Page 1 of Tied to Hope
Welcome Home
As Brie stepped up to the porch, holding Hope in her arms, the door to their new home swung open. To her shock and delight, Rytsar stood in front of her with Titov behind him.
Wearing a mischievous grin, the Russian threw his arms wide open and commanded, “Radost moya,welcome me home.”
Brie stood frozen in shock for a moment, then rushed into his arms. “Rytsar!”
The tears started when she melted into his powerful embrace.
“No tears,” he chuckled as he looked down at her and the baby. “This is a happy occasion, is it not?”
She nodded, smiling, as she hastily wiped away her tears with her free hand. “I…I just can’t believe you’re here. You’ve been gone so long…”
“I had to finish it,” he answered, grazing the baby’s cheek with his thumb. “For you and formoye solntse.”
Brie looked at him in happy disbelief, barely choking out the words, “You’re home…” before the tears starting falling again.
He gave Sir, who was standing beside her, a chagrinned look. “Your submissive is still not very good at following commands.”
“In this instance, I’ll give her leniency,” Sir stated with a grin, sticking out his hand to Rytsar. “Welcome home, brother.”
Rytsar grasped it, pulling him close. He wrapped his arm around Sir with his other arm still around Brie.
Volumes were spoken between the two men without either saying a word.
Brie had given Rytsar up for lost after the long period of silence, and she couldn’t quite believe he was here in the flesh.
As she laid her head against Rytsar’s chest, she smiled up at Sir.
Sir wrapped his arm around her, connecting the four of them in a communal hug. Brie hadn’t thought she would ever feel this connection again and closed her eyes to soak in the moment.
Just then, Hope made a cute little squeak that caused all three of them to look down at her.
“She has grown much since I left,” Rytsar stated with regret.
“She has, old friend,” Sir answered, “and we owe that toyou.”
Brie’s stomach twisted in a knot, knowing what Sir said was true. They owed Rytsar for saving Hope from a life of childhood slavery.
It scared Brie when she saw the grave look Rytsar gave Sir, and she pressed herself against the Russian, wanting to meld herself to him. “It’s been torture knowing you were in danger.”
“Da,” he answered in a serious tone. “The danger was real,radost moya.” He turned to look at Titov. “I would not be here if it were not for this man.”
Ice ran through Brie’s veins hearing how close it had really been. Feeling a profound sense of gratitude, she asked Sir if she could hug Titov.
When Sir nodded, Brie saw tears of gratitude welling up in his own eyes.
Brie handed Hope over to Rytsar, telling him, “This young lady is very grateful to herdyadya.”
When Rytsar held Hope, however, her eyes grew wide in fear and she began to cry.
“Nyet,moye solntse, do not cry. It’s yourdyadya…”
Hope stared fearfully at Rytsar as if he were a stranger, but the moment he began humming his Russian lullaby, Hope’s eyes met his and she broke out in a smile. Brie desperately wished she’d had a camera to take a picture of the moment.
Turning away, she walked over to Titov. Unmindful of her tears, she hugged him tightly, thankful beyond words. Letting out a sob, Brie told him, “I will never be able to repay you for everything you’ve done.”
Titov felt extremely stiff in her embrace. Unused to having any physical contact with Brie, he patted her awkwardly in response.
