Viktor(82)

Viktor laughs and shakes his head. “Well, I’m glad you came back.”

Winston folds his arm around Viktor’s shoulder and helps him walk. “Me too, boy … Me too.”





***





Viktor





A few hours later





I was ready. Ready to give up on life … ready to die.

I’d lost the will to go on, knowing I’d lost her. I knew Vladim would come for me, but at least, she’d be with her sister where she could be happy.

I never thought I’d see her face again.

When I saw her standing in the doorway, I knew I had to fight.

Somehow, I regained the strength to fight back, even though I don’t know where the sudden rush of energy came from. Maybe it was because seeing her a final time gave me the kick I needed … or maybe it was realizing that she cares about me as much as I care about her. All I knew was that I needed to survive.

So I did what I had to do, clawing and punching my way through him with every breath I took. Until she made the decision … and she let me win.

She saved me.

Not just my life but my heart, too.

She chose me over her father, over her past, and with it, the hope flooded back into my mind once again. I won’t take it for granted.

As we sit here on the couch in the living room, tending to our wounds, I finally feel at ease. Even though bodies are everywhere, we’re safe now. None of Vladim’s men will do anything without his command, so if he’s dead … well, let’s just say they won’t be doing much for the coming years. Maybe they’ll even dismantle, who knows.

Not that I care right now. She is all I care about as I watch the smile on her face as she cleans the hole in my stomach. I hiss, but I don’t shout at her anymore. I’ve learned from my mistakes.

She’s gently patting the bruises with a cloth, carefully wiping the blood off my forehead. I like looking at her when she’s like this … almost as if she’s taking care of me.

“There. It’ll probably stay bruised for some time, but at least the blood’s gone.” She rinses the cloth in the water and wrings it. “And for the gaping hole …” She grabs a bottle of alcohol and pours some on the cloth, making me cringe. “Just stay still; this’ll only take a few seconds,” she says, as she dabs the cloth on my wound.

“It fucking stings,” I growl.

“I know, but you gotta bite through it.”

Winston comes back with his usual tray of stitching supplies. “Luckily, you’re not in such bad shape this time.”

“Luckily …” I snort. “Right.”

“At least, you’re alive,” Alexis says. “You almost gave up on that, didn’t you? Why?”

I look at her and take a deep breath. “You.”

She shakes her head. “You shouldn’t—”

“I’m not afraid, Lexi. I’m not gonna hide. I know what I feel for you, and I need it more than I need anything. I need you more than I need my life. I love you.”

I grab her face and caress her cheeks, forcing myself to remember every curvature and dip in her skin.

“I know you do … I already knew it when you let me go to my sister.” She swallows and then looks at me. “I knew it because you were ready to lay down your life for me … And because you stopped when I asked you to spare Vladim, even though he didn’t deserve it.”

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I shouldn’t have put you in that position.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m fine, really,” she says, a hint of a smile tugging at her lip. “I didn’t know him. I actually hated him for what he did to you. I just didn’t wanna lose my father … but what kind of father would he be?”

“Not a good one,” Winston says, and he raises a brow. “Be right back. I’ll get some clean water.” He picks up the bowl and walks away, even though we don’t need any more water.

“Funny guy,” I say.

“Yeah, Stan just wants to give us some time alone. He thinks it’s important for me to have a… friend.”

“Just a friend?” I raise a brow.

“Anything.” I try to sit up as best as I can so I can look at her, even though it hurts. “If the only way to keep you in my life is by being friends, then I’ll take it.” I grab her hand. “I just want you. Close.”

She starts to laugh. “Are you kidding me? Fuck, no. If I’m gonna be here, might as well be your fucking girlfriend.”

I burst into a smile. “All right, I’ll take it.”

“Good.” She puts the tissues away. “All done here. Just need to wait for Stan to sew you up. You’re one lucky motherfucker you know that? None of your organs were hit, according to him.”