an instant and not missed a minute of sleep. The old Viktor would have made an example of him—made sureeveryonesaw what happened to those that crossed him.
But the old Viktor didn’t have Bella waiting at home for him…
Never had someone who looked at him like he was anything more than a monster.
“Becausesheasked me to,” I tell him simply. “And because I, unlike you, would give my life for her.”
Seth pockets the money with shaking hands. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank your daughter. I won’t lose her because of you.” I turn to leave, then stop. “Oh, and Seth. If you gamble again and end up in debt to men like me, they won’t be so merciful. And I won’t be there to help you.”
He’s gasping for breath as I leave him and walk out into the evening air. The city itself feels different tonight—cleaner, hopeful. My hands are steady now.
I’ll have Anton leak a story that I found Seth’s money stash and jacked it, then sent him packing. It’ll reinforce my control over the city, show people I’m still not afraid to get my hands dirty.
I break down the gun in my hands, the cylinder, barrel and grip, and drop the pieces in a couple different dumpsters and a storm drain.
For the first time in my life, I showed mercy. Not weakness—mercy. And there’s a difference. A difference I’m learning.
A difference she’s teaching me…
The drive back to the penthouse is torture and feels like eternity.
What if she’s gone? Couldn’t stand waiting and not knowing and just got the hell out of there? But she wouldn’t be able to get past Anton and my men.
Still, the thought of her waiting for me, wondering if I killed her father, gripped with pain and anxiety, has a pain burning in my gut.
But when the elevator doors open, she’s there, pacing the living room like a caged bird. She’s still wearing my shirt from this morning, looking absolutely adorable.
When she turns to me, I see her eyes are red from crying.
“Did you—?”
“No,” I say firmly. “He’s alive. I let him go.”
Her lips part. She stares at me like she’s seeing me for the very first time. “You…you did?”
I race over to her, unable to contain myself any longer. Her heat seeps into me as I lift her into my arms.
My queen, my love…
Tears fall from her eyes, but they’re different tears than the ones from this morning. These are tears of relief, of love. She buries her face in my chest, wrapping her arms around my neck.
Something in my chest cracks open, spilling warmth throughout my body. It’s like I can feel myself changing into a better man by the second, and it’s all because of her.
“Thank you,” she sobs.
“You asked me not to, baby,” I say, soothing her as I run my fingers through her hair. “And you were right. I’m not the man I was before you came into my life. I know that now.”
I kiss her, only this is a soft kiss. A kiss filled with gratitude and something deeper that now flows through every cell in my body.
“I love you, Bella. More than anything.”
