Y'all… It has been a minute! So much is going on in my life right now. Got a promotion after nearly 8 years at work (no bachelor's degree so I guess that's why it took so long? Maybe?) Anyway!
I had surgery that discovered I have extensive damage elsewhere that needs repairing. That surgery is going to have to wait. I don't have the time or money.
The Mavs are going to the Finals! Stars will be right behind them I swear! The Rangers are looking better. And who knows? Maybe all these good vibes and juju will get my beloved Dallas Cowboys to do something for once this year. Besides breaking my heart... Again.
My kids have discovered my love for sports teams. And videogames… So GTA V, COD, and Fortnite. Which means my language has to be, um, edited. Greatly. LOL Y'all try cussing in Czech in front of your kids, to try and avoid them learning such 'adult' words and have them immediately repeat it back like it's a joke. That daycare phone call was just soul crushingly embarrassing…
So back to this story! I have an idea. A rather awful idea. One that makes me laugh and happy dance. The end of this story is coming. And these next chapters are going to be PACKED. No holding back. It's game time now. I'm down by one and got a power play going.
Enjoy!
aaaaaa
"Jesus Anton! You look like shit!" Georgi laughed when Anton flipped him the bird from his hospital bed.
"Laugh it up now while I can't get out of this bed." Anton huffed as another piece of shredded shotgun slug was removed from his chest. He did his best to not flinch at the stab of pain with each piece that was removed. So far there was only minor pieces, and the vest took most of the impact. He darted his eyes to the side of the bed where the vest was slung over the sterile counter, shredded and torn apart- a testament to how lucky he had been.
"Just glad you are alive. How did it all go to shit so quickly?" Georgi moved into their hospital wing and took the spare stool next to Anton's bed, giving a quick glance in Aleksei's direction. He had escorted Niko to his room, more like the hallway, and made a direct path to their makeshift hospital. He needed to check in on his fellow captains and make sure he wouldn't need to be replacing someone. 'No one could replace my friends…'
"Somewhere between Karen messing around with the boss and arriving at the bar." Ivo bravely spoke up from his place on an examination table. He had minor injuries the nurse was bandaging up and the pain medication he was given was making him feel bold.
"I'd say it was when Karen was brought into the mission." Aleksei flinched when the nurse started cleaning an open cut on his arm. He knew there was something else going on with Karen. She had been marked! Flat out told him she was gunning for Niko and Kate's relationship. Which in turn was an attack on the Bratva. His emotions were absolutely useless to him. He feared for her life as well as the complications that would arise should he choose to help her over his own sworn duties.
"I had this weird feeling about her. Jacob even mentioned something in passing about it not being good she was interrogating the handler." Georgie looked up from Anton's medical chart to gauge Aleksei's reaction. He had spent more time around these men than his own family and knew who to watch during certain topics. Aleksei may show the world this tough guy act, but Georgi knew there was a soft heart under all the armor. He could always rely on Aleksei to have a more civil answer to problems. He tended to ask questions first before pulling the trigger. Even Kenny respected Aleksei's views on enemies.
So if anyone was going to be openly honest about Karen, it would be Aleksei.
"She is marked. Her mission is to get Niko and Kate to leave one another. It would bring instability to our organization. Her attempt to sleep with him, I believe, was part of her debt promise. But I swear on my life, she is blood loyal to us." Aleksei hissed under his breath when the bandage touched torn skin. He knew deep down that Karen was on their side. She had shown back up to help him fight off his attackers. Nearly dragged him the distance to the airplane. Someone who was banished from Kenny's good graces would be fleeing- not gearing up to come help them fight off enemies.
"Right now my concern is how much damage she caused. How bad… or how far did they go?" Georgi sighed heavily and slumped down in the stool to rest his back against the side of Anton's bed, taking in the sight of all the captains getting medical care. Part of him didn't want to hear the details. It would be a tremendous secret he would have to carry around Kate. She was slowly making her way into his heart, and it would kill him to be the one who accidentally let it slip that Niko slept with Karen.
"From my angle it got close but never happened. They made out and got prepared to- uh… you know." Anton took in a deep breath once the last piece of shrapnel was removed from his chest. His pain level was beyond his tolerance, and he was thankful for the morphine drip he was on, but he was needing something more to take the edge off. Little lightening bolts would shoot through his nerves and cause involuntary shakes and twitches. His hands felt useless to him, and he frowned at the sensation.
"So nothing really happened? Just a step or two over the line before coming to his senses?" Georgi was praying his boss hadn't done something complete irreversible. Maybe somewhere in Niko's mind he knew and was able to stop the lust clouding his judgement. His anger at even having this discussion flowed through his veins. Kate didn't deserve someone who cheated and crossed firm, solid rules. Her pure heart would break and become tainted. Her bright, guiding light would diminish.
"That's a question to ask Pakhan. But it sounded like they were really into it and had no urges to stop. Something must have snapped to in Niko's mind because he basically stood up and went cold. It was like he remembered who he was for a second." Aleksei nodded to the nurse as she patted his shoulder and headed over to help finish cleaning up Anton. He was pretty banged up, but nothing was preventing him from getting up off the bed to stretch out his tired legs. He tested his weight against his feet and decided sitting up was enough effort to give for their meeting.
"So maybe he realized his mistake and pulled away. Okay that sounds more like the Niko I trust. So if her intrusion into our circle was her plan, she successfully made it. How open were you to her? Did she ask a ton of questions and did some prodding for information? What did we end up giving her to use against us?" Georgi stood up from the stool and started to pace in a circle between Anton's bed, Aleksei's, and then the open examination table. Ivo and Sergei bowed their heads at his question and shared a worried glance.
"She did. She asked us about the Albanians and why they are so hell bent on killing Niko and Kate. She also dropped this question on us- 'What if Niko fights Kenny to stay in charge'." Aleksei did his best impression of Karen and rolled his eyes. He had not been prepared to be hammered with in-depth questions from her after nearly being identified by the Madrazo cartel leader.
"That is something else we all need to discuss…" Georgi turned to look at the peaceful expression on Kenny Petrovic's face. Their leader rested and healed and was slowly showing signs of coming back. He was so completely torn. He knew his loyalty would be called into question the moment Kenny wakes. He tried to envision what that might look like, but at every try, he failed to manifest the possible conversations and actions taken. He was left with a cloud of what ifs. Just what is he going to do when their natural, normal leader comes to?!
"I remain loyal to the title and person in charge. If that be Niko or Kenny- my services belong to them." Aleksei spoke up from his slumped position on his hospital bed. He was beat up, hurting, and worried about the future of their Bratva and family dynamic. Things had been so smooth and direct. Now he was emotionally involved in Niko's life and yearning to learn from him and follow his word. But Kenny had given him purpose and a life he loved. Would he choose correctly when the time comes?
"Because it is so easy to just transition between the two? Stop lying to yourself." Anton groaned as he forced himself into a sitting position on the bed. He knew how important this conversation had become. They were the trusted leaders within the Bratva. They all had major responsibilities to oversee. They kept things running and following the strict orders of their one leader.
"So you would jump ship? Side with the temporary stand in?!" Aleksei balked and crossed his arms over his bruised chest, "I already know I am going to be forced to track down the traitors and defectors. Please don't make me hide in your shadow." He locked his eyes on someone he respected. Someone he desired to be. A proud father who works hard and is rewarded by unconditional love and laughter. Niko had that same joy on him when he believed Kate was with child. He longed to have someone to call his own. Someone to boost him up when he was down and unsure of himself.
"I am. I have sworn my life to Niko." Georgi quietly spoke, pausing in his pacing to stand at Kenny's side, "I have served my role within the Bratva well and have earned the right to back out when I am able. Niko and Kate have both shown me a different life- one I am inclined to commit to. And I believe Niko will not relinquish the title." Georgi felt something shift inside. As if some great burdening question had been answered and removed from his worry list. His eyes widened as his soul came to the conclusion that he was free from hiding and could be himself protecting Niko and Kate. He would be their friend and silent protector.
"If Niko… fights. Are we not obligated to defend our original boss?" Vasil spoke weakly from his cushioned hospital bed. He was listening in to the riveting story and grew concerned when Georgi simply chose Niko over their true boss. He clearly had missed something major while he was resting and recovering from his fight with Alexi. He liked Niko and didn't have any issues with him running the business for a time, but his loyalty ran with Kenny.
"Think about this. If you choose Niko and he does bow down, you'd be labeled as a traitor. Georgi think clearly. Kenny is the one who built this empire. You'd throw all this away for two people you have only just met?" Ivo was confused and fearful of the words Georgi spoke. It was almost scandalous. To devote oneself to another leader wholly, while the true leader lay sleeping mere feet away!
"And what if Kenny decided to take a break and retire?" Georgi fired back, "It is not beyond the realm of possibility. Kenny talked of retiring. Wanting the Albanian territory in Europe to help solidify his empire as well as Bulgarin's old routes was going to be his last moves. He spoke of this to Avia heavily. I was present for most of those conversations. We were going to get a new leader at some point anyway." He looked between his men and could see the hesitation and reluctance to let go of Kenny completely.
The room descended into silence. The atmosphere grew thick and heavy, crushing the hopes and aspirations in each of the captains within the Bratva. Their own plans of retirement blown away by the simple fact that Kenny had been planning to retire. With a new leader- that meant major change to their structure. Long term plans would be changed forever.
Surely Kenny wouldn't just dump this news on them. He would bring it up at their meetings and layout the timeline. Just like he did with any major decision made within the network. They were informed with time to make adjustments and changes. Granted there were times where time wasn't as forgiving. The situation with Natalya had been an unknown issue that showed up without notice. And they handled it as best they could with the limited information provided.
But years of built-up protocol and rules were not to be broken or mended.
They lived for the wellbeing and success of the Bratva.
If that meant-
If that meant it was Niko over Kenny?
Forever.
…
"When Kenny would drink alone and get… well. Wasted. He would ramble about getting Niko under his wing to be his puppet." Anton finally broke the silence, his eyes trained down on the bandage over his hand. He had listened to his boss go on and on about how well the Bratva would do under Niko's leadership. Granted the decisions would still befall Kenny. Meaning Niko was truly just a puppet Pakhan. And that would cause strife and discourse within their ranks.
"He would speak at length of the sway and power Niko possessed. I always feared this man would turn to be our enemy. Not become the leader of us." Aleksei figured he could let some of the private conversations he held with Kenny out. Anton had shared something valuable and eye-opening. Maybe the rambling of Niko wasn't just drunken wishful thinking. Perhaps Kenny really did mean to entice Niko into being a false leader.
"During the mourning period of Lenny… Kenny was deadest on having Niko killed in the worst way. Our next in line was murdered in broad daylight right under our noses. We lost him and his two bodyguards. And those bodyguards were fellow captains. It is how Vanya and Boris gained their new titles. But something changed after his talk with Dimitri. I could see the plan forming on his face. It was then, I believe, that his fascination began with Niko." Georgi dug deep to recall those painful days and he could see conversations in a new light.
"Kenny took the deceit and lying of Dimitri and his cousin Natalya harshly. He knew Natalya was bad for Lenny. He saw the infiltration that was going to happen with their union. But he also saw how blindly happy his son was. Had Lenny not been killed I do think Kenny would've hired Niko to kill Natalya. He knew of Niko's rise in power and status. He was making huge waves in Hove. It was only a matter of time before Niko crossed paths with Kenny." Anton shifted on the bed best he could to get comfortable. It had been a long time since they had all had a deep and important meeting. Granted this was less than spectacular circumstances. But it needed to happen.
"You believe he agreed to Dimitri's begging only to have Niko under nose? It was shocking when we were pulled off the manhunt for Lenny's killer." Vasil struggled to sit up in the bed, using the remote to tilt it upward. His interest had been peaked and rest no longer clouded his brain. This was a conversation he needed to hear. It sounded like the Bratva was going to be split into two!
"Yes. I believe he was going to play the long game. It was rather brilliant of him honestly." Georgi huffed a fake laugh and ran his hand through his curled hair, "Now the man he had been watching and lightly encouraging where he could, is asleep on the other side of the compound. Our leader." This time he let out the air from his lungs in a rush and dropped back down onto the stool. It had taken the fight right out of him. Had this been the plan all along?
"Wow. It looks like we would've had a powershift at some point- just wasn't prepared to have it happen this way. Kenny nearly being tortured to death… Him naming Niko as his replacement in his almost final moments. Does… Does anyone question it?" Vasil looked around the group of men and absently rubbed at his chin in a nervous manner. He had spoken the question that they had all thought at one point or another. Yet no one had been brave enough to speak it aloud.
"You mean to bring up the valid opening to leave?" Aleksei balked from his position and leaned to his side to see Vasil better, "You would dare to question things now?!" He was in complete shock. Just what was going on with everyone that their conversation had turned to a near mutiny?! He refused to believe that anyone would willingly leave after the shitshow that had descended upon them. There was unfinished business!
The door creaked open, and they all turned to see who was interrupting their serious meeting. Anatoly hobbled in cursing as he clutched at the blood stain forming on his pants. He made a direct line to the cabinets on the wall behind the open examination table and started to search for stitching wire and bandages. He grumbled about how stupid he had been in trying to stretch before bed. A cough from behind him had him freezing in place.
"Anatoly glad you could make it. We are discussing Kapitan business. And as you have recently inherited Ziad's title, you are needed to be present for what we are about to argue about." Georgi extended his hand out to encompass the room as if he was a tv talk show host. If they were going to enact departure rights, every captain had to be present. And since Anatoly now stood as their lead trainer and head of the teaching staff, it ranked him as captain.
"Not sure I am up for an argument-." He immediately stopped talking when he realized that every other captain was in the room and held a serious look about them. Vasil looked like he was about to jump out of his skin. Aleksei and Anton looked worse for wear but put the effort to sit up in their condition. Ivo and Sergei tilted their heads down when his landed on them as if they were too scared to meet his eyes. Then there was Georgi. His eyes were near pleading with him to understand and take his lead no matter what. It was a plea to be his second- to have his back against the heavy argument that was about to take place.
Without hesitation Anatoly grabbed the items to repair his torn stich and dropped them to the edge of the examination table, hopped up to the surface of the table, shimmed his pants down to be able to see the stab wound that was freely bleeding, and nodded to Georgi to continue. With one final glance to his best friend's eyes he silently communicated that he would back him with his life.
"Vasil has brought forth the question of if we trust that Kenny actually named Niko as his replacement. The decision has been called into question- which then also opens the door for free passage from the Bratva. As captains we serve the head of the table. And when the title changes names, we have the right to challenge the throne for ourselves or ask to be let go. No one has questioned it till now. Vasil since it was you who opened up this line of questioning… Please state your intention." Georgi scrubbed over his face and shoved his emotions down in his chest. It was vital he stay alert and ready to defend his boss.
"I did- I did not mean to start this. I merely asked if this has been completed. The change in power has already taken place, yet we were not given the chance to speak our peace and either stay, leave, or fight for the title. Georgi you are the lead for us. Why have you not challenged this? You were listed as second should Kenny pass unexpectedly. You trust Kenny was of sound mind to make the declaration of second to Niko?" Vasil winced in pain as he readjusted on the bed, doing his best to look presentable during a very important matter.
"At ease. No need to be so formal. You and several of us are injured. This doesn't have to be life or death. I will make it simple. As original declared second, I Georgi, trust in Kenny's decision to give the title to Niko. Thus placing Niko as Pakhan. Where my alliance and oath have been sworn to. In the event that Kenny wakes I will enact my right to leave the Bratva. Until that time- I am loyal and trusting in our leadership. As with my title I now give the opportunity to stay, leave, or challenge Niko." Georgi spoke evenly and strongly. No lie wove its way through his words. He was adamant about bowing out when the time was right. He had served proudly for years and now he was wishing for something the Bratva couldn't offer him.
"I, Anton, declare Niko as Pakhan. My loyalty and oath are sworn to the leader of the Bratva. I wish to stay and serve." Anton lifted his fist to his heart and bowed his head in Kenny's direction. He was not prepared to make a decision on if he would stay or leave once Kenny wakes. He had a family to think of. They had only known the life of being protected and involved in the Bratva. His wife cooked for everyone, his children would one day take on roles and titles within the ranks. He would miss Niko terribly, especially Kate, but his livelihood rested with the Bratva. And he would continue to serve the hand that feeds.
"I Aleksei- Pakhan's right hand man of death, swear allegiance to the declared Pakhan, Niko. I will serve Niko to my highest ability and will not fail in my mission." Aleksei saluted toward Kenny first before turning and repeating the gesture to Georgi, "And should the original declared second chose to fight for the title, I will back you and swear my oath to you." It was his way of saying, without actually voicing it, that he agreed with Georgi. He would bow out when the time came and follow his own path in life. Between Niko, Kate, and Karen he had emotions and dreams come to life that refused to be tucked away anymore.
"I Sergei trust in Kenny's choice. I will back the leadership that has been chosen to lead us." Sergei saluted Kenny's still form and refused to meet Georgi's eyes. He was new to this title and role and wanted only to fly under the radar and do his job. He felt uncomfortable with the present conversation. But knew he needed to be part of it. He enjoyed Niko's decisions and plans. He had proven to him what a leader is supposed to be, and he proudly served the one who had promoted him and recognized his skills.
"I Ivo will follow the decisions and orders from the one who took me in. If Kenny handed Niko the ring as you have told us, then I will trust in his decision to place Niko in charge. My loyalty is to the title and person in charge. I am here to serve." Ivo bowed his head and jutted his fist to his heart in a rapid movement. He had nothing against Niko, but he was prepared to follow Georgi when Kenny announced his retirement. They had all been slowly looking to Georgi over other Kapitans and advisors. Their alliance was to preserve the power and order that had been built in place to keep them all safe. And Niko broke all protocol and look what happened.
"I Anatoly, recently promoted solider and trainer, shall agree with the original second's decision. If he has aligned himself with the new leadership, so shall I. As the new leadership has an equal in Высочество (Vysochestvo), I shall also swear my oath to her. This is my decision, and I will stick with it. My loyalty is to the one titled Pakhan." Anatoly saluted Georgi before returning to restitching his stab wound closed. He would back his best friend and trust that he wouldn't steer him wrong. Georgi knew more about what was going on than he did and that alone had him blindly trusting whatever decision his friend made. Plus he was curious about the red headed teaser that had called his friend by his given nickname.
"Vasil? Your call?" Georgi nodded in respect to each of the men who had spoken and devoted themselves to the Bratva. He could trust his fellow men and know that their choice was the same as his- the protect and serve the one they named Pakhan.
"I Vasil will back Pakhan with my life, as my title proclaims me to.-"
"Great. The next thing that needs to be talked about is Boris. He has defected and relinquished his right to choose to leave-"
"No. He was not given the chance to choose." Vasil cut Georgi off and set his glare in his direction.
"His choice is fairly clear Vasil. He returned Kenny's gift. That broken law is final. Even without Niko in charge. He knew what that gesture implies!" Aleksei fumed from his seated position, "Vanya was killed that night defending this place against our enemy and Boris fled his sentence! He did not once lift a finger to defend the Bratva. You were there! He has turned against us, and I will enact his death sentence the second I am released from injured status." He was livid that the mere thought of Boris choice being forced due to circumstances not being presented to him, had him ready to jump from his hospital bed and track down the traitor.
"Aleksei is right. If he was loyal to Kenny and wished to leave, he would have approached one of us and started the discussion. When asked at the start of his new mission to guard Kate while we took Niko to the fight club, if he wished to sit out or wait for his chance to defect, he had agreed to the new assignment and saluted. His absence from that task is now noted and adds suspicion that Boris' true intent is to make a negative exit." Anton sent a questioning look in Vasil's direction. Sure everyone was friends with Boris at one point, but did he not attack Vasil on his escape out of the compound?
"There was not an appropriate moment to begin this discussion and you know it. From the moment we discovered Kenny had handed over his title to Niko to escorting Kate around the park- there was a full-scale attack on the new leadership of the Bratva. We were ill prepared to defend new targets and know importance. And we were expected to take a timeout from all that? I do not defend his actions the night of the ambush- but he might not have made these extreme choices had he the right to leave peacefully." Vasil steadied his expression and glared back at Anton before shifting his eyes to Georgi, "It was your right to ask this of us the moment Niko was named."
"You are correct. I should have immediately had a meeting with everyone that night we all parted from the McReary residence. But I was so thrown off by Niko's behavior. He was nothing like the image Kenny painted for me. And Kate truly left me in a state of shock. I was not my composed self and figured I would have time to collect myself and get things back in order. And as you have said it- We were taken by surprise with the attack. It has not left us much time to regroup and reestablish the power ranking. Now is a good of a time as any. Niko will be taking on the role permanently in the morning. He will truly be Pakhan in all rights till Kenny awakes." Georgi apologized for not handling the shift in power better. There were certain things that needed to happen with the passing of a title, and he had failed in his duty to enact these ceremonies.
"I agree with Vasil in that had Boris been given the out, his anger and resentment might have been mollified and not led to fester into what happened with Kate." Aleksei spoke up with the sound thought that things might have been avoided had Boris been removed from the situation. But- "He still would have held a hate toward Kate being in power. So it is possible he might have tried to get his bigoted friends to back him and force a fight for the title." It was a plausible scenario. He wouldn't put it past someone to try and rock the boat before leaving.
"Still shocked Высочество (Vysochestvo) took your gun?" Sergei smiled at Aleksei's eye roll. He had had enough of the heavy conversation and wanted to return it to the lighter banter from before. They were all sworn loyal Kapitans. There was nothing else to discuss. At least not in his mind. He appreciated the level of respect Niko had shown to his fallen friend, Vanya. He would follow Niko to the ends of the earth so long as he was titled Pakhan.
"I know I am. Nearly gave me a heart attack." Georgi placed his hand over his heart and exhaled in an exaggerated nature. He had not been prepared for Kate to make such a bold move within the Bratva. Understandably so. But still was a jolt to his system when she pulled Aleksei's gun and trained it on Boris. Georgi knew within that split-second he was going to have to kill Boris before Kate got the chance to fire the gun. He refused to have her put in a situation where she needed to kill someone. And he still managed to fail on that promise.
"It was quite the story amongst the students. They were all buzzing about how there was a strong female in a leadership role. I think it might've even encouraged a couple of students to start acting more in tune with what Kenny instilled in us. A wall of indifference, with well-behaved manners. She has certainly made a good impression on the majority of the people we protect within the Bratva." Anatoly knotted the wire and cut the excess off. He had heard rumors of her time in the kitchen. How open and honest she communicated with people below her rank. How she treated everyone equally and nicely. It was softening the hardened exterior they were forced to hold.
"They loved your idea to fill the apartment with get well items." Sergei sagged his shoulders and relaxed in his place within their circle. He had said what needed to be said and now he felt comfortable in his role and where his loyalty lied. A weight had been lifted from his shoulders and the lightness had him smiling softly at the floor with the realization that everyone was okay. Or would be with time.
"It was Mallorie's idea. I just helped get the Bratva family comfortable with entering in the apartment to place their flowers or whatever it was they brought. Kate is going to need us to be supportive and there for her should she need to escape a public situation. She is struggling. I won't lie. So I'd like to limit her time outside in the public eye to a minimum. Her and Niko are about to be the talk of the town. You know how Mrs. Petrovic soaks up the paparazzi attention and magazine gossip. Kate is not like that. We will need a new plan for the Valentine's Day party." Georgi took in a long breath and started moving their conversation to the new jobs they would face in the coming days.
"I should be able to walk and shoot weapons by Saturday with rest." Anton tilted his head to the side to take in Georgi's stance. He looked like a natural leader. Someone to count on to come up with the best possible plan. The Bratva was in great hands. He wouldn't let the others know his true feelings. Like Georgi, he had grown attached to the two in charge. Niko opened his eyes and mind to the possibility of a retired, happy life. One he could provide to his growing family. A life without fear and stressed hope. Then Kate went and ripped open his heart. Her pure kindness and love for everyone and everything had him laying his weapons on the ground and walking away from them without hesitation. He would not be able to reform himself back into the solidary man he was under Kenny.
He had proven his worth and mission in the rundown shack.
He had prepared himself to die in order to protect Niko. And he knew he would've done the same for Kenny… But the reasoning and heartfelt goodbye would not have been there in Kenny's situation. He glanced down at the numerous bandages on his chest, arms, and legs. He had taken quite a beating and lived to tell the tale. And now he would once more take up arms to protect the two most important people in his job. There was a finality in his words. He had no room for argument. He would be there at the Valentine's Day party as part of Niko or Kate's security detail.
"I can still fire weapons and escape a snipers nest. Hand to hand is a no go till I heal up some." Aleksei followed suit. He was determined to be part of the security team. Whether it was watching over entrances and exits for possible enemies or he was on perimeter watch, he would do so without question. He shifted his eyes off of Georgi to look at Vasil. It had felt odd at how strongly he argued on Boris' behalf. He would talk to Georgi about it later. He couldn't shake the weird feeling that curled in his stomach the longer he looked at the hidden anger within Vasil's eyes.
"We have the dress appointment tomorrow morning. Then Friday is the spa day. Followed by our biggest security nightmare every year- the Mayor's Valentine's Ball. That is just security and protection jobs. We also have the impending strike against the Albanian's and Bulgarin's new mafia- as well as a new Pavano issue. The yacht should hit the shores of the mansion the same day Kate will be getting pampered at the Russian run spa. That will provide an extra layer of protection for her during that hectic time. Pakhan will remain in residence and will be in contact with our soldiers overseas. We will also need to start being more aggressive with crossing paths with someone involved with the Pavano Mafia. They are now sworn enemies of the Petrovic Bratva." Georgi listed out the upcoming missions they would need to assign people to and get things in motion. It felt good to have this conversation and get back to some of the familiar feelings that Kenny taught them.
"I can take point on creating undercover soldiers to infiltrate the Pavano family business. We will need to start building a strong case against them if we wish to break our agreement at the Mayor's party." Sergei offered his assistance in the Pavano problem. He knew that the attack out west was not going to be enough to sever ties with the Italian Mob correctly. Kenny technically held a seat at their commission. Had final word on disagreements between the families and his own organization. Now Niko had the ability to destroy the small faction of the commission.
"That's a good idea. Have Ivo join you on selecting soldiers to step up. Get Anatoly's approval before disclosing the mission fully. They will need to be stone cold and able to lie and play out lies. But strong enough not to break their sworn alliance with us. And be comfortable giving up some correct info along with false truths to the enemy. It will be a true test of their oath." Georgi nodded his consent to Sergei's offer.
"Why not you? You've been the liar before." Vasil spat out. He was still pissed off at the fact that Boris was still so easily labeled enemy. He couldn't understand how people disregarded his statements and arguments otherwise. They all sided with Высочество (Vysochestvo) so easily. It was digging its claws into his soul the longer he stewed over it. So when the idea of creating rats for the Pavano family was presented, he couldn't help himself.
"You did manage to infiltrate Natalya's gang for a time. Even blended in with Dimitri to get info on Niko before he went and killed Lenny." Ivo pursed his lips and turned in Georgi's direction. It was true. Kenny did send Georgi in to rival gangs on the regular to get information about drugs, money, and shipments.
"He is not in the mental state to deceive anyone." Anatoly immediately interjected. He was going to shut down that line of thinking immediately. His friend was in no shape to start feeding lies and some truths to a rival gang. Especially one that was hell bent on hurting people he loved. If Georgi found out plans to torture or kill Kate or Niko he would lose it and blow his cover.
"You have been through your own ordeal with Ziad nearly killing Kate. And then Kate killing him. It must be difficult to know you failed on stopping Высочество (Vysochestvo) from having her first kill." Vasil plopped back into the cushioned pad they deemed as a hospital bed and clicked his pain med button to increase the dosage for a couple of cycles. He was getting angry and saying things he wouldn't dare when in a clear-headed state of mind.
"You dare to insult your fellow Kapitan?!" Anton raised his voice and glared at Vasil.
"It's alright. He is extremely injured and served the Bratva well in protecting it from our enemies. And he is correct. I did fail in keeping her from pulling the trigger. But she was in her right to kill Ziad for attacking her. She is going to be a strong leader for the Bratva." Georgi brushed off his insult and chalked it up to Vasil being upset and in pain. So long as his loyalty stays to the Bratva he would not press the issue.
"She will need her own second. Niko will need you by his side from here on out. You are his true second. Even though power would go to Kate in the event that Niko is incapacitated. But the challenge could be enacted, and Georgi, you, would take over the throne." Aleksei directed his statements toward Georgi and laid back down on his hospital bed when the nurse hooked up the morphine to his IV line. He was ready to rest and get some deep sleep. It had been an eventful forty-eight hours, and his body was dragging him toward sleep.
"I second that. One of us will need to shadow her and learn her habits. What events she wishes to host with other leaders within our network. Her self-care schedule. Everything that Mrs. Petrovic had us doing when she went out in public. We could always ask Jon his schedule since he is in charge of the Mrs.' protection." Anton yawned and nodded his head toward his hospital bed, silently asking Georgi for permission to rest and take a break.
"Sounds like we have much to go over at tomorrow morning's meeting with Pakhan. Get some rest. The compound is secured tonight and is full knowing its leader is home. I am grateful to the group of men I have in my inner circle and can call my work partners- friends. Rest and get all the medical care you need. We are home and once more all together. It may not seem like much of a victory, but some good came out of the trip out west." Georgi waved them off and stood from his stool to make his exit.
"Right. Night everyone." Ivo nodded his head and shared a glance with Vasil before turning on his heel and heading out of the hospital wing and in the direction of his apartment. He had heard enough and seen enough for one day and was ready to get some much-deserved sleep.
"I will take that as my cue. See everyone at the morning report." Sergei nodded his head and followed after Ivo to go to his assigned apartment. He had much to learn and retain with his new rank and responsibilities.
"Night." Vasil grumbled and hit the bed remote to lower the tilt back into bed mode. He was reeling with all the news and changes taking place. He was still recovering from his attack and not ready to be dumped on. The morning report should help him understand what is going on. Plus to hear their Pakhan may have cheated on his girlfriend was eye opening. He had not seen that coming from their new leader.
"See you in the morning Georgi." Anton shuffled down in the bed as carefully as he could. His body was screaming at him in pain. Everything hurt and he nearly whined when the morphine hit the back of his brain and started to cloud his mind. Sleep started its lulling call and he eagerly laid down and nuzzled the thin pillow into place for him to be comfortable.
Georgi and Aleksei exchanged stares and silently communicated to the other that they would speak privately about some things. Not everything was settled and smoothed over within the Kapitan ranks. He had felt the shift in power and knew not everyone was one hundred percent on their side. Some of their oaths and declarations sounded half true and forced. But it would have to wait for now. Rest and healing was on his mind, and he needed some quiet time to himself. He turned to the exit and watched as Anatoly slipped out without saying a word. 'Odd… Why hadn't he said goodnight to his now fellow Kapitans?'
Georgi sped up his walk and exited the door to the hospital wing, only to freeze and jump slightly to avoid crashing into his friend, "What gives?!"
"Shh!" Anatoly whispered and nearly started to drag Georgi down the hall toward the main living room- the one that had been trashed completely during the ambush. The cleaning crew had done what they could to return the room to a livable state.
"I can walk on my own!" Georgi hissed, scrambling to catch up and right his own body from being bent over at an odd angle. The last thing he needed was to be spotted in the halls by some lower ranked member and have wild rumors bloom about him.
"I walked the room like you asked me to, and I need you to see something." Anatoly continued his rushed pace down the wide hallway, ignoring the other soldiers that roamed the halls in search of their own apartment to sleep for the night.
"How are you walking this fast with a stab wound?!" Georgi rushed his steps and matched his friend's stride. Clearly something caught his friend's attention in the living room.
"I thought you were just being overly paranoid when you asked me to check the living room before going to bed. It was while there that I tore my stiches and went to the medical wing only to walk into a loyalty meeting. Been a crazy night Geo." Anatoly slowed down as they passed by the massive dining room doors nearing the ones to the living room.
"Something is bothering me, and I needed someone else to look it over that wasn't a traitor." Georgi rolled his eyes as he remembered he walked the room with Karen before Niko left for Los Santos. She had taken a through look around the disaster. Had even gotten a close up look of the dead Alexi. She had made her own assessment and now held that knowledge to herself and whoever she was serving. He frowned at the thought as they came to a stop in the entryway to the now empty living room.
"I could be grasping at straws since the furniture is out of here- but come. Stand over here." Anatoly guided Georgi over toward the back staircase that led down to their cells. He turned them to face the now missing broken double doored entrance to the living room, "Now hold your rifle like this…" He lifted Georgi's arms up as if he was targeting someone standing near the entrance of the living room. He removed one of his hands to tilt Georgi's head down as if looking through a scope, "Now tell me what looks wrong."
Georgi sighed through his nose silently and adjusted himself to his rifle stance and lowered his head to stare down the imaginary iron crosshairs. And frowned. There were no bullet holes on the wall outside of the living room across the hall. He felt Anatoly place his hands on his arms and applied pressure to raise them as if aiming to the ceiling. Bullet holes littered the ceiling and wall above the doorway. Anatoly's hands slid to the top of Georgi's arms and pulled them down to the floor. The same precise line of bullet holes ran sideways across the hardwood floors just feet inside the living room.
"Now tell me what you see."
aaaaaa
There she was. Tucked up against him tightly. Skin on skin contact. Her exhales were heavenly across his chest. Relaxation and sleep fought each other to cloud his thoughts and lure him into sleeping. But he was too content to simply lay in the most comfortable bed he had ever laid in with the love of his life clinging to his body like he would fly away at any given notice.
Yet he was determined to stay put.
He loved her with his entire being. Every demon and past nightmare agreed with him. He needed to be with Kate to be sane. She was the magical drug he sought. Someone to love him in return and help him fight off the darkness that cloaked him. He lightly ran the tips of his fingers down her arm in an agonizingly slow fashion. Dragging them into her tender flesh, telling her in her sleep he was still with her and holding her lovingly. He reached her elbow and dropped his hand to her waist below the covers and slid it between their bodies to rest over her womb.
It was his silent apology for not being there for her when she found out.
That she lost their child.
That she was suffering in ways he wasn't sure he could cure her of.
He pulled her body in tighter against him and kissed the top of her head. He wouldn't sleep. Couldn't when he needed to watch over her to fight off the nightmares he was sure would surface within her. She had trembled against him several times. Gotten tense and grabbed him harshly. But at his gentle stroking and whispered little nothings in Serbian, she would be back to sleep against him. Creating her own form of torture every time her knee would brush against his sack.
Their shower and bath had been nothing but sensual kissing and making out. She almost refused to let him out of her grasp. She lathered soap between her hands and washed the filth and blood from his body, being extra careful around open wounds and deep purple bruising. She cried silently at all the injuries he had collected on his journey out west. His back was the worst of it.
Still she tenderly cleansed his skin and when they dried off, she applied healing balms over his large, prominent bruising. She inspected every inch of him and did something for every little scratch, bruise, cut, or burn. He had silently begged whatever higher being was listening for Kate to not figure out they were hickies on his neck and not fingerprints.
Kate had only applied the homemade balm to them and moved on to the next one, not once questioning what they were or how they came to be on his body. The guilt twisted in his heart at having her fussing over where another woman's mouth had been.
Her caring nature soothed over his demons. Had them relaxing and letting go of the fire that longed to ravage the Pavano crime family to ashes- to kill every last member of the Albanian's gang in a complete bloodbath- to line up the members of Bulgarin's old mafia and have a firing squad finish them off. He was letting go and shivered at the feel of being weightless. The only thing that mattered to him was ensuring Kate would be okay.
They had major mountains to climb now. But they would do that together. He would take on whatever storm was brewing on the horizon, and he would do it with love in his heart and soul. She had given him a new outlook on life, and he was excited to see where it carries him. He would bury his secrets deep and never repeat his mistakes. Kate was worth more than what he had done.
She didn't need to be cuddled up with someone who so willingly kissed and touched another woman. His fingers burned where they rested against her womb. He couldn't believe he had given in so easily to Karen. How had his mind so effortlessly blended his desires for Kate into the warm body of Karen? They felt different and held different styles of pleasing him in return. So how had he confused the two? Alcohol could only cloud his judgement so far- the rest was on him to determine what was happening and with who.
But he had noticed! He had stopped! Right? His mind had caught up to him and he realized that his dreams and wants were for a woman not in his arms. He had been stuck in an extremely vivid and lucid dream of Kate and his usual morning romp when things started to feel off and wrong. Her words were in Russian and not in the hushed, loving English of Kate. So why in the world did he let inner conflict take control and dive back into Karen's willing body? Was he just built to continually torture himself? To always choose wrong and end up suffering alone?
"Niko? Are you alright?" Kate stirred in her sleep and nuzzled into his side when his arm got incredibly tight on her body.
"Yes Лепа (Lepa). Go back to sleep. I will watch over you." Niko softly breathed the words into the dimly lit apartment and studied the top of her head as she sought out a new position to lay in. She sounded worried and anxious, and he hated he put those emotions into her soul. She should be happy and at peace. Not fearful and scared of the world around her.
"Are you not sleeping again? You need to sleep to heal. Come here." Kate slid her body up his, refusing to break contact with him, and shifted to be eye level with him, "What's on your mind?"
"You." It was a simple answer and so entrenched in the truth it hurt. She was at the center of all of his thoughts. The center of all of his problems too. But everything revolved around her and her well-being. He craved her happiness and love. He was hurting as much as she was. They had lost something precious they had made together. He swore he could pinpoint the night they had conceived. Everything was so tender and raw. He had fallen in love with her all over again. Their love making had taken flight and glided them to new heights.
"I love you Niko. So very much." Kate whispered against his lips, teasing him with little sweet pecks. Every time he said the most romantic things she would just swoon and melt into him. He liked to always downplay his abilities to be her forever person, but he always overachieved, and met every expectation and then some. He was kind, soft, and caring. But also fierce, strong, and protective. She was in love with a killer, and it excited her in ways that should turn her off.
But wasn't she also a killer now…?
The thought shot excitement through her, and she pressed her body into his, being sure to roll herself against his hip. It was such a dirty, filthy thought. She was a criminal just as he was. She had killed someone and would face zero consequences from the law or a criminal organization. No one would hold her accountable but herself. And just when she thought she was starting to unravel the mass of nerves surrounding her pulling the trigger, a sharp pain stabbed through her, causing her to gasp and hunch in on herself.
Niko lifted them into a seated position and pulled her to sit between his legs, cradling her body back into his solid mass. She tucked down below his chin and clutched at her abdomen. Waves of pain washed through her, and she forced the tears back. She refused to cry in front of him again after shedding so many tears earlier in the night. She closed her eyes and focused on the gentle stroking of Niko's hands along her back.
"Do you want me to find a doctor?" He continued to stroke over her back in a soothing manner, not wanting to jar her or cause her any discomfort. He watched as she sat up slowly and hugged her middle. The satin sheet slid down her skin like water- clinging to her curves. His eyes immediately darted down to her exposed chest before shooting back up to her face. She had been slow and brushed off his advances to go further earlier. Granted he hadn't really tried to make his move and take things further than passionate making out. He was afraid of the flashbacks and didn't trust his thoughts to not twist their love making negatively.
"No. I'm okay. Just still really sore and cramping badly." Her stomach decided it was time to make itself known and grumbled loudly in the cool, silent apartment, "And just a touch hungry. I did miss lunch and dinner."
"Then lets go hunt down some food. I haven't eaten all day, and rarely ate yesterday. Come on." Niko kissed her forehead and encouraged her to move to the edge of the bed to get moving. He was ignoring his hunger for as long as he could stand it and now that food had been mentioned- it was time to eat. He didn't care what it was. Just something to quiet the pangs in his ribs.
"You sure? You should be resting for as long as you can. Your body needs sleep. I can go grab us something." She untucked herself from him and cupped the side of his face, brushing her fingers over his rough scruff. He looked exhausted, but there was a strong will burning in his eyes that refused to be extinguished. Her heart turned over in her chest at how much he endured just to see her taken care of. His whole body was bruised, cut, scratched, and in large amounts of pain- but still his determination to see her fed and looked after had him sitting up and catching her own face as she bowed her head, tears burning the backs of her eyes.
"Don't hide from me Лепа (Lepa). I could use the rest; I will not lie. But I also don't want you wandering around the compound without someone." Niko lifted her face and turned her to him, " I care so much about you. I will fight and keep going till my last breath for you." He leaned forward and stopped just shy of her lips, "I will never give up when it comes to you and us."
"You promise?" Her lips trembled. Her whole body erupted in goosebumps. Her voice had been nothing but a wisp of air that curled and danced between them. A silent plea that all he spoke of was true. That he wouldn't give up on them as they travelled these harsher roads. A hope that there would be lighter, happier times ahead. The blissful mornings of waking in each other's arms, just to connect once conscious thought stirred from slumber.
She had read him instantly and it shook his soul. They knew one another's body language so well. Could just simply know what the other was thinking by searching out the other's eyes. He knew she understood what he was talking about. It wasn't just food or providing for her. It was a lifelong commitment to her and their relationship. He had fallen so far off the cliff for her. But the decent through darkness opened up and broke into brilliant sunrises.
He knew what he had to do.
"I do."
He dove in, capturing her lips in bliss. They moved slowly, taking their time to savor each press of their lips. The passionate sighs blended together and created their own melody. He lowered her back down into the accepting satin sheets and trailed his hand down the injured column of her neck to gently caress her breast. She filled the palm of his hand, and he massaged it, closing his eyes on her content sigh. He felt her legs shift and open for him and he willingly settled between them.
They fit together so perfectly; it was almost sinful. Kate lifted her hips to meet his in a silent plea to lower down and create that blissful friction. Her hands lifted to carefully trace all his beautiful muscles, finding their way to her favorite cut, dipping her fingers into his boxers and sleep pants. Her body was humming in pleasure and wanted more. There was no pain. No mistakes. Just love and yearning to express it the only way she knew how.
Niko let out a silent moan and captured one of her hands, halting her exploring of his v-cut, "We really should wait till the doctor clears you. I don't want to hurt you." He looked down into her crestfallen face, "You and I both know we should wait…"
Kate didn't want to hear that answer. She wanted him so badly. Wanted to be connected in the most intimate of ways. Screw following the rules. Those got thrown to the wind when it came to their love making. All she longed to do was go lax and have him move her body and do what he wanted to her. To get out all this pent-up angst and misunderstandings. So much needed to be said between the two of them, and their best way of communicating was through their body talk.
"You know we need this. Don't fight it." She sensually rolled her body up into his in the most excruciating way, teasing him the way the way she knew he liked. He may seem like such a stand-offish person, but he craved being touched and held- and she knew. Her hands glided over bruised and injured skin to cup his face, lovingly looking up into the fiery eyes of her soulmate.
"I'm not going to accidentally hurt you, or cause damage. Kate. Please. My body is screaming at me to rip your underwear off and dive in so hard. But my heart is telling me to wait. Don't force me to choose." He softened his eyes and lessened the liquid fire flowing through his veins. His member ached with a fierce craving to be buried in her hot, wet walls. He was having to fight off his own instincts and needs to ensure she was okay. His mind and heart worried for her well-being and that outweighed his own desires.
"I am simmering under my skin. I need to feel you everywhere. I need you inside me. I want to surrender to you and fall over the edge into ecstasy. I want to declare my love for you…" Her words burned and smoldered with the near beseeching whine that got caught in the back of her throat. Forget the stabbing, ravenous pain that absorbed her nether regions. It felt as if she would burst if they didn't reconnect.
"It is killing me to hold back. Even my own body is enduring relentless pain just to be able to hover above you and stare into my everything. Моје све (Moje sve, my everything)." His shoulders locked up in order to keep from crushing her under his weight. It pulled his skin, and he held back the hiss that struggled to be free. His limits were starting to show themselves and his stomach made an angry growl at being denied food. His physical control slipped, and he dropped downward.
"Волим те (Volim te)." Kate groaned out when he pressed their bodies together, grinding into her and lighting the sparks to burst up her spine. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, snapping her eyelids closed. She added her own pressure into him and smirked at the echoed moan. His face buried into her neck, and she greedily exposed her spot for him to lavish with his mouth. With the scrape of his teeth she shivered viciously, her toes popped as the curled in.
"I may make mistakes, Kate. I'm going to fuck up and make you mad. I know I'm not perfect. But I can be my perfect with you. Hopefully the perfect you need and want. You drive me crazy in all the right ways. But in all this madness I can count on one truth. It is that you will be here waiting for me."
He kissed her spot tenderly, brushing his nose up her neck to kiss her just below her jaw, "That you love and want me."
"That we will fight to keep the other. That it is us against the world." He kissed her again and forced his arms to work to lean up and look down once more into her breathtaking face.
"Буди мој заувек? (Budi moj zauvek?). Stay with me. Be with me." His voice sounded so far off from what he was used to hearing when he spoke. His words were solid. Not a single vibration could ruin the statements falling from his lips. They sounded confident and so sure of what was being said.
"God I love it when you speak your native language… I am with you, Niko. As a partner, as a girlfriend, a lover, as the woman with Pakhan…" She couldn't help the curl of her body into him again. Her hands lovingly roamed over his back, avoiding areas that were more heavily bruised than others. Her eyes were trapped by his sincere and assuring stare. He meant what he was saying and was trying to get her to listen and process what he had so boldly proclaimed to her.
Her mind replayed his words.
They sounded more like a question than a statement… The way he had accentuated his Serbian. The slight tilt of his head and the lift of his eyebrow. There was something charged woven into the beautiful Cyrillic. Her heart stopped for the smallest of moments. She shot her alert eyes up into his and widened them with her silent question. The one she had thought would never be given to her.
'Are you asking me to marry you…?'
"Then as acting Pakhan, I think we should get some food, then finally get some deep sleep. We need it." Niko placed a kiss to her shocked expression and painfully untangled himself from her. Slowly he slid to the side of the bed and started to search for a t-shirt, socks, and his boots. He would leave her to stew over what he had said in Serbian and see how long it takes her to ask him what it meant.
Kate languidly crawled out of bed and silently slipped on the Pakhan shirt from earlier and the matching sweats. She glanced over her shoulder to see him wince in pain as he pulled his shirt over his head. It softened her heart seeing him hurting. She hated seeing him hurt. It brought back nightmares of him being unconscious in the hospital for three weeks. It was difficult to see… And relive.
"Do you think the chef is awake at this hour? Or will we need to cook?" Kate decided to break the silent spell that had fallen over them. She could admit that she was suddenly starving and could go for some kind of hangover, greasy, bad-for-you kind of food. Her mouth salivated at the thought of a fully loaded cheeseburger or a good 'ol slice of Liberty City styled pizza.
'Or any of the sweet treats at Galina's coffee shop. Could go for a dozen of those krofne…'
"I am sure Georgi is still up wandering around." Niko grumbled under his breath as he bent over to shove his feet into a pair of socks.
"What?" Kate didn't catch what he had said, and she turned toward him once her feet slipped into her fuzzy faux fur boots.
"Nothing. Just that Georgi would be willing to either cook for us or order something. Let's go see what we can find in the main kitchen." He waved to her as he headed to the apartment door. He could almost guarantee that Georgi was walking the halls, working off his steam and anger at him. He needed to repair that friendship soon. He didn't think something like this would get between them. But it had.
He paused at the door and frowned. He also needed to track down Darko and talk to him and hash things out. If he was going to be watching his back from the shadows and providing crucial information- then they deserved to be on level ground. He could tell Darko was soft on Kate and held a certain respect and affection for her. And if Kate found out Darko was alive and well she would more than likely treat him the way she treated every male 'friend' in his life. With hugs and warmness.
His frown deepened.
That was the man who got his real friends killed in the ambush. And the thought of Kate hugging him and showing the same carefree love to his rival didn't set well with him.
"Everything okay?" Kate appeared at his side and snapped him from his inner spiral.
"Hm? Yeah. Sorry. Here." He unlocked the door and pulled it open for her, so she could exit before him.
"Thank you." Kate smiled up at him and ducked beneath his arm to exit Kenny's apartment into the hallway. She looked both ways cautiously and turned to watch him pull the door closed and worked the key in the lock. The line of his back caught her attention through the thin short sleeved shirt he had picked out. And it stirred her unresolved need to life. Her body moved of its own accord.
She reached out to him and turned him to her, cupping the back of his neck to pull him down to her waiting lips. She hungrily kissed him, moaning when his strong arms surrounded her and yanked her small form to his solid frame. Her feet struggled to stay on the ground as he deepened the kiss.
He poured everything into the kiss, letting her know that when the time came, he would treat her to one hell of a night. They would shut out the outside world and just be themselves for however long they saw fit. He fisted his hands into the white t-shirt and breathed her in. She was still the calming lavender and vanilla he remembered from the first time he had entered her personal space.
With a practiced ease, he lowered her down to the ground and lessened the intensity, "If you keep pressing my buttons, you will break my control, and I won't know what will happen." He nearly panted the words against her cheek, being sure to keep his voice low. His eyes scanned the hallway in the direction of the staircase and studied it for people or movement. He highly doubted anyone occupied the rooms close to Kenny's apartment. For privacy reasons and safety.
"I want that side of you… As I claim all of you as mine." Kate found her balance and tilted her face up to give him a heartfelt smile, "Моја љубав (Moja ljubav, my love) I am yours for the rest of eternity." She prayed that was the answer he was looking for to the questions he had asked her just moments before in bed.
"You will be my everything? The everything to someone who has nothing to claim as their own? I have nothing to offer you, except my being. Would that be enough for you?" Niko held her in his arms and forced his eyes to quit scanning the hallways for threats to focus on the love of his life. He had wronged her in so many ways. He didn't deserve this. Should walk away before he killed her light.
"You have me. You will always have me. You claim you have nothing to offer me. Yet you have offered me the world. Our world. You are Pakhan! The highest-ranking member in the underground criminal empire. You have the LCPD on beck and call. You have the local government wrapped around your finger. You have every single asset at your disposal. You literally are best friends with assassins and trained killers. You have the ability to protect and provide for me in ways most women could never dream of.
I will admit. This- this used to scare me and frighten me to the ends of the universe. Held me hostage in therapy. But… Now that I've lived it. Seen it close up. How could I condemn you or anyone here? It's not the most straight and narrow path in life. Or even a redeemable one. But it is our life.
One I love and cherish. I have a growing family and a group of loyal, honest, and caring friends. When I used to be so lonely and outcasted. Now look at me?
You gave me this Niko. Do not sell yourself short anymore. Be proud of what you have earned." She breathed deeply and scrambled to keep her emotions in check. He needed to hear this. To absorb it and let it grow in his soul. He had already provided her things in life… 'Wait!'
"And… if you take away the Bratva and everything that has happened as of late and just go back to when you called me up to hang out that first time… you provided me the first real spark in my life. You gave me friendship. Companionship. Which bloomed and exploded into this inferno love that consumes us both. So be you at the top of the power chain, or just the immigrant that hopped off the ship- you are mine and I am yours."
She couldn't get the words out fast enough before he crashed his lips to hers. He enveloped her into his arms and body, hand slipped up her back to bunch into her beautiful hair, the other snaking its way around her waist. He silenced her moan with another heated kiss. She was something beyond words to him. How she saw such potential and worth in him always left him so speechless and useless to respond correctly. She claims him as too quiet, but how could he compete with such heartfelt sentiment?
He swore on his life that he would do whatever humanly possible to keep her with him.
And he meant anything.
"If we are… each other's whole world-"
"Standing before one another-"
"Then we agree, we would never leave each other?" Niko brushed the hair from her eyes and couldn't help the sappy smile that crossed his lips. She was truly Heaven sent. And he would be eternally grateful for every second he got to spend with her. He watched her smile match his and her eyes seemed to grow brighter in nature.
"And since we are not going to leave each other…" Kate's lips curled into a semi-smirk as she watched the mischief come to life in his eyes.
"That could only mean one thing, Kate." He lightly teased the words as he tucked her hair behind her ears.
"That I am your everything?" Her breath caught in her throat.
"Yes… But also kind of changes your title in my eyes. So you would mean something more to me…" He could basically see her heartrate skyrocket, her pulse point was moving a mile a second.
"To what?" She couldn't breathe. Her heart was just absolutely going nuts! Was he going to get down on one knee? Was this that moment?! Was she ready? Was she remembering everything perfectly and clearly? Her brain fogged up so badly that the world around her tunneled for a moment.
"Моја вољена жена (Moja voljena žena)." He reached for her left hand, and very slowly brought it up to his lips to kiss her ring finger, never breaking eye contact. He didn't miss a beat as he breathed those sacred words in Serbian…
So enraptured by his language and gestures she almost forgot to take a breath,
"Which means…?"
"Wife."
He looked into her eyes,
And saw
All of his tomorrows.