Page 97 of The Tsar's Obsession
“Sunshine…”I was. I would always be.
“Svet moy…”I was his world, his light. And he was mine.
“Bab–”
“Baby, I think we should kill him,” I whispered the words, searching his green eyes for confirmation. And there it was—that sparkle in his eyes. Eyes couldn’t really sparkle, could they?
But his did.
“That’s a great idea, my love. I’m going to get you off the cold floor, okay?”
“You’re hurt,” I squeaked out, not understanding how he had so much blood on him. My eyes adjusted to his mangled look. His eyebrow was bleeding profusely, his lip was cut, blood was trickling out of his nose and ear, and his knuckles were raw.
“It’ll heal before our wedding. Come on, Sunshine.” Amused at his words, I enjoyed the feeling of his tender touch as he scooped me into his arms, carrying me into the unknown.
Up the steps we went—but wait! We weren’t finished! Just as I was about to open my mouth to ask why we were leaving, Kirill stepped onto the landing, and in the lobby of the small building, leaning against the marble steps, was Yuri—holding onto his stomach, a pained expression on his face.
“Oh my God, Yuri!” He was hurt! With me in his hands, Kirill kneeled beside him. “Let’s get him help; let’s go!” I sniffled, knowing that no help could possibly make a difference.
"No. Too late. I die here. But Kirusha, send me home.” Yuri gulped, his face ghost-white. “Please. I want to lie down in…motherland." His hand clasped Kirill’s, both of their bloods mixing on their skin.
And then he gave me his last gift—a genuine smile, full of admiration and love. “I’m sorry…can’t come to wedding.” He chuckled with great effort right before he closed his eyes, and tears burst out of mine.
Kirill uncovered Yuri's injury, giving me a glimpse too. Half of Yuri’s insides were spilling out, the sight making me lightheaded and nauseous as I gulped down my sorrow. "I’ll do everything, Yura. You’re my guardian angel," Kirill spoke quietly. "I would’ve been long lost without you. You were like my father. A much better one than my real one." It seemed that Yuri smiled at Kirill’s words, but in a moment, he was gone, and the hand that held Kirill’s slipped out and slumped down beside his lifeless body.
Unable to stop the flood of tears, painful sobs escaped me at seeing a lifeless Yuri. A life lost to save mine.
Kirill ripped me away, and, in a few seconds, I was leaning against his car while my pain was both excruciating and numb. Tears, blood, cocaine, death. It was all a blur as I mindlessly watched Kirill take out a first aid kit and a half-full bottle of vodka from the trunk of his car. His eyes already filled with an apology, I clued into what awaited me, and a new wave of fear washed over me.
"Okay, this will really hurt, but we have no choice right now, sunshine.” I had no chance to protest or negotiate this. He came up behind me, pressing me into the car, and panic filled all of me.
"No, please, Kirill, don't do it, please; it’ll hurt so much,” I begged, my mind swirling with dreadful anticipation. So much pain, so much death, so much darkness—I was exhausted.
"I know, I know, baby, but we have to. I’m here." So gentle, just like he always was, he squeezed my hand and kissed mycheek, a low whisper promising me again. "I know you can do this. On three, okay?"
Lost for words, I stared into his beautiful eyes, waiting for the countdown. “One.” But that was all he gave me. Cold liquid slithered down my hip and thigh, covering the open wound, crashing a wave of pain into me.
I shook and writhed, pinned against the car by Kirill, but I took it all. The scream echoed in the little alleyway, but Kirill never stopped, meticulously pouring and clearing the dirt and dust off my open flesh.
“Fuck! Stop! Please! Stop!” His hug tightened at my pleas, and he ended the medieval medical treatment right as my knees buckled. Slumping over the back seat, the leather was cool and pleasant against my skin. I didn’t care what happened next as long as he was with me. Kirill tended to the injury, covering it with gauze and tape.
He lifted me up and pressed me into his chest, holding me in his arms once again…and forevermore. We were one. “I love you more than life, Mia.” Every syllable was pronounced carefully, right at my ear. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.” He sniffled into my hair, supporting my broken body. The smell of him was slowly injecting life back into me. “I promise you will laugh at this one day, baby, I promise.”
“We,” I corrected him. “We will laugh.” My breath caught in my lungs, like I was nervous to be beside him again. "I really missed you, Kirill. I really fucking missed you." Not letting him get a word out, and despite the pain, I stood on my tippy toes and finally connected my lips with his.
I forgot all my grievances against him. He was here, he was mine, and I’d never let him go again. I was going to accept his sins and mistakes, but I never wanted to be anywhere else except in his arms.
Oxygen filled up my lungs again as if I had been living underground all these weeks without him. I forgot where I was and what had just happened, only focusing on the sweet taste of his lips, forever mine.
Reluctantly, I pulled away, but he kept his eyes closed,wishing for this moment to continue. We would, but first…there was one thing we needed to do. "Come on, let's go finish that motherfucker off."
It was my turn to lecture Dmitry.
The vodka bottle at my lips, I took a big swig and contorted my entire face to get over the taste of the disgusting clear liquid. Cocaine, vodka, pain. I’d fucking tell Dmitry everything I had on my mind.
In his arms, we descended the steps again, Kirill carefully stepping over several dead bodies—Yuri’s handiwork. The basement was ours now, and the balance of power had shifted fully in my favor.
Kirill set me gently in a chair, double-checking that I wasn’t leaning on my injury. He always took care of me first.
