Page 51 of Til Death Do Us Part (Kornilov Bratva Duet 2)

“See?” I throw up my hands in defeat. “It doesn’t matter. This life is too dangerous for my kids, and I won’t risk their safety for my feelings. I just … I won’t do it, Viktor.”

He clenches his jaw, making it even more square than normal, and I resist the urge to reach out and massage his cheek. I want to be the person who eases Viktor’s burdens. Like Seamus and Niamh, I want to be the person who stands by his side and makes this life easier to bear. I want to take his weight and carry it like my own, and I want to give him some of mine.

But I can’t put any of that weight on Theo or my unborn baby. I simply won’t do it.

So, I keep my hand fisted tightly at my side.

Finally, Viktor shakes his head. “This life is dangerous, but you know I’m working hard to make it less so. I’m doing what I can to get rid of Fedor, and I’m making alliances I never would have made even two months ago … because of you.”

“Don’t do it on my account,” I say, interrupting him.

“I have to,” Viktor grinds out. “You are the reason I’m still fighting at all, Molly. You and Theo and our baby … without you, I don’t have a reason to fight. Don’t you understand that?”

My heart cracks. From top to bottom, a line forms in the organ in my chest, and I feel it change irreparably.

My eyes fill with tears, and I blink them away.

“If you were really my wife,” Viktor sighs and looks up towards the ceiling, like he is imagining it. “If you and I were really married, nothing would be different for me. I would still go above and beyond to keep you all safe. The only difference is that I wouldn’t have to wonder when you’re going to leave. But no matter what, I’ll protect you and our kids until my dying breath.”

Viktor’s blue eyes pierce through me, leaving me breathless, and then he turns and walks back into the bathroom without another word. I stand in the same spot for a long time, wishing I could go after him and confess my feelings. But I don’t. I stay motionless even as he collects his commissioned drawing from Theo and leaves without telling me where he is going.

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