Page 110 of Bound by Love
Tears rolled down her cheeks, realizing that his actions during their trip to Italy and the Isle had been his quiet way of saying goodbye. She shook her head, looking at him in disbelief.
Rytsar understood he was causing her pain and pounded his chest fiercely, explaining, “I need this,radost moya. It is not just for you and the babe. I do this also in memory of my Tatianna. I could not protect her, but I can protect you. I have to be the one—to avenge you and the babe, and finish what I could not years ago. The slaver must die, and I cannot go on knowing he still breathes.”
Rytsar turned to Sir, putting his hand firmly on his shoulder. “I see it so clearly. This is how it ends. Everything that has happened to me has led to this moment.”
“I can still join you, brother.”
“Nyet. Your job is to protect your woman. I made a promise to God that I would protectmoye solntse, and that is what I will do.”
He smiled at Brie, vowing, “You will not see me again until the man is dead.”
Brie started to cry.
Rytsar was leaving her—and there was nothing she could do about it.
He put a finger to her lips. “I know you will not send me off with tears.”
Stilling the panic and fear bubbling up to the surface, Brie quieted her thoughts and dried her tears for him.
“Good,radost moya.” Rytsar gripped her head in both hands, pressing his forehead against hers as he stared into her eyes. “Do you trust me?”
She wanted to say “No”—and she would have—if it would have stopped him from going. “Yes, Rytsar, I trust you.”
“Then there is no need for tears. I will return.”
“Yes.”
“Now give me a kiss to send me off properly.”
Rytsar grabbed her, kissing Brie passionately, his lips expressing his deep love for her. His final goodbye.
Brie wanted to weep when he broke the embrace, but she held the tears back and told him, “My heart beats with you, Rytsar.”
He put his hand on his chest and smiled at her. “I feel it always.”
Rytsar then turned to Sir. “Brother, do not second-guess this path you and I are on.”
Sir’s eyes were shrouded in pain and uncertainty.
“Do not!” Rytsar insisted. “Victory is certain.”
Brie could tell Sir was still struggling with the decision, but he clasped his friend’s shoulder and said confidently, “We will drink to your success on your return.”
“Da, comrade,” he answered with a grin. “And I will drink you under the table.”
Rytsar turned and walked away then, shouting, “Poka my ne vstretimsya snova!”
Brie didn’t let the tears fall until he was out of sight. But, once they began, she was inconsolable.
Blood Moon
They had no communication from him because the risk was too great, just as it had been during the rescue mission in Russia.
Brie was forced to put all her trust in Rytsar’s abilities. Her only consolation was knowing that Titov was with him. The two men had extensive experience with the underground world they were entering, and they were on a mission to right a wrong that had haunted them for years. They were both seeking redemption by granting Brie and the baby the safety they could not provide Tatianna.
As the weeks dragged on, the silence became deafening and doubts began to creep in. As much as Sir tried to reassure her, she could tell he was struggling as well.
Brie lived with the guilt that her situation had put Rytsar’s life at risk, but Sir carried the burden of knowing his own flesh and blood had created this. By not wanting to break his promise to her, Sir had to bear the weight of not being with his brother now, and she could tell it was eating at his soul.
