Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
His eyes flick to mine, then he asks, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m just thinking how much stronger you’ve made me.”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “Next, I’m teaching you how to shoot.”
My eyebrows lift. “Really? That will be awesome.”
Viktor leans forward and pulls one of his guns from behind his back. He ejects the clip and checks the barrel, then hands it to me. “Just hold it and get used to the feel of the weapon.”
Damn, it’s heavier than it looks.
When the flight attendant comes out with a tray, I shove the gun beneath my butt, which makes Viktor laugh.
I wait for her to set everything down and go back to the kitchen before I pull the weapon out of its hiding place and set it down on my lap. “I don’t want to scare her.”
“She knows who I am,” he mutters as he picks up his coffee.
“Still.”
While we enjoy our breakfast, I keep glancing at the gun, knowing Viktor has fired it many times.
He’s killed with it.
My fingers brush over the dark metal, and no matter how deep I dig, there’s no fear to be found.
When the pilot announces we’re landing, the excitement is back in full force.
Viktor’s eyes are glued to my face, a loving smile around his mouth. “I love how excited you get.”
“I’ve wanted to go to Bali for years,” I admit.
“I know. I have the list you made.”
My lips part in a gasp, my eyes widening. “You do?”
“I had Sacha clear out your bedroom remember?”
“I haven’t seen Sacha again.”
“He’s mostly in Russia, helping me run things that side,” Viktor explains. “But about the list, where would you like to go next?”
“After Bali?” I ask.
He nods as the plane starts its descent.
“Hell, I can’t think about that now. I first want to experience Bali. Can we go look at the waterfalls?”
“Yes, I already have trips planned for you to see all five.”
Surprised, I ask, “Is there anything about me you don’t know?”
Slowly, he shakes his head.
To test him, I ask, “Who was my first boyfriend?”
“Some fucker named Matt.”
Laughter escapes me. “Okay, I believe you.”
When the plane touches down on the tarmac, my stomach explodes in a kaleidoscope of butterflies.
My heart is beating out of my chest as we get up and take the steps down to where a Mercedes and chauffeur wait to drive us to our hotel.
The air smells different and it’s humid. During the drive, I stare at the beautiful scenery, emotions whirling in my chest because I’m getting to experience one of my dreams.
Turning in my seat, I throw my arms around Viktor’s neck and hug him as tightly as possible. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome, moya Malen'kaya Roza.”
“I love you,” I whisper with all of my heart.
“Ya lyublyu tebya,” he murmurs before claiming my mouth in a toe-curling kiss.
When we reach the hotel, Viktor leads me through the luxurious building and out onto a stretch of white sand.
Seeing his family sitting beneath gazebos covered in white satin curtains, I wave excitedly.
“It’s so beautiful here.” My eyes drift over the vast ocean that’s the perfect shade of blue.
When we reach his family, we take a moment to greet everyone.
I give Ariana and Bella playful scowls. “You knew we were coming and didn’t tell me.”
“Viktor swore us to secrecy,” his mom explains.
They don’t invite us to sit with them, and I’m surprised when Viktor takes my hand, pulling me further down the beach until there’s no one in sight except for Luna, who keeps running in and out of the water.
Viktor lets go of my hand and falls back until he’s behind me, stepping in every footprint I leave. Chuckling, I glance over my shoulder. “What are you doing?”
His eyes lock on mine as he comes to a standstill. “I’ll always be behind you, moya Malen'kaya Roza. To protect you at all costs.”
My heart.
Turning around to face him, my lips part as he kneels before me. Tears instantly jump to my eyes when he reaches into his pocket, removing a small black velvet box. He flips it open, exposing a gorgeous diamond ring.
“Rosalie, since the moment I saw you, you’ve held my heart in the palm of your hand. You’re the only person I’ll kneel before, and right now, I’m begging you on my knees, please marry me.”
Sinking to my knees in the soft sand, I nod like a crazy person. “A million times, yes.”
An emotional expression tightens his features until it looks like he’s going to cry. “Ya lyublyu tebya, moya Malen'kaya Roza.”
When he slips the diamond onto my ring finger, my chin starts to quiver. “I love you too.”
“Never take the ring off,” he orders, his voice hoarse.
“I promise I won’t.”
Viktor frames my face, and looking at me with all the love in the world, while we’re both kneeling on a white beach in Bali, he says, “It will always be me and you, moya Malen'kaya Roza. Forever.”