Page 49 of Owned By the Russian

When they arrived, the Romano estate was already alive with movement. Several guards were stationed at the grand entrance, and at the top of the stone steps, her family was waiting.

Her father stood at the center, an imposing figure in a dark suit, his scrutinizing eyes locked on the approaching vehicle. Beside him, her siblings stood, all tense, all waiting.

Valentina was already opening the door before Ilya could kill the engine. By the time she stepped out of the car, her family moved as one.

Her brothers reached her first, pulling her into fierce embraces, murmuring things he couldn’t hear. The smile on her face could compete with the sun, and he caught himself staring a little too long.

Lorenzo Romano hung back, watching, assessing, before finally stepping forward. Ilya remained by the car, observing. He told himself he was simply ensuring she made it inside safely. That’s all.

Don Romano eventually turned his sharp gaze toward him and his brothers. He descended the steps, stopping in front of Ilya.

“Ilya.” His voice was steady, formal, carrying the weight of their world. “You upheld your end of the agreement.” A beat passed, then he nodded, a hint of a smile on his face. “You have my gratitude.”

Ilya nodded back, the exchange unspoken but understood. He responded without looking at him, his eyes still on Valentina, laughing with her sister. “She’s safe. That’s all that matters.”

If Lorenzo noticed the affection on Ilya’s face, he spoke nothing of it. His lips pressed into a thin line as if he wanted to say more, but he didn’t. Instead, he extended a hand.

Ilya clasped it, firm and brief.

“You’re welcome in my home,” Lorenzo added, the words carefully chosen. Ilya glanced at him. “Should you ever need it.”

Another nod, then the Don turned back to rejoin his reuniting family.

Ilya exhaled sharply, pushing down the strange, hollow sensation settling in his chest. He wasn’t used to feeling like this?like something had been taken from him, even though it had never been his in the first place.

Valentina finally turned, making her way back to him.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

She looked at him with something unreadable in her eyes, and he?he had no idea what the fuck he was supposed to say or do. What he really wanted to do was kiss the shit out of her right there, but he wasn’t exactly looking forward to her oldest brother lodging a bullet in his skull.

He’d gotten a taste of her now. He knew what it felt like to have her trembling beneath him. He knew what to say to make her walls break. He knew what to say to rile her up or make her blush.

Was he just supposed to pretend none of that happened?

A simplegoodbyefelt insufficient. But anything more would be?

“Well,” she said, crossing her arms, “looks like you’re free of me now.”

Despite the turmoil in his chest, his lips curled into a smirk. “Finally.”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t move just yet.

His pride made it easy for him to pretend he wasn’t bothered by her leaving his side.

The silence stretched.

Ilya forced himself to break it. “Take care, Valentina.”

She blinked as if she hadn’t expected that. And then, with one last look and imperceptible nod, she turned and walked away.

And that was it.

For the next three weeks, he threw himself back into work. There were shipments to oversee, meetings to handle, errands to run, and enemies to keep at bay. Nikolai business didn’t stop just because something inside him felt… off.

But despite everything?despiteherno longer being there?he couldn’t get Valentina out of his goddamn head. And it was beginning to become a serious problem.

Chapter 19 - Valentina

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