Their Battle for Love (The American Soldier Collection 15)

Prologue

Malayna Regard stood by the window overlooking the gardens. Her father’s estate was stunning and from where she stood she could see two guards talking and smoking cigarettes. There wasn’t the fear, the same level of anxiety she had when she was held prisoner in Mexico by Cornikup. That wasn’t to say she wasn’t scared, or anxious, just less so because these were all good people that surrounded her.

She glanced at Nalia as she lay sleeping in the king-size bed. She was getting stronger and stronger every day, but the seriousness of her injuries kept her in pain. Malayna didn’t want to leave her side.

She smiled at her. Nalia had saved her life. The moment Nalia had arrived at Cornikup’s home Malayna hoped she could have a friend, another woman to talk to and even help. God knew Malayna had learned the hard way about putting up a fight against men like Vlladim.

She shivered just thinking about him, and when she closed her eyes she saw him. Vlladim haunted her dreams, invaded her mind even when she thought she was at peace. The fact that no one, not even Nicolai, tried to tell her that Vlladim would never get his hands on her again validated her fears. Unless the man was dead, there would always be that fear of him returning to find her. She knew him better than anyone else. He would not give up. He was obsessed, and he would not rest until he possessed her.

“Malayna.”

She turned around quickly, hearing Nalia’s strained voice. As soon as she was by her bedside Nalia smiled.

“You didn’t have to stay. You should be getting to know your new home and visiting with Nicolai,” she told her.

Malayna smoothed out the covers and kept her eyes down. “I want to be here for you. Plus, most of the time it’s one of your men or your father who sits and watches over you.”

Nalia smiled. “Karlicov has been here, too?”

Malayna picked up on the faded smile and now sad expression.

“Why are you sad about that? He loves you and wants to spend time with you,” Malayna said to her.

“When I’m asleep?” Nalia a

sked.

Malayna thought about it. “Perhaps he still feels responsible for your injuries and for the things you were forced to do in order to survive?”

“Well, he needs to get over it. Karlicov should know that I have always been resistant to the rules, and never fit into a normal sort of lifestyle. He knew me when I was a teenager and got into trouble. Heck, he saved my life by intervening before I did an illegal theft job with some other teens. They hadn’t been so lucky.”

Malayna smiled softly and held her gaze.

“He was there for you then, but he may feel he failed you when you truly needed his guidance and protection.”

Nalia took a deep breath and exhaled.

“I need to get up out of this bed and start moving around. They’re babying me,” Nalia stated and threw back the covers.

Malayna stood up. “Wait, I don’t know if that’s such a great idea, Nalia. The stitches are still in, and the bruising bad. You haven’t really walked on that foot with the broken ankle.”

“It’s got a cast on it, and I have the crutches, and I have you. Help me, Malayna. I need to show my father and my men that I’m strong and resilient, and most importantly, I’m alive.”

Malayna wrapped her arm around Nalia’s waist and helped her stand up. She got her the crutches and then guided her to the bathroom. It was very large and had gorgeous windows that brought rays of sunlight into the bathroom and shimmered against the bronze and cream-colored crystal accents.