Chapter 27

twenty-seven

Sergi – Four Weeks Later

I'm leaning against the hood of the SUV I purchased a week after arriving in Seattle. I plan to leave it in our private plane hangar for use when we come back. I'm watching my girl, my heavily pregnant girl at thirty-one weeks, kneeling on the ground, saying goodbye to her parents. She's placed red and white roses on both their graves. I can see the tears staining her cheeks, and I have to fist my hands and grind my teeth to stay put. I know she needs this time, and I was encouraged by our therapist to let her do this alone.

The past month has been amazing. I know I still have a lot to make up for, but we're getting there. We've talked a lot, and she let me explain where my head was at during the horror Phoebe went through, my anger, and how she basically became my punching bag, and she took it because of her love for me. My threatening words when I was drunk, and how I bruised her, made her into a whore, not caring if she got her pleasure…and I have no excuses, the same for sleeping with Mindy. All I can do is promise to never do it again, and prove to her how much I need her in my life. I'm bound for her just like she's bound for me, and I thought she'd always be there despite my actions. I was selfish and cocky.

Over the weeks we've been here, she's shown me around, and confronted her memories. We went to places her parents took her to when she moved in with them, and we've bumped into some of her father's old colleagues, all who were happy to see her. She also showed me some of the old foster homes she was placed in, and I had to stand with her as the horror flashed over her face as memories come slinking back. The only saving grace is they all had new families living in them, which made her happy. I did look into them during our time here, and the old foster parents are either dead or in prison. Her father had ensured they were taken care of for their treatment of his daughter.

She also took me to her storage unit. She cried her beautiful heart out, seeing her parent's belongings, then cried some more when we packed half of it in our SUV and took it to our vacation home. She placed certain items where she says they had to go and I left her to it, smiling at all the memories about each item. Like the crystal vase, her parents wedding gift from her father's mother, now lives on the mantel in the dining room, where we have a large, glass table that seats six. It hurts my heart to see the pain she's going through, but I'm so fucking proud of how strong she is. And as I watch my girl, who's now wearing shorts, t-shirts, and dresses, showing her scars, I remember the day I brought her to the home I bought in Seattle. The house I knew meant so much to her.

I drive toward Chequered Ave., with my hand firmly on Avs thigh, my thumb gently rubbing it. I clear my throat, hoping she doesn't bite my head off.

" Dragotsennyy ?" She looks at me, her violet eyes finally showing me the love she has for me instead of pain and disgust. "I know you might not want to, but I was wondering how you would feel about seeing a therapist while we're here?" I hold my breath as she clears her throat.

She asks, "For our relationship or my trauma?"

I sigh, then admit, "Both. We have twins on the way, baby, and I don't plan on ever letting you go. Damian mentioned how well it worked for him and Sofia, and I thought we could kill two birds with one stone. I tell you everything that was going on in my head around Phoebe's attack, and you can finally unburden yourself of your past horrors. I believe we'll come out the other end better than we've ever been."

She doesn't say anything for a few minutes, and I leave her to her thoughts, fucking hoping she agrees. She grabs my hand, and my heart picks up. If she pushes me away, I swear to fuck, I will handcuff her to the bed until she starts agreeing with me. I won't lose her.

But instead of removing my hand, she squeezes it. "I think that's a good idea, because I'm fed up with missing you Sergi. And I'm fed up with the nightmares from my past."

Fuck. I quickly signal, and pull over. She looks at me with questions in her eyes, but I don't let her speak, instead I grip the back of my neck and slam my lips onto hers, making her gasp. I take the opportunity she provides, shoving my tongue down her fucking throat. And when she finally catches up and kisses me back with just as much passion, I fucking groan. When I finally slow the kiss down, I give her a few little pecks before I check my mirrors, and pull back out onto the road, putting my hand back on the inside of her thigh, fucking elated.

"I love you, baby."

She smiles sweetly. "Not as much as I love you, Ser."

I chuckle and continue our drive.

As soon as I pull down the familiar street, she tenses. When I pull up to the modest little three-bedroom house, her breathing quickens. I unbuckle and get out, heading toward her door. She hasn't taken her eyes off the dark blue house in front of us, and tears run down her face. I open her door, kneeling, I cup her cheeks, forcing her to look at me. I see the pain in her eyes.

I smile softly and say, "Welcome to your new vacation home, dragotsennyy. Anytime you want to come here, or to visit your parents, this is where we'll stay."

She lets out a sob and quickly unbuckles herself, and throws herself at me. I catch her, her bump hitting my stomach, and our twins kick me, making me smile. I pull back and gently move her hair out of her face, wiping her tears,

"Want to head inside?" I ask.

She nods on a sob, and we both head toward the front door. I unlock it, and I watch in wonder as she heads into the living area, looking over everything, then heads toward the kitchen.

When she comes back, her tears stain her cheeks, and she croaks, "It's d-different. Too d-different."

I go to her and wrap my arms around her. "If you want, we can place your parent's belongings here, or we can make it our own, okay? We'll do our best to make sure their memory lives on." She nods, then brushes her nose against my neck, breathing me in. "Show me around, dragotsennyy , show me where you felt the safest before you met me."

She pulls away from me and wipes her tears, then grabs my hand, pulling me toward the stairs, and I smile wide at the sparkle in her eyes.

I'm brought out of my thoughts when I hear movement. Avery is walking back to me. I stay where I'm leaning against the SUV, and wait for her to come stand between my spread legs. She grabs my arms and wraps them around her, and I hold her as tight as I can despite our twins in her belly. She places her head on my chest, her ear right over my heart, and I smile, lacing my fingers through her hair.

I hear her whisper, "I love you."

I rasp back, "Not as much as I love you." I feel her smile against my chest. "You ready to head home, baby?"

She nods slightly, and I help her into the car. She looks back at the cemetery as we drive away, and I grab her hand, kissing it.

"We'll come back once the babies are born, okay?" She nods and wipes away a tear, then leans over and places her head on my shoulder, where it stays until we get to the airstrip.

Juan and Dimitri are waiting near the steps of the plane when we arrive. They came down last week and stayed in town until we decided to come home. Juan and I have gotten closer, but I don't call him Dad, Dimitri gets that honor, especially with how amazing he's been with Avery. Juan understands. I know his wife wants to meet but I'm still not ready. I know she won't mean it, but she'll try to take my mama's place, and again Maria gets that title now. Valerie needs to understand that. I help Avery out of the SUV, and both Juan and Dimitri come over and hug her. Dimitri leads her to the plane with his arm wrapped around her, while Juan and I help the attendants load our stuff. Some of the stuff is from the parents' storage unit. I smile, thinking about how her mother's rug will look nice in front of the fireplace in our new seven-bedroom Victorian.

Juan nudges me. "You told her about the house yet?" I chuckle and shake my head, causing him to grin. He rubs his hands together. "Fuck, I can't wait to see her face, especially when she notices that you had the rest of her parents stuff delivered last week."

I grin conspiratorially, making him chuckle. It wasn't easy, especially with her father's brilliant fucking security, but Al and Phoebe, the geniuses that they are, managed to override it. I just fucking hope she's not mad at me for it.

Juan and I head onto the plane, and I walk over to my girl, who's sitting opposite Dimitri. She smiles when I approach her, and my heart flutters in disbelief that's she's giving me another a chance. Our therapy sessions have been rewarding, she's opened up about her past, and I'm so fucking proud of her and all she's trying to overcome.

I sit next to her, and she leans her head on my shoulder, closing her eyes. I smile, kissing her head as she doses off as the plane ascends.

When we're sure she's asleep, Dimitri clears his throat. I look up and see him smirk making me raise a brow.

"When we land, Phoebe will be waiting at the house to stay with Avery after you've shown her around."

I go to protest. "Dad?—"

But he raises his hand, still smirking, his eyes softening. I see Juan smile stiffly. Dimitri continues, "Ben and Julian Whitmore were given early parole, Hannah Whitmore got out on good behavior last month, and kicked up a stink about her husband and brother-in-law. We intercepted them. Ben, Hannah, and Julian are waiting for you at Volkov some of the paintings on the walls, she painted."

She sobs, her body shaking, and I start to panic. I go to plead my case with her about going behind her back, but before I can open my mouth, she flings herself on me, her arms wrapping around my neck.

She blurts, "Thank you!"

I breathe a sigh of relief and hold her closer to me. I look at Dimitri and Juan to see them both smiling. Dimitri has unshed tears in his eyes, and he nods, his eyes full of pride. I smile back.

I move her hair out of Avery's eyes, and I rasp, "You ready to go home, baby?"

She grins and nods frantically, and we all chuckle at her.

Fucking finally!