80. -79- #2
She ran to me, and I dropped to my knees and caught her against my chest. The impact nearly knocked me backward, but I held on, one arm around her and the other reaching blindly for Nina.
She glimpsed her bloodied clothes, but came down beside us. Aryna sobbed against my neck, clinging so tightly that her plastic restraints dug into my skin.
“It’s okay, angel,” I whispered into her hair. “You’re safe.”
Her whole body trembled in my embrace, my heart almost breaking under the weight of guilt. This could never happen again.
Carefully, Zyon reached between us and freed Aryna’s hands.
“She saved us,” Nina said proudly, patting Aryna’s head gently. “She bit the bad guy.”
“You did?” I pulled away slightly, my brows raising in surprise. Aryna nodded carefully, a tiny smile appearing in the corner of her mouth.
“He screamed.” She looked at Nina shyly.
“He really did.” Nina laughed. “And then she listened and hid from another bad man.” She leaned closer and tenderly kissed her forehead. “You did amazing, angel. I’m very proud of you.”
Aryna’s eyes shone brightly as she stared at Nina in awe.
“I’m proud of both of you,” I added, squeezing them. Aryna squeaked like a trapped mouse, but what slightly startled me was Nina’s painful gasp.
“I’m sorry.” I immediately let her go. “We need to get you to the hospital.”
“I’m fine,” she protested, but I didn’t listen to her. Effortlessly, I lifted her off the ground, and Aryna clapped excitedly.
“Mommy!” she squealed. “You’re like a princess from my book.”
“Yeah. A true damsel in distress.” Nina rolled her eyes, but her head rested against my shoulder. I kissed her forehead and moved to the door, passing Zyon.
“Lucas and Matteo are checking the perimeter with our men,” he informed me, then looked at Nina with an expression I had never seen him give anyone outside our family. Respect.
“Pretty impressive for a spoiled mafia princess.” He winked at her. “You had all the fun.”
“Next time, drive faster.” She smiled at him. “You won’t miss it.”
“Noted.” Zyon nodded, while I said resolutely, “There won’t be a next time.”
“Don’t wanna break it to you, brother.” Zyon slammed my shoulder as I tried to carry Nina out of the warehouse. “But she looks like the type who loves these types of situations.”
Nina chuckled, pressing her face against my neck when I groaned like a wounded animal. I categorically refused to admit that my wife was a magnet to danger. Or worse, she actually enjoyed it.
Tenderly, I placed her on the back seat of Zyon’s car and sat beside her.
Aryna sat in the front because my brother magically pulled out a booster seat.
She was practically glowing with excitement.
All her fright and tears were gone as Zyon explained different buttons on the dashboard screen to her.
“Do you think she just forgot what happened?” Nina asked, leaning against me, but her eyes were fixed on Aryna. Concern shone in them.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged, curling my arm around her. “She reacted the same way with her foster family.” I looked down into my wife’s bruised but still the most beautiful face. “Like that chapter just ended. No coming back.”
“Oh, great,” she sighed. “I hope there won’t be any unresolved trauma.”
“If there is, then we’ll deal with it.”
Nina raised her head, a smile stretching her split lips. The swelling of her eye was so bad I was sure she could barely see me. My hand reached for her face, and I brushed dried blood from her cheek.
“I love you,” I whispered, the words slipping out unexpectedly and surprising us both.
“Seriously?” Nina abruptly sat up straight, grimacing and holding her side, but her gaze remained glued to me. “I had to kill three people to make you realize that?”
“Four,” I reminded her with a smile. “I still remember the most romantic one.”
“Oh.” A wicked grin, so signature for her, lit up her face. “I almost forgot about that situation.”
“You know.” I entwined our fingers, my heart clenching at the sight of her broken nails.
“I think I fell in love with you in that hotel room.” Her grin broadened, making her injured lip bleed.
Gently, I wiped the drop from her mouth, realizing not only my hand, but my entire body trembled with relief.
“I love you, Nina Zhumagulov.” I cupped her face, not sure those words could express how I felt about her. “I love you more than you can imagine.”
“I have a pretty wild imagination.” She smiled, resting her forehead against mine. “And I love you, too. Like a fucking lunatic.”
“I’ll have that tattooed right against my heart,” I muttered, my fingers tracing the line of her jaw. “So everyone knows I belong to you.”
The familiar spark of insanity flashed in her eyes.
“Mine,” she whispered against my lips, and I finally kissed her.
The world around us ceased to exist. My body, mind, my entire fucking being focused only on her. My wife.
Nina crashed into my life like a bulldozer, demolishing everything in her path to get me. And I’d be damned if I ever let her leave or let anyone take her and our daughter away from me.
They were mine. Forever.
And I was theirs.