"Take the rest of the day off," I tell him. "You've earned it."
"Thank you, Pakhan," he replies with a firm nod.
I walk straight through the front entrance, navigate the long main hallway, and push through the heavy door that hides the narrow staircase leading down into the basement. I take the steps fast until I hit the reinforced steel bunker door.
I knock twice. Viktor opens it from the inside and immediately steps aside to let me pass.
I hear her before I even make it fully into the room.
"Alexei!"
Zoya jumps right off the cot. "You're back! Come here!"
I set the bags down on the concrete floor by the door and glance down at my hands. Dark, dried blood coats my skin, caked deep under my fingernails and cracking across my knuckles.
"Give me one second,Vedma," I say, keeping my distance. "I need to wash up first."
I walk over to the small metal sink in the corner and crank the hot water. I scrub my hands with the bar soap, watching the water turn a muddy red before it swirls down the drain. I have to scrub hard to dig the dried flakes out from under my nails, rinsing and checking the skin over and over until the water runs clear and every trace of the violence is gone.
I dry my hands on a rough towel and turn around. She's standing right where I left her, waiting for me.
I unstrap my heavy tactical vest and drop it onto the floor before pulling off my shoulder holsters so they clatter onto the concrete next to it. I pull my ruined shirt over my head, kick off my boots, and close the distance between us.
She laughs, opening her arms wide to catch me.
I force myself to slow down just before I crash into her, keeping my movements careful and gentle. I wrap my armsaround her shoulders and pull her close, leaving enough space to keep her pregnant belly safe between us.
"I'm so happy you're back," she murmurs against my bare chest.
"Yeah," I breathe out, burying my face in her hair. "Me too."
I just hold her there in the quiet bunker, letting her wrap her arms tight around my waist while the baby kicks against my stomach.
"I brought everything on your list," I tell her.
She pulls back enough to look up at me, a soft smile on her face. "You're such a darling."
I kiss her, keeping it soft before pressing harder when she immediately kisses me back. Her warm hands slide up my bare chest while I bring my hands up to cradle her face. When I finally pull away, I just rest my forehead against hers.
"Pizza's getting cold," I remind her.
"I don't care."
"You will in five minutes when you start complaining about eating cold pizza."
She laughs softly. "Fair point."
I grab the bags from the door and set them on the small table in the center of the room. I pull out the warm pizza box, the cold fizzy peach drink, the chips, the ice cream, and the box of pastries. She flips the cardboard lid open and inspects every single slice.
"No onions," she confirms.
"As promised."
"No pineapple."
"Never."
She takes a bite and closes her eyes with a quiet groan. "This is perfect."