ログインLiora’s POVThe fourth day without Nikolai felt like the longest one yet.I woke up with a heavy ache in my chest, reaching instinctively for his side of the bed only to find it cold and empty. His pillow still carried a faint trace of his scent, but it was fading. I hugged it tightly for a long moment, breathing him in before forcing myself to get up. The bracelet on my wrist felt like my only anchor as I touched it repeatedly, running my fingers over the engraved crest.I tried to stay busy, but the anxiety was worse today. Every shadow in the mansion seemed darker, every quiet hallway lonelier. I kept imagining the worst — what if something went wrong in Krasnodar? What if he was hurt? What if he couldn’t come back to us as soon as he promised?I pushed the dark thoughts down as best as I could and went to see Alora. She was the one bright spot in these difficult days.“Mommy!” she called out happily when I walked into the medical wing, reaching for me with her good arm. Her ener
Liora’s POV The third night without Nikolai felt like the hardest one yet. I missed him so badly it was a constant, deep ache in my chest. Every corner of the mansion reminded me of him the garden where he’d carried me while tickling and kissing me, the bedroom where we’d shared so much passion and tenderness, even the medical wing where he’d been so gentle with Alora. The bracelet on my wrist felt heavier with every passing hour, a constant reminder that he was out there somewhere, handling dangerous things while I waited. I spent most of the day trying to stay strong for our daughter. Alora was doing much better now, her energy was returning, and she was able to move around the room more freely with her splint. We had sweet moments together that warmed my heart even through the sadness. “Mommy, story!” she demanded happily when I arrived in the morning, patting the bed beside her. I climbed in and pulled her into my lap, reading her favorite books with all the silly voices
Nikolai’s POV The warehouse district in Krasnodar smelled like rust, oil, and desperation. I stood in the shadows with Dmitri and a small tactical team, watching the target building through binoculars. The night air was cool against my skin, but my mind was anywhere but here. Every few minutes, my hand drifted to my phone in my pocket, checking for messages from Liora. Nothing new. The last text from her, a simple “Be safe. I love you” was still burning in my chest. “Pakhan,” Dmitri said quietly beside me. “The team is in position. We have eyes on two of the debtors inside. The third is expected any minute.” I nodded sharply, forcing my focus back to the operation. “Good. No mistakes tonight. We take them alive if possible. I want to deliver the message personally.” One of the team leaders spoke into his earpiece. “Movement on the east side. Three armed guards.” I gave the signal. “Move in. Quiet until we’re inside.” We moved like ghosts through the darkness, years of trainin
Liora’s POV The third day without Nikolai felt heavier, like the mansion itself was holding its breath. I spent most of the morning trying to keep busy. I helped in the garden for a while, trimming flowers and pulling weeds, but my mind kept wandering back to him. The bracelet on my wrist felt warm from constant touching, a small reminder that he was out there somewhere, thinking about me too. Later, as I walked back toward the house, I overheard two of the staff members whispering near the side entrance. Their voices were low, but the words carried on the breeze. “…heard there’s been some trouble in Krasnodar. The Pakhan had to go personally. They say it’s dangerous…” “I worry about him. If something happens to the boss…” I froze behind a tall hedge, heart pounding. Threats. Danger. The words sank into me like ice. I knew Nikolai’s world was violent and complicated, but hearing it spoken out loud while he was gone made it feel much more real. My hands trembled as I clutched t
Liora’s POV The second day without him felt heavier than the first. I spent most of the morning with Alora in the medical wing. She was getting stronger every day — her little face lit up when I walked in, and she reached for me with her good arm, demanding hugs and stories. We played gentle games on the bed, stacking colorful blocks and pretending her stuffed wolf was on an adventure. I read her favorite picture books, doing all the silly voices Nikolai usually did, but my heart wasn’t fully in it. “Daddy?” Alora asked suddenly, looking up at me with those big hazel eyes so similar to his. “When is Daddy coming home?” The question pierced right through me. I swallowed the lump in my throat and smiled, brushing her hair back gently. “Soon, baby. Daddy had to go take care of some important things, but he misses you very much. He’ll be back before you know it.” She nodded but looked a little sad, hugging her wolf tighter. “I miss him. He gives the best bear hugs.” “I miss him to
Liora’s POV The day dragged on without him. I tried my best to stay strong for Alora. We spent most of the afternoon in the medical wing, playing gentle games and reading her favorite stories. She kept asking about Daddy — when he was coming back, why he had to go, if he would bring her a present. Every question made my chest tighten, but I smiled through it, kissing her forehead and telling her Daddy was taking care of important things so we could all be safe and happy. “You’re so brave, my sweet girl,” I whispered as I brushed her hair gently. “Mommy’s proud of you.” She hugged me with her good arm, and I held her a little tighter than usual, breathing in her innocent scent. Being with her helped. It gave me purpose. But every quiet moment, when she napped, when Maria took over for a while — the ache came rushing back. The big empty space beside me. The silence where his deep voice should have been. The way my body still remembered his touch from last night. By evening,
Liora's POV Sunlight pierced the heavy velvet curtains like it had no right to be there. I hadn’t slept. Not really. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt that icy gray gaze dragging over my body in the study. The silk robe still lay draped over the chair where I’d dropped it last night, a silen
Liora's POV The black silk robe felt like a punishment.I tied the thin belt with shaking fingers, the fabric whispering against my bare skin. No bra. No panties. Nothing but this flimsy shield between me and whatever the Mafia King planned to do with me tonight.Ogura’s mocking video still echoe
Liora's POV The black SUV smelled like expensive leather and barely contained danger.I sat rigid in the back seat, Alora pressed so tightly against my side that I could feel her little heart racing. The video of Ogura mocking me still played on loop in my mind, his laughter, the other woman’s mo
Liora's POV The cheap bottle of wine felt heavy in my hand as I pushed open the apartment door. I had scraped together the last of my money for it — a pathetic little celebration after Ogura’s death. One night to toast freedom. One night to believe the bruises on my arms would finally fade and I







