Page 96 of Mafia King's Ruthless Obsession

“Then you better have a backup plan,” Igor says. “Because Yakov won’t stop until he’s destroyed everything we care about. Including your precious Galina.”

The threat in his voice makes my blood run cold. “Is that a warning or a promise?”

“Take it however you want.” The line goes dead, leaving us in heavy silence.

I grip the edge of my desk and force myself to breathe through the frenzy. I want nothing more than to find and destroy our enemies right now. I’m itching to get to them before they can get to what’s mine. But that kind of thinking is what got us into this mess. Savagery only breeds more of the same. And anger breeds revenge. I have to find a better way to get what I want for my child, for Galina. I must break this cycle.

“They’re right about one thing,” Galina says softly, rising from the chair. “We need to end this. And I should be the one to draw them out.”

“No.”

“We can control the situation.” She rests a hand on my shoulder, her warmth grounding me. “I’m tired of looking over my shoulder, wondering when they’ll strike next. We can have guards hidden?—”

“You don’t understand.” I spin to face her, cutting her off. “I can’t lose either one of you.”

“You won’t.” Galina’s voice is steel, her expression hard with determination. “Because we’re going to fight, and we’re going to win. How long do you think we can keep living like this? Hiding in your office, jumping at shadows?”

My control slips. “You seem to be forgetting something,lisichka.” I back her against the desk, looming over her. “You belong to me. I’ll use you however I see fit, and right now, that means keeping you safe.”

As soon as I say it, I realize it was the wrong thing. Her face flashes with pain, but then it turns white-hot with anger.

“Use me?” She shoves against my chest. “Is that all I am to you? Something to use? To own?” Her voice trembles with rage and something deeper—disappointment. After everything we’vebeen through, every moment of tenderness and understanding, I’ve fallen back into the same old patterns.

“That’s not?—”

“No,” she snaps, pushing past me. “You can’t change what you are, Vasiliy. No matter how hard you try. None of it changes the fact that you think women are meant to be fucked and broken.”

The accusation hits like a physical blow. “This isn’t about control. This is about protecting our child.”

“Our child deserves better! I deserve better!” She gestures around the office. “Better than existing in a world of violence and fear and desperation. Better than watching our backs every moment, wondering which enemy will strike next.”

“There’s no other choice.” The weight of the gun lying on the desk is a cold reminder of our circumstances. “They’ll tear us apart before we even have a chance to figure out how to get out of this.”

“There’s always a choice,” she counters. “And if the only other option is to remain trapped in this endless cycle of violence, then I choose not to live at all.”

Something about the way she looks at me hurts my chest. The fierce love that burns in my heart is the same thing that makes her angry. We both want to give our child a better life than we had.

“I can’t lose you,” I whisper, the words raw. “Either of you.”

“Then trust me.” She steps closer, resting her palm against my chest. “Trust that I can do this. That we can do this together.” Her eyes harden with determination. “I’ve spent my whole life being controlled by men who claimed they were protecting me. My father, my uncle, and now you’re doing the same thing. I need to know if you truly see me as your equal, or if I’m just another possession.”

The accusation stings because there’s truth in it. I’ve been treating her the same way the others did, convinced I knew what was best. I catch her hand, pressing it harder against my heart. “If anything happened to you...” My voice breaks. “But you’re right. I can’t keep you locked away. You’re stronger than that. We’re stronger than that.”

She stands up on her toes and brushes my lips. At first, the kiss is soft, but it quickly turns angry and desperate. As she gets closer, her body molds to mine. My hands get tangled in her hair. We pour all our fear, anger, and love into the kiss. It’s so strong that it takes our breath away.

When we finally break apart, I rest my forehead against hers. “If we do this—if we use you as bait—you follow my lead. No improvising. No heroics.” I cup her face, forcing her to meet my eyes. “Promise me.”

A small smile curves her lips. “I promise.”

“And you’ll wear a vest.”

“Vasiliy—”

“Nonnegotiable.” I kiss her again, gentler this time. “I’m trusting you. Trust me back.”

She sighs against my mouth. “Fine. But we do this soon. Before I get too big to move properly.”

The reminder of her pregnancy sends a fresh wave of protectiveness through me. But she’s right, this has to stop. For the sake of our child. And for our own good.

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