I swallowed hard, fighting back the wave of emotion that rose up my throat. “I appreciate that.”
Pavel spoke then. “Good luck to you, Adrik. I hope things work out for you with Annika. I’m sure all of us would like to see you around here again.”
“Thanks.”
We all rose, and Alexei walked me to the door.
“You’re welcome to hang out and wait for Annika to return. Or you can always come back later.”
“I’ll come back, I think.” I needed a little more time to get my words just right before I saw her. I still couldn’t believe they all approved of me. Dimitri Popov thought I was a good match for his granddaughter.
“Fair enough.” Alexei shook my hand. “Good luck, Adrik. And I hope to see you again soon.”
Efrem caught up with me as I was heading across the yard toward my Camaro parked in the drive. “Hey, Adrik, wait up!”
I halted, waiting until he reached me. “You know you don’t have to be a stranger, man. You’ll always be family and you should never feel like an outsider around us. You’re welcome here anytime.”
That was three times in a matter of minutes I’d been told I was family. The Popovs were good people and I truly hoped Annika decided to give me a chance.
“Thanks. I’ll be back later to see your sister.”
Efrem grinned. “Good. See ya!”
I headed home, my heart swelling with hope and happiness.
I may have lost my own family, but I would always have a family with the Popovs.
Now I just had to figure the right words to say to Annika.
Gather my courage.
And come back when I was ready to say them.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Annika
I had made a vow the night Adrik saved me from Damien that the next time I saw Adrik, I would walk into his arms.
For the past two months, I’d increased my physical therapy exercises, both at home and at the physical therapist’s office, pushing myself to the limit, determined to reach my goal. Because come hell or high water, I was going to see him again someday. And when I did, I was going to tell him how much I cared about him.
The tingles I’d felt in my leg those few times when Adrik had helped me with my exercises had soon spread out and moved farther down my leg until eventually, I started to get feeling back. After six weeks of rigorous exercises, I’d taken my first small steps. And now, two months later, I could walk with a cane for short periods.
But no one had heard from Adrik. No one knew where he’d gone. No one knew if he was coming back. Which meant I might have to play detective and track him down. I only prayed he hadn’t taken off on his boat without me.
I had decided to cancel the rest of my tour, as my mind wasn’t in the right place to perform with everything that had happened. I didn’t want to give my fans a mediocre performance. Refunds had been given to everyone who’d already purchased a ticket, and I planned to make it up to them next year by giving a free concert, assuming I was in a better frame of mind then. For now, I needed to concentrate on walking again.
I finished today’s physical therapy session, my legs sore from the strenuous exercise, and the driver took me home. I was that much closer to walking on my own without a cane again. That much closer to my goal.
The car pulled up to the gate at the mansion, and moments later, the driver dropped me off at the front door.
I spied Efrem out in the yard, talking to some of the soldiers. He came forward to help me out of the vehicle.
“How did it go, sis?”
“It went well, thanks. Jim said with the way I’m going, I’ll be running a marathon soon.”