Till Death Saves Me (Forced Mafia Marriages)

23. Ivan

23

IVAN

I can't stop thinking about Virginia. The woman who's consumed my every waking thought since I held her in my arms after the rescue. I'm at work, surrounded by my men, but my mind's back home with her.

I wanted to take more time off to be there with her. Fuck, I just want to be buried inside of her, see her alight with pleasure and feel that she is okay. I can't seem to sate this need I have for her. It's all-consuming, and I have to fight not to get a damn erection while around all my men.

I pull up the cameras on my phone for the hundredth time today. There she is, curled up on the couch with a book. Safe. Mine.

"Boss?" One of my guys interrupts my reverie. "We're ready."

I nod, pocketing my phone. It's time to focus. Time to make those Red Serpent fuckers pay for touching what's mine.

The warehouse is dimly lit, the air thick with anticipation. Three new men — ones that weren't killed during the process of me getting the girls out — are tied to chairs, bruised and bloodied from their initial "questioning." But that was just the warm-up.

I approach the first one, cracking my knuckles. "You took my wife," I say, my voice eerily calm. "Big mistake."

Without warning, I drive my fist into his gut. He wheezes, doubling over as far as his restraints allow. I grab a fistful of his hair, yanking his head back.

"Every second she was afraid, you'll feel tenfold."

I work methodically, alternating between precision strikes and brutal force. Ribs crack under my fists. Fingers snap like twigs. I rip out nails and teeth, smash his nose, and slice through one of his eyes shallowly enough that he'll live. I relish every scream, every plea for mercy.

But I'm not done. Not even close.

I move to the next one, pulling out my knife. The blade glints in the low light as I trace it along his cheek.

"You know what I do to men who threaten my family?"

I don't wait for an answer. The knife plunges into his thigh, twisting as he howls in agony. Blood pools on the concrete floor, but I barely notice. All I can see is Virginia's face, terrified and alone because of these bastards.

So I twist the blade, letting it wreck his leg before I start snapping bones. I love the feel of it under my hands as I shatter him bone by bone, not even bother with any other weapon.

By the time I reach the third man, he's shaking, piss running down his leg. Pathetic. I lean in close, my voice a low growl.

"You're going to wish for death long before I'm done with you."

Hours pass. The warehouse echoes with screams and the sickening crunch of bones. My hands are slick with blood, but I don't stop. Can't stop. Every blow, every cut, every broken bone is for her. For Virginia.

When it's finally over, I stand amidst the carnage, chest heaving. The men are barely recognizable, broken and bloody masses of flesh. But it's not enough. It will never be enough for what they put her through.

I turn to my men, who've been watching silently. "Clean this up," I order. "And send what's left to the Red Serpents. Let them know what happens when they fuck with what's mine."

As I walk out, I pull out my phone again. Virginia's still on the couch, safe and sound. My beautiful, fierce wife. I'm coming home to her, and God help anyone who tries to stand in my way.

I slam the warehouse door behind me, the metallic clang echoing through the night. My hands are still sticky with blood, my knuckles raw and throbbing. But I don't give a shit about the pain. All I can think about is getting home to Virginia.

As I stride towards my car, I spot a familiar figure leaning against it. Lev. What the fuck is he doing here?

"The hell you want?" I growl, not slowing my pace.

Lev straightens up, his eyebrows raised. "Well, well. Aren't we in a mood?"

I reach for my car door, but Lev doesn't budge. "Move," I snarl.

"You know, Ivan," Lev says, his tone casual but his eyes sharp, "I've known you for a long time. And in all those years, I was the one known for the piss poor temper. You were always more level-headed."

"Spit it out or get the fuck out of my way," I snap, my patience wearing thin.

Lev barks out a laugh, pointing at me. "That! Right there! That's exactly what I mean." His grin is infuriating. "You're completely undone, my friend. And we both know why."

I clench my fists, fighting the urge to punch that smug look off his face. "I don't have time for this shit."

"You've fallen for her," Lev says bluntly. "Haven't you?"

I let loose a growl, and I see the triumph in his face. He's not wrong. I have always been relatively calm and in control, especially for a Russian made man.

But then I married Virginia.

When I don't answer, he adds, "You're in love with your wife."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I open my mouth to deny it, but the lie dies on my lips. Fuck. He's right, and we both know it.

"That's none of your damn business," I mutter, shoving past him to get to my car door.

Lev doesn't push it, but his knowing smirk says it all. As I slide into the driver's seat, he leans down, meeting my eyes.

"Just be careful," he says, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "Love can be a dangerous thing in our world."

I slam the car door, cutting off whatever else he was going to say. As I peel out of the parking lot, his words echo in my head. Love. Is that what this is? This all-consuming need to protect her, to be with her?

Fuck. I'm in deep trouble.

By the time I pull into the driveway, my mind is still reeling from Lev's words. The scent of blood lingers on my skin, a stark reminder of the violence I've just unleashed. But as I step into the house, something else hits me - the warm aroma of home-cooked food.

Following the scent, I find myself in the kitchen doorway, frozen in place by the sight before me. Virginia stands at the stove, humming softly to herself as she stirs something in a pot. She's wearing one of my shirts, the hem barely skimming her thighs, and her hair is piled messily on top of her head.

My chest tightens, a surge of emotion threatening to overwhelm me. This simple, domestic scene - it's everything I never knew I wanted. Everything I never thought I could have.

Before I can stop myself, I'm crossing the kitchen in long strides. Virginia turns, her eyes widening in surprise, but before she can speak, I'm pulling her into my arms.

My lips crash onto hers, desperate and hungry. She melts against me, her arms winding around my neck as she kisses me back with equal fervor. I lift her easily, setting her on the counter and stepping between her legs.

As we break apart, both breathing heavily, I rest my forehead against hers. My hands span her waist, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of my shirt. She fits perfectly in my arms, like she was made for me.

"Ivan," she whispers, her voice soft and questioning.

I pull back slightly, meeting her eyes. There's so much I want to say, so much I'm feeling that I can't put into words. How can I tell her that she's become my whole world? That the thought of losing her terrifies me more than anything ever has?

And do I want to? I'm fairly certain that she feels something for me — though it could only be a modicum of what I do for her. But what if she's just making the best of our situation?

Instead of saying anything of that, I brush my thumb across her cheek, marveling at the softness of her dark skin. "You cooked," I say, my voice rough with emotion.

She nods, a shy smile playing at her lips. "I thought... Well, I wanted to do something nice for you."

The simple gesture nearly breaks me. After everything she's been through, after all the pain and fear, she still thinks of me. Still wants to make me happy.

I kiss her again, softer this time, pouring all the words I can't say into the gentle press of my lips against hers. When we part, I rest my forehead against hers once more, breathing her in.

"Thank you," I murmur, the words feeling inadequate for the depth of what I'm feeling.

As I hold her close, I realize with startling clarity that Lev was right. Anya was always right. I'm obsessed. Enamored. In love. I've fallen for her, hard and fast and completely. And despite the danger, despite the risk, I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.