Chapter 132 Girl Dinner

Chapter 132 Girl Dinner
❦ Rosalind ❦

Day three on my yacht. 

I brushed a final streak of lipgloss over my lips and leaned closer to the mirror. 

It was ridiculous, really, the amount of peace sitting in my chest. It almost felt suspicious.

I’d spent so long wrapped in chaos that stillness made me twitchy. Like quiet could only mean something was waiting to go wrong. But it wouldn’t.

And I didn’t want to live that way anymore anyway.

Nothing screamed peace more than knowing you were loved and protected by the most dangerous, impossibly beautiful man in New York.

Speaking of.

I took one last look at my reflection, puckering at the faint shimmer on my lips. My hair was pinned up loosely on the sides, dark waves tumbling past my shoulders. 

My ombré mesh dress hugged me like a second skin, pink melting into white. I looked sweet and light. Almost unreal.

I gave my hair a final fluff and turned toward the door, my heels clicking against the glossy floors as I climbed to the deck.

The view hit me first, it always did when I was up here. The ocean stretched endlessly around us, dark blue fading into black, the water catching slivers of gold from the yacht’s lights. 

Warm air kissed my bare shoulders. It smelled like salt and the flowers scattered on the floor, hung from the rails.

And then there was him.

Viktor. My husband.

He stood against the railing, a tall shadow wrapped in white linen and moonlight. The table between us was packed with silver cutlery, soft candles, dishes bursting with color, and petals scattered everywhere.

When he straightened and walked toward me, the world seemed to tilt. My lungs forgot their job. He looked at me like I was sacred. 

Like I’d hung the stars myself.

“You’re as beautiful as creation,” he said quietly when he reached me. “Nothing else compares.”

Heat bloomed in my chest. “You’re the most handsome man,” I murmured. “And the only one for me.”

His smiled, then he kissed me. His lips glided over mine with reverence that made my body melt into his without thought.

Then he pulled back, and guided me toward the table, his palm warm at the small of my back. He pulled a chair out for me and brushed my shoulder tenderly before taking his seat opposite me.

He poured a golden liquid into my glass, then something clear into his own.

I raised my brow in question, my hand sneaking over my stomach instinctively.

“Juice,” he teased, “Come on.”

I laughed, shaking my head, and lifted my glass. “To us,” I said.

His smirk deepened. “To us.”

Before our glasses could touch, a masked server stepped forward, carrying a covered gold dish. 

Something about the figure tugged at me. The stance. The shoulders. A flicker of familiarity.

I almost turned for a closer look, but Viktor reached for my hand, his fingers curling over mine to get my attention.

I smiled distractedly and let him hold it even as unease stirred in my stomach.

Viktor’s other hand moved to the golden cover. He lifted it slowly, and I gasped.

On a square of black suede lay the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen.

It sparkled like a living thing, pure diamonds set in a band of white gold that caught every flicker of candlelight. Beside it sat a thicker band, smooth and unadorned. His.

My chest tightened.

Viktor pushed his chair back and, without saying a word, slid to one knee. The wind stirred his hair, the faintest breeze sweeping through the candlelight, and for a moment everything went still, the waves, the air, even my heart.

He took my hand in both of his, eyes lifting to mine, and spoke in his deep, steady voice. 

“Rosa,” he said quietly. “You are the beginning and the end of every good thing in my life. The peace I never thought I’d earn. The light I swear to protect, even from myself.”

His thumb brushed over my knuckles. 

“You’ve given me something I didn’t think I deserved, a chance to love you right. I swear to keep doing that. To spoil you, guard you, and make sure you never question what you mean to me. Not for a single breath.”

He held my gaze. “Would you accept this token? This promise?”

Tears burned my eyes, my lips trembling  as I whispered, “Yes.”

He slid the diamond ring onto my finger. The metal felt cool against my skin, but his warm touch grounded me. 

He pressed a kiss to my hand before rising, a rare, boyish smile softening his face.

I reached for the thicker ring, my hands still shaking a little, and slid it onto his finger. 

When Viktor sat again, I exhaled shakily. “I can’t believe it,” I murmured. “This feels so unreal. I’m so happy I…”

His brow creased. “Unreal?” he teased. “That bad, hm? I must’ve set the bar too low before.”

I laughed, my cheeks heating. “You have no idea.”

His eyes glimmered as he watched me wjth an admiring stare that made my pulse skip. I picked up my cutlery, pretending not to notice how he leaned back slightly, still drinking me in.

Before I could take a bite, Viktor reached across and lifted a forkful of a buttery treat from his own plate. He held it out.

I leaned forward and took it from his fork, slowly working my lips around the utensil. The tang melted over my tongue. When I licked my bottom lip, Viktor’s gaze followed the motion like gravity itself.

He was hopeless. And I loved it.

I picked up my fork to return the favor, but the yacht tilted gently, making me laugh. 

“Guess she’s jealous,” I said, setting the cutlery down and reaching for my glass instead.

The juice was sweet and cold, with a sharp aftertaste. I took a sip, savoring it, as Viktor spoke again.

“Seventy-six women were rescued from the coast yesterday,” he said. “The last of the syndicate’s holdouts are breaking. My men are closing it down for good.”

I blinked, surprised. “That’s incredible, babe. I’m proud of you.”

He made a face like he was hurt. “You weren’t proud before, though.”

I rolled my eyes at him, still smiling. “That was when I thought you were the devil incarnate.”

He leaned in slightly, his eyes dark with mischief. “And now?”

Heat crawled up my neck. I met his gaze, cheeks burning. “You still are,” I whispered.

A sharp cramp twisted my stomach.

I winced, one hand flying to my abdomen as a cold sweat broke across my forehead and palms.

Viktor noticed instantly. He leaned forward. “Rosa? Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Jus… maybe I need to rest a bit.”

His eyes darkened with worry. “Can you try to eat a little more?” he said quietly. “I’ve noticed your appetite for food doesn’t compare to your appetite for me.” His mouth curved in his teasing. “As flattering as that is, you need to eat more. For yourself and our baby.”

The word baby melted some of the ache in my belly.

“You’re right.” I agreed, lifting my fork and picking at another morsel.

Footsteps approached. 

The same server as before stepped closer to remove the dish that had carried our rings. 

Something about their movement tugged at me again. I glanced up… and froze.

I couldn’t see their face behind the mask, but I could feel it. The smirk hiding beneath. The dark hollows under the eyes.

Recognition me hit a second before the pain did.

A sharp, tearing pang gripped my stomach. 

My fork clattered from my hand.

“Rosa?” Viktor’s voice cut through the air.

I turned toward the server, my heart pounding. My fingers shook as I reached out and tore the mask away.

The face beneath made my breath stop.

“Dahlia?” I whispered with disbelief. 

Everything erupted at once. 

Viktor surged to his feet, rounding the table. 

Dahlia bolted. 

The world tilted. 

My body went weightless for a second before I collapsed into the chair, the edges of my vision blurring.

A gunshot cracked the air. Loud. Close.

I tried to turn my head toward Viktor, to call his name, but the words tangled and slurred on my tongue.

My head swam. My heart fluttered weakly in my chest.

“Viktor…”

I reached for him with a shaky hand as darkness closed in fast, swallowing everything—the lights, the sound of the waves. Him.