Page 104 of Exacting Vengeance

“Lebedev is being charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder. For a conspiracy charge, we don’t need to prove the murders actually happened. All we need is an overt act. The purchase of that land to conceal the bodies is the overt act. He’ll do hard time for that.” Sliding closer, Kyle clasped her hand, squeezing it. “I would never put you and our baby at risk by letting you testify against the Bratva.”

As much as she wanted to see more into his words—our baby—she couldn’t let herself head down that path. Not yet. Not until she told him the rest. “You should know I gave a lot of what was left of the money to Father Sergei’s children’s program. He used it to renovate an entire wing of the church and furnish it with computers, books, and other supplies.”

For the first time since he walked in her door, he smiled. “I figured that.” He held her hand to his lips. “That’s one of a thousand reasons why I’m so in love with you.”

“What?” Her mouth fell open. Had she heard him correctly?

He laughed. “Don’t look so shocked. I fell in love with you ten years ago. Four weeks ago, I fell in love with you all over again.” He sobered, his expression turning serious, his voice gruff with emotion. “Whatever you want, I’ll get it for you. Whatever you need, I’ll take care of.” Tenderly, he cupped her cheek. “I love you,” he whispered. “I’ve always loved you, and I love our baby.”

The lump in her throat was so big Victoria could barely speak. After everything that had happened, happiness was finally at her doorstep.

She drew him down and linked her arms behind his neck. “We love you, too,” she whispered back, smiling through the unchecked tears streaming down her face.

“Life is too short and far too precious, and I’m never letting you go again,” he said hoarsely. “I don’t know what kind of a father I’ll make, but I promise you, he or she will never lack for love in the Gates family. Neither will you.” She held her breath. Was he about to— “Will you marry me?”

She nodded, slowly at first, then emphatically. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

When he leaned down to kiss her, his lips were warm and gentle, as if he worried she’d break in two. She clasped his face, loving the feel of bristle on his lean cheeks as she pulled him in tighter and kissed him back with all the pent-up passion they’d missed out on for the last ten years. She never wanted to let him go again, either.

“Promise me something,” she said against his lips.

“Anything.” He continued kissing her lips, her cheeks, her ears.

“You put your life in danger to save me. Don’t ever do that again. I don’t want to live my life without you.”

He stopped kissing her. “If you were dead, my life wouldn’t have mattered. You are my life now.” His gaze dipped. “Both of you.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, branding this moment into her memory so she would never forget it. When she opened her eyes, Kyle was watching her. The corners of his mouth lifted, his eyes conveying more love than she could possibly have hoped for. The wetness on his cheeks wasn’t from her tears alone. She loved him. He loved her.

No matter what came next in their lives, they’d face it together.

Epilogue

One month later.

Victoria looked at herself in the mirror, at the diamond-and-pearl teardrop earrings Kyle had given her and the matching necklace he’d sent over as a wedding gift. She’d wanted to give him a special gift, too, but he’d insisted that she was his gift. She and their baby.

Ironically, in the days following his proposal, they hadn’t seen much of each other. Kyle had been working seven days a week, some days for nearly twelve hours. But he’d always come home to her. They’d spent those nights in bed, talking, then holding each other and making love, cherishing every single moment.

Since he’d proposed, Kyle had done so many beautiful things for her she thought her heart would burst.

First, he’d packed up her meager belongings and moved them into his house, then he’d given her the news he was putting the house on the market, so they could pick out another home—together. His final gift was to pay for her psychology doctorate, so she didn’t have to wait to fulfill her four-year agreement with Brad.

“I can totally see you as a blond.” Gina’s face appeared in the mirror over Victoria’s shoulder. “I’m not convinced, but they say blonds have more fun.”

Victoria turned her head from side to side, examining the natural blond roots that had begun to make an appearance. Since she no longer had to hide from anyone, she’d started growing it out. She smiled at her reflection. “In that case, I’m looking forward to more fun in my life.” Something that had been lacking for so long, she’d forgotten what true fun really was.

“No Champagne for you.” Gina poured sparkling cider into a crystal flute and handed it to her. Surprisingly, she also filled another empty flute on the table with cider.

“Can we talk for a second?” Victoria asked. She’d wanted to say something earlier, but there’d been no opportunity. “I didn’t mean to detract from the importance of your own wedding. I know it’s barely a month away. It’s just that, uh, I’m kind of in a hurry.” She gave Gina a hesitant smile as she pointed to her belly.

“Don’t sweat it.” She squeezed Victoria’s shoulder and smiled. “I understand. Really, I do.”

“Thanks. Really.” Gina and her friends had become such a big part of her life lately, she’d worried about offending her.

Gina winked, then set the cider down and picked up an open bottle of Champagne and topped off everyone else.

“Ladies,” Victoria said, holding up her glass , “I want to thank you for all that you’ve done. Your support has been endless, and you’re nothing short of miracle workers.”