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But I’m also scared. Will he be the same man after all is said and done? It was difficult enough for him to live through his trauma in words, but to meet it in flesh and blood could break him.
Yet, despite my fears, I believe in him. He doesn’t run from his fears, but faces them head-on like a man. And as his wife, I will stand by him, for better or for worse.
I place my hand on my belly as Ivan stands up, grateful for how far we’ve already come.
24
Viktor
You cross me, and you won’t live long enough to flee the country.
I’ve already decided that I will kill Alex Levin. Nothing he can say or do will prevent that from happening, but I want to hear what he has to say for himself. I want the excuses to flow from his tongue, the regret to be painted all over his miserable face before he dies.
I don’t tell anyone about my plan, though. I keep it close to my heart, hiding my true intentions in the same comfortable way that I hid my past from myself. Nobody will know until the time comes, and then it will be too late. There’s no talking me out of this.
Sage isn’t opposed to me bringing Alex to the house, but she is concerned about how I’m going to react. She thinks I’m weak because I’ve been hurt before, but the hurt only made mestronger. I will prove to her that I can do this, that I’m the man she needs and can rely on.
This is for us. For our love and for our baby.
The house is oddly quiet the day that Alex is located and snatched from his swanky hotel on the north side of town. Sage hasn’t been very talkative, but I know she’s been thinking about this day. The baby is an afterthought until this gets resolved.
I’ll admit that my mind has been everywhere but on her. I feel guilty for not giving her enough attention, but I won’t be able to give her my heart until my own is at peace. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be true and whole, and she’d know that I’m not being honest.
I don’t wish to be cold, however, so I still kiss her deeply and make love to her every night. I’ve just been distant, and neither of us has said a word about the future, about the pregnancy or the baby.
We still have eight months, give or take a few weeks, so it’s not the most pressing matter. When it does get to be a little closer, my wife and child will have my full attention. Nothing will distract me from them after this.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, dragging my attention back to the present. I glance at the screen. It’s the notification I’ve been waiting for. Ivan is here with Alex. They have him tied up in a van in the driveway, and they’ll be bringing him in when I’m ready.
I don’t know how I expected to feel, but it wasn’t the calm that’s now washing over my body. The nervous anticipation I had fades into a dull throb of uncaring in the back of my head, and is replaced by the solemn cloud of what must be done.
My emotions are disconnected again, like they are with every other person I’ve killed. Alex won’t be able to hurt me, physically or emotionally. I’ve grown much more powerful than the Levin family ever was, and now is my time to finally squash them into the dirt.
My feet feel light as I walk to the kitchen where Sage is talking to the maid, Lidia. They’ve grown close over the past weeks, and it’s nice to see Sage settling in and making friends. I think women need someone to talk to, more so than men. Maybe I’m wrong, but that does seem to be the case.
Lidia, however, isn’t really part of the Bratva. She has connections, but I prefer that my housekeeping and landscapers stay away from the gritty nature of mafia work. They’re not criminals and have no association with crime other than turning the other cheek when things get ugly.
Lidia is especially talented at ignoring things she’s not supposed paid to be involved with, but I’d rather her not be in the house at all when I bring Alex in for his final moments.
“Ladies,” I say, clapping my hands together to draw their attention as I enter the kitchen.
Sage and Lidia both turn their heads to me at the same time.
“You look a bit spooked,” I say with a chuckle. “No need to be. I just have some business to attend to in the house, and I’d like Lidia to go to the garden and perhaps gather some fresh vegetables for dinner later this evening. Take your time with it, please. No need to rush.”
Lidia knows exactly what I’m saying, nodding dutifully and immediately rushing out of the kitchen. Sage looks a little moreconfused, probably because of my cheerful demeanor. I’m sure she expects me to be a lot more serious with Alex coming over.
“Our special guest is waiting outside,” I say when Lidia is out of earshot.
Sage frowns. “Alex?”
I nod, moving over to her. “Yes, and although I’m sure you’d like to be there, I’d prefer you not to be.”
“You know I can’t do that,” she says, pursing her lips as I slip my hand around her waist. “I’m with you, whether you want me to be or not.”
I plant a small kiss on her forehead. “I always want you to be. I just don’t want you to witness any more of this mess. You’ve seen enough.”
“I’ll see everything you have to see,” she insists. “I don’t want you trying to protect me from it. If I’m involved, I’m involved completely. I’m your wife, after all.”
