Page 70 of Forbidden Bratva Virgin

Damir sighed, running a hand through his short hair. “I do know him, and I’m telling you, Miron Yezhov is too damn stubborn to die like this. I’ve worked with the man for more than a decade, and I’ve seen him take worse.”

I wanted to believe him, but the sterile beeping of the heart monitor mocked me. Each passing second felt like a longer hold of my breath, stretching and pulling at the frayed edges of my nerves.

Then, there was movement. Miron’s fingers twitched. Just slightly, but enough. A small groan left his lips, and I nearly collapsed with relief as his eyelids fluttered open.

“Boss,” Damir greeted casually, as if he hadn’t spent the last hour watching over a man hovering on the edge of life and death. “Took your time waking up. I told the fine lady here that she was wasting her tears, and I’m glad I was right.”

Miron’s dark eyes flicked to me, his lips barely parting before Damir straightened. “I’ve got other matters to handle,” he said, and I guessed whatmattershe had to handle. Alina and her men.

After Miron passed out, I was such a blubbering mess. I blindly followed Damir and Miron’s men out of the house, practically dragging and cradling him on our ride to the hospital; I didn’t spare any time to care about what happened to a screaming and wailing Alina.

I stiffened, glancing up at him. “Damir—”

But he was already at the door. “Stay with him,” was all he said before slipping out, leaving me alone with the man who had nearly died in my arms.

I squeezed his hand tighter, blinking back tears. “You’re not allowed to scare me like that again,” I whispered. “Why would you do something like that?”

“And why are you such a crying mess?” he croaked, his lips barely twitching when he attempted to smile.

“How can you ask me that? Miron, you…you took a bullet for me; you almost died.”

Miron exhaled sharply, tilting his head to look at me. His dark eyes, usually so unreadable, softened. “But I didn’t. I’m here, aren’t I?” There was no edge to his words, only quiet curiosity. “Besides, the bastard was such a sloppy shot.”

“Miron, none of this is funny.” I let out a weak laugh, shaking my head. “I’m such an emotional, psychological, and physical mess because of you,” I admitted, because there was no other reason. Because I couldn’t stand the thought of something happening to him. Because I—

“I love you, Hazel.”

The words shot through me like bullets.Bad joke.And I stared at him, stunned, my breath catching.

Love was sacrifice.

Love was pain.

And love, at its purest, asked for nothing in return, only the quiet promise that we would carry its load with grace.

With Miron, nothing made ordinary sense.How did we get here?How did this man become the only thing I could think about? The only man I believed with deep conviction that I needed, maybe a bit more than air?

“You love me?” It wasn’t that I didn’t believe him; I just didn’t believe he would say it. And hearing it out loud was the only confirmation I needed to clarify my feelings.

I cupped his cheeks, my voice trembling, but the certainty in my chest was solid. “I love you,” I said, and laughed, because it sounded surreal. “I think I’ve been in love with you for a while now, Miron.”

A breath of something close to relief passed between us before I moved without thinking, closing the space between us. I threw my arms around him, pressing my face against his shoulder, nearly forgetting the bandage wrapped around him.

Miron grunted slightly but didn’t pull away. Instead, he chuckled, the sound rumbling against me. “Careful, baby,” he murmured, amusement laced in his voice.

“Baby?” I chuckled on his shoulder. “What happened tomoydorogaya Kheyzel.”

“You don’t know what that means, do you?”

“It’s not like you’ve cared enough to enlighten me.”

Softly, he brushed his thumb against my cheek. “My dear Hazel.”

A sudden warmth passed between us, and I snorted, my eyes flickering to his lips. “I could have easily figured that one out.”

Before he could respond, the door swung open, and the doctor stepped in. I quickly pulled back, my face burning, but Miron didn’t look away from me. Even as the doctor checked his wounds, even as instructions were given, his gaze stayed locked onto mine.

And I was sure of one thing: He wasn’t letting go of me, and I wasn’t letting go of him, either.

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