Author’s POV
“How are you, princess?”
Grace looked at him and Vera kept checking her reports, not even glancing at Vlad.
“Fine!”
Grace forced a smile.
Vlad sat beside Grace and caresses her head.
“I am so happy to see you here… You have no idea how scared i was…”
“Excuse me!”
Vera walked out leaving them alone.
“Do you love her?”
Grace asked and Vlad chuckled.
“She is my wife!”
He looked back when Vera slammed the door shut with extra efforts.
“You purchased her?”
Grace asked.
Vlad clenched his jaw.
“Who told you this?… Vera?”
“No and it doesn’t matter…”
She looked at him.
“You are my pride, Vlad… I always admired you for your love towards me… You are my brother but you are no less than my father… Trust me you matter that much to me…”
Vlad placed his hand on back of her head and placed her head on his chest.
“You are my only family, Grace… I can be a villain in everyone’s life but i will always be your hero…”
“Then tell me you are not hurting Vera”
She looked at me.
“I don’t want to believe the things I have heard…”
“Grace, you don’t know the whole story and it’s not simple…”
He replied and rubbed his jaw with a sigh.
“Just know that before meeting her i was a bad man, a wild fire and after meeting her, she has experienced the flames…”
“You men really don’t know how to treat the woman you really want…”
She said annoyed.
“You didn’t tell me what happened when you were with Marino’s…”
He asked.
“They treated me like a family… Do you have any idea why?”
She asked and Vlad rolled his eyes.
“Because they like to fake it…”
He replied.
“Wanted to turn you against me… But trust me princess, no one can hurt you in my presence. Marino’s will pay for everything… I am going to wipe out their existence from this world…”
Grace unknowingly placed hand on her belly when he said that.
“Anyway… You don’t have to worry about that anymore. Leave it to me!”
He patted her head.
“Take a good rest… Tonight we will go for a dinner…”
Grace nodded and He smiled.
Grace laid back and closed her eyes, not knowing whom to trust, the only thing she can do is hope for the best.
*********
“You are looking beautiful!”
Vlad said when Grace walked towards him.
She was wearing light green gown for a dinner.
“Thank you…”
She forced a smile.
“Where is Vera?”
“She is__”
Vlad’s eyes froze on the woman who descended the stairs with clicking of heels. She was looking like a model in hot black gown and high heels.
Grace noticed the way Vlad was looking at her. It was clear that he admires her but none of them are acting like it.
Vlad dragged his eyes away from his wife and looked at Grace.
“Let’s go!”
Grace started walking ahead of them.
Vlad placed his hand on Vera’s waist but she pushed his hand away and tried to walk with Grace but he pulled her back and forced his hand on her waist.
Vera glared at him and he reacted with smirk.
They reached the restaurant and Grace pulled her coat closer feeling harsh winter of Russia against her skin.
“What are you thinking?”
Vera asked her when she noticed that Grace is continuously looking around.
“Waiting for a handsome kidnapper to kidnap me again…”
Grace replied and Vera chuckled.
They say at the table and Grace looked around.
“Why is this place empty?”
She asked.
Vera looked at Vlad and sighed.
Grace understood and nodded but grew worried.
“I don’t want anyone to disturb my beautiful ladies… Enjoy your dinner peacefully…”
Vlad said.
Vera looked at the guards who were lined up in front of the restaurant and shook his head. She knows that it’s for her so she won’t escape.
But she saw something absurd and screamed. Vlad and Grace looked at her and at the direction where she was looking.
Grace smiled while Vlad became alert.
“Hide under the table… Both of you!”
He ordered and Grace dragged horrified vera with her.
Grace looked at the from under the table.
Vlad was looking at his dead men with hard face.
“It wasn’t your business… You are making an unnecessary enemy, Rose!”
Vera’s eyes widened at the familiar face of Rose and Grace sighed in relief.
Rose dragged the chair out and sat on it.
“I don’t make enemies Vlad…”
She wiped the blood from her cheek and looked at him.
“You messed with my family…”
Vlad looked at her, trying to control his anger.
“Stay out of this, Because I won’t stop until i destroy Marino’s…”
“You have to cross me before that…”
She challanged.
She tossed the bloody tissue on the table and shook her head when Vlad received hard punch on the face from Dominick.
“This boy don’t listen to anyone…”
She mumbled.
Vlad wiped the blood from his lip and glared at Dom. He threw off his coat and punched Dominick back.
Dominick returned the favour with same efforts.
“Every fucking time… You only know how to attack from behind. Have some balls Volkov and fight like a man.”
“Says the man who killed my all men with the help of Woman…”
He looked at Rose and she smirked.
Rose didn’t stop them until they were drenched in each other’s blood.
Grace couldn’t watch it anymore.
“Stop please!”
Dominick looked at her and stopped.
“Bunny!”
Grace took a step towards him but Vlad stepped in front of her.
“Go back Grace…”
Dominick clenched his jaw.
“No!… I won’t, i want to go with my husband.”
She declared and his eyes widened.
Dominick looked at her with shock but his lips soon turned into smile.
“I remember everything…”
Grace declared.
“I am thankful for everything you did for me but I have to go back to my people, he is my family… I love him…”
“The man who forced into marriage and abused you… You love this man?”
Vlad asked madly.
“Aren’t you doing the same, Vlad…”
Grace looked at Vera who was watching them silently.
“Dominick loves me… And you know it, you just don’t want to accept it… We had ups and downs but i can’t live without him. He is my life.”
She said and Dominick looked at her with smile.
“He was harsh for old Grace but you know me now…”
Vlad shook his head.
“You are my sister… There is no way i am letting you risk your life… I don’t trust this man.”
“I know you are worried about me but I trust him, his family… I love these people Vlad…”
Grace assured me.
“You have to let me go…”
“Grace you don’t___”
“I am pregnant Vlad…”
She declared and Vlad froze.
“I am pregnant with his child… And i want my baby to get love of it’s father and uncle… I don’t want it to know that one of you killed the other one… No matter how cruel our world is, i want my child to grow up with love…”
“I can’t promise you that…”
Vlad said and stepped back. He looked at her belly and sighed.
“My doors are always open for you but remember one thing, if i ever witness tears in your eyes then this man won’t exist on this earth.”
He grabbed Vera’s arm and walked out of the restaurant.
Grace stopped Dom who were about to stop him.
“Please, let’s end this here… Don’t hurt him.”
Grace grabbed his hand.
“Please”
“Fuck it!”
Dom pulled her in tight hug.
“I missed you so much, Bunny”
Grace hugged him back like her life is dependent on it.
“I missed you too…”
He pampered her face with kisses.
She stood on her toes and captured his lips.
Dom pulled her closer and kissed her, pouring all his love and passion.
“Tell me you remember everything… Every second of our life…”
He placed his forehead on hers.
“I do!”
She replied.
“You can do the rest after going home…”
Rose got up from her chair and walked out.
“Let’s go!”
Dom smiled at Grace.