Chapter 24 - Gela #2
“You should be more careful, Viktor,” Valentin says. “Imagine if Anton found out you've been running your own little extortion scheme without family approval, and that too, on his property.”
Viktor has a desperate, wild look on his face. “You wouldn't dare approach my brother.”
“We would if you gave us reason to,” Valentin says simply. “But if you stay away from my wife and our businesses, then maybe Anton never needs to hear about this conversation.”
“So what’ll it be, Viktor?” Miron takes a threatening step forward.
“Fine, fine. I’ll drop it,” Viktor hisses and looks away. “Now get out, the whole lot of you.”
“So, I’m guessing you don’t want to sign me on for marketing?” I smile at Viktor as I stand and walk over to Valentin.
Viktor says nothing, and Valentin laughs as he places an arm over my shoulder before leading me out. When I look back over my shoulder, Viktor’s still glowering.
***
Miron, Leonid, and their men head back to their compounds, while Valentin and I get into his car.
“So.” I turn to him, still high from what just happened. “That went well!”
“All because of you,” he grins and turns on the music. “And that joke at the end? Badass?”
“Thanks.” I let the window down, letting the breeze rip through my hair. “I quite enjoyed taking that dig.”
“You, Gela Jones,” he whoops out through his own open window. “Are a total, complete badass.”
“Thank you.” I turn to him and twist my fingers through his, which rest on the gear. “For trusting me.”
“I’ll never make the mistake of not trusting you again.” He turns to me, and the way he looks at me takes my breath away because I know he means it from the deepest corner of his heart.
We drive in silence for a while, letting the wind in, listening to the music turned up high, but something stays on my mind. I reach to lower the volume on the stereo, and Valentin glances over at me.
“What’s on your mind?” he asks, staring ahead at the road again.
“I was wondering what happens next with the Zakharovs,” I tell him.
“We had spoken through all possibilities last night, Trifon and the rest of us. Looking at what we discovered today, we don’t need to retaliate.
Anton isn’t involved, which means the Zakharov Bratva has no official beef with us.
Viktor was operating on his own, and now he knows we can expose him to his brother if he doesn't back off.”
“So it's over?” I can hardly believe it could be this simple.
“For now.” Valentin shrugs. “But we never know with these things.”
“For now, is good enough for me,” I tell him. “I could really use a break.”
He laughs and turns the music up loud again, speeding now to get us back home as quickly as he can.
***
When we’re back home, Valentin walks me in without ever letting go of my hand.
“I need a solid nap,” I tell him.
“Me too,” he agrees.
When we reach my bedroom door, he surprises me by scooping me up suddenly.
“Valentin!” I squeal when we enter, as he kicks shut the door and playfully shoves me down under him into my bed.
He grins down at me, blue eyes crinkling at the corners. “What? I can't celebrate my wife's first successful Bratva spy mission?”
“A spy mission is a bit of a stretch,” I laugh.
He rolls to his side, pulling me against his chest. “You were amazing today, Gela. I swear, I've never seen anyone pick apart a Zakharov that quickly.”
“I just followed my instincts,” I say, nestling into him.
His arms tighten around me, and he kisses me on the top of my head. “Your instincts are good. You truly fit in around here, you know? Much more than you realize.”
“All because you never let me feel like I didn’t belong here,” I whisper, tilting my face up to his. “And now? I can’t imagine being anywhere else but by your side.”
His face burns into my eyes as it softens into an expression so vulnerable, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this. My own heart slows down, like it knows this moment is one to remember forever.
“Gela Jones,” he says quietly. “I think I'm in love with you.”
His gentle words are the most enormous ones I’ve ever heard. I find my heart pick up pace, then run like it’s riding air itself, and I realize I've been waiting to hear those words and to say them back.
“I think I'm in love with you, too,” I whisper, watching his eyes light up. “Actually, no. I know I am.”
He kisses me then, soft and sweet and full of promise. When we pull apart, he rests his forehead against mine.
“I know I’m in love with you, too.” He smiles. “I never thought I’d have this, you know? Someone who understands me and doesn’t hate me for it.”
“Hate you for it? Oh, Valentin.” I brush my lips against his, letting one hand reach for his heart. “No one who knows you could ever hate you. You’re the first man to have shown me what it means to have someone on their corner.”
“You’re the first woman to ever love all of who I am. The darkness and the edges.” He kisses me back. “Thank you.”
I curl into him, feeling safe and loved and, strangely enough, freer than I’ve ever felt before.
“I love you, Valentin Yuri,” I say again, thrilled by how I can say it whenever I want.
His arms tighten around me. “I love you, too, Gela Jones. More than I thought possible.”