Page 77 of The Russian's Stalked Bride
Mila smiles in such an honest way, not at all shying away from the question. “And miss out on this?”
Elena chuckles. “You’re so brave.”
Mila’s soft laughter soothes something in me that only she can ever manage to touch, and I slide my hand over top of hers, giving a light squeeze of appreciation.
Really, she could run as far away from all of this as possible, and yet, she’s right here, taking it all in like the novelty it is to her. She doesn’t have to say it for me to know she clings to these nights, since this dynamic used to be so foreign to her.
I’m just grateful I get to watch her experience it for the first time.
As dinner carries on and conversations resume easily, more stories are told, some at my expense, though many are more embellished than they want to admit. All the while, Mila listens, eyes bright like she’s learning more about me each time. I know she’s storing these details away for later, and I can’t bring myself to be too annoyed.
Eventually, as things start to die down and the kids reunite with their respective parents, looking drowsy and half asleep already, Artem leans his forearms against the table. “I’ve been digging into the fallout of everything, and it seems Maksim has cut ties with the remaining Grimaldi forces.”
With Dima and Kira clinging to either side of him, Roman snorts. “That’s not surprising.”
“No, but from what I’ve gathered, he’s being cautious now. I’d be surprised if he was willing to take the same risks in another alliance, even if it means halting his plans for now. He seems to be focusing on rallying his units against his cousin.”
I absently brush over Mila’s knuckles, aware of how sensitive the topic still is. “He might be lying low for now, but that won’t last forever.”
“True,” Artem agrees, finishing the last of his drink. “He’s still out there, just quieter for now. I don’t imagine things are going smoothly for the Balakins at this time.”
Knowing there’s potential mutiny unfolding between Yuri and Maksim is interesting, and it certainly changes things. We might’ve pulled the teeth out of the Grimaldis, but the Balakins are still worth monitoring, regardless of their current leadership issues.
“And what about Yuri?” I ask, glancing between Artem and Roman. “Any word?”
The former shrugs. “He’s still unaccounted for, but obviously not gone. My siblings have been looking around the clock, and as soon as they spot him, you’ll know.”
I nod to myself, knowing there isn’t anything we can do right now, despite not wanting those loose ends to exist for much longer.
“I suppose it could be worse,” Roman says with a vaguely satisfied sigh. “At least all fronts are quiet for now.”
“Don’t tempt fate,” Mikhail warns, though he looks just as relaxed.
Roman grins. “Then fate can have a word with me, if it likes.”
The others either chuckle or shake their heads at his bravado, and the rest of the evening passes a little easier.
On the way out, I feel as Roman’s hand finds my shoulder, and he murmurs to me, “For all the shit I gave you before, you did good.”
The sincerity in his words catches me off guard, and a small part of me questions if it’s just the booze in his system talking. Though he seems coherent enough. “What, no lecture?”
“Don’t push it,” he says with a faint smirk before letting me go. “And no, not tonight.”
My brother’s acceptance and subtle praise follow me back home, leaving me feeling better about how everything has unfolded, regardless of the initial turmoil. At the very least, I didn’t screw things up beyond repair.
The drive is quiet but good, all the while Mila’s head rests against my shoulder in the back seat, and her fingers idly trace patterns against my palm. She’s completely relaxed now, at ease and not seeming troubled like she used to be.
I soak that in too, pressing my cheek against the top of her head and leaving the occasional kiss.
As we head inside the building, following the usual route until we reach the condo, her hand stays in mine like she hates the idea of separating even for a moment. I eventually slip my arm around her waist instead once we reach the final stretch, brushing my fingers over the slight swell of her stomach.
“You know, I do love my family dearly, but I was counting down the minutes until we got back here,” I hum, pressing a quick kiss to her neck as I grab my keys, catching her hitched breath.
Interest sparks in her eyes at that, and Mila smiles, not moving a muscle while I hold her hip with my free hand as she stands in front of me. “Is that so?”
Once I get the door unlocked and push it open, I steer her inside by the hips, lips lingering by her neck still. “Absolutely. I just kept thinking about all the ways I was going to make you soft for me.”
A small shiver moves through her then, and it doesn’t escape my notice. Mila grins, allowing me to guide her in before the door closes behind us. “It sounds like you might be the soft one here.”
