LOGINAria POV Viktor hand slid between my legs but when he pushed two fingers inside me, I groaned and dropped my head back.He moved his lips to my neck and let out a rough sound. “You’re soaked.” He nipped my throat like he was angry with me for it.Slipping his fingers out of me, he spread my arousal around then, he grasped the backs of my thighs, jerked them up to his shoulders, and pressed his face between my legs.I dropped back to the table and closed my eyes as pleasure tore through me, filling my blood with an inferno.I shuddered and writhed as he licked and sucked a path around my clit, until I was so desperate, I’d sell everything I have just to get what I wanted. I was moaning, letting out frustrated, needy breaths.He pulled back. “Tell me why you came here.”Now, I knew the his endgame.“God, I need you,” I gasped.He didn’t respond because he was back to torturing me.“My uncle called me,” I blurted. “I have to go back home to the attend one of my cousin’s wedding.”I was
Aria POVTwo days went by, but not much had changed with Viktor.If anything, he seemed even more consumed by whatever was going on in his head.I tried not to hover, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to simply sit back and pretend I wasn't worried about him.So, that evening, I went to his office to see him again but this time, I didn't bother knocking.I reached for the handle and turned it, expecting the door to be locked, but it opened easily beneath my hand.I pushed it open just enough to slip inside, his voice reached me before I could say anything.He was speaking in Russia and I couldn't understand a word he was saying, but there was something about the sound of his voice that made me pause for a second.He was standing by the window with his phone pressed to his ear, his attention seemingly fixed on whatever was happening on the other end of the call then his eyes lifted and he saw me. His eyes narrowed slightly before slowly dropping over me and I felt the weight
Aria POVViktor hadn't been himself for days, and the longer it went on, the harder it became for me to ignore.He still spoke to me and even touched me then asked how I was doing, trying to carry on as if everything was normal, but I could feel the difference in him.Something was weighing on him because his body was tense almost all the time and his jaw was constantly tight, there was a restless look in his eyes that made it obvious his mind was somewhere else.Sometimes, I would be talking to him and realize halfway through that he hadn't heard a single word I'd said.He would be staring at something without really seeing it, completely lost in his thoughts and whenever I caught him like that, he would quickly pull himself together, look at me, and pretend everything was fine but I knew him too well for that.Viktor might have been good at hiding his emotions from everyone else, but I had learned to recognize the smallest changes in him. I knew when he was angry and when something
Alexei POV The next three days are a series of milestones but to me, each one feels enormous.First, Talia moves her hand..It’s barely anything at first, just the smallest movement of her fingers, but I notice it immediately then comes sitting up, slowly and carefully, with her body trembling from the effort.Eventually, she takes her first steps with two nurses stand on either side of her, supporting most of her weight, while Dante and I stay close behind them as backup, just in case.Watching her struggle with something as simple as walking is painful because every step seems to cost her something. Her legs shake, her movements are slow, and I can see how much concentration it takes just to keep herself upright.There are moments when she looks exhausted before she has even taken another step but she keeps going.She tackles every challenge the same way she always has...with a steel backbone and determination shining in her eyes and she refuses to give up.I know her biggest motiv
Alexei POV “Welcome back.” I squeeze Talia hand.She tries to speak, her throat muscles working, but the nurse shakes her head. “Give it some time, honey. You’ve been out for a while. We’re going to get you some water, and then the doctor wants to check you over.”Her eyes move to mine, and I lean down to kiss her forehead, a silent promise that everything’s going to be okay.Right now, the room is full of nurses and technicians. There’s so much I want to say. There’s so much I want to know but I have to be patient.Talia blinks and moves her eyes around the room as the rest of her body slowly starts to wake. She’s weak, cold, and terrified. I can see that in her eyes but I want her to know that I’m here.“Here’s your water.” The nurse returns. “We’re going to sit you up. Sip it very slowly, okay?”Talia blinks in response, and they adjust her bed, instructing her on what they want her to do as they help her with the water.She’s so small and fragile, it wrecks my heart to see her th
Talia POV I’m floating and that’s the first sensation I register because it was very It’s bright.There’s light all around me but not from any source that I can see but just bright white light.Am I dead? I don’t feel my body and I just feel myself float as if I’m supported on a puff of air.Did I die?Panic washes over me, and the sensation passes, Ethan?If I’m dead, I can’t be there for my son. What if Alexei dead too? What if he ends up in foster care, and what if a couple like the Conti get him? What if...“Shh, baby.”I’m instantly calmed by the voice and the noise I’d barely registered levels out in the background and I look around because I’m floating again.A glimpse of red hair catches my eye. It’s fleeting. There, then gone, then back.She’s here and even though her back is to me, I know it’s her. I know because she’s holding something, cradling it and I can tell from the way she’s standing.I sit up then It takes some effort, and when I look down at myself, my hands are b
Aria POV I flinched every time my uncle’s stifled cries rang out as Alexei and Viktor broke each of his fingers. My eyes weren’t on my uncle, though, but instead on my husband’s face. His expression was unreadable as he watched my uncle like he was conducting some sort of experiment.Soon, they b
Viktor POV Yuri eyes shifted between my brother and me, his breathing picking up and fear started to fill his veins and I knew the signs were obvious but this was only the beginning of his sorrow.I leaned down, my mouth curling. “You will admit to it your transgressions soon and you will apologiz
Viktor POVWhen Alexei first told me about a marriage with the Crown Syndicate, I thought he was pulling my legs as usual but when Nikolai sent me the picture I was surprised, marriage was the last thing on my mind right now and an orphan, I didn't know what to say about that. I should have known s
Aria POVI immediately looked away from him and fighting the weak tears at the corner of my eye.I saw him remove his boxers, and then he climbed on the bed naked. I trembled because couldn’t stop myself no matter how had I tried. His hand touched my waist then slid up slowly, the touch was light b







