Hours later, we made it to Moscow with no problem. We were both beyond exhaustion. It took forever to get dressed. When we did, no one else was on the plane.
Kaz’s new set of men stood outside. Zahkar had a few of his.
Zahkar and Kazimir exchanged words, but I was too tired to listen as I limped forward to our good old trusty limo.
Never in my life, had I thought home would be anywhere but Harlem. But as I took in the chill in the air and the beauty of my city, I knew Moscow was my home.
Welcome back.
Zahkar muttered several things as he opened the limo door for us.
Kazimir waved him away. “We’ll talk later.”
We headed straight to the mansion. Kaz came close to yelling at the driver to speed up. Thank God he only grumbled to himself as he held me.
The whole time, I yawned, barely able to stay awake.
Once we got home, his men tried to talk to him once more.
He had no time.
We had no time.
He picked me up. I groaned but gave him no complaint. My leg felt swollen. My body ached.
“We’ll rest. When we wake up, I’ll call the doctor.” He carried me up the stairs.
A yawn escaped me. “Everything will be fine.”
“It will.”
We hit our new master suite. Kaz didn’t turn on the lights. Moonlight slipped through the curtains. It was the only glow that helped us get to the bed. But once we climbed in, heaven wrapped around us. Soft blankets and silk sheets. Fluffy pillows and a warm Kazimir.
Cuddling under layers and layers of blankets, I drowned in him. I sank deep within his love and protection.
Forever.
Epilogue
Kazimir
In my dream, we rode on a yacht.
My mysh and me.
A storm battered above us.
I held my mouse in my arms. “Don’t worry. It’ll stop soon.”
“Let’s hope.”
The yacht plunged into the angry swells of the dark sea. I didn’t know why we stood on the deck. Surely it would be safer inside. The waves rose to a giant’s height. All powerful and mighty. The white spray dotted the night sky and then crashed back down to the sea.
Emily trembled next to me. “Will we survive this?”
“There’s no other option.”
The ropes that were keeping the beams in place above our heads, strained and twisted under the violent wind.
Emily screamed.
I looked back to the sea.
A massive wave raced toward our yacht.
She turned around and buried her face in my chest. “We won’t survive.”
“Trust me.”
The wave came. The yacht surged upwards. We fell back. She held onto me.
“I’ve got you.” I gripped the deck’s handle. The wave crashed into the yacht again.
I lost my grip. The sea sprayed. And I tried to grab on to something as the vessel rocked from side to side.
Cold water enveloped us.
Emily slipped away from my hands.
“No!” I screamed. “Emily!”
The waves crashed into the yacht again and flipped all of us over.
We fell into the ocean.
I lost Emily and couldn’t scream for her, without filling my mouth with water.
Panic spread through me.
Where are you? Mouse?! Where are you?!
I tried to swim against the violent waves, but it dragged me deep down into its murky dark depths. My body twisted and turned, arms and feet working frantically against the pressures of a demonic whirlpool.
Death’s abyss.
I struggled.
I feared.
I kicked furiously, clawing at the heavy walls of water above.
Somehow I broke surface, thrashing to stay on top of the black swells.
“Emily!” I screamed out; my arms burned from my swimming. “Emily!”
“Kaz!” Emily screamed my name off in the distance. “Kaz!”
“Where are you?”
“Kaz!”
My body shook.
The view of the water distorted.
Wait. I’m sleeping. It’s only a dream.
Emily yelled off in the distance. “Kaz!”
Wake up.
I opened my eyes.
I was no longer in that cruel ocean. A sea of blankets covered one of side of me. I now lay in my bedroom back in Moscow. My body trembled as I blinked my eyes and focused on the space.
“Emily?” I slowly rose from the bed.
She kicked the blankets off herself and that was how they became piled on my side.
I blinked my eyes again and turned her way.
Panic rode Emily’s voice. “Kaz, something’s wrong.”
My heart stopped. My body trembled in pain. I stared at her, finally realizing what was going on.
She held her hands out as they shook. “Kaz, what’s happening?”
Blood dotted her fingertips.
She moved the sheets and blankets away from her legs. And there, blood stained the sheets between her parted legs. The inner part of her thighs was dotted in blood.
Our child. Something’s wrong.
“It’s going to be okay.” Terror filled me. “I’ll get a doctor.”
I jumped up and stumbled on the sheets.
Goddamn it!
I rushed to the door and grabbed my guard. “Get a doctor now. Wake him up. Send a car personally, if you have to.
I ran back to the bed.
Tears streaked Emily’s cheeks as she whispered, “I lost her. . .didn’t I?”