Chapter 34

POV Tatyana

Camila introduces herself, and I shake her hand warmly.

"Good evening, excuse me! I didn’t mean to interrupt you. You must be Tatyana?" she says shyly.

"Yes, that’s me."

Iurih wraps his arms around her waist, kissing her lips passionately.

"Hi, my love. I need you to help Tatyana. She will be staying with us for a few months."

"Of course, I’ll help you, Tatyana!"

"I need to talk to Samuel," I emphasize, feeling distressed about staying away from him.

"Sure, but don’t tell him where you’ll be! Samuel has a difficult temper, and I don’t think he’ll accept this. He’ll want you to stay by his side. The walls in that house have ears."

"I noticed. After all, Luara already told the Brotherhood that she’s pregnant. I didn’t tell her—I only told Samuel!" I confess, confused.

"Who do you think told her?"

I think carefully, and the only person who always appears unexpectedly and seems to be observing everything is the housekeeper.

"Maria!" Iurih looks thoughtful.

"That makes sense. Maria Aristov is inconvenient in every way! If you’re going to talk to him, take him to a distant room in the house. We’ll need to return as soon as Samuel falls asleep."

"Alright. I’ll be back soon, Camila."

"Of course, you can count on me!" she says with a smile. "Iurih is willing to fight for our love, and I want to help you."

"You’re lucky to have a Colt so devoted to love!"

"I really am, considering the absurd things I’ve heard about this family!"

Camila hugs me warmly and kisses Iurih passionately.

We quickly return to the Colt Mansion. Iurih enters the house first, and while he talks to Samuel’s guards, I take the opportunity to slip in unnoticed and swiftly climb the stairs. I open the door to my room to grab at least a few pieces of clothing, and I’m startled to find Samuel sleeping in my bed.

"Was he waiting for me? Damn, it’s going to be hard to leave him!" I think.

I approach quietly and gently lie down on the bed. Samuel opens his eyes, heavy with sleep, and growls when he sees me. His deep voice is even huskier.

"Where were you?"

"Just getting some air."

He drapes his right arm over my body, pulling me against his broad chest.

I snuggle up to him, pressing my face against his body and inhaling his masculine scent mixed with tobacco leaves and whiskey. Inevitably, I feel intoxicated and aroused by the tightness of his body against mine. He places his hand on my chin, lifting my face to admire me. He tenderly rubs his beard against my skin, and we close our eyes, feeling the intensity of each other’s presence. His nose gently glides along my cheekbone, and my voice comes out soft against his parted lips.

"I’m leaving tomorrow, Samuel." I warn him, feeling a new pain take shape in my chest.

"You can’t leave me, Tatyana! Not now, not like this." His expression turns sad, and his voice is a low, warm whisper that fills me with desire and passion.

"I’m in love with you…"

My heart races, my cheeks burn, and my body trembles as I hear his confession. I kiss his full lips, overcome with emotion, and our tongues meet in an intense embrace.

"I’m in love with you too, but I’m thinking about our child. Please, Samuel, just stay like this, holding me. I love feeling your body next to mine."

Samuel tightens his arms around me, and we stay like that until he falls asleep again.

Once he is in a deep sleep, I slowly get up and leave the bed. I take a deep breath, feeling saddened, knowing I won’t see him again. I gather some clothes, put them in a small bag, and leave to meet Iurih.

***

POV Samuel

Dawn breaks, and I rise from Tatyana's bed. Her words immediately resurface in my mind. She left me—there’s no doubt about it. I know her well enough to understand she wouldn’t back down from her choice; she is capable of anything for love. My storm is pregnant, and now protecting our child has become her greatest purpose.

I return to my room, get ready, put on my black suit, and walk through the mansion’s corridors. I descend the stairs, pulling a cigarette from my pocket and placing it between my lips. Taking a lighter from my opposite pocket, I ignite a small orange flame to light it. The sense of loss is maddening, and for the first time, I understand someone wanting to stay away from me. I sit at the breakfast table, filling the room with smoke. I need to calm down and quell this nervousness that’s eroding my peace.

My mind drifts, lost in thought, as Maria approaches and pours coffee into my cup.

"How could Tatyana not run away from me? I managed to be a coward in every possible way," I think.

I run my hand over my face and press my thumbs against my temples, massaging lightly while keeping the cigarette lit in the corner of my mouth. A reel of memories plays in my mind, and I remember seeing Tatyana at the bar, leaning against the counter.

Seconds later, like a black cloud, I picture myself gripping her neck and cruelly throwing her off the Golden Bridge. The sensation of losing her intensifies. Fear consumes every part of me, and I swallow the hot coffee, desperate to end this pain that’s driving me mad—the pain of not seeing her again, the pain of not knowing my child, a child I truly wanted for the first time.

My eyes burn, my chest tightens, and I take a deep breath, swallowing this anguish I feel. I look at her empty place at the table and wish I could have her here, to breathe in her sweet scent that corrupts my entire system. My pain devours me, punishes me, and condemns me to an overwhelming solitude that overtakes me in this moment.

Luara enters the room, wearing a short pink dress, and sits elegantly.

"Where’s that wretch?" Her gaze is venomous, her expression irritated.

I slam my hand on the table, and Luara looks at me, startled.

"I don’t want you to speak her name again."

My mother and Iurih appear, already sensing that I’ve lost her.

"She’s gone?" my mother asks, saddened.

"Yes."

"What? That tramp left with my baby?" Luara snaps, outraged.

"If you say another word, Luara, I’ll lock you in the dark room, and you’ll never see daylight again." She falls silent, frightened.

"Should I send the men to look for her?" Iurih asks.

"No."

"No?" my mother questions, concerned.

"Iurih, I order you to summon everyone for a meeting immediately." I am conflicted—I want her, but I want to protect her from my father. At the same time, I think of my child and the choices I should make. "We’ll put an end to this ridiculous marriage alliance between the Colts."

Everyone is shocked by my announcement.

"Will you kill Tatyana’s father, my son?"

I run my hand through my hair and pull out another cigarette from my pocket. I’m insanely tormented—since I thought I’d lost my mother, I haven’t felt anything like this. Rage, anguish, and turmoil bubble and mix in my chest, compressing me until my blood boils. I bring the cigarette to my lips and light it, inhaling slowly while waiting for my nerves to calm. The nicotine can’t bring me the peace I need, but I try to suppress my relentless arrogance.

"I won’t kill him." I know in my heart that Tatyana would never forgive me if I killed her father.

I stand abruptly and leave with heavy steps, unwilling to answer any more stupid questions. Tatyana has enraged me by running away, but what I feel for her is far greater than any fury. I’ve never wanted anything in my life, and now all I want is for her to come back to me.