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“Had she not set you up, I wouldn’t have been trying to come up with a plan to find you in fucking Russia. There was a chance Dima would kill you, but Sage didn’t worry about that either. She didn’t care whether you lived or died.”

My shoulders slump. “I wish she’d just told Dima no.”

“She didn’t, and that cost her, her life. Don’t feel bad for her.”

“Easier said than done.”

“I do not envy those with large hearts,” he says under his breath.

My mind is setwhen we get home.

I’ll block out everything bad that happened today.

Dima will not ruin this moment for us.

His darkness will not spoil our happiness.

I escaped him,killedhim, and now, he’s no longer a threat.

Maybe Julian and I can get our happily ever after.

The air-conditioning is cold when we enter our home.

“Let’s get you cleaned up,” Julian says. “You need to rest. We’ll order takeout and eat in bed.”

“Are you staying with me tonight?” I whisper as he scoops me up into his arms.

“They’d have to kill me before I left your side.” He carries me upstairs, straight to the bathroom, and lowers me to my feet.

I kick off my flats as he turns on the water, and he returns to help me undress. After checking the water temperature, he kisses my forehead and helps me into the shower.

I sigh, tension gradually releasing from my muscles as the hot water splashes my body. Moments later, a naked Julian joins me. I scoot back, giving him room.

Tipping my head back, I allow water to run over my face and down my hair. As my head lowers, I pretend not to see the traces of blood running alongside the water down the drain.

I cleaned the blood off my body in Dima’s bathroom, but there was still some caked in my hair and beneath my nails. Julian soaps a washcloth and gently starts washing my body. I relax against his touch and the heat of the water.

Unlike me, Julian doesn’t seem exhausted at all.

This is just another day for him.

A single tear slips down my cheek.

I’m not surewhatthe tear is for.

What happened with Dima, that Julian saved me, or that I’m finally getting what we’ve talked about?

I gulp, mad at myself for getting emotional.

Everyone around me is ruthless. Maybe that’s how I need to be too.

“Julian,” I say, shutting my eyes.

He stops mid-grab of the shampoo and sets it down.

Stepping closer, he runs the pad of his thumb along my cheek. “Genesis, everyone reacts to these situations differently. While some prefer to talk about it, others don’t. We can talk about it right now, tonight, or any other time.” He drops his head to kiss my cheek. “However, you’d prefer to get it out—tears, letting your anger out on me, whatever—I’m here for you.”

Another tear falls down my cheek from the other eye.