Page 69 of Tattooed Vow

I launch into a tale I’m making up on the spot, weaving in details I know would capture their attention. Halfway through, I notice Talia's posture change. She is staring intently at one of the monitors.

“What is it?” I ask, pausing my story.

“Aleksandr and Dimitri,” she says, pointing to a screen that shows a corridor not far from our location. “They're coming.”

My heart leaps at the sight of them. Both have their weapons drawn as they move through the basement. Dimitri's face is set in the cold mask I know so well. The one that hides all emotion, all vulnerability. Beside him, Aleksandr moves with the measured confidence of a man accustomed to command. Even through the grainy footage, I can see the tension in Dimitri's shoulders and the urgency of his steps.

“Are they hurt?” I scan both figures for signs of injury.

“They appear okay,” Talia replies, already moving toward the door. The relief in her voice is palpable. The love she feels for her husband is evident even in this moment of crisis.

She watches the monitor until they reach our door, then engages in a call-and-response code through the intercom system. Satisfied, she begins the process of unlocking the heavy door.

When the door opens wide enough, Sasha and Maxim bolt toward their father and uncle. Aleksandr hugs the children with a relieved laugh that breaks the tension. “My brave ones,” he murmurs, pressing kisses to their heads while Talia embraces him from the side, careful not to crush the children between them.

Meanwhile, Dimitri's eyes seek mine over their heads. The intensity of his gaze makes my breath catch. With Angelina still in my arms, I stand frozen, relief flooding through me at the sight of him unharmed. And then I was moving, crossing the room in quick strides to reach him. Dimitri meets me halfway, his strong arms encircling me and Angelina in a protective embrace that feels like coming home.

“You're safe,” he murmurs against my hair, his voice rough with emotion. “Everyone is safe.”

I allow myself to sink into his strength, to believe that there is a place for me in his embrace, in this world. Then reality reasserts itself, and I pull back slightly.

“What happened?” I ask. “Who was it?”

Dimitri's eyebrows snap together, and he exchanges a look with his brother. Aleksandr holds the children close with one arm. At the same time, his other remains firmly around Talia's waist, and he gives an almost imperceptible nod.

“Let's get everyone settled somewhere more comfortable first,” Dimitri says. “Then we'll talk.”

As we enter the guest bedroom, it feels familiar yet strange. It is beautiful and elegant, completely at odds with the violence that has just erupted outside its windows.

Dimitri closes the door behind us, leaving Aleksandr and Talia to tend to the children.

“You should sit,” Dimitri encourages, gesturing to the edge of the bed.

I shake my head. “Just tell me what happened. Was it Morozov's men?”

Dimitri sighs, running a hand through his hair, a gesture of frustration from a man who prides himself on control. “Yes and no.”

“What does that mean?” I demand, wrapping my arms around myself.

“It was a test,” he admits. “Morozov sent a small team to probe our defenses, to see how we would respond to a breach. They weren't here to kill you. Not today. They were gathering intelligence for a future attempt.”

The room seems to tilt beneath my feet. “A future attempt,” I repeat hollowly. “So, this isn't over. He's still coming for me.”

“Sandy—” Dimitri steps toward me, but I back away.

“Don't.” My voice shakes. “Don't tell me it's going to be okay. Don't tell me you can protect me. We both know Morozov won't stop until I'm dead.”

“Icanprotect you,” Dimitri insists, his deep voice resonating with a conviction that makes me want to believe him. “Today proved that. Our security works. We detected them quickly, neutralized the threat, and kept you and the children safe.”

“And what about tomorrow? Or next week? Or next month?” Panic claws at my throat, making my words come faster. “I can't live like this, Dimitri! Jumping at shadows, hiding in panic rooms, putting my family in danger because of me!” My hand automatically goes to my stomach again. “I can't?—”

I break off as a wave of dizziness washes over me. The stress, the fear, it’s all too much. Dimitri is beside me instantly, guiding me to sit on the edge of the bed.

“Breathe,malyshka,” he orders gently, crouching before me. His calloused hands take mine, his thumbs rubbing soothing circles against my wrists where my pulse races. “You're safe inside these walls. I promise you that.”

“I can't keep doing this…to Talia, the kids…” I whisper. “To her family.”

“Your family too,” Dimitri corrects quietly. “And mine. We are all Avilov, one way or another.”

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