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"Zemlya tebe puhom," Vlad whispers as he stoops low, placing his open palm over Maxim's face and closing his eyes.

Coming toward me, I cannot help but feel his pain as my own. So I do the only thing that I can. I meet him halfway, my arms wrapped around his torso as I pull him into a big hug.

He's frozen still for a moment before he starts reacting, returning the embrace.

"You're safe, Sisi. That's all that matters," he speaks, caressing my hair, his mouth on my temple as he lays a sweet kiss on my skin.

"Weare safe," I correct him, "I don't want to imagine a world without you," I tell him, my words laced with the agony I'd felt at thinking that something might happen to him.

"Me neither," he responds, his voice hollow. "Me neither."

A quick sweep of the house to get some belongings and then we're both in the car, heading to the airport.

Back to New York.

I don't even want to imagine what awaits us there. From Vlad's enemies to my own disapproving family, I don't think anyone's going to receive us with open arms.

At least we're together. And together we'll brave it all.

24

VLAD

Using a towel to dry my hair, I head back to the main seating area of the plane. With the impromptu attack on the house, I'm thankful that I'd kept the jet in New Orleans. We hadn't lingered too long at the house, grabbing only a few necessities before taking the car to the airport. I hadn't even had the time to wash the blood off, and I'd definitely run a risk driving around drenched in blood.

Still, better being pulled over by some puny cop than risk Sisi's safety even more. They had sent a unit to dispatch me, so there's no doubt that another one would follow when they realize they've lost connection to the first one.

Legs crossed, she's sitting by the window, staring into empty space. Not for the first time, I stop to admire her. Even tired, she's stunning, her beauty unique. She's still dressed in her work out gear, some blood spatters on her skin.

Her blonde hair is lightly stained around the tips. I'd suggested she use the shower first since the plane bathroom is too tiny to fit us both, but she'd insisted that I was in more dire need of it. Of course, she commands and I obey.

She's looking out the window, her expression serene. Too serene considering what she just went through, and that only makes me more in awe of her.

By the time I'd registered that shots were being fired in the house, my Sisi had been dealing with those bastards on her own. I can barely forgive myself for letting her stand up to them by herself. But even as I'm mad at myself for my own failure, I can't help but admire her. She'd bravely faced them and even killed a few on her own.

A smile pulls at my lips.

She truly is one of a kind.

Although she'd handled herself better than I could have ever hoped, I won'teverlet that happen again. Even if I have to cuff her to me, I will make sure she's never in danger again.

I don't think I could handle it if anything happened to her. Certainly, I don't think theworldcould handle me if anything happened to her. Because one thing is for sure. I exist if she does. That's my only requirement.

She notices me in the doorway, and she gives me a shy smile as she beckons me to her.

"There you are, handsome." Her hand reaches out to touch my face as I sit next to her.

Without even thinking, I tug her out of her seat and onto my lap, holding her tightly. I don't think the sight of those people aiming their guns at her will leave my mind anytime soon.

"I love you," I tell her, nuzzling my face in the crook of her neck. That she's here and mine is the only thing I need to know to feel at peace.

"I love you too," she says, her soft voice soothing the beast inside of me.

It scares me too to think what I'd be capable of ifanythingwere to happen to Sisi. I don't think there are limits to the destruction I'd wreck before joining her.

"I promise I'll never put you in danger again," I tell her, my mind already working on annihilating any potential danger, starting with the people who want me dead. Because if they want to harm me, then they'll surely try to harm Sisi too. AndthatI can't have.

"You can't promise that, Vlad. Evenyouare not omniscient or omnipotent," she chides gently, leaning back to look at me.