Page 18

The sound of tires rolling on gravel woke him up first. Ilya’s eyes snapped open, and instinctively, he shifted to keep Valentina close, still tangled in the sheets. But he remembered, with a slight jolt of frustration, that he’d promised her safety―both in body and in mind.

His brothers, Kostya and Viktor, had arrived just like they told him they would over the phone last night.

For a second, he glanced down at the woman still nestled in his arms, her soft breathing rising and falling against his chest. She was still asleep, the peaceful expression on her face making the realization of their situation almost unbearable. They were both naked beneath the sheets, having spent almost the entire night in relentless throes of passion, tangled up in something he hadn’t expected―something dangerous.

He pushed himself out of bed, careful not to wake her, and grabbed his jeans from the floor. His brothers had promised to pay him a visit and give him an update on Aleksander’s movements. He hadn’t realized just how much he’d grown accustomed to having Valentina here with him―how much he didn’t want her to leave―but that didn’t change the fact that her safety came first.

As he moved toward the door, he pulled it just enough to spot his brothers standing outside, leaning against Kostya’s car as they waited.

“Morning, Brother,” Viktor greeted, a mischievous grin on his face, but Ilya barely acknowledged it. “You’re looking suspiciously well for a morning in the woods.”

Ilya barely spared him a glance, stepping out into the crisp morning air as he shut the lodge door behind him. “Update?”

Kostya exhaled dramatically, shaking his head. “I told you he didn’t miss us. Not when he has Valentina trapped in here.”

Viktor smirked, glancing toward the cabin. “Where is she, anyway?”

“She’s Ilya’s dirty little secret now,” Kostya drawled, crossing his arms. “He won’t even let us inside our own damn lodge because he’s too busy hiding her.” He tilted his head, eyes gleaming with amusement. “I’ll admit, I’m a little offended, Brother.”

Viktor laughed. “I’m just surprised we didn’t find this place burned to the ground. Knowing Val, she’d rather set it on fire than be stuck here with him.”

Ilya, not in the mood for his brothers’ antics, scowled. “Keep fucking screaming like that, and you’ll wake her up. Now be useful and give me an update on Ivonov’s movements, or turn around and leave.”

Kostya’s smirk deepened, unfazed by Ilya’s irritation. “Touchy this morning, aren’t we?”

Viktor snorted. “Must have been a long night.”

Ilya shot them both a warning glare. “I swear to God―”

Kostya raised his hands in surrender, though his grin remained. “Alright, fine. We’ve tracked Aleksander. He’s holed up in a safehouse downtown, but he’s not making any sudden moves. Seems like he knows we’re watching him.”

Ilya’s jaw tightened. “And?”

Kostya shrugged. “And we’ve got eyes on him. He’s denied all affiliations with the ambush on Valentina, but everyone knows that’s horseshit. He’s backed into a corner, which means he won’t be making another attempt on Valentina anytime soon. She’s safe.”

A slow exhale left Ilya’s lips.

She’s safe . He never thought two words would bring so much relief to his life like those ones did.

That had been the whole reason for keeping her here. The justification for why he hadn’t let her leave, why he’d kept her locked away in this cabin with him.

And now that reason was gone.

The door behind him creaked open.

He turned just as Valentina stepped outside, rubbing sleep from her eyes. His shirt swallowed her frame, hanging off her shoulders, and her legs were bare, her skin still flushed from sleep. She blinked at the morning light, her gaze landing on him before straying forward to his brothers.

Viktor grinned. “Well, well. Look who finally decided to wake up.”

Kostya smirked. “Miss us, Val?”

Ilya saw the surprise in her eyes. It was as clear as day. Then, her lips curled into a rare, genuine smile. “You assholes.” And then she was hurrying toward them, wrapping her arms around Viktor first, then Kostya, laughing as they squeezed her back.

Ilya stood off to the side, watching the scene unfold, but Kostya caught his eye. His gaze flickered to the hickeys littering Valentina’s neck, then back to Ilya, raising a knowing brow.

Ilya sent him a sharp, warning glare that made Kostya chuckle.

“Alright, fun’s over,” Viktor said, ruffling Valentina’s hair just before she could slap his hand away. “It’s time to go home.”

“Shut. Up.” Valentina blurted at the same time Ilya went rigid.

Kostya smirked. “I’m sure you’ve had your fun with Mountain Man over here,” he said, gesturing toward Ilya. “But you’re safe now. Aleksander can’t touch you without dealing with us first.”

Viktor grinned. “So, you’re free to go home, Valentina.”

The words settled in Ilya’s chest like a weight, heavy and suffocating. He had no argument left. No logical reason to keep her here. But that didn’t stop a war from breaking out in his head―a battle between reason and emotion. They were just starting to actually spend time together, to actually enjoy each other’s presence without animosity.

But it was all going to end now, and as much as he wanted to keep her there with him for as long as he could, he knew it was impossible. Everything had an end, and his short-lived fling, or whatever it was they had shared within the last two days, had come to a permanent halt.

For a long moment, Valentina didn’t respond. She turned to glance at Ilya, but he wouldn’t meet her eye.

A muscle in his jaw ticked. “You heard him,” he murmured. “It’s safe now. You can go home.”

She parted her lips to speak but decided against it. Her gaze shifted from uncertainty to resolve as she nodded and headed back inside. “I’ll go get ready.”

And then she was gone.

Kostya’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. “You’re gonna let her go, Ilya?”

Ilya met his brother’s gaze, his expression hardening. “She has to. It’s over.”

Kostya’s smirk didn’t waver, but there was something unreadable in his eyes. “If you say so.”

Ilya ignored the feeling that gnawed at his chest. He headed back inside and stood in the doorway, watching as Valentina quickly gathered her things. He had no valid excuse to keep her here anymore, so it was stupid to even consider it in the first place.

Valentina finally emerged from the room, wearing one of the clothes he’d bought for her and carrying a bag with the rest of everything. Her hair was still messy from sleep, her steps slow, almost reluctant. But when she saw Ilya standing there, she smiled faintly.

“I don’t know if it’s right for me to take this along,” she said, gesturing to the bag of clothes he got her.

“Why not? They’re yours.”

“Well then,” she breathed slowly. “I guess I’ll keep them.”

Ilya didn’t respond immediately. He just stared at her as if he was trying to engrave every tiny little detail of her face into his memory. There was a moment of thick silence between them, a palpable tension hanging in the air. He wanted to say something, anything to keep her here a little longer, but he couldn’t. It was out of his control now.

Kostya’s voice broke the moment, his tone firm. “We should leave. The sooner we’re gone, the better.”

Ilya gave a short nod, going inside to change while Valentina turned toward the door. He locked up the lodge before walking to the car, his chest tightening with every step.

The drive to the Romano estate was silent. Valentina sat in the passenger seat, her hands twisting in her lap as she stared thoughtfully outside the window. Ilya kept his eyes on the road, his grip firm on the wheel. His brothers sat in the back, talking quietly amongst themselves, but the tension between him and Valentina was suffocating.

When they arrived, the Romano estate was already alive with movement. Several guards were stationed at the grand entrance, and at the top of the stone steps, her family was waiting.

Her father stood at the center, an imposing figure in a dark suit, his scrutinizing eyes locked on the approaching vehicle. Beside him, her siblings stood, all tense, all waiting.

Valentina was already opening the door before Ilya could kill the engine. By the time she stepped out of the car, her family moved as one.

Her brothers reached her first, pulling her into fierce embraces, murmuring things he couldn’t hear. The smile on her face could compete with the sun, and he caught himself staring a little too long.

Lorenzo Romano hung back, watching, assessing, before finally stepping forward. Ilya remained by the car, observing. He told himself he was simply ensuring she made it inside safely. That’s all.

Don Romano eventually turned his sharp gaze toward him and his brothers. He descended the steps, stopping in front of Ilya.

“Ilya.” His voice was steady, formal, carrying the weight of their world. “You upheld your end of the agreement.” A beat passed, then he nodded, a hint of a smile on his face. “You have my gratitude.”

Ilya nodded back, the exchange unspoken but understood. He responded without looking at him, his eyes still on Valentina, laughing with her sister. “She’s safe. That’s all that matters.”

If Lorenzo noticed the affection on Ilya’s face, he spoke nothing of it. His lips pressed into a thin line as if he wanted to say more, but he didn’t. Instead, he extended a hand.

Ilya clasped it, firm and brief.

“You’re welcome in my home,” Lorenzo added, the words carefully chosen. Ilya glanced at him. “Should you ever need it.”

Another nod, then the Don turned back to rejoin his reuniting family.

Ilya exhaled sharply, pushing down the strange, hollow sensation settling in his chest. He wasn’t used to feeling like this―like something had been taken from him, even though it had never been his in the first place.

Valentina finally turned, making her way back to him.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

She looked at him with something unreadable in her eyes, and he―he had no idea what the fuck he was supposed to say or do. What he really wanted to do was kiss the shit out of her right there, but he wasn’t exactly looking forward to her oldest brother lodging a bullet in his skull.

He’d gotten a taste of her now. He knew what it felt like to have her trembling beneath him. He knew what to say to make her walls break. He knew what to say to rile her up or make her blush.

Was he just supposed to pretend none of that happened?

A simple goodbye felt insufficient. But anything more would be―

“Well,” she said, crossing her arms, “looks like you’re free of me now.”

Despite the turmoil in his chest, his lips curled into a smirk. “Finally.”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t move just yet.

His pride made it easy for him to pretend he wasn’t bothered by her leaving his side.

The silence stretched.

Ilya forced himself to break it. “Take care, Valentina.”

She blinked as if she hadn’t expected that. And then, with one last look and imperceptible nod, she turned and walked away.

And that was it.

For the next three weeks, he threw himself back into work. There were shipments to oversee, meetings to handle, errands to run, and enemies to keep at bay. Nikolai business didn’t stop just because something inside him felt… off.

But despite everything―despite her no longer being there―he couldn’t get Valentina out of his goddamn head. And it was beginning to become a serious problem.