Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Georgi steps in front of me and cups my cheek while rubbing his hand up and down Simi’s back.
“I…I g-g-get to…keep her?” I struggle to ask.
“Yes. I said no one will separate you and Simi.”
“I thought…” My breaths are too fast and loud.
Simi leans forward and presses a kiss to my other cheek. “It’s okay, Mama. Georgi will hug you.”
His arms move around us, and as I cling to my precious child, he practically engulfs us with his much larger body.
“You and Simi are safe with me.” His hand moves up and down my back. “I promise.”
Something inside my chest loosens, and it’s enough so I can begin to calm down.
For the first time since Boris unleashed devastation and hell on my life, I want to believe that there can be such a thing as a good man in a violent world like ours.
Chapter 17
Georgi
To say I’m exhausted is the understatement of the century.
Every time Nina has a panic or downright terror attack, it forces me right back to the basement.
Christ, I have to greet my loved ones and get them out of here so Nina and I can take a breather from all these overpowering emotions.
“I’m just going to talk to my family, and once they leave, I’ll show you around.”
Nina nods, her face still way too pale.
“Georgi, is your castle in the clouds?” Simi asks.
“No, but when it rains, it looks that way,” I say, giving her a comforting smile. “Are you okay, malkata mi printsesa?”
“Yes. I’m not sick like Mama.”
Fuck, this child is made of some serious tough stuff, just like her mother.
“Take a moment for yourself,” I say as I walk to the doorway. “Once you feel better, you can join me in the living room.”
I don’t wait to hear Nina’s response, and when I step out of the hallway, Mom’s head snaps in my direction. She hurries toward me, her heels tapping on the tiles.
“Georgi!” I’m much taller than Mom, and when she reaches me, I bend at the waist so she can hold me. Her familiar scent hits me hard, and even though my left arm is fucking sore, I wrap her up in a tight hug. “Jesus,” she gasps, her voice straining from tears. “If I lost you.”
“You didn’t.”
Mom pulls back and frames my face with her hands, her eyes darting over all the bruises. “My God, sweetheart.”
“It looks worse than it feels,” I lie to set her at ease.
“You’ve lost weight.” Right then, she pulls free and hauls my ass to the kitchen. “I brought all your favorites. Pick what you want to eat now so I can put the rest in the fridge.”
“I ate on the plane.”
Mom levels me with a scowl. “You need to regain your strength. I think the beef bone broth stew will be best.”
To appease her, I smile and nod. “Okay, Mom.”
She moves away from me, and I watch as she packs one dish after the other into my already full fridge, until three bowls remain on the marble island.
When Mom looks at me again, her eyebrows knit together, and her eyes begin to sparkle with unshed tears.
I close the distance between us and pull her into another hug. “I’m okay, Mom.”
“Uh-huh…”
I hear her sniffle and lean down to press a kiss to her head.
As she steps away, she says, “Your father told me about Nina and Simi. I got everything you asked for.” Worry tightens her features as she lifts her hands to brush them over my chest, fixing my shirt and absentmindedly trying to wipe away a wet spot her tears left on the silk. A frown forms on her forehead, then she asks, “What are you doing, bringing them here, Georgi?”
Knowing she will understand, I say, “Nina has suffered horrific things, and she still tried to help me.”
“She looks traumatized.”
“She is. The bastards conditioned the hell out of her.”
“Jesus.” Mom places her hand on my left arm, and as the wound begins to throb, I carefully pull away and open the fridge to grab a bottle of water so that she won’t notice.
“I’m keeping Nina and Simi. They’re mine, and I’ll look after them,” I state my intentions clearly so there are no misunderstandings between Mom and me.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” The corner of her mouth lifts. “You’re just like your father. Once you put your mind to something, there’s no changing your mind.”
While I take a sip of the water, I go over everything that’s happened. It’s wild to think it’s only been five days.
Shows you how quickly your life can change.
“Let’s join the others,” Mom says. “As much as I want to keep you to myself, it’s not fair to them.”
I set the bottle of water down and follow Mom out of the kitchen.
Rosie is the first to get to me before I even make it halfway to the living room. She practically throws herself at me, and as I catch her, pain shudders through my body.