Submit To Me のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 91 - チャプター 100

KATERINAIn a guest bedroom, Dr. Helsan opens his suitcase. Within minutes, he converts the space into a mini-office. The long table is used to hold a variety of packaged items, and a surgery gown is draped across the bed."Go and get changed," Dr. Helsan instructs me.Sasha hovers anxiously in the corner while I change. He keeps his eyes away, not peeking at my brief nudity. We're functioning like strangers instead of worried parents-to-be."Please lie down," the doctor says.I do exactly that, settling on the blanket. I try to relax, but it's impossible. Lying down now, I'm made aware of just how tense I am. My spine is static, and my leg muscles cramp as I shift around. Dr. Helsan approaches with the small, familiar fetal Doppler.I've done this already, I think, but not with Sasha. The thought hits me harder than I expect—I've heard our baby's heartbeat. He hasn't.Sasha looks across at me. There's a wordless question he won't dare speak. Like ice in the glare of a radiant sun, I

SASHAIF I COULD LIVE the rest of my life with my hands never leaving Katerina's body, I would. The space between us—tiny as it is—is pure agony. It leaves me feeling cold, as if I'm being covered in black frost. But I have to endure the distance for a few seconds longer, just enough time that I can slip the Rolex watch onto her wrist again.Katerina lifts her arm and looks at the glittering watch with an inscrutable expression in her eyes. Seeing it on her wrist again slows my heartbeat somewhat. It looks right. It feels right. And I can't help feeling the same thought that rushed through my head during our wedding:Somewhere along the way, Katerina became mine.Not just as something to possess, but as someone to treasure.To shield.To protect.To love.The thought goads me to action. I close the tiny gap between us, positioning myself over her on the bed. As soon as I do, I embrace her again, tightening my grip around her back and waist."God, I missed you," I whisper into her hair

SASHATHE MEETING IS ARRANGED QUICKLY. Calling Fabiola was the first hurdle, because as soon as she heard from Katerina, neither of them could talk between the shouting and crying. It took longer than expected for her to convince Josh to escort her to my mansion.Evidently, he's not as sold on seeing Katerina in person as Fabiola is. I suspect seeing her is a reminder that his way failed, and not because he was unable to protect her. It makes me respect him a lot less. But this isn't about him.The meeting was supposed to start ten minutes ago. But for the last fifteen minutes, Fabiola has clutched Katerina in her arms, alternating between crying and chiding her."I thought you were dead!" she sobs for what seems like the millionth time.Smiling indulgently, Katerina pets her hair. She catches my eye, and I give her a look. We're running short on time here. She fixes me with one of her own that tells me to relax. But it's hard for me to do that.Especially because Josh keeps tapping h

SASHADAYS LATERI'M TORTURING a lot of people these days.It's not something I love, though violence has a special place in my heart, much as I'm loath to admit it. I was never so naive as to think that taking over the Bratva from Yevgeniy would be a bloodless venture. But to have to create precise suffering for my enemies is different than a battle for my life.The upside is I'm quite good at it."Did you think that betraying me would end well for you, Mikhail?" I walk around my former brigadier, where Mila has tied him to a chair. The ropes cut across his tan, long-sleeved shirt, digging into his stocky muscles. The constriction is enough to leave his limbs numb without doing permanent damage.I'd hoped we'd snag one of my defectors, but Mila surprised me by capturing one so quickly. She spotted him when he was ordering a hot dog from one of the many carts downtown and stalked him until he was out of view of anyone who'd care before she knocked him out and carted him back to my pla

KATERINA"WHAT WERE you two up to down there?" I ask again, though it sounds less like a question and more like a demand.They were clearly up to something in the cellar. Why else chase me out? Why else keep Mila from following? The last time I was among the wine casks, it was to have a secret meeting with Fabiola. That place is designed for secrets.And I'm not naive enough to ignore that when the Bratva is involved, secrets can hurt.Secrets can kill.Sasha is wearing a basic black button-up shirt. The kind he normally would pair with a jacket, especially in this weather. His hand is still on mine. And I don't pull away, not yet. Not until I know where things are heading."We found out that Yevgeniy has restarted his brothels," he finally says.Horror jolts through my bones. "How did you learn that?"He stares at the ceiling briefly before he turns to me. "Mila told me." He pauses a beat, like he expects more questions from me. Before I ask any, he adds, "It can't stand. We have to