"What is it?" I ask gently.
She hesitates before responding. "I wish she could have had an easier life. And not had to worry about me for so many years. And I wish that she could be here with us now. I feel so guilty leaving her."
My heart aches for Alina, and for the mother she had to leave behind.
I take her hand again, tracing circles on her skin with my thumb.
"It's not too late, you know. After all this, after we take down Luchenko and his men, you could try to bring her here. In the circumstances, you might even be able to get her application expedited through some refugee program."
Hope flickers in her eyes. "Do you really think so?"
"I do."
I bring her hand to my lips, brushing a soft kiss over her knuckles.
"You deserve to be happy, Alina. And your mother deserves to be safe with you and Yara."
She inhales sharply at the contact, her cheeks flushing. The air between us seems to crackle.
Slowly, she leans in, her eyes searching mine.
I meet her halfway, unable to resist any longer.
When our lips touch, sparks ignite within me. The kiss deepens, filled with longing and promise.
In this moment, the past and future fade away.
There is only Alina, her body pressed against mine, her fingers tangled in my hair.
We break apart, breathless.
She rests her forehead against mine, a smile playing on her lips.
No words are needed. The kiss said everything our hearts long to express.
Alina's eyes flutter open, still hazy with desire. I brush a strand of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear.
"I've never felt this way before," she whispers. "Like I can finally breathe again."
Her candor emboldens me. "Me neither. Being here with you, it's like the world makes sense again."
She nuzzles against my chest, listening to the steady beat of my heart.
I hold her close, overcome with protectiveness. My wounds are healing nicely, and her weight against my chest no longer hurts. Breathing no longer hurts. I've even been able to get in a couple of jogs in the nearby woods as well as some weight training. There's nothing like a severe injury to make you appreciate how good it feels to be healthy and well.
After a moment, she peers up at me, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Well, Agent Morello, now that you're feeling much better, I believe we have some training to do."
I chuckle, the mood shifting. "That we do."
Reluctantly, we untangle ourselves and head outside to begin our session.
The late afternoon sun filters through the trees as I show Alina basic self-defense techniques. She's a quick study, focused and determined.
We spar playfully, our bodies moving as one. With each grapple and block, our chemistry intensifies. I'm impressed by her skill but even more so by her spirit.
Underneath her poise is an indomitable will, a refusal to be anyone's victim ever again.
As the sun dips below the horizon, we halt our training, both flushed and panting.