Page 26

One week. That’s how long it’s been since the night everything spun out of control—since Thorne escaped with Cecily as his shield and vanished into the shadows.

In that time, my brothers and I have torn through our ranks, rooting out the snakes who sold us out and worked with Evan. We’ve interrogated, tracked leads, and threatened any source who might have known Thorne’s hideouts. But there is still no sign of Cecily.

The weight of that failure gnaws at me. Each day, I watch Seraphina force a smile in public, then crumble behind closed doors, trying not to let her despair swallow her whole. She never says it, but I see the guilt in her eyes, as if she blames herself for her father’s madness. I hate it. I hate that he’s got that kind of hold on her, even from a distance.

Tonight, though, I’m trying something different. No more scouring seedy warehouses or shaking down low-life informants—my men can handle that for a few hours. Instead, I told Seraphina to dress comfortably, to trust me. She looked puzzled but obliged. Now, we’re driving along a winding coastal road. The headlights illuminate the asphalt in front of us, and stars glimmer overhead. Beside me, her hands rest on her lap, clasped together.

“We’re almost there,” I say quietly, turning onto a small side road.

She peeks out the window. “Where are we going?”

“Somewhere we can breathe, even for a little while,” I reply.

She doesn’t argue. Maybe she’s too drained to question me. When we round the last bend, the sea comes into view—dark waters stretching to the horizon. I park on a gravel patch and shut off the engine. She inhales and looks out at the waves. I exit the car first, then circle around to open her door.

She steps out, noting the way her gaze lingers on the shimmer reflecting from the moon. The hush of the ocean meets us, broken only by the rhythmic flow of waves rolling ashore. The wind brushes her hair across her face. I gently tuck a loose strand behind her ear, and she grants me a small, unsure smile.

“Why here?” she asks.

“Because we need a moment.” I gesture for her to follow me down a short footpath that leads to the sand. “A moment away from everything else.”

She looks at me curiously. “You’re the last person I expected to seek quiet at a time like this.”

I shrug. “I’ve learned a lot lately—like sometimes, you have to protect more than your territory. You have to protect what keeps you sane, or you lose yourself.”

Her eyes lower, and she nods. We walk across the sand until we’re near the water’s edge. The breeze carries the scent of salt, and the night sky twinkles overhead. I remove my shoes and roll up my pant legs. She hesitates, then does the same, stepping forward so the water laps at her toes.

“This is… nice,” she admits, crossing her arms as if unsure whether to relax.

I step beside her, watching the surf. “I know it can’t fix everything. But you deserve a moment of peace, especially after what you’ve been through.”

“I don’t feel like I deserve anything, not after the mess my father caused—and I helped him, even if I didn’t fully realize it.”

“We established that he lied to you, manipulated you. You were trying to save your sister. Everyone sees that now.”

“That doesn’t bring Cecily back. I’m so worried about her, Grigor. A whole week and no trace.”

I press my hand to her shoulder, urging her to sit on the sand. She lowers herself, hugging her knees. I settle next to her, ignoring the chill that seeps into my legs from the damp ground.

She rests her chin on her arms. “How can you be so calm? You’ve scoured every possible lead. You must be as frustrated as I am. Just for different reasons.”

I stare at the horizon. “I’m not calm, believe me. But I can’t afford to show fear or frustration. My men look to me for confidence. You look to me for hope.”

“Do you really think we’ll find her?”

“I know we will. I have a plan. Thorne thinks he’s hidden well, but we’ve severed his connections one by one. My men are tightening the net around him. It won’t be long.”

She looks at me, searching my face for reassurance. “You promise?”

“I promise,” I insist, letting my hand slip from her shoulder to her back, rubbing gently. “I won’t rest until she’s home. That’s a vow.”

A watery smile quirks her lips. “Thank you. For everything.”

We fall quiet for a while, listening to the waves. Then, I decide to bring up something else that’s been on my mind. I clear my throat. “Have you thought about what you want to do… after we get Cecily back, after things settle?”

She looks puzzled. “You mean about the baby?” Her hand moves instinctively to her abdomen.

“That too,” I answer, “but I mean your own goals. You told me once you wanted a career, a real job, far from the violence of this life. But we never got around to discussing it.”

She chews on her lower lip before she says, “I used to dream of running my own business. Some kind of boutique or maybe a small consultancy. I studied business in college, after all. I’d like the flexibility, especially with the baby on the way.”

“That’s good. You should do that.”

She arches a brow. “You’d support me? Even though I might be stepping away from your world and focusing on something else?”

“I don’t expect you to be embroiled in Bratva dealings. You’re my wife, but you’re also your own person. If you want to run a business, do it. I’ll do everything in my power to help.”

A spark of hope lights her eyes. “Really?”

“Of course. This life we lead… It’s harsh. You shouldn’t have to be locked in it if you don’t want to. And for our child’s sake, having a more normal environment might be good.”

“I was worried you’d expect me to play some mafia queen role or that you’d dismiss my ambitions.”

I shake my head. “Never. You’re carrying my child. I want you to have a future you feel good about.”

A warm breeze sweeps by, stirring the edges of her hair around her face. She leans into me, resting her head on my shoulder. My heart hammers a bit at the closeness.

“I love you,” she says softly, pressing her cheek against my shoulder. “It’s strange how it happened, how we went from mutual resentment to this, but I do.”

I slide my arm around her waist, pulling her a little closer. “I love you too. It’s strange for me, maybe more than it is for you. I never thought I’d find someone I’d… let in. This life is so full of traitors and liars. It’s difficult to trust anyone enough to let them near your heart. But I can’t imagine losing you now.”

A shy smile curves her lips. “I can’t believe I almost didn’t let myself fall for you. But everything that’s happened, I guess it forced us to be honest.”

I nod and kiss the top of her head. “Honest. Yeah.” We linger on that word for a moment, letting it settle. A week ago, I was pounding on doors, thirsting for blood, and now I’m holding this woman close on a quiet beach, promising her a different kind of future.

She tilts her face up, and the expression she wears is open and vulnerable. The tension of the day recedes behind longing and trust. “Kiss me,” she whispers.

I cup her cheek gently. Our lips meet, and a gentle warmth pulses through me. No violence, no worry, just her. The taste of her tears mixes with the tenderness of the moment, and I lose myself in the feel of her mouth.

A sigh escapes her as she curls her free arm around my neck, deepening the kiss. Everything else fades to the back of my mind. All that matters is this moment, on this stretch of sand, under a canopy of stars, with Seraphina safe in my arms.

I hold her there, breathing in her presence, anchoring myself to her. Tomorrow, we’ll strategize again. We’ll rally the men, comb the city for Cecily, and corner Thorne wherever he’s hiding. But right now, I let the waves wash away the nightmares, if only for a moment.

She slides her fingers through my hair, gripping the short strands as she hauls herself up. Then her legs are straddling me, and the warmth of her center presses against my groin. Our lips part, and a gasp of pleasure fills the air.

She kisses my neck, nipping my ear. Her body is a warm, inviting weight, and I let my hands roam over her curves, cupping her ass, stroking her thighs. She moans, and the sound shoots straight to my cock. My hunger rises, but this time, it isn’t driven by anger like every other time we’ve been here. It’s pure need.

Her hips grind against me, and I push back, wanting more. I tug at the hem of her shirt, dragging the fabric up so I can caress the bare skin beneath. The moon bathes her in silvery light, and her eyes glow. Her breasts strain against the bra she’s wearing, and her nipples are hard. I cup her chest and squeeze.

She pushes my jacket off, then undoes my tie before tossing it somewhere up on the beach. She’s moving fast, unbuttoning my shirt, tugging the fabric open so her fingers can skim over the lines of muscle and bone. I pull her mouth down to mine, kissing her deeply. She rocks against me, and I can feel the heat of her sex through her jeans and my slacks.

When she unhooks her bra, I break the kiss and move down, capturing her nipple with my teeth and biting gently. She whimpers and grips the back of my head, keeping me close. My tongue swirls around her, and my hand finds her other breast, pinching the stiff peak.

Then her hands are moving to my pants, and I raise my hips so she can tug the garment down. The cool air hits my erection, and I groan, reaching for her waist. She pulls off her own clothes, and now there’s nothing between us.

I lie back, and she leans down, kissing her way along my jaw and down my throat. She pauses to bite the hollow of my neck, and I grip her tighter, loving the way her body presses against me. Her breasts are heavy in my hands, her skin soft and warm. Her breath rushes past my ear, and a shiver rolls through me.

I turn us, flipping her so she’s lying on the sand, and I’m hovering over her. Our mouths come together, and I swallow the little gasps that escape her.

“Grigor,” she murmurs, stroking the hard muscles of my arms and shoulders. “Please.”

“Tell me what you want,” I growl.

“You.” Her fingers trail over my hip and circle my cock. I grit my teeth, savoring the sensation. Then she guides me closer, lifting her hips. I press my forehead against hers, staring into her eyes as I push inside. She moans, and her eyelashes flutter.

I’m lost in her gaze, in the feel of her. We move together in a steady rhythm, and the world shrinks to a single point—the space where we’re joined. Her legs hook around me, pulling me deeper, and I groan, thrusting hard. Her fingernails rake down my back, and her head tips back, baring her throat. I suck at the tender flesh, and her cry of pleasure fills the air.

Everything is hot and urgent. My muscles burn, but I don’t slow. Her thighs clench, and her back arches, pushing her breasts up. I claim one, taking her nipple into my mouth again, teasing her.

She’s panting now, and her eyes are shut. The sight of her lost in the sensations drives me wild. I fuck her hard, needing to claim every inch of her, to make her mine, over and over. I want her to never doubt that we belong to each other.

The waves crash harder around us, and she moans, digging her heels into the small of my back. My heart thunders, and my cock throbs. She’s so beautiful, and it feels like heaven being inside her.

“Fuck,” she cries. “Fuck, yes. Don’t stop.”

I don’t plan to. I move faster, driving deep. She’s tightening around me, her body writhing, her voice ragged with bliss. And I’m coming apart, unable to hold back. The pleasure is building, and there’s no stopping it.

We move faster, clinging to each other, desperate. Desperate to forget the danger, the violence, the fear. Desperate to remember that no matter what happens, we have each other. We have tonight.

The waves crash, and she cries out, shaking. Her core contracts, milking me, and the pressure explodes. I roar as the pleasure takes me, and I bury myself in her. She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me, moaning as her body spasms.

We’re both breathless and exhausted, but when I pull her against me, she tucks her head into the crook of my shoulder and sighs contentedly. We stay like that, her wrapped in my arms, as the sea and the sky swirl around us, a cocoon of safety and comfort.

Tomorrow, I’ll go back to hunting. I’ll fight, kill, and threaten—until Cecily is safe. And then, I’ll make sure Evan Thorne gets what’s coming to him. No more hiding, no more tricks, no more bullshit. He’ll pay for what he’s done, and I’ll revel in his screams.

But tonight, in this moment, none of that exists. All that matters is Seraphina and the baby growing inside her.

Tomorrow, we’ll save her sister. But for now, the waves and the darkness protect us.