Page 34 of Til Death Do Us Part (Kornilov Bratva Duet 2)

Viktor frowns. “It’s already done. Twice for you.”

I slide off the table, and my jelly legs prove his point. I pull on my panties and my jeans and then gesture between our bodies quickly. “We’ve always been able to do that, but I mean … the other parts of it. You say I’m safe with you, but I don’t feel safe.”

It’s a lie, but it feels like a necessary one.

Viktor’s eyes widen in shock from the blow, but he rearranges his face into a neutral mask as quickly as possible.

“Too much has happened, and I have to focus on Theo and the baby. I can’t spend all of my energy worrying about you and what’s going to happen next.”

“Then don’t,” he snaps. “Don’t worry about me and what happens next. Let me take care of you now.”

“I can’t depend on you.” My voice is higher than I expected, and I clear my throat and lower my voice. “Your life is dangerous, and if I depend on you, I’ll be lost when you are gone. So, I can’t.”

Viktor’s hands clench, his knuckles going white. He winces and glances down at the bandage I put on his arm in the car, and then pulls on his clothes angrily. I’m not sure where we go from here. I’m not sure what decision we’ve just come to. Just as I’m about to ask, Viktor runs a hand through his hair to smooth it down and turns to me.

“Stay with me until this is over,” he says softly. “Until Fedor isn’t a threat anymore. Then, do whatever you want.” He pauses for a long time, like he wants to speak but can’t find the words. When he does, his voice is so quiet I can barely hear it. “Leave if you want. Take Theo and the baby and go. I won’t stop you.”

I blink at him, unable to believe the words coming out of his mouth.

Leave?

I must have spoken out loud because Viktor nods. “If that’s what you want.”

“What about what you want?” I ask. For weeks, I’ve just wanted permission to leave. I wanted Viktor to tell me I was free to go. Now that he has, the victory tastes bitter in my mouth. If I go, who will be here with Viktor?

He shrugs. “All I want is to take care of my family.”

I want to ask whether he is talking about me or the Bratva, but I’m not sure I want to know.

Viktor glances up at me one more time. Just a quick flick of his eyes over my face. And then he turns and leaves.

* * *

Hannah has beenquiet all afternoon and evening. While we were playing with Theo, she’d talk to him, but she barely looked at me. I wanted to ask her what she was thinking, but again, I was afraid of the truth. The same way I am with Viktor. It feels easier to not know how she feels.

By the time we are halfway through a mostly silent dinner, however, Hannah is fidgeting with her glass of wine. Finally, she folds her hands in her lap and looks up at me.

“What happened today?”

I blink, trying to decide if it’s possible I could play dumb. Pretend I have no idea what she is talking about. “What?”

“The fight,” she says, one brow arching upward.

I shrug and wave a dismissive hand in her direction. “That was—”

“If you say ‘nothing,’ so help me.” Hannah’s eyes narrow for a moment and then soften. “Come on, Molly. We both know that was something. And the way he came in here and demanded to speak with you. What is going on?”

I lay my fork down next to my plate, no longer hungry. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Neither do I,” Hannah says. “It’s why I waited all day to bring it up. But I’m too worried about you to keep quiet. Something is going on, and I’m scared for you.”

My vision goes blurry, and my chin wobbles.

It has been so long since I’ve had someone who genuinely wanted to talk to me about my life that I can’t handle it. Her basic kindness overwhelms me, and before I know it, I’m sobbing into my napkin and Hannah is kneeling next to me, her hand rubbing circles on my back.

“It’s okay,” she whispers. “Just tell me what is going on? Who is Viktor?”

Through hiccups and sniffles, I tell Hannah everything. I tell her Theo’s father is Viktor’s brother, Fedor. I tell her Viktor was sent to kill me, but took mercy on me and Theo and tried to hide us from his brother. Then, when his brother found out about Theo and wanted to take him away from me, Viktor put us in this apartment to protect us.

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