“Alessio is my strength,” I whispered back, thinking of him. “If it wasn’t for him, then maybe I wouldn’t have made it out alive. He kept me alive, Viktor. Alessio kept me going.”
Viktor paused at my words, and I saw him swallowing hard. He looked like he was in pain.
Confusion clouded my mind as I stared up at him. “How much to do you love him?” he asked quietly.
“More than I can love myself,” I replied, the truth so easy to speak. “He is everything. You’ve got it wrong. It’s me who is lucky to have Alessio.”
“Maybe.” He chuckled, but the look in his eyes… Why did he look so heartbroken?
“Tell me how much you love him again,” he said, moving even closer.
A shiver ran down my spine, and I licked my lips nervously. Viktor wasn’t acting like himself.
“I love him. He is my reason for living,” I replied, trying to move away from his touch. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, but that didn’t mean his touch was welcomed. Not like this. There was something too intimate in our position.
“Viktor…what are—” I started but quickly broke off in a gasp when he placed his forehead against mine. He pinched his eyes closed, his chest moving against mine as he tried to control his breathing.
“Say it again,” he demanded. His eyes were still closed, but his fingers continued to caress my cheek, his touch feather-light. I barely even felt it.
“I…love him.”
Viktor opened his eyes, and I saw his gaze drifting toward my lips. My eyes widened, and my heart leaped to my throat.
No. Not this. Please…not this.
“Good,” he muttered.
I stayed frozen against the door, not daring to move a muscle. Was this really happening? Did Viktor have…?
No. He couldn’t.
“Good,” he said again. And then he smiled. “Keep loving him.”
I almost flinched when he moved his head up. When I felt his lips on my forehead, I swallowed hard, waiting for this to be over.
His next words made my heart flutter. “Don’t ever stop loving him. Because no other man is worthy of your love.”
My shoulders sagged, and I let out a harsh breath. Viktor pulled away, his heat leaving me. I stayed against the door, watching him.
“You both deserve each other,” he continued. “I’m just really happy that Alessio found you?”
He paused, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “Or should I say, it was you who found him.”
Viktor winked, reminding me of the time when I first met Alessio. He was right. It was me who found him. Everything started when I got into his car.
“I’ll never let Alessio live that one down. Poor bastard. His woman had to come looking for him while he was wallowing in self-pity.”
His laughter made me feel better, all the tension leaving me. “Hey. That’s not nice.” I swatted his arm. “I don’t think you want to get killed, Viktor.”
He chuckled low. “No. He loves me too much to kill me. Seriously speaking, I’m like his first love.”
Shaking my head, I rubbed my baby bump. When our laughter finally died down, Viktor nodded toward the stairs.
“After you, baby girl.” He smirked with a wink.
This…this was the Viktor I knew. The other one from before…he had confused me. It wasn’t him.
Mumbling a thank you, I walked away, Viktor following closely behind.
“Lucky bastard,” I heard him whisper.
I shook my head but continued moving. There was no use thinking too much into this.
Viktor cared for me. I knew that.
But I also knew he would never betray Alessio.
And he would never betray me, either.
Viktor was Alessio’s brother. The trust they had between them was something that couldn’t be broken. I also trusted Viktor wholeheartedly.
When Maddie pulled me in her arms and Viktor kissed Lena on her cheeks, I smiled.
We were a family.
Sitting on the stool, I watched Maddie and Viktor bicker over small things.
My mind drifted to Alessio. I felt a pang in my chest. I’m waiting, Alessio. I miss you, but I will wait for you.
I just had to wait for my gentle lover to come back.
While I waited for him, I knew he was avenging me in the most horrific way. His thirst for revenge had clouded his mind.
But I didn’t mind.
I loved him either way.
Because just like Alessio said; he was my Monster. Just like I was his Angel.
Chapter 21
Alessio
I felt his bone crunch under the force of my punch. It was so loud that it vibrated through my ears.
I heard his scream, but it only fueled my anger. It only pushed me for more.
Grabbing his hair, I pummeled his face over and over again.
Two days. Two days since the fucking bastard was captured and tortured mercilessly under our hands.
But still my thirst for his blood has not been sated. The fury I felt was still boiling inside of me, threatening to break him.
I was not done. I was not close to being done.