Page 185 of Mafia and Scars

“I don’t want you to leave.”

And just like that, that unspoken thing between us settles. I’m here because I want to be.Because being here makes me feel like I’ve finally found home again.

The bed dips slightly under his weight as Viktor sits beside me. The room is silent.

“I didn’t think I’d be back here,” I murmur.

“You don’t have to stay if you don’t want.” He says it quickly.

My fingers curl into the soft blanket. “That’s not what I mean.” I look up at him. “What I mean is that I’m glad I was wrong.” I know I have to explain. “I came back here with you today, not because I’m reckless. Not because I forgot what danger feels like. But because even after everything, this is the one place that feels like safety for me. And now, I fully appreciate and see everything that comes with you.” I swallow hard. “When I left, I told myself I was choosing safety for myself and for my children. But tonight proved that safety isn’t something I can guarantee—no matter where I run.”

His jaw tightens. “Avelina?—”

“I was attacked at my job, Viktor. By a man with a clean record and a tie. The kind of man I thought would be safe.” My voice cracks. “But when I screamed, it wasn’t the cops or my coworkers who saved me. It wasyou.”

“I hate that happened to you, Avelina. You shouldn’t have needed saving.”

“I know.” I meet his eyes. “But you came anyway.”

His voice is low but certain. “We took out the Albanians and made a deal with the Russian government that guarantees they’ll leave youand the kids alone. I can’t erase every risk, but I’ll die trying to stop any harm coming to you ever again.”

Something warm breaks loose in my chest because I know that he means every word—that he really loves me in a way that Geliy never did and that he also wants to protect me in a way I never had from my ex.

Because my life, whether I like it or not, will always have a threat of danger. From the Russian government and the FSB, if they ever renege on the deal and decide to come after me or my kids again. And there’s also the danger from people Geliy crossed during his work, and I don’t know how big that threat is. There’s just too much in my past to guarantee a life free of danger—but I also know that Viktor will always protect me and the children, however he can.

“You never scared me, Viktor. Not once. The world around you did. And maybe I was too broken to see the difference.” I take a slow breath. “I used to think leaving was strength. But maybe it’s strength to stay—with someone who actually fights for my safety.”

His fingers brush mine, tentative, reverent. “You’re sure?”

“I’m sure I want to stop running.” I squeeze his hand. “But we’ll have to do things differently this time. I want to be part of decisions that affect me and the kids. I want to know what precautions you’re taking. I want to sit in on security briefings and see threat assessment reports. I want to beinvolved.”

Viktor lets out a breath that sounds half like relief, half like awe. “Deal. And I promise you this,” he murmurs. “Whatever danger comes, it won’t find you alone.”

“I’m sorry I ran,” I whisper. “I’m sorry I hurt you like that. I won’t run again. I’ll trust you when I’m afraid. And I’ll work with you to make things right.”

And when he kisses me, it isn’t desperate. It’s steady. Certain. The kind of kiss that says we’ve both chosen this—eyes open.

But soon, we shed our clothes with urgent need.

Naked now, his body hovers over mine. His eyes trace every curve of me, drinking me in with a hunger that's both primal and profound. "I've dreamed of this every night," he confesses, his voice husky. "Waking up without you...it was torture."

I reach up, tracing the line of his jaw, feeling the stubble rough under my fingertips. His lips trail fire down my neck, nipping at the sensitive skin there until I arch into him, a soft moan escaping. He lingers on my breasts, taking one nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue in lazy circles while his hand kneads the other. Pleasure shoots through me, pooling low in my belly. I thread my fingers through his dark hair, holding him close as he worships my body, erasing the months of separation with each kiss.

His mouth ventures lower still, kissing my stomach, my hips, until he's between my thighs. He parts them, his breath warm against me. "Let me taste you," he growls, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that makes my core clench. "Let me remind you who you belong to."

Before I can respond, his tongue delves in, a slow, deliberate stroke that has me gasping. He teases my clit with expert flicks, alternating between light pressure and firm suction that drives me wild. His hands grip my thighs, holding me open as I writhe beneath him. Two fingers slide inside me, curling to stroke that spot that makes stars burst behind my eyes. The room fills with my cries and his muffled groans of satisfaction. "Viktor," I whimper, my hips bucking involuntarily. He pours his soul into pleasuring me. He's relentless, building the tension until I'm teetering on the brink.

"Come for me, Avelina," he commands, his voice vibrating against me. "Show me you're mine!"

The orgasm crashes over me, my body convulsing as ecstasy ripples through every nerve. But he doesn't stop, lapping to prolong the bliss until I'm trembling, spent, and utterly his.

And the fire in his eyes tells me we're far from done. He rises, his erection thick and straining, and positions himself at my entrance, thrusting in with one smooth, deep motion. We both groan at the fullness, the perfect fit that feels like coming home. He starts slow, each stroke deliberate, allowing us to savor the connection. His foreheadpresses to mine, our breaths mingling in shared rhythm. I feel every inch of him, stretching me and claiming me.

The emotion builds with the pleasure. I’m back with the man I love. His pace quickens, hips driving harder, the bed creaking under us. I dig my nails into his back, urging him on, my walls fluttering around him.

"You're everything to me," he rasps, his hand sliding between us to circle my clit, heightening the sensations. "Never leave again."

"I won't...I promise," I moan, the words tumbling out as another climax builds. We move as one, bodies slick and synchronized, the world narrowing to just this—just us.