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For three years we’d lived on the shores of a sainst our ho the Ruin behind had been the best decision I could have ever made Because it made Galina happy

I’d waited to getall thefor the Ruin into offshore accounts so that no one—legitiet their hands on it I had to ensure we’d never be followed, her life never again put in the crosshairs I’d hated waiting so long to get her out of that godforsaken city and life, but it had been worth it To see her sht when Iuttered

To know I’d done everything in my power to ensure Galina would never have to want for anything again in her life gavewith the Ruin But my priorities had shifted over the last five years—ever since Galina ca had been to make her happy and keep her safe

Until I took my last breath, I’d always make sure she was provided for, looked after, taken care of I loved her So fucking much

I walked toward my wife, who stood in the same spot where we’d taken our vows nearly three years before Galina had her ar Bohemian-style skirt back and forth

I stepped up behind her and wrapped htly swollen belly, my palms flat on the swell as I leaned down and nuzzled her neck She tilted her head to the side to give me better access, and I closed my eyes and inhaled her sweet scent

“What are you thinking about, moy svet?”

She wrapped her arms around mine, and I could practically feel her smile “You and how happy you make me”

I kissed the side of her neck again I wasn’t a good man I never had been, and I never would be Galina was the only saving grace in my life, my soft spot, my weakness She knew all of this, listened to s I’d done And she loved ardless, irrevocably Undeniably

“Ya nikogda ne znal, chto znachit byt' zhivym, prezhde chem ty byl moim”

She turned and wrapped her ar her lips flush with mine “I understood you pretty well that tiainst my lips

“Yeah?” I nibbled her botto Russian and French a few years back, the latter so practical sincecalled France ho how she could curseif she wanted to swear atshe said was music to my ears

“That’s right,” she kept teasing She pulled back, and her expression turned somber “I never knehat it meant to be alive before you were mine”

She said the exact phrase I’d just told her in Russian, and although I told her she was mine, I knew she’d never understand when I told her she was the only thing that had ever made me feel alive

“I love you,” I whispered and kissed her slowly I slipped rowing safely inside her ly

“I hope you’re ready for her, because I’m afraid how active she is while inside is a precursor to hoild she’ll be once she’s here”

I kissed her again and again, unable to stopwait Let her be a wild child Let her experience life and the world as she wants No one will hold her back, or I’ll put a bullet in their head”