Theo
“Ivan stopped two of Petrov’s men from taking Sofia this evening.” Pops’s voice was low, menacing. Deadly. Considering what he was telling me, I wasn’t surprised.
Rage was twisting my gut, making my blood boil. I wanted to wrap my hands around Adas’s throat and squeeze until I saw the life fade from his eyes.
The bastard couldn’t find Tavia or me, so he was targeting the only other person who might possibly know where his prey was hiding. My baby sister.
“She snuck out to go to a party, and luckily, Ivan followed her. Petrov’s men were watching the compound, waiting for their chance, and they nearly fucking had it.” The last words ended on a roar, but I just sat there, unflinching and waiting.
“Ivan took a bullet to the shoulder,” he continued after a few deep, calming breaths. “He will be fine. Sofia is unharmed, but shaken. Both she and your mom are now very much aware of how dangerous the situation currently is.”
“No chatter on if Petrov suspects where Tavia is?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he confirmed. “How is she?”
I glanced at the ceiling, picturing Tavia asleep in her bed. She’d had a lot of physical activity earlier in the day compared to the previous week. But by nine o’clock, she’d been exhausted and had crashed while watching television with Raven, Felicity, and Nova on the couch in the living room. I’d carried her up to bed and tucked her in, but after getting the cold shoulder from her almost all day, I left so as not to upset her more if she awoke and found me staring.
“She’s feeling better,” I assured Pops.
“Good to hear. And how are you doing, son?” he asked after a pause.
I scrubbed a hand over my face, fighting my own exhaustion mixed with frustration and lingering rage after hearing about Sofia’s near miss.
How was I?
I didn’t fucking know the answer to that question.
Blowing out a frustrated exhale, I told him what was eating at me the most. “I feel like I’m a pussy hiding from the enemy, Pops.”
“That’s bullshit. A man has to know his priorities, Theo. Loving his woman, protecting her, that has to be his number one. Fuck everything else.”
“Eliminating Petrov is the only way to really protect her. Staying here is not solving anything. The longer he’s breathing, the longer she’s in danger.” I stood and paced the living room. Everyone else was in bed, but I couldn’t sleep. Most nights, I walked around the first floor of the house, making sure it was secure. I rarely slept, catching an hour here and there whenever Tavia had a nightmare and wanted me to hold her.
“What do you want to do then, son?” he asked.
“I’m coming back,” I told him, having already made up my mind. “Tavia will stay here, where it’s safer. But I have to take care of Adas myself.”
“You’re right,” Pops admitted. “I’ll arrange for you to get back.”
We talked for a little longer and then said goodbye. Ten minutes later, I got a text telling me the jet would arrive first thing the next morning. Dropping down onto the couch, I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.
I had to return to New York. Taking care of Adas, making sure Tavia was safe, was the only option. Letting others do what was my job and mine alone, even if it was Pops handling it, wasn’t acceptable. But leaving her here, being away from her, was going to tear me apart.
Scrubbing my hands over my face, I stood and climbed the stairs. The lamp on the nightstand was on, casting a soft glow over her and the bed. She was sleeping on her side, one hand tucked under her cheek, making her look young and innocent.
The oxygen was turned off and the machine pushed to a corner of the room, along with the IV pole she hadn’t needed. Raven had taken the IV out of Tavia’s hand the day before since she was doing so well and didn’t need the extra fluids the doctor had provided for her.
Kicking off my shoes, I climbed in behind Tavia and carefully wrapped my arms around her, not wanting to disturb her sleep. She sighed peacefully, then turned over, her face burrowing against my chest.
“Theo,” she murmured softly without opening her eyes.
Touching my lips to the top of her head, I closed my eyes, savoring the feel of her in my arms and storing the memory for while I was away from her. I didn’t know how long it was going to take to deal with Adas, but I couldn’t return for her until he was taken care of. Only when I knew it was safe for her to return to New York would I see her again.
“I have to go, krasotka,” I murmured into her hair, knowing she wouldn’t hear me but needing to speak the words aloud. “I have to ensure your safety.”
She sighed again, snuggling deeper into my warmth.
“When I return for you, we will finally be able to begin our future together. Until then, always remember that I love you.”
“Theo?” she whispered, her lashes fluttering upward to show me those darker-than-espresso eyes. “What did you say?”
“Nothing, krasotka,” I told her, kissing her brow. “Sleep, baby.”
“Okay,” she yawned delicately. “Goodnight, Theo.”
I held her for hours, refusing to close my eyes even for a second, wanting to soak up every moment of this for later. But when I heard people moving around in the house, getting ready for work, I knew it was time to let her go.
For now, I reminded myself as I carefully untangled myself from her and stood. But I will return for her. Soon.
Letting myself have one more moment to gaze down at her, memorizing her features all over again, I forced myself to turn and walk away.