“You had no right…” she starts, her voice trembling with a mix of shock and rage.
“I have every right, Zoya.” I stand too, walking around the table until I’m right in front of her. “Your journalism career is over. Your photography is over. And your OnlyFans streams?” I lean down, bracing my hands on the arms of her chair to cage her in. “Those ended the moment you became mine.”
Anger sparks in her eyes. “You have no…”
"I already did." I watch her face go pale. "The accounts. The backups. All of it." I hold her gaze. "I'm a jealous man, Zoya. Did you really think I'd sit back and let strangers pay to look at what belongs to me?" Her mouth opens, then snaps shut. The words fail her entirely.
“You just took my income. Everything I had to keep me independent.” Her voice sounds paper-thin.
I straighten up, looking down at her. “Now everything you have comes from me.”
“This is why I ran.” Her voice trembles as she shakes with rage. “Because I knew. I knew you’d do exactly this.”
“You’re not Zoya Petrov anymore. You’re Zoya Koval. Soon to be Zoya Romanov.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, but she jerks away from my touch. “That identity comes with certain restrictions.”
“Restrictions.” She laughs bitterly. “You mean chains.”
“I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t want to live a long life like you before.” I walk back to my seat, lowering myself into it. “Your investigation into Moscow crime ends now.”
“What, scared I’ll reveal your crimes?” She challenges me, her chin lifting as she searches for a crack in my composure.
“You don’t know me like I know you, I understand that.” My voice softens. “I’ve loved you from a distance for five years. You’re the most valuable person in my world. Losing you wouldn’t just hurt me. It would destroy everything I am. And I have enemies, Zoya. Dangerous men who would kill you just to watch me suffer. Being my wife protects you. My name, my power, it keeps you safe. But there’s still a war happening. We need to wait it out and keep you protected until the threats are eliminated. Then we can have the peaceful life I want for us. But I can’t give you that if you’re investigating criminals who want me dead.”
“So this is about protecting me.” Her voice drips sarcasm. “How noble.”
“This is about keeping you alive.” I’m up and moving to her again, the distance between us vanishing in two long strides. “When Dato took you, I spent five days in hell, not knowing if you were alive, if you were suffering, if I’d lost you before I ever really had you. I tore this city apart looking for you. Barely slept. Couldn’t eat. Every minute was agony thinking about what might be happening to you. And when I finally found you…” I cut myself off, breathing through the memory. “I swore I’d never let anyone take you again. Never.”
Her face crumples. And without warning, tears start falling, the pools in the corner of her eyes running down her pretty face.
Panic hits me instantly. “No, no, please don’t cry.” I reach out, my hands clumsy as I try to wipe the moisture away. “Please, Zoya.” I press kisses to her forehead and her cheeks - anywhere the tears land. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I shouted at you. I lashed out. It’s my fault. I’m sorry. I’m a bad husband.”
“This was…” She hiccups, her voice fracturing. “This was the one thing I had control over. In my life. It may not have been…” Another hiccup. “…glamorous. But at least it was mine. And now you just…” Hiccup. “…barge in and…”
I pull her into me, wrapping my arms around her and holding her tight while she sobs. “Let’s try to make this work for both of us,” I murmur, stroking her hair, trying to soothe the tremors. “I’m really sorry. Please.”
Zoya nods against my chest, a small, broken sound. “I’ll try.” She pulls back just enough to look up at me. I lean down, testing the space between us. Our faces are inches apart, her breath ghosting over my lips.
I force myself to stop, shaking my head and pulling back with an ache in my chest. “Sorry. I respect your no-touching rule. Go get your jacket ready.” My voice comes out rough, barely a whisper. “It’s cold outside.”
She nods, wiping her face one last time before heading for the door. As it clicks shut, I let out a heavy breath.
“This is how I’m going to die,” I say it to the silence. “For a woman. And I’d gladly go like that.” I straighten my suit, finding my mask again, and go find Viktor to arrange security for the shopping trip.
Chapter 14
Zoya
“This dress looks absolutely stunning on you, miss.” The seamstress steps back, admiring her work. She’s been pinning and adjusting the emerald green gown for the past ten minutes. I stand on a small platform in front of a full-length mirror, watching the crystals on the bodice catch the light from the chandelier above. The effect is beautiful, I’ll admit. Sparkles everywhere.
Alexei is lounging on the plush sofa in the corner. He has one arm stretched across the back of it, looking completely relaxed. He’s been watching me try on dresses for an hour without saying a word. His eyes travel over the dress slowly. “Perfect,” he says simply.
Turning slowly, I watch the dress from every angle. It really is beautiful.
“You think so?” The seamstress asks, her face lighting up. She looks ready to cry with joy as she gathers her things, victory in her eyes.
“It’s gorgeous.” He pushes off the sofa and moves toward the platform where I’m standing. “You’ll make every woman jealous, and every man desperate.” He looks up at me with satisfaction as he stops at the edge. “And I’ll be the smug bastard who gets to take you home.”
I tilt my head at him, a small smirk playing on my lips. “Is this you being supportive? I’ve got elephant-level confidence already. I don’t need the motivational speech.”