Page 111 of Gilded in Blood

I take it with a nod. “Thanks.”

He follows my gaze toward the pool. “I’d like to think the look on your face isn’t because you’re admiring my wife.”

A corner of my mouth lifts. “It isn’t.”

“I figured.” He takes a sip of his drink. “So that only leaves one person.”

My eyes drift back to Milana. She throws her head back, laughing at something Calina says. I can’t help smiling.

“You really love her, don’t you?”

The question hangs between us. A few months ago, I would’ve laughed in his face. Now… I let out a quiet breath.

“Yeah.” The word surprises even me. “I do.” I swirl the whiskey in my glass. “It’s… strange.”

“How so?”

“I’ve never felt anything like this before.” I shake my head. “I don’t know what the hell she’s done to me.”

Maxim chuckles under his breath. “I do.”

I glance at him. He isn’t looking at me anymore. His eyes are on Calina. The way he watches her, there’s no mistaking it. It’s the same way I look at Milana.

Like the rest of the world fades into the background whenever she’s around.

“I used to think I wasn’t capable of loving anyone,” Maxim says quietly. “Men like us usually think that.”

I don’t argue. Because he’s right.

“We spend our lives convincing ourselves we’re different. Too damaged. Too dangerous.” He smiles faintly. “Then one day, someone walks into your life and proves you wrong.” His gaze never leaves his wife. “You stop making decisions for yourself, and you start making them with another person in mind.”

I look back at Milana. She’s brushing water toward Calina, laughing when her sister splashes her back. My chest feels… full.

Maxim finally turns to me. “So, here’s my advice. Don’t run from it.” He takes another sip of his whiskey. “We’re afraid of what it means. Afraid it’ll make us weak.”

He shakes his head. “It doesn’t. It makes you human. If you spend all your time fighting what you feel, you’ll lose her.”

He gives me a small smile. “Let yourself love her. It’s one of the few things in this life that’s actually worth having.”

Maxim pats my shoulder once before finishing the last of his whiskey, before walking away.

My eyes find Milana again, and I let myself imagine a future where that smile belongs in my life for good.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Kirill

We spent most of the evening and well into the night planning our attacks on Michael. Assembling the ammunition, the guns, and selecting the men we could trust to help launch this strike.

Maxim had already reached out to Ivan and he’d agreed to meet us in the morning. By the time we finished, it was past midnight, and I was bone-tired.

I hadn’t slept on the plane. While Milana dozed, I stayed awake, keeping watch, refusing to let my guard down even for a second.

When I finally make it to the bedroom where we’ll be staying, Milana is already fast asleep, curled up on the bed. Seeing her like this, peaceful, breathing even, helps something inside me relax.

I take off my clothes and head into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the day’s tension.

I step out of the shower, dry off, and climb into bed. The moment I lie down, Milana stirs and reaches for me. Even in her sleep, she seeks me out. I pull her closer, breathing in her scent, letting it ground me.