Chapter 42
CHAPTER
FORTY-TWO
GEORGIA
It takes weeks for me to recover. Weeks lying in Andrei’s bed, his smell permeating the room, his presence everywhere, though I never see him.
As promised, he gives me space. I feel him though.
In the dead of night, he comes to me. Through the veil of sleep, I feel his touch, hear my name on his lips, feel him beside me.
Knowing he can’t stay away is a balm for my soul.
Finally, days spent bedridden turn into days punctuated with short walks down the hall.
With time, I gain enough strength to walk outside and sit in the sunshine with my father or Kira, my two constant companions.
Natalia joins me for a game of gin rummy daily at four o’clock, and even the Kozlov brothers check-in once in a while, arms laden with magazines, books, and various snacks.
Daniil even sneaks me some vodka, but when Kira discovers my little stash, she nearly loses her mind.
No one’s been as dedicated to my recovery as Kira.
She’s apologized more times than I can count until I finally told her I wouldn’t allow her to visit me if she kept on apologizing.
Guilt still fills her eyes occasionally, like when I wince getting out of bed, but I assure her, as I’ve assured Andrei, everything turned out as it was supposed to.
And it brought me immense pleasure to kill Oleg, and to know that he won’t be able to hurt anyone ever again. Especially after all the devastation he caused.
Kira, as the Antonov heir, gave my father back the lease to the restaurant, refusing anything in return. Claiming it was the least she could do after all we had been through at her father’s hands. The Kozlovs are even helping my father with the restaurant, renovating it back to its former glory.
When she’s not with me, Kira spends her time dismantling the rotten bits of the Antonov empire and merging the parts she wants to keep with the Kozlovs. She got more than her heart’s desire—a seat at the table and a family—and nothing makes me happier.
I’m nearly one hundred percent recovered, feeling stronger than ever.
Even though the Kozlovs’ personal physician has already given me a clean bill of health to take up everyday activities, everyone is encouraging me to take more time to recover.
I promised to take it easy, but I let them know in no uncertain terms that I would start up regular life activities soon.
I am clear about one thing: moving forward, I need to put my passion first. I’ll always be there for my dad, and help him through whatever comes next, but now I have to pursue what makes me happy.
I am going to continue chasing the joy I’ve found living here with Andrei.
I’ve decided to go back to college, but this time focus on drawing and painting with the hope of one day becoming an art teacher.
I also plan to keep up Krav Maga lessons, because, damn my ass is looking fine if I may say so myself.
Tonight, Kira has organized a celebratory dinner for my last night as a patient. Tomorrow, I am free to do as I please, and go where I please. Even if that means leaving the Kozlov estate and never turning back.
As I step into the grand dining room, tears threaten to fall down my face. Everyone I hold near and dear is gathered in one room. And sitting at the head of the table is Andrei, his eyes trained on me, flashing with an intensity I haven’t seen before.
Breathlessly, I walk towards him. He’s devastating as he pulls out the chair beside him and motions for me to sit down.
Dressed in a tailored dark suit, as if he knows his bespoke suits are my weakness.
His inked hands grip the back of my chair, pulling it out for me to take a seat.
His nearness, after all this time, shakes me to my very core, and causes delicious shivers to run up my spine.
My father sits across from me with Natalia beside him, Kira on my left, the Kozlov brothers at the far end of the table with Yulian, and his wife, Rowan, who I am meeting for the first time tonight.
It’s a strangely thrilling sight; my father is at the table with my onetime captors.
Kira, once known as Piper, breaking bread with her former employers, now her family.
My stomach bubbles with joy, because somehow, everything seems to have worked out.
Andrei takes his seat after tucking me in, and the energy between us is on fire.
Weeks of not seeing this man and my panties may self-combust. A host of servers enters the room, carrying platters laden with delicious smelling food.
Even with the commotion, it’s impossible to tear my eyes away from Andrei.
Was he always so damn fine? This man, with his impossibly handsome face and protected heart, is my undoing.
Daniil clears his throat loudly from the other end of the table. “We can leave you two alone if you prefer.”
My cheeks flame, but I playfully narrow my eyes at him. “Hilarious,” I say, just as Andrei says, “Please do.”
He leans back in his seat and raises his eyebrows at us, while Kira gives him a playful slap on the arm—a warning to behave. “As if that’s any fun,” he drawls.
Leo, looking more at ease than I’ve ever seen him, rests his eyes on his sister.
The spark of affection in his gaze tugs at my heart.
“Kira, one thing you will learn about Daniil here is that behaving is not his strong-suit. In fact, he much prefers to misbehave. Best to ignore him. It’s like feeding ducks.
If you start, they’ll chase you around looking for scraps of food. ”
Kira, glowing in the candlelight, rests a finger on her lips. “I’ll keep that in mind. Although it’s really hard to ignore him when he brings me all that baklava he keeps on making.”
My father laughs heartily. “I’m afraid that is my fault. I taught Daniil how to make it at the restaurant, and he’s become quite the little pastry chef. After you master the Greek pastries, we may have to move on to Russian sweets.”
Rowan, a pastry chef herself, perks up at Dad’s comment. “Count me in. I’d love to make pastila for Yulian. It’s his favorite, right?”
Yulian smiles indulgently at his wife. “Anything you make is my favorite,” he says, leaning in for a lingering kiss.
Natalia sighs. “I never thought I’d live to see the day. A Kozlov man in the kitchen.”
“Hey.” Andrei grins. “I made scrambled eggs and toast once.”
“Yeah,” Natalia rolls her eyes. “Nearly burned down the kitchen, if I recall.”
“I never said I was successful.”
Beside me, Kira digs into her steak, humming happily. “Luckily, you employ the best Russian chef this side of the Atlantic. I could certainly get used to life under this roof.”
The air is sucked out of the room for a moment, all three brothers shifting their attention to their younger sister.
“I hope so,” Andrei says gently. “You are our family. You belong here, if you can stand us.”
Kira dabs her mouth with her napkin and sits back, a smirk playing on her lips.
“I’m sorry. Was I not clear enough when I said I could get used to living here?
As in, I have no plans to leave for the foreseeable future.
” Her eyes sparkle with mischief. “Well, until I meet a man that sweeps me off my feet.”
Leo puts his hands over his ears. “Please, no mention of boyfriends just yet. I’m still adjusting to this whole little sister thing.” His comment garners chuckles from around the table.
“Damn right,” Daniil leans over and rubs her head playfully. “We have a lot of time to make up for, sis.”
“Uh, watch the hair, D,” she says, in her best bratty voice, smoothing down her short blonde locks.
The rest of the night is pretty raucous.
We eat like kings and drink like frat boys, but the whole time I am aware of a volatile energy rolling off of Andrei, one that dances around me and threatens to consume me.
And damn, I want him to consume me. Judging by the need pulsing deep in my core, I will not make it much longer without Andrei Kozlov’s hands all over me.
I’m ready to tell him how I feel, but he beats me to the punch.
“I propose a toast,” Andrei says, rising to his feet and raising a glass of champagne. Composed as ever, despite the round of vodka shots that Daniil just insisted we all do. “To Georgia, and her amazing recovery. Za zdаrovie.”
We all take a sip as Andrei stays standing. He clears his throat, the smallest of nervous gestures. He’s about to say more, but I stop him by standing up beside him. It’s my turn to say something.
“I’d like to offer my own toast,” I say, glass in hand.
I’ve thought long and hard about what I want to tell this group of people.
The people who have somehow come to mean more to me than anyone else in the world.
“To all of you. My friends and family. The day Oleg took me was the worst day of my life, second to the day my mother died.” My father looks down in his lap, and I know my words have touched a chord.
“But I wouldn't change any of it because it led me here—to all of you. But especially to you.” My eyes land on Andrei, and I turn to face him. He’s still as a statue, not moving, maybe not even breathing.
“I know you want to keep me safe, and shelter me from this world—your world—but there is no place I am safer than in your arms. You’ve given me time and space to make my decision, and I still choose you. ”
Andrei nearly slumps with relief, and it feels like everyone at the table releases a breath along with him. “You’re too precious for this world, but I’m not strong enough to deny you. I can’t. I’ll move heaven and earth for you, and anywhere in between. But I need to know something, krasotka.”
Before I can register what’s happening, he’s down on one knee and pulling a small black velvet case out of his pocket.
Oh boy. The realization of what he is about to do hits me right in the solar plexus and I can barely hold myself together, my hands shaking in anticipation.
The pleased look on my father’s face tells me that Andrei has his blessing.
“I never thought love was in my future, and I was fine with that. A loveless marriage seemed preferable. It was clean, no messy emotion to get in the way. But I found you, the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. Every day and always. Forever.”
My heart lurches into my throat. Marriage was not top of mind, but looking at Andrei after everything we’ve shared, after everything we’ve been through together, there’s no question in my mind that he’s my soulmate. My every day, always and forever, wrapped in one delicious package.
“So what do you say, krasotka? Do you want me as your husband?”
“Hell yes!” He stands and kisses me hard on the mouth while the room breaks into raucous cheers and congrats. I pull his face close to mine. “You know there is no one else for me, don’t you? You’re my everything.”
And as our lips touch and my mouth opens for him, I know that I’m his everything too. And no one in the world could make me happier.