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She was so strong; she fought me tooth and nail, even when I made it impossible. Even before me, she had dealt with her father's debts and the assholes that came with that, even going as far as giving up her entire life to pay his debt and support her grandmother, and she barely frayed.

This woman was made of steel, and yet, I let them take her and break her.

After she had eaten half a sandwich and a bowl of the soup, I was satisfied and let her rest. Alina curled into me, her cheek resting against my chest, her fingers tracing small circles on my shirt.

I didn’t think she realized what she was doing.

She didn't realize how deeply it affected me. Just having her touch me, willingly touch me of her own accord, was so deeply soothing.

"I knew you wouldn't betray me," I murmured, breaking the silence.

She tensed in my arms, and for a moment, I was afraid she was going to disappear into her head again. "You were so angry."

"I wasn't angry at you, baby. I was angry that anyone dared to put their hands on you. They had no right. I was… afraid they had taken you from me."

She swallowed hard, fingers tightening in my shirt. "I was scared."

I closed my eyes, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss to her hair. "I won't let it happen again. You will be protected, sheltered. I swear it."

She tilted her head, gazing up at me remnants of that fear swimming in her dark eyes.

"You promise?"

I cupped her face, my thumb stroking her cheek. "I swear to you with everything that I am."

She hesitated, then whispered, "Then I'll hold you to it, Pavel."

My chest ached.

She trusted me. She believed me.

Anyone who tried to take her from me again would beg for death before I was done with them.

CHAPTER 33

PAVEL

We had an unseen enemy.

That much was certain.

Someone had been lurking in the shadows and stalking our organization for some time now.

But they fucked up…big.

They made the mistake of going after my wife.

For that, they would die. Painfully.

One thing was clear,Los Infideleshad a new, very well-funded leader, with intimate knowledge of our business.

A war was coming.

Usually the prospect of blood and violence would set my pulse racing.

Although I didn't seek it out, I didn't exactly shy away from violence. In my world, it was a necessary tool of business. Every now and then you needed to remind both your enemies and your allies why you were to be feared, and your authority never questioned.

This would give us the opportunity to reassert the dominance of the Ivanov bratva. Especially with mybrothers now in the country to reinforce Gregor, Damien and Mikhail's already extensive and influential syndicate.