Page 100 of The Tsar's Obsession
“About what?” I interrupted. Jeremy was an insignificant pest, but he proved that no one could be trusted.
“About you.” He quietly confirmed my thoughts. “Dmitry came to me with a proposition.” He jerked from Vova’s rough touch. “He– he said that you had gone rogue. That you abused Mia, and that’s why she left.” Vova pressed into the wound harder, and he hissed in pain. “He wanted to talk to Mia,” he spoke urgently. “To get her side of the story so he could protect her from you– ow!”
I listened to Jeremy’s little make-believe scenario and wondered when Dmitry decided to topple me. This year? Last? A decade ago? How much damage had he done, and who else did he hur– Polina! Shit! I had no clue if she was alive! I texted Misha to get the details and turned back to Jeremy.
“That’s a very good lie. Now tell us what really happened.”
Mia perked up; her half-clothed body was all dirtied with blood—a sight I never wanted to see. Jeremy huffed and clenched his teeth as Vova bandaged his shin. “Dmitry asked me to get Mia to lure you in.”
There it was. Mia’s jaw dropped, and she made a move to get off the couch, but Vova stopped her without even turning to look at her. “Don’t move. You rest. You talk later.”
In silence and discomfort, the evening dragged on, Vova playing doctor to all of us. He transformed the kitchen counter into a makeshift medical station, his instruments sparkling under the bright lights of the island pendants.
“Sorry. No more lidocaine,” he informed me flatly right before piercing my skin with the needle. “Be patient,” he instructed in Russian, and I focused on Jeremy and Mia’s conversation while he stitched up my eyebrow without any pain medication.
“You know your boyfriend blew up my fucking car and broke my fingers, right?” Jeremy addressed Mia in annoyance, like it wasmyfault. “And you’re okay with that?!”
Vova stepped aside for a moment, giving me a clear view of Mia’s reaction. She smiled. That slow, deliberate, confident smile. “Yeah, I’m okay with that.” She nodded without hesitation. “You deserve it. If you play with the devil, don’t complain when you get burned.”
And there she was—my woman,mine, on my side. My light, my sunshine, my girl.
The city was hushed in darkness when I finally placed a sleeping Mia into our bed. Way past midnight and finally alone, I could finally exhale.
My angel, my love, my sleeping beauty finally rested inourbed again. She was home. Exhausted, wounded, and disheveled, with cocaine still dusting her skin, she was a stark contrast to our luxurious white sheets. She looked like she’d been through war.
God was with me. He was watching over me to let me have Mia in my life again. I slumped onto the floor beside our bed and pressed the cross to my lips, reciting my prayer of gratitude.
The sound of her even breaths brought me back to that night. The night that changed it all for me. A chance encounter that altered the trajectory of my life. Like something out of a fairy tale, a single kiss,onetaste of her, set me on the right path. I broke my drug addiction and stopped drinking and smoking. I gave up everything that was killing me so I could stay alive and see her one more time.
After a minute with her, I wanted to be the best I could be. I looked after my body and spirit, motivated by the thought of having her in my life. And I succeeded, and it was all worth it.
Delicately, so as not to wake her, I clasped her gold cross around her neck, symbolizing our reunification.
Afternoon sun blasted through the windows, warming up Mia’s fragile body after I helped her shower, respecting all of Vova’s rules. I washed all the blood off her heavenly body. I shampooed and massaged her hair. I kissed away her tears. I stood on my knees and worshipped her. Because worship was the least that she deserved.
Mia napped while I arranged Yuri’s transport back to Russia. I also put a call out for his replacement—shoes that would be impossible to fill.
Unable to wait much longer, I climbed into bed beside her, and she stirred from her slumber, her radiant smile lighting up all the darkness within me. She was here again, so close.
“I have to send Yuri home," I murmured, my fingers intertwining with hers. “He needs to be buried on the third day, which won’t happen, but…I need to go to his funeral.” I hesitated, picking my words. “I’ve known him for twenty years; he was like a father to me.” Leaving her wasn’t an option. “Do you–”
“Can I come with you?” Mia beat me to the question, her innocent eyes filled with hope.
Fuck, yes.
"Yes! I was hoping you’d want to. I don't want to leave you." Relief filled me as my fingers slid over any part of her I could reach. “I never, ever want to be without you.”
"Don't ever let me go again.” Mia’s warm words were right at my ear, taking away my pain with every sound.
But something was on her mind; I knew her well. “Tell me. Tell me what’s eating away at you, Sunshine.” After months of living like a zombie, I was ready for anything.
"Kirill, I..." Mia broke off, clearly unsure of how to word her thoughts. "I was really hurt that youlied to me.” This was an undeniable truth, and my bad decision weighed heavily on me. “It made me question our whole time together. Please promise me now...that no matter what happens, no matter who you hurt, or,” she paused, raising her eyes to me, “or who’s in love with you…that you will always be truthful with me.”
A crushing weight settled on my chest. I never revealed Polina’s true feelings to her. In my attempt to keep her safe, I kept her in the dark instead.
“I promise.” My voice resolute, I knew that I would never let her down again. “I promise I will always be truthful with you.” Everything else in my life meant nothing if I couldn’t have her beside me.
“I don’t want any more secrets, whispers, or doubts.” She placed her cheek in my hand. “I want all of you. No matter what it is. Tell me, don’t protect me from anything. You’re mine, and I’m yours.”
