Page 24 of Bratva King

"Why did you?” She genuinely wanted to know. "You could've left me on the ground.”

"I could have,” Alexei admitted. He sat on the edge of the bed, putting a small distance between them, so he wasn’t quite touching her. “But from the moment you fired that first shot, there was something about you that felt familiar. You intrigued me."

Her heart skipped. It wasn't a declaration of love, yet somehow, it affected her more than one.

"And when I realized it was you..." His voice dropped. "I knew I couldn't leave you behind again."

"So you brought me home like some wounded stray you wanted to keep?” The words escaped before she could stop them.

She had no intention of attempting another escape, at least not yet. Natalia simply wanted to know where she stood in his eyes.

Alexei tightened his jaw.

“No. It’s nothing like that, and you know it,” Alexei said sharply.

He reached for her hand. She should have pulled away, but she let him lace his fingers through hers instead. His hand was still wonderfully warm, like the rest of his body.

"You matter to me, Natalia,” he said, then brushed his thumb lightly across her knuckles. "You always have."

Her chest tightened painfully. Was he telling her the words she wanted to hear, to ensure she would be more compliant?

"But you broke your promise.” The words slipped out before she could stop them. "You said you'd come back for me."

Alexei visibly flinched. The reaction was immediate, real. For the first time since she'd known him, proud, unshakable Alexei Volkov looked haunted.

"I'm sorry.” The apology came quietly, and without excuses. Alexei continued, “I truly am."

Alexei took a deep breath. It was clear he needed to unload his thoughts, so she decided to listen without interrupting.

"I thought the coast was clear.” His fingers never left hers. "I never saw the sniper." As he spoke, he began undoing the first few buttons of his black shirt.

Natalia frowned. "What are you doing?"

Instead of answering, he pulled the fabric aside, revealing an old scar just above his heart. There was no denying what it was. A bullet wound. Natalia had her own share of scars, accumulated through her profession.

Her breath caught. Without thinking, she reached out. She brushed her fingertips against the uneven skin. Instead of stopping her, Alexei covered her hand with his own. He held it there, as though he'd been waiting years for someone to touch that scar without fear.

"One of my father's men found me," he said quietly. "He dragged me back before I bled out. I fought him, tried to get back to you, but I lost consciousness." His gaze met hers. "The first thing I did after waking was send men back.” His voice broke ever so slightly. "You were already gone."

Natalia swallowed hard. So he had come back. He really had. The belief she'd clung to for ten years, that he'd abandoned her without looking back, cracked down the middle.

"What happened to you, Natalia?” His question was almost whispered. “I mean, I’ve read your file, but I want to hear the answer in your own words nonetheless.”

For ten years she'd never answered that question, not for anyone. Secrets kept people alive. The less anyone knew about your past, the fewer weapons they could use against you. However, this was Alexei—her Alexei.

No, cruel voice whispered inside her mind, not yours. Not yet. Taking a shaky breath, Natalia finally told him everything. She told him how Emil had found her huddled in the car. How he'd taken her in, not out of kindness, but because he saw potential.

She spoke of endless years of brutal training, of learning to shoot before sunrise, to disappear into crowds, to kill without hesitation. She told him about every lesson beaten into her, every piece of the frightened girl she had once been stripped away until only an assassin remained.

Alexei never interrupted. He simply listened, as she did before. He absentmindedly stroked the back of her hand with her thumb continually, grounding her whenever her voice threatened to fail. Finally, after what felt like hours, she reached the end.

"When the contract to kill you came—” Natalia paused, and a sad smile touched her lips. "I accepted it immediately."

Alexei lifted one handsome eyebrow.

"I wanted the assignment."

“Why?" Alexei asked.