Four beautiful sparrows. I never wanted to add another one. I couldn’t handle another loss.
Boris fell on the bed beside me, and I moved into his embrace. Half of my body covered his, and he held me tight. I inhaled his scent, feeling safe and loved in his embrace.
I love you.
***
I woke up with a start. A loud bang could be heard and then screams. Horrifying, painful screams. My eyes widened, and I sat up. My arm reached out for Boris, but he was already out of bed. My heart thundered at the sight of him, quickly pulling on his pants and shirt.
“Boris,” I said quietly.
His eyes snapped up, and they held me place. Thousands of unsaid words passed between us. Tears filled my eyes, and I shook my head slowly. My stomach cramped, and my lungs tightened to the point I couldn’t breathe. The estate was under attack. God, no. This couldn’t be happening.
Another screeching bang jolted me, and I jumped out of bed. The trance between Boris and I was gone. I reached him the same time he reached for his gun. With one hand, he palmed my cheek. “It’s going to be okay,” he said quickly.
My throat felt heavy. “Don’t leave me,” I whispered.
“Lena…” Boris growled.
I couldn’t move. I couldn’t really speak. I felt…numb. Empty.
“Please.”
His dark eyes stared into my crying soul. And then he shook his head. “Get Maddie from her room and hide. Don’t come out, Lena.”
“Don’t leave me,” I said again. Couldn’t he hear my heart shattering? Why wouldn’t he look into my begging eyes and stay?
“Lena!” he snapped, shaking my shoulders now. I saw the love in his eyes. I saw the pain there. His eyes told me he didn’t want to leave, but his duty said otherwise. I also saw the fear in those eyes I loved so much.
Indescribable fear slithered into my soul. He was scared. Boris Ivanshov was never scared. Of nothing and no one.
“Baby. I need you to be strong right now. I need you to listen to me. Get Maddie and Viktor and hide. They are both in the next room. Don’t step outside of this room. Open the adjoined door and get them. Turn the light off and hide in the bathroom.”
I started to shake my head. Why wouldn’t he listen to me? Don’t leave me!
He placed a gun into my palm. “If someone comes in, you shoot first. Don’t ask questions. Don’t speak. Don’t wait. You shoot.”
Pain. That was all I felt. It…hurt so much.
“Boris…”
I gripped his hand tighter when he tried to let go. He made a pained sound at the back of his throat, and my chin wobbled with the effort not to scream or cry out. His fingers entwined with me. He squeezed my hand, and I choked back a sob.
Pulling me closer, he placed the sweetest kiss on my lips.
And then he let go.
I reached for him, but he took a step back. No.
Our gazes met. I love you, he said.
Don’t go! Please don’t go, I said. Don’t leave me. Don’t leave us. Stay. Please.
But the moment was once again broken by the sound of gunshot. Boris didn’t look at me again, but he turned around. I watched my husband walk away and out of our room.
Right into the arms of bloodshed.
A single droplet of tear silently fell down my cheek. Stay with me, I wanted to beg. But it was too late.
He was gone. My heart cried. My soul bled and wept.
I never wanted to add another sparrow on my skin. But…fate was cruel.
Silence filled my ears, and then I heard his voice. His vows the day he made me his.
You are burning. You are out of control. You are sweet and wild. You have the heart of the storm and the soul of love. You are fire. And you are everything that I love. You and me…forever, baby.
Little did we know…forever didn’t exist, just like fairy tales were just stupid dreams.
Chapter 23
Maria
“Mommy?”
The voice of my sweet boy brought me back to the present, and my fear skyrocketed into my system. My blood ran cold, and my eyes widened in realization. If anything happened to Alessio…
No, I shook my head. I refused to let anything happen to my son. Without thinking twice, I was already pulling him out of bed. There was no time. The screams got louder. The gunshots sounded closer.
“Mommy, what’s happening?” Alessio asked, his little voice trembling.
My lungs clenched, and I didn’t know what to say to my little boy, how to appease his fear. God, Lyov…where are you? We need you.
I knelt down in front of Alessio. My stomach tightened, and then my baby girl went still, as if she was hiding away. I looked around the room, searching for a place to hide Alessio. My whole body shook, and the insides of me were twisted in knots. My eyes drifted to the bed.