Evelyn
Two Months Later
Home.
Such a simple word to hold endless emotions.
We were nestled into the North Hungarian Mountains, surrounded by trees. We had privacy, but it was fifteen minutes into the city, where Laszlo already showed me the fresh markets, the shops.
Our shops. The one I would actually be able to create out of, not just sell other people’s creations. The one where he would work, ordering in stylish and bespoke fashion for wealthy visitors.
I was glad he’d spent so much time teaching me Hungarian. I was still learning, but now that I was around native speakers, I’d pick it up easily.
I cried when we arrived at the house. The one we’d picked out when I was sat on his lap, edging us both into oblivion. The yellow paint was replaced with a brick red, the exterior restored with modern fixtures and security.
The house was everything I wanted, and nothing I ever thought I’d have.
He carried me over the threshold, and I hugged his neck.
“It looks better than it did from the videos,” he said, and I agreed. It was at once welcoming and spacious. He grunted, shifted weight from one foot to the other, and I hopped out of his arms.
“Your ankle bothering you?”
He fractured it, back in Newburyport, then ran through the forest trying to find me. Trying to save me.
“It’s fine, must be the altitude change.”
I narrowed my eyes with suspicion. “Hm, fine, but just in case, I’ll be giving you a massage tonight.”
“I won’t say no to that.”
We explored the kitchen, the living room, the sun room. It was renovated with purpose, to make it our own, and each room was a different colour. Instead of modern art there was pastoral scenes of people in fields, flowers, and of course, plenty of geodes and sparkly stones.
Our offices were across the hall from each other.
Mine faced the back yard, the windows offering nothing but trees and peace.
His faced the driveway, where he could watch for intruders.
Some things never changed.
One of his monitors flashed on and his gaze snapped to it.
Anxiety still kept my Python coiled, and I stroked his shoulder, soothing it away.
Two weeks ago, he was able to decrypt more of the data he stole from the mansion, found a possible lead on where Lilien might have gone.
His parents had once owned a place in Lausanne, Switzerland, that was burned down a few years ago, and there was suspected arson.
The Bratva had a file on it, suspected Lilien was behind it.
Maybe the siblings were still similar after all these years.
“They’re not going to find us. And they won’t find Lilien, either. She’s stayed hidden this long, and after what we did…” I murmured.
He swallowed the lump in his throat, pulling me into his side, kissing the top of my head. “They won’t have the resources to find her, or hurt anyone else.” Laszlo turned to face me, lifting my chin, meeting my eyes.
“You protected her, in the end. Just like you protected me.”
We were finally free from our pasts.
His kiss was gentle, and on his lips, I tasted the promise of our future.
Thank you for reading! This book was a true passion project, and I’m so grateful to be able to share Laszlo and Evelyn’s beautiful love story with you.
Sign up for my newsletter to be notified when I have a new release on the way and get a special spicy bonus scene set in the one year gap where Laszlo buys Lyn Silver Belle’s.
Please consider leaving a review so that other readers can decide if they’d enjoy this book.
~Alexis Abbott
Want more mafia romance? Check out Sold to the Hitman
She’s terrified of me. She should be.
I'm no saint, but apparently even killers have limits.
When the Bratva hired me as security for the night, I didn't know it was a flesh trade. I could have kept my cool, done my job, but then I saw her. Pure as a lily, dressed in skimpy lingerie, and being auctioned off to the foulest men in Brighton Beach.
I'm not used to this white knight shit, but I did what I had to do. I outbid those pieces of trash.
I bought myself a bride.
What the hell do I do with a sweet, subservient woman who's been trained to obey her husband?
I can think of some things my baser instincts want me to do...
But when she submits to me, I'm going to be the man that deserves it, not just the one she owes it to.
So I'm going to make her life better. I'm going to make her want me just as bad as I want her.
And at night, when my new princess is slumbering, I'm going to make every one of those pimps pay in blood.
I will protect her, and our unborn baby.