36. Tatiana
TATIANA
“I can’t wait to get home,” I murmured.
Illias was helping me get dressed, fumbling with my hospital gown.
“I’m sorry we can’t go back to the States yet,” he stated, regret clear in his voice.
I held on to his shoulders as he slid it down my body.
I didn’t bother telling him there was a button in the back he missed.
It was clear that hospital gowns and Illias just didn’t mesh.
For all I cared, he could have ripped it off.
“That’s okay.” His eyes flicked up to my face as he threw the gown on the hospital bed.
“Is it?”
I nodded. “Yes. You can’t exactly drag your aunt– “ Prisoner. But I didn’t want to call her that.
It turned out my husband had Boris drag his aunt to Russia.
She was so certain of Adrian’s plan she didn’t even bother going into hiding.
“ –back to the States. Besides, as long as you’re with me, I’m home. ”
Satisfied with my answer, he continued with the task of getting me ready. Isla was back in France, Vasili was outside my hospital room, and my other two brothers went to fetch the car.
“Lift your foot,” Illias instructed. I did and he slipped one white legging on, then repeated the motion with the next one. He rose up to his full height, pulling my pants up and ensuring the waistband didn’t rest on the stab wound. While it didn’t hurt, it was sensitive to the touch.
“Okay, hands up,” he ordered softly.
I grinned. “Now we’re talking, Pakhan. Are you going to pat me down?”
He shook his head, amusement passing his expression, as he slid on a long off the shoulder pink sweater over me.
The dress came down to my thighs. I’d been trying to convince him I was good enough to have sex by tempting him into my hospital bed, asking him to help me take a bath, flashing him.
It all backfired. Turns out, Illias had a will of steel.
He’d lay with me; he’d bathe me; he’d kiss me. But he resisted my wiles, refusing to take it a step further. Regardless of the hunger that burned in his gaze. Much to my dismay.
I had to step up my game.
He reached for my pink Uggs next. If I had to guess, Branka helped him pick out my clothes. For some reason, she seemed obsessed with seeing me wear pink. She said it reminded her of the time we met.
“Illias?”
“Hmm.”
“What did I wear the first time we met?” I questioned him.
“At the gazebo or the restaurant?”
“Both.”
“At the gazebo, you wore a black strapless minidress. At the restaurant, you wore a long pink Valentino dress with the slit that showed your thigh each time you took a step closer to me.”
“Wow, that’s a memory,” I muttered impressed. My shoes on, we stood chest-to-chest. “I think you wore a suit.”
His eyes found mine, sparkling like black diamonds, while his lips tugged into a half-smile.
He cupped my face with a palm running a thumb over my lip.
“I did wear a suit. I remember everything about you, moya luna . Every word you uttered, what you wore, who you talked to.” My throat tightened at the intensity of his voice and stare.
“I loved you from the moment I saw that sparkle in your eyes and became obsessed.”
Happiness and love burst through my body, leaving me feeling raw. He pulled me closer, his arms around my waist, until his heartbeat thundered against my ear.
“That doesn’t sound very healthy,” I teased softly.
A half-smile pulled on his beautiful lips. “I disagree. You’re the best thing for my health. The best thing that happened to me.”
I rose to my tiptoes and brushed my lips against his. “I’m going to take care of you tonight, Husband. No more platonic shit.”
A rough chuckle rumbled in his chest. “You really know how to rattle my good intentions.”
I grinned. “I want your bad intentions tonight, Mr. Konstantin. Give it all to me.”
“God, woman.” His voice was coarse. “It’s too soon. We have to make sure you’re healed completely.”
I scoffed. Too soon! He must have lost his mind. Three weeks without his dick in my pussy. I needed it. Stat. Tonight!
“Tatiana, I see trouble on your face,” he groaned.
I rolled my eyes. “If you don’t give me your cock, you can watch me get off,” I retorted dryly. “I’ll make sure you get the full view of what you could have.”
He let out a sardonic breath. “Are you only using me for my dick?”
I shrugged, my eyes crinkling. “What else?” Playing it cool with Illias was too hard. I wanted him too much.
“For my wealth. My good looks. My heart.”
I waved my hand nonchalantly. “I got all that. I need your dick.”
There was no stopping my lips from curving into a smile.
He shook his head, though it didn’t escape me the way his eyes shone with humor.
“What am I going to do with you?” he sighed exaggeratedly.
“Fuck me?” I murmured suggestively.
Just as he was about to answer, and probably cave in, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He retrieved it, and when he saw Sasha’s name flash on the screen, he frowned.
“What is it?”
He rejected the call, shaking his head. “Your brother being a pain.”
It started vibrating again and Illias body instantly went into alert mode. “Yes?”
I could hear gunshots echoing through his headset. Tension filled the room and the temperature turned icy. My eyes widened as I leaned closer to my husband, trying to hear what was going on.
“The Volkov bitch is here…” That was all I heard.
“Which exit?” Illias barked. Another second and he hung up, then slid the phone into his pocket. He retrieved two earpieces, strapped one to his ear, then called out. “Vasili!”
My brother was in the room in the next breath. He must have gotten an update too. Illias handed him the second earpiece and while my brother put it on, my husband grabbed his gun, then scooped me up.
“You can’t run,” he explained. “It’ll be faster this way.”
I nodded, my heart thundering wildly. “What exits are safe?” Vasili asked.
“A and D,” Illias answered. “Which one do you want?”
Vasili thought for a moment, then retrieved his phone, typing quickly on his phone. “You take exit A. Exits C and D are connected. I’ll take that one.”
“Maybe we should all take exit A?” I offered.
Both of them shook their heads. “No, I’ll draw them out.” My big brother bent his head and pressed a kiss on my cheek. “I’ll meet you back at Konstantin’s place.”
I swallowed. “Promise?”
“I do.” Vasili always kept his promises.
Pulling out his own gun, Vasili wordlessly slipped out of the room.
“You hold on to me,” Illias ordered, all his soft edges gone.
He was in boss mode now. Killer mode. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on to him.
“Boris will lead us out of here.” He tapped his intercom.
“And Vasili is hooked into the network. I’ll know if anything happens.
” I gasped and he quickly added, “But we won’t let anything happen.
To any of your brothers. We’ll get out of this. ”
A terse nod and with that, he left the room, then took a back exit to the staircase ‘A’ where Sasha met us. My fingers trembled, but I trusted him. I trusted my brothers. We’d get out of here.
“Alexei is downstairs with the car,” Sasha hissed. “Boris is getting Vasili.”
“Branka?” I breathed.
“She’s already waiting for us at Konstantin’s fancy palace,” he said. “She’s the safest one right now.”
We rushed down the stairs. Every so often, one of the enemies obstructed our view. They wore masks. Sasha and Illias aimed and shot at the same time, each time putting two bullets into masked men.
“That fucking bitch, Sofia Volkov, has to be terminated,” Sasha muttered as we reached the parking lot. “There’s the car.”
Sasha pointed to the black Land Rover. Just as we approached, a few armed men tried to intercept us. As if one person, Sasha and Illias shot them both dead. The last one was shot by Alexei, behind the wheel.
“Get in the fucking car,” Alexei hissed.
“What do you think we’re doing?” Sasha growled. “Stopping for ice cream.”
I caught Illias rolling his eyes, but he wordlessly slid into the back seat, while Sasha covered him. Then once the door shut behind him, he got into the passenger seat and we were on the move even before my brother shut his door.
“Have you heard from Vasili?” Illias demanded.
“They’ve made it,” Alexei answered, relief instantly washing over me.
I was cradled on Illias’ lap, while Alexei drove like a madman through the streets of Moscow. The tires screeched each time the car turned, the wheels coming off the ground. I feared we’d eventually end up in a ditch on the side of the road. Upside down.
The memory of the last car chase flashed through my mind. A tremor rolled down my body, fear wrapping its hand around my throat.
“I’m guessing the cops don’t enforce traffic laws here,” I rasped, breaking the tense silence. My voice shook and with each second that passed by so did my whole body. My ears buzzed.
“Tatiana.” My husband called out my name, but his voice sounded faint through the bubble of panic. Slowly the world started to fade, taking me back to that night. Images of Adrian’s dead eyes were replaced with Illias’ and my heart sliced. It hurt to breathe. I wouldn’t survive losing him.
The buzzing in my ears increased.
“Look at me.” A clear demand. Firm fingers took my chin and our gazes met. “Breathe.” I gasped for air, my lungs squeezing tightly. My husband took my hand and pressed the palm against his chest. “Focus on my heartbeat.” Bu-bum. Bu-bum. Bu-bum. “That’s right. Hear it. Steady. We’re safe.”
The ringing in my ears slowly receded. The world came back into focus. I could hear my brother’s voice.
“What’s the matter with her?” Sasha growled.
“That’s right, moya luna,” Illias purred, ignoring Sasha’s glares. “Breathe. You’re doing good.”
I took a lungful of air, then slowly exhaled. Again. Then again.
Bu-bum. Bu-bum. Bu-bum.
And the whole time, Illias heartbeat drummed steady against my palm.
“What the fuck is happening to her?” Sasha hissed, worry etched in his voice and face. But I couldn’t focus on him now. I needed Illias’ steady heartbeat and the assurance in his eyes.
“Panic attack,” Alexei said in a flat voice. “Us being chased is probably not helping.”
“Well, get us the fuck out of here,” Sasha barked.
Alexei did exactly that.
And all the while, my husband’s heart beat steadily under my palm, holding me together.
My villain had turned into my king. My hero.