“Can I come in?”
My features soften, and I give him a slight nod.
His scent floods my senses as he walks past me. The familiar musk sends me following after him like a lost puppy. The door clicks shut behind me. Nobody can see me make a fool of myself.
Except for me, of course.I need to keep myself together.
But the moment he turns around, I break.
Tears fill his eyes. He isn’t the same heartless pakhan I knew a long time ago. He’s different. I can tell from his posture and his expression that he’s been thinking about this moment as much as me. He’s been worrying about showing up here uninvited.
I cross my arms over my chest. I’m not blocking him out. I’m just trying to stay composed. “How…” I bite my lower lip to block my sob. “How long have you known where I am?”
“The whole time.”
My vision blurs.
“I’ve always known where you are, Liya,” he admits. His voice cracks slightly but remains confident. “I had to make sure you were safe.” He takes a shaky breath. “I’ve missed you so much.”
I feel my heart melt at his admission. How long has it been this way? Did I make a huge mistake by leaving?
I tug on the cardigan around my shoulders—it’s not the one I used to have, but it helps keep the cold away.
“I’ve missed you too,” I finally admit.
He looks at me in a way he’s never looked at me before, like he can’t tear himself away. Almost as if he’s afraid that if he looks away, I’ll disappear again.
“You’ve done well for yourself,” he finally says.
“Is that a compliment?”
A smile breaks through his sorrowful expression. “Do I have to spell it out for you?”
I cover my mouth to keep myself from crying. Or laughing. Or screaming. I’m afraid of what’s going to happen next.
Yet I can’t wait to find out either.
I tremble as I wipe my eyes. I just want to look at Pavel without totally losing my mind. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him in person.
“I said a lot of stupid things,” Pavel whispers. “I did a lot of stupid things, too.”
I bow my head. “I did too.”
“I shouldn’t have driven you away, Liya. It was the worst mistake I ever made in my life.”
My heart thuds in my chest. “Pavel…”
“I treated you like an object.”
I blink as more tears come.
He steps toward me. “I treated you like an option.”
I whimper as he closes the space between us.
He takes my hands. “I put the Bratva before you.”
What god heard my prayers and answered them? I just want to know who to thank. Because I’ve been hoping to hear him say those things for so long.