32. Dimitri

32

DIMITRI

Zara’s knuckles turn white as she clutches my hand.

“You did the right thing to get checked out,” Dr. Taylor assures us. “But the babies both look good. They have strong heartbeats and are on track in terms of their size. I would like to keep you in for observation just because of the amount of blood you lost. With a multiples pregnancy there are always greater risks, so I’d like to monitor you for another day or two just to be safe.”

Zara stares at the ultrasound. “They’re really okay?”

Dr. Taylor removes her gloves. “They’re perfect, Zara.”

Zara lets out a sob of relief, and my body sags as it finally starts to sink in that we’re all going to be okay.

“I’ll be back in an hour or so to check your vitals again.” Dr. Taylor gets to her feet. “And I would also like to see you have something to eat, Zara. Your blood sugar is a little low for my liking.”

“Hospital food sucks.” Zara wrinkles her nose.

I let out a breathy chuckle as I squeeze her hand. “I’m sure I can persuade Danil to go out and get you something else. Whatever you want.”

Once Dr. Taylor leaves us alone, I climb onto the bed beside Zara and tuck her in against my chest, reveling in the feel of her in my arms.

The ultrasound picture has been left up on the screen for us to look at, and I can feel Zara’s body start to relax even further as she gazes at it.

“I was so sure I’d lost them.”

“I know, sladkaya . But they’re both fine. You kept them safe.”

She offers me a watery smile before looking back to the monitor to stare at the picture.

I kiss the top of her head. “The most important thing is that you’re okay. If anything had happened to you… I would never have forgiven myself.”

I can’t imagine how terrified she must have felt when she started to bleed.

Zara looks into my eyes. “This isn’t your fault, Dimitri.”

“I’m the one who lied to Massimo. I knew what would happen if I went back on the deal, and I did it anyway. I risked your life?—”

“I knew what I was getting myself into.” She squeezes my hand. “You were honest from the start, so you cannot blame yourself. If anyone is to blame, it’s me. I’m the reason Massimo found out.”

She sighs, biting her lower lip as her eyes fill with tears.

“Don’t. You’re not to feel guilty.”

“But—”

I press my lips to hers.

She freezes for a moment, but then she’s parting her lips, and I slide my tongue into her mouth, moaning as it brushes against hers .

“I love you so fucking much,” I murmur against her lips.

I sink my fingers into her hair, tilting her head back to give me better access to her mouth.

She moans against me as I trace her lower lip with my tongue. “I love you too.”

I can’t fight the smile that pulls my lips.

I clutch her face in my hands as I rest our foreheads together, both of us panting as we try to catch our breath.

“It honestly scares me how much I love you, how much I love these babies, and they’re not even here yet.”

“Opening up your heart to someone else is hard. But a life without love is even harder. You deserve to feel loved, Dimitri, and I want to be the one to love you for the rest of my life.”

“And you say I’m the softy.”

She rolls her eyes, but a crimson blush stains her cheeks.

My smile widens. “I knew I’d get you to fall for me in the end.”

“The penthouse and the huge diamond ring were big factors.” She chuckles.

I nip at her jaw, and she laughs, the sound like music to my ears.

“I’m sure there were some other factors…”

“Clearly. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be knocked up right now.”

I can’t hold back my laugh as Zara smiles shyly up at me.

“You are the woman of my dreams, Zara Koslov.” I kiss her deeply.

I wait around until Zara has her vitals checked again just to make sure everything is all right with her and the babies, before deciding it’s time to take care of Giovanni once and for all .

“Where are you going?” Zara looks panicked as I climb off the bed.

“There’s something I have to take care of.”

“Dimitri—”

“It’s all right, sladkaya . I’ll be back soon.” I bend down to kiss her lips.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to get rid of your nightmares for good.”

I hate leaving Zara, but neither of us will be able to rest fully until Giovanni Saccone is no longer breathing. So, I make sure Danil is by her side to keep me updated in case her condition changes before Mikhail and I take a little trip over to Chinatown.

My brother is silent as we drive over to the warehouse where Giovanni is being held.

I have no doubt that he’s ruminating on the bargain he made with Massimo but knowing Mikhail, he won’t want to talk about it.

Least of all with me.

I’m not sure whether I’ll ever get over the guilt I currently feel toward Mikhail. I’m the reason he’s going to be signing his life over to a spoiled mafia princess, and no matter whether he willingly agreed to it or not, he never would have had to if I hadn’t broken the deal with Massimo in the first place.

Mikhail slams the car door. “Stop it.”

“Stop what?” I frown at my brother.

“Feeling guilty about this shit with Massimo,” He runs his tattooed hand through his dark hair.

“Mikhail—”

The deal is done, Dimitri.”

“It doesn’t have to be.”

Mikhail looks at me, his face like stone. “We all have a role to play in order to keep this family safe. Right now, you need to fulfill yours. Focus on what needs to be done.”

He’s right. I have my whole life to feel guilty about what will happen to him. For now, we have a job to do.

I nod. “Let’s get this over with.”

Mikhail folds his arms over his chest as he looks down at Giovanni. “I kept him alive, just like you asked.”

I’ve never seen a more pathetic sight of a man, lying in a pool of his own blood and piss.

The stumps at the end of each of his arms are heavily bandaged, though blood is no longer soaking through. His skin is covered in dark purple bruising, and his breathing is shallow as I watch the slow rise and fall of his chest.

“You sure about that?”

Mikhail rolls his eyes before landing a swift kick to Giovanni’s ribs.

He whimpers.

“Pretty sure.” Mikhail shrugs. “Though I still don’t know why you wanted me to go to the trouble.”

“I thought it would be enough to leave him like this.” I look down at the piece of shit. “That, and I know Zara didn’t want his blood to be on my hands.”

“That’s not her decision to make.”

“When it comes to her life with me, it’s always her decision. I won’t ever let her feel like she doesn’t have a choice or a say.”

“What does she say now?”

“We both want to move on from this, to have a fresh start, and we can’t do that while he’s still breathing. ”

Mikhail shakes his head. “Men who treat women like this make me sick.”

“Which is exactly why they deserve to suffer and then die.”

“If anyone dared to touch my girl, they’d be dead within seconds. I wouldn’t be able to restrain myself. I don’t know how you could stand knowing this fucker was still alive, breathing the same air as Zara.”

“He won’t be much longer. I’m tired of this fucker taking me away from my wife.” I reach into the pocket of my jacket and pull out my knife.

I take a step closer, wrinkling my nose at the smell of Giovanni’s piss-covered body, before landing another kick to his ribs.

“Wake the fuck up!”

Giovanni moans, and his eyelids flicker open just enough for him to realize who’s standing over him.

“Thank you for not dying. It’s going to make this next part that much sweeter to know you’ll feel every second of it.” I chuckle, bending down to crouch over his body.

“N–no,” he shrieks.

“What was that?” I tilt my head. “Did you say no?”

Giovanni groans as he tries to move his legs.

“I don’t think you actually understand what that word means. Because you sure as hell didn’t pay attention when Zara told it to you.”

Giovanni’s breathing becomes more labored as he tries to move.

“Now you get to know how Zara felt,” I snarl as I reach out and grip his limp cock in my left hand.

“I made a promise to you, Saccone.” I dig the edge of my blade into the underside of his cock. “And I don’t go back on my promises. ”

“ Please… ”

I don’t give him a chance to continue before I slice my knife clean through the flesh.

He screams as blood spurts out of the open wound.

“If you can’t use it responsibly, you don’t deserve to have one.”

I carry on with the rest of the threat as well.

Giovanni chokes. His eyes are wide, his body convulsing as blood continues to pour from the wound.

I don’t look away, wanting to see the light drain from his eyes once and for all.

Mikhail comes to stand beside me. “Fuck. Makes me appreciate mine even more after seeing that.”

I huff a laugh as I wipe my hands on my shirt.

It doesn’t take more than a few minutes for Giovanni’s chest to stop moving as he bleeds out, unable to breathe.

Mikhail and I stand shoulder to shoulder, watching over him as he takes his final breath.

He will never hurt Zara ever again.

It’s finally over.

I text Danil asking for an update on Zara and the babies as I head back to the penthouse to change.

I don’t want Zara to see the blood on my hands, not after all she’s been through in the last twenty-four hours.

He sends me a picture back of him and Zara sharing a plate of pancakes.

My shoulders shake with silent laughter as I take in the goofy grin on Danil’s face compared to the scowl on Zara’s as she tries to steal his fork .

I’ve never felt more grateful for my brothers than I have in the last few hours.

They were willing to help me save the woman I love without a second thought to the consequences. Knowing that they have Zara’s back means everything.

I race back to the hospital after showering and changing into a clean shirt and pants, no longer smelling of blood or sweat.

“Thanks, brat .” I slap my hand against Danil’s as he meets me at the door to Zara’s room.

“She’s a good one.” Danil flashes me a grin. “Don’t fuck it up.”

I huff a laugh, but as I glance over his shoulder and lock eyes with Zara, my heart swells in my chest.

“She’s the best.”

Danil slaps me on the shoulder before leaving me alone with my wife.

I take a moment to stare at her in the bed, relief washing over me at the color that stains her cheeks.

She’s alive .

“You missed out on some good pancakes.” A smile tugs at her lips.

“I’m sure I can bribe a nurse to bring us some more.” I chuckle as I cross the room and climb onto the bed beside her.

She immediately snuggles into my side and lets out a contented sigh.

“He’s gone, isn’t he?” Zara mumbles into my chest.

“You never have to worry about Giovanni ever again. You’re safe, Zara.”

“Really?” She glances up at me with wide eyes.

“Really. He’s gone for good. ”

She covers her mouth with her hand to try and muffle the sob that escapes her.

I wrap my arms around her and pull her against me as her body is overcome with emotion, rubbing my hand up and down her back. “We’re going to be okay.”

“I thought I was going to lose you and the babies. I was so scared…” Her voice cracks.

“Shh. I’m not going anywhere. Here, I’ll prove it to you.”

I climb off the bed, reaching for her left hand, the diamond engagement ring sparkling under the fluorescent lights.

“What are you doing?” Her eyes go wide as I slide the ring off her finger.

I try to hide my smile as I sink down onto one knee beside her bed and hold the ring out in front of me.

“Zara Koslov. You are the love of my life. Every single vow I made on our wedding day was from the bottom of my heart, and even though it was supposed to be fake, I meant every word I said. I wouldn’t change a thing from that day. Except maybe not waking up with you in my arms.” I wink at her to let her know I am not mad or sad at her. “So, sladkaya zhizn’ , my sweet life, will you stay married to me, but for all the right reasons this time? Or will you marry me again, if you hated our first wedding? As long as I can call you wife and I’m yours, I’m good either way.”

Zara laughs, shaking her head as she looks at me with her eyes shiny and wide. “Dimitri, I love being your wife, so my answer is yes!”

“Really?” I beam at her, and then I frown. “Wait. Which question are you saying yes to?”

“To staying married to you, silly.”

“Yeah? ”

“Yeah! I loved our wedding day, and I meant everything I said too.”

I put the ring on her finger and kiss her hand. “I think that’s when I fell in love with you.”

Her breath catches as she looks down at the ring again.

I climb to my feet to take her face in my hands. “I love you so damn much, Zara Koslov, and I want nothing more than to be your husband for real this time.”

“I love you Dimitri Koslov,” she whispers. “Thank you for being mine.”

“Forever,” I whisper back before kissing her deeply.