I clung to was Ella’s voice. She was the only reason I didn’t give up. I knew she never left my bedside, praying and begging I live. And when I wanted to give up, the pain almost unbearable, she lent me her strength, and that was how I survived.
When I woke and saw Zoya and Ella sitting by my bedside, I thought that maybe I had perished after all. But Ella explained what Zoya did. She was the one watching me on Tura. I felt like someone was watching me the night when Galina died, and they were.
No surprise, Zoya was at Tura, looking for a new beau to sweep her off her feet, but when she saw me, she said it was mother’s intuition and knew I was in trouble. If my eyeballs didn’t hurt like every single part of my body, I would have rolled them, but whatever the reason, I’m grateful.
She shot Santo, which meant I didn’t need to blow myself up to take him with me. I never saw this plot twist coming, but I guess I should know by now to expect the unexpected when Zoya is involved.
She wanted to be a part of my life. She was sorry for everything she’d done, and although she saved my life, that didn’t excuse her past behavior. One good deed didn’t erase the endless bad ones she’s committed throughout her life.
So I did the only fair thing—she saved my life, so I spared hers.
I allowed her to leave Tura, unharmed, but if I ever saw her again, I would kill her. I will never forget what she did to me, to Irina, but allowing her to live, alone, is far worse a punishment than ending her life.
I haven’t seen her since.
We left Tura ten days later when I was able to travel. I hated being treated like an invalid but allowed Ella to nurse me back to health. She needed to do it—she needed to touch me, touch my beating heart to ensure I was alive.
When we arrived back in Russia, I honestly didn’t know what to think. Word had spread about the fight between Santo and me, but the fact I was still standing and he was shark bait, well, that only helped my rise to the top.
My plan had worked. My kingdom was built with people I chose to lead. Yes, I slaughtered my enemies without remorse to get where I am and created utter bedlam, but it was a necessary evil. Anyone who ever doubted my authority was now a convert as no one had the balls to challenge me.
Those that used to be the majority are now a very slim minority. So if they value their life, they do what I say.
Everything goes through me, Pavel, Saint, and Max. I can’t do this on my own, and those three men proved their loyalty when they had every right to let me die. We rule Russia better than ever as Russia is now reformed.
Fausto also proved loyal because ultimately, he chose me over Vincenzo. It’s not that clean-cut, but he shot Vincenzo when my life was at risk. Yes, he was trying to save his own ass as well, but in the end, he didn’t agree with what Christian did and deemed my punishment just.
Because of this, he and I are now in partnership, and we’re the biggest drug lords in all of Russia and beyond. His supply is grade A, which meant, eventually, our stuff was sought after by all. This overthrew any competition, and now, there is none.
It’s just me.
Also, having the IRA in my corner has made me unstoppable. Austin has proven to be a very loyal ally.
Any respectable man would have given up this life, but I never claimed to be honorable. I have a family to feed and what a family I’ve come to attain.
There was no way I was handing the three children over to the police. Mother Superior offered to take them in, but I couldn’t do that to them. They would be seen like Irina was—hard work—and they’d already been through so much.
So I decided to adopt them. As long as it was okay with Irina of course.
I explained they were like her, orphaned and alone, but if she didn’t want them as her siblings, then I would find other arrangements for them. This was her decision as much as it was mine.
When she met them, I didn’t know what she’d think. I didn’t want to