Page 123 of Gilded in Blood

The doctor carefully cleans the wound on my side before inspecting it.

“You’re lucky,” he says. “The bullet only grazed you.”

He finishes bandaging it before stepping back. “You’ll be sore for a few days, but you’ll be fine.”

Once the doctor leaves, exhaustion settles over the room. I look at Maxim. “I think it’s time I headed home.”

He nods. “I’ll have someone drive you.”

Before anyone else can say anything, Milana stands. “I’m going with him.”

Every head turns toward her. Mikhail frowns. “Milana⁠—”

She shakes her head. “I’m going with Kirill.”

“You should stay here tonight,” Artyom says gently.

She walks over until she’s standing beside me. “No.”

The room falls silent. No one speaks for several long seconds. Finally, Artyom lets out a resigned sigh. “If that’s what you want…”

Relief settles quietly in my chest. I hadn’t realized how worried I’d been. A part of me feared that now the danger was over, she’d choose to stay with her family. Instead, she chose me.

By the time we get back to my penthouse, Milana is fussing over me like I’m made of glass. She runs me a bath.

“You need to rest,” she says, already heading toward the kitchen. “I’ll make something for you to eat.”

I catch her arm as she tries to leave the bathroom, pulling her back to me. “Hey.”

She turns, and that’s when I see the tears in her eyes. “What’s wrong, baby?” I ask, cupping her face. “Why are you crying?”

She swallows hard. “I thought I was going to lose you. When I saw that bullet hit you, I thought you were going to die. I couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to you.”

I pull her to my chest, holding her tight, breathing her in. “You’re not losing me. I was scared too. Scared of losing you. I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to my gut. I should have never trusted Ivan to keep you safe. I should have been the one protecting you.”

She shakes her head against my chest. “It’s not your fault.”

We stay like that for a long moment, just holding each other. Finally, we pull back slightly. “How about you get in the bathtub with me?”

She helps me out of my shirt, careful with my injured side, then takes off her own clothes. We both get into the tub, her in front of me.

The warm water soothes the ache in my muscles as I wrap my good arm around her waist, pulling her back against my chest.

She turns her head slightly, looking at me. “This is the second time you’ve taken a bullet to save me.”

I kiss her temple. “And I’d gladly take many more to keep you safe.”

She shakes her head. “No. I’d rather there are no more bullets."

I lean down, kissing her softly. “I’ll try.”

We soak in silence for a while, the water warm around us. I’m so glad everything is over. Michael is gone.

No more shadow hanging over us. Now we can breathe. Now I can breathe, knowing she’s safe. And she’s here. With me.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Milana