Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I lock on to her until the darkness sweeps me back under.
I’m not a good man.
And I am never letting go of the only light I have in my life.
CHAPTER 53
Aleksandr
“You have a lot to make up for since you haven’t shown up to any auctions for two weeks,” Anya says in way of greeting after inviting herself to my house. She’s not entirely welcome, but she’s already here, so I let her in.
“Lower your voice. Lena’s sleeping upstairs,” I tell her as I walk to the kitchen. She had a show last night, and Tyson, her now bodyguard, didn’t drop her off until late. “And you were the one who told me not to show my face for a few weeks.”
She points her nose higher in the air, but I know she’s here because she’s worried. “Will left town, said he had another job back over in the UK.”
“You say that as if I’ll care,” I grit out.
I’m wearing loose pj pants, as my stomach’s still wrapped in bandages. The doctor hasn’t had to visit for two days since Lena’s insisted on changing them for me. I pour myself a glass of water.
“He’s a good ally to have. If he ever needs anything, we owe him,” she says. I don’t like the guy, but I’ll forever be in his debt. The what-ifs have consumed me these past days. Had I been too late… I hold Lena tightly every night with the very shattering thought.
“I thought you didn’t take to people. You’ve become soft,” I reply.
“Says the man who got stabbed by a deranged junkie bitch,” she says with a sharp tongue. True.
“Don’t ever do that to Lena or me again, Alek,” she says quietly. “I don’t mind if you choose a woman who is…” She tries to find the right word. “Softer. And if you want to avoid her being involved as much with our businesses, I’ll allow it. But don’t put yourself at risk like that again.”
“Are you telling me you wouldn’t do the same for River?”
She seems affronted. “No, I’d throw him in front of me like a human shield.”
I try to hide a smirk and so does she.
“What I’m saying is, don’t put yourself in that position again. Especially if you two choose to have a family one day.”
Silence fills the air, and it’s unsettling. I grip the water glass hard as I stare into it.
“Do you think it would be bad to bring children into this type of world?” I ask, so unlike the man I was only six months ago. I was so against even the thought of bringing a child into this life. But for Lena… I’m willing to give her everything and anything. If she needs me to be a husband, I will adapt to that role. If she needs a father for her children, then that will only be me.
“I know I won’t have children, Alek. But I won’t look down on you if you do. If she is okay with who you are, monster and all, and you choose to have children, then we make sure they’re safeguarded and we raise those obnoxious little trust fund babies together. If that’s what you choose.”
I smirk, feeling a slight shift within me. “We’ll probably fuck them up.”
She scoffs. “No doubt. We were hardly able to raise ourselves, let alone innocent babies. But you will try. Lena will be nothing short of a great mother. Why, is she pregnant?”
“No,” Lena says from across the room, and I’m startled to realize I hadn’t even heard her approach.
Anya narrows her eyes at her, most likely surprised she didn’t sense her sooner either.
“I’m not,” Lena says and pokes out her tongue. “But if I were, we’d probably have to take a DNA test to make sure it’s Aleksandr’s,” she adds as she walks toward the fridge.
I pull her into me and she squeals. “That’s not funny, sweetheart,” I growl into her ear, and she chuckles.
Anya rolls her eyes. “You two disgust me, and I’m losing money by being here. I expect you around for dinner at eight.” She throws her hands in the air as a goodbye, then takes her leave.
“Why were you two talking about children?” Lena asks. Those big brown eyes look up at me through thick eyelashes. I stroke my knuckles along her cheekbones, memorizing every supple line.
“I just want to make sure when I promise you the world, I’m capable of giving it to you. That’s all,” I say honestly.
She smirks. “Alek, I said I want children one day. Right now, I’m living my best life on stage. There’s no rush.”
“But we can practice plenty, right?” I ask eagerly.
She chuckles and slaps my chest. “No, because you’re still recovering.” Her hands glide down my stomach, over my bandages, before she reaches for my semi-hard cock. “It doesn’t mean I can’t help relieve a sickly old man.”