Page 83 of The Russian's Kidnapped Bride
I continue, keeping my tone light. “What happened to your brother…I know it didn’t have to do with me directly, but it still hit me hard anyway. Knowing he turned to a local gang just to survive and provide for you made me wish fewer young people had to do the same. I can’t say my life was much different, but I chose this alongside my brothers. You didn’t, and many others won’t either. But I want to offer the kids out there another way—a real choice that won’t get them killed.”
Lily holds the railing as her eyes soften, and her voice reaches me just above a whisper. “You did that for me?”
“I did,” I confirm, giving her a gentle smile. “For you, your story, and for the future we’re building together. I don’t want our children growing up in a world where kids need to sell their souls just to eat and have a roof over their heads. For kids, it’s non-negotiable.”
Silent tears stream down her cheeks before I even finish speaking. There’s nothing overwhelmed about it; instead, she looks moved. Pressing both hands to her face, she curls against me.
Touched by the way she seeks me out so willingly, I pull her in close, hardly leaving any space between us. My cheek rests on the top of her head while I slowly rub her back.
“You didn’t have to do that…you’ve already done so much for me,” she says quietly against my neck with a subtle waver in her voice.
Smiling to myself, I press a light kiss on her head. “I wanted to. Besides, you’ve changed me in ways I never expected. You make me look at things differently, and because of that, I want to build instead of destroy. And this is how I’ll start.”
Lily pulls back just enough to look up at me, eyes gleaming with tears. She pulls a small, somewhat wobbly smile. “You’re going to be the best father.”
Swallowing hard, trying to keep my own emotions at bay in response, I lightly brush my fingers against her stomach. “Only with you by my side.”
“Always.”
Letting my smile grow, I move my hand to cup her cheek before leaning in and softly kissing her lips.
She responds immediately, returning it tenderly while wrapping her arms around me.
In this gentle moment, I know the past is behind us.
The old fight is over, and while I know better than to assume everything will be easy moving forward, at least I have her, and we have somewhere to begin.
We can build what we want, how we want, and I have no doubt it will be beautiful regardless.
Chapter 29 - Lily
The penthouse is dark when we move inside until Mikhail pushes the slider switches up just enough to offer us a guide through the space. The lights are dim enough to keep a cozy, intimate atmosphere, making it easy to stay relaxed after our evening out.
His keys land in the dish by the door while I kick my heels off, but before I can bend down, he swoops in and picks them up, then rests a hand against my back. He gives me a small, knowing smile, surely anticipating the protest on my tongue.
“After today, you deserve to expend little effort,” Mikhail murmurs, keeping that vaguely possessive touch on me while we head up the stairs together.
“At this rate, I’ll be too lazy to move,” I return, teasing him.
“Good…that will make it easier for me to spoil you.”
That response of his isn’t surprising whatsoever.
I hum my amusement. “That’s a dangerous notion.”
“But nothing you can’t handle.”
As much as I’m used to pushing through, regardless of how tired I end up feeling, I can’t deny how nice the idea of being pampered sounds.
“Which reminds me,” Mikhail begins as we reach the top of the stairs and head towards the master bedroom. He pushes the door open and lets me head in first before following. He falls into step with me once again. “I never congratulated you myself.”
I lift a brow at him while I work my earrings undone and ease them out. “What, for finishing the semester?”
“Yes, exactly that,” he says simply while setting my heels to the side and undoing his top buttons, relaxing his shirt. “You finished another year, and that’s no small feat.”
“It’s quite small in the grand scheme of things.”
Despite my attempts to downplay it, well aware of how much more I have ahead of me, Mikhail doesn’t let it slide.
