Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“Ask me again after Aurora and Misha’s wedding.”
Nikolai lifts a surprised eyebrow. “Do you mean that?”
I walk to him and wrap my arms around his neck. Smiling at my man, I say, “Yes. I'll come back if you still want me in two weeks.”
“Permanently,” he demands. “I won’t let you go a second time.”
I can’t describe the feeling of knowing there’s one person on this planet who wants me. Who loves me so much, he can’t live without me.
“I love you, Nikolai,” I say, my entire heart in my voice.
He lifts his hands to my face, framing my cheeks. He looks into the depth of my soul. “Moya zhizn'. Moya dusha. Ty mayo vse.”
Before I can ask what the words mean, he translates, “My life. My soul. My everything.”
Standing in his arms, I know I would say yes if he asked me to marry him.
A kaleidoscope of butterflies erupts in my stomach, the thought becoming my new dream.
Nikolai presses a tender kiss to my lips, then lets out a heavy sigh. “Let me walk you to the private jet before I give in and keep you here against your will.”
It will never be against my will.
We grab my luggage, and I swipe my phone off the bed. When we walk out of Nikolai’s home, that’s become a haven of peace and love, there’s a sinking sensation in my stomach.
I don’t want to leave.
What if the demons come back? What if this was only a temporary fix, and I can’t function without Nikolai?
He takes my hand and weaves our fingers together. As if he can read my mind, he says, “If you need me, call me day or night. I won’t have any signal during the flight. If something happens while I’m out of reach, call my mom. She’ll come to get you from St. Monarch’s.”
God, I’m going to miss him.
Nikolai carries my luggage up the stairs and hands it to the flight attendant. “Sit, moya lyubov',” he orders before he straps me in, ensuring the safety belt is secure.
He crouches in front of me and stares at my face as if he’s trying to imprint me in his memory.
“Call me the moment you land in Switzerland.”
“I will,” I promise.
“Sir, we’re ready,” the pilot informs him.
Nikolai leans over me, pressing a desperate kiss to my mouth.
It’s just two weeks.
“I love you, Abigail,” he whispers, his voice hoarse.
Tears sting my eyes. “I’ll see you soon. Don’t miss me too much.”
Nikolai straightens up and places his hand over his heart. “That’s impossible. I’m half a soul without you.”
Jesus.
I swallow hard, my throat straining as I watch him leave the aircraft.
Too soon, the plane moves down the runway, and as it lifts into the sky, I let out a heavy sigh.
The flight feels longer than it should, and with every mile the distance grows between Nikolai and me, I miss him more and more.
The moment we touch down in Switzerland, I turn on my phone and dial Nikolai’s number.
He answers on the first ring. “You can still come back.”
“I wish,” I mutter as I get up from the seat. I grab my luggage and exit the plane. “I miss you.”
“Not half as much as I miss you.”
Smiling at the St. Monarch’s guards, I climb into the SUV Nikolai arranged for me and grumble, “The next two weeks might actually kill me.”
“I’ll try to visit after I’m done with the deal in Congo.”
A smile spreads over my face. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
“In that case, I’ll see you on Tuesday.”
I let out a chuckle as the vehicle takes me to the castle.
“I’ll call you as soon as I’m back in Europe,” he promises.
“Have a save trip, and don’t get hurt,” I say, worried about this meeting he’s having in Congo. “I love you and want you back in one piece.”
“Don’t worry about me. Love you, baby,” he murmurs before ending the call.
I tuck my phone into my handbag and glance out the window.
Suck it up, Abby. Focus on Aurora’s happiness and making her wedding day special.
Maybe I’ll get to know Inna. With Nikolai being close with his sister, I feel it’s important that we get along.
The SUV pulls up to the front steps of the castle, and one of the guards opens the door for me. I notice a row of SUVs parked around the fountain but don’t think anything of it.
“Thank you,” I say to the guard as I climb out, and taking hold of my luggage, I head inside.
Excitement starts to bubble in my chest because I can’t wait to tell Aurora everything.
I open the door to my suite and step inside before I shut it behind me. When I turn around, the blood drains from my face. My lips feel numb as I whisper, “Father?”
Looking like a thundercloud that’s about to rain on my parade, he stands up from where he’s sitting on a sofa.