"So I lied to you, too, Yuri." I sobbed into my hands, the broken gulps of air making my lungs burn. "I lied because there's no way you could love me if you knew that my own mother didn't want me."

Yuri's strong, loving voice cut through my sobs. "Come here, Lena. I would come get you myself but I can't. Now come here, Kitten."

I forced my feet to move even though I wanted to run out of the room in embarrassment. Yuri grasped my hand and tugged me closer. "Onto the bed. Now."

I did as he commanded, sliding back into the small space I'd earlier occupied. Yuri shifted enough to gaze down at me. It wasn't pity or disgust reflected in those warm hazel eyes of his. No, it was love, the brightest, fiercest love.

"You listen to me, Yelena. That woman is a fool and there's no help for a person like that." He kissed me tenderly. "I'm no fool and I see what's right here in front of me. You are loved by so many people-by your father, by your friends and by me." He claimed my lips with such love. "I will never abandon you, Lena. You are precious to me."

Yuri's words started to fill that raw, gaping hole inside of me. For the first time in so long, I actually began to feel a glimmer of wholeness.

"I'm going to spend the rest of my life showing you how much you're loved." With a teasing smile, he added, "And I'm going to take you to Disneyland."

Still crying, I laughed at his playful remark. Though it was said teasingly, I had no doubt we'd both be sporting mouse ears in goofy pictures someday soon.

After Yuri wiped my face with his hospital gown, he urged me to snuggle closer. Huddled close to the man I loved, I relished the flare of hope burning so brightly within me. If any man in the world had the audacity to be everything he promised, it was my Yuri.

Chapter Twenty-Two.

Four Weeks Later "I've got to hand it to you, Erin. This is one hell of a wedding!" Champagne in hand, I took the open seat next to her.

Grinning, she looked rather pleased with herself "It was fun to plan. Of course, having full access to Yuri's yacht and all the secret handshakes from Nikolai and Ivan's business relationships around town helped." She leaned closer. "You wouldn't believe how affordable this bash was. Like-seriously."

"I've seen you haggle when we go thrifting," I reminded her with a laugh. "I'm not at all surprised you got all this for less."

And it was a beautiful wedding. It was a mid-sized gathering of Dimitri and Benny's friends and family. Ivan had taken the role of best man and Benny had asked me to be her maid of honor. Johnny looked fantastic in his tux and watching him give away his sister had been a bittersweet moment to watch.

Because Ivan hated speaking in public, Yuri had given the best man's speech-and he didn't disappoint. We'd all been rolling with laughter and smiling as he delivered a poignant but witty speech, but it was Dimitri who had us wiping our eyes and cheering when he finished his heartfelt speech with an announcement of Benny's pregnancy.

I watched the happily married couple as they swayed on the dance floor. Safely out of her first trimester, Benny seemed to be over the worst of the morning sickness and the exhaustion. The cut of her wedding gown, an empire sheath, made it possible for her to keep their secret through the ceremony, but out on that dance floor, the fabric twisted just enough to show the rounded curve to her belly. Without even realizing it, Dimitri had been placing his hand across her tummy in a protective, shielding way all night.

"We should start a pool," Erin said with a giggle. "Due date. Boy or girl. Weight. All that."

"I'm so in."

"Maybe we should start a pool on that," Erin suggested with a slight gesture of her head.

Following the subtle lift of her chin, I spotted Vivian dancing with Kelly Connolly. The sight of the two laughing and swaying surprised me. Out of habit, I searched the crowd for Nikolai. He stood with Yuri and a couple of men I didn't recognize. His dark gaze was fixed on the dancing couple.

As if he could sense me watching him, his attention flicked my way. Our gazes clashed but I didn't look away. After the harrowing experience I'd shared with him, I no longer felt as nervous or scared around him. We would never be friendly-I wasn't sure he was capable of being friendly with any woman other than Vivian-but we were warm acquaintances.

Turning his back on Vivian and Kelly, Nikolai signaled that he was okay with whatever she wanted. But as I watched Vivian and Kelly dancing, I got the feeling that the two weren't attracted to each other in the least. There were no lingering touches or intense flirty looks exchanged between the pair.

I sipped my champagne. "I don't think that's going anywhere. It's just a dance."

"Pity," Erin said with a little frown. "They make a hot couple."

"I don't think Vivian wants anyone but the one man she can't have."

"I don't know about can't. I think if she went after him, he'd be defenseless against her." Erin drummed her fingers on the table. "What's the story with Kelly? I thought he'd given up his bodyguard post."

"He's not doing long-term jobs anymore. Apparently he told Dimitri that he worried he would become too attached to his clients. He's lost enough people that mattered to him while he was in the Marine Corps so he doesn't want to do that in civilian life. The last I heard he's doing short private security jobs. You know, a weekend here or there."

"I was so worried that Dimitri's new venture was going to take a hit after that mess with Jake but I guess it's turned out okay."

"Ty and I worked overtime to spin the hell out of that situation. Honestly, Dimitri has dozens of bouncers and bodyguards working for him and only one turned out to be rotten. It's very clear that he's super careful about vetting the men he hires. I think Jake was basically a great guy who got taken in by a beautiful psychopath with a sob story."

"At least that's all over now."

A few days earlier, I'd been cleared of any charges. I suspected the DA and the detectives on the case didn't fully believe my version of events. There were inconsistencies in some of the forensics, after all, but nothing to prove that Nikolai had ever been in that house. As far as I could tell, no one but the three of us knew that secret-and it would stay that way.

"Has Vivian decided what she's going to do once you totally move in with Yuri?"

"She's looking into a smaller apartment at the same complex." A quiver of guilt pierced my chest. "I still feel torn about moving out but she says she's happy for me."

"Vivian is happy for you. She always means what she says."

"Still..."

"Let it go, Lena." Erin shot me a knowing look. "Don't think this to death. If you want to move in with Yuri, move in with Yuri. Vivian wants you to be happy. She's a big girl and she'll be fine. Frankly, I think she's getting annoyed with the way we all treat her like our little sister."

"She's the closest thing I've ever had to a sister and she is younger than us."

"She's also survived more than the three of us," she gestured between the two of us and toward Benny, "can even imagine. Maybe it's time we step back and give her some space."

I grinned at Erin. "Damn, you are sexy when you go all mama-bear like that."

She rolled her eyes. "I've already got a date for tonight so the flattery is wasted on me."

"Speaking of your date..." I watched Ivan striding toward us. When he reached the table, he bent down and swept Erin into his brawny arms. He took her seat and settled her across his lap. From the way he kissed her, it was clear he was starting to feel the effect of all that vodka. His inhibitions had definitely been lowered and his libido was raging. Judging by the way he devoured her mouth, Erin would be lucky to make it to the room they'd been given on the yacht with all of her clothes intact.

"Ivan!" Giggling, Erin grasped his big hand and pushed it down to her waist. "Later."

I couldn't hear what he said in that gruff voice of his but Erin's face turned bright red. She nibbled her lower lip and tried not to smile. "Okay," she said a bit breathlessly. "We can go now."

He started to stand with her in his arms but she wiggled off his lap. "I'll walk."

Ivan looked like he wanted to protest but she grabbed his hand and tugged him after her. With a quick smile my way, she excused them with a wave.

"Jesus!" Ty exclaimed before dramatically falling into the chair Erin and Ivan had just vacated. "These Russians know how to throw a party!"

I couldn't help but laugh at him. He looked rather frazzled without his tuxedo jacket and his shirt gaping open at the top. His cheeks were ruddy from the exertion of dancing and he seemed to be sweating, something I'd never seen him do. "How much have you had to drink?"

"I don't know," he admitted with a brash laugh. "Too much probably."

"You have a ride home?" I was sure he had a driver but wanted to make sure my new business partner got home in one piece.

"Actually," he slid his chair closer, "I'm hoping that sexy beast takes me home."

Sexy beast? I followed his boldly pointing finger and nearly fell out of my damn chair. "Vasya?"

"Is he fucking hot or what?" Ty rested his chin on his hand and openly flirted with the behemoth bodyguard. When Vasya's lips briefly curved in a smile, I realized how blind I'd been. No wonder Vasya was always volunteering to babysit me. He wanted to spend time around Ty!

Recovering from the shock, I asked, "Are you two an item?"

"Not yet but I think this might be my lucky night."

"He's on duty."

"Well-maybe I'll follow him home. Do you think Yuri would mind if I spent the night in your guest house?"

"It's not Yuri I'm worried about."

He scrunched up his nose. "Oh, right. That awful dog."

I took offense. "Sasha is the sweetest, gentlest baby of a dog."

Ty guffawed. "Sweetheart, you need a new dictionary. That genetic experiment you call a dog looks like the bastard son of a grizzly bear and a gorilla."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."

Ty's smiling gaze jumped back to Vasya. His eyes lit up and he practically jumped out of his chair. "Oh, I think I'm about to get that quickie I've been craving."

I glanced at Vasya who was slowly heading away from the crowd. No doubt he was going to take Ty to some private room where they could indulge in some late-night loving. I considered the size difference in the two men. "He's going to break you in half."

"Sugar, I'm counting on it." With a spring in his step, Ty disappeared in the crowd.

Vivian appeared next to me and playfully bumped me with her hip. "Did I really just see Ty Weston chasing after Vasya?"

"Apparently, they're sort of a thing."

"Nice." She put a hand on my back. "I thought your dad was coming."

"Benny and Dimitri invited him but he changed his mind."

"Hey," Vivian said and crouched down next to me. "Don't sound so sad. You did what you thought was the right thing when you lied about your mom. He'll get over it."

"Maybe," I said uncertainly. The memory of our shouting match in Yuri's library remained raw and real. "He was really angry. I don't blame him."

"He's your father. He'll forgive you."

"I lied about my mother being dead. That's a huge thing. It might even be unforgiveable."

"Lena, I've forgiven my father for the awful things he did to me. If that wasn't unforgiveable then neither is the lie you told. You were hurting and you were humiliated so you did the easiest thing you could to protect yourself-and your dad will see that."

"Maybe."

Vivian sighed. "Look, we are carrying around so much baggage from our parents. The last thing we need is to heap more guilt onto our own shoulders." She squeezed my hand. "Let it go."

We became aware of the DJ announcing the bride was about to throw her bouquet before they escaped on their honeymoon. Vivian tugged me out of my chair and to the dance floor. A few dozen unmarried women jostled for the best spot already.

"Where is Erin?"

I laughed. "Let's just say Ivan decided they were going to turn-in early."

Vivian giggled and then jokingly said, "I'm shocked."

The DJ's countdown pulled my attention to the small stage where Benny stood with her back to the crowd. When Benny launched the gorgeous bouquet into the air, the women around us started to rush forward. I barely managed to stay upright but Vivian was dragged along with the crowd. Her hands flew up in the air-and the bouquet smacked her open palm.

She snatched the bouquet and waved it around with a shocked grin on her face. I couldn't stop laughing at the priceless look Vivian wore. While the other women glared daggers at her, Vivi scurried over to meet me. "I got it!"

"I see that." I fingered the luscious roses. "I didn't think you were the bouquet-catching type."

She shrugged. "It's the competitor in me, I guess. I'll give it to Erin for good luck. I'm sure she'll be the next one of us to walk down the aisle."

"Probably," I agreed.

Two familiar arms slipped around my waist. Yuri's lips touched my neck. Laughing, he addressed Vivian. "I saw you throwing out your elbows to catch that bouquet."

Her jaw dropped with mock outrage. "I did not!"

We were still laughing when Nikolai joined us to see off the newlyweds. We moved into the line forming along the path they would take to the helipad. The beaming couple stopped for lingering hugs and well wishes from all of us before rushing off to begin their honeymoon.

After watching the helicopter fly away, the rest of our guests returned to the party. Yuri tugged me away from the packed dance floor. "But our guests-"

"Are all grownups," he interjected. "The staff hired for the wedding has everything under control."

When he had that gleam in his eye, there was no arguing with him. Yuri led me down to the private section of the yacht and into the master suite. The privacy shades had been lowered and he locked the door behind him. "Strip for me."

My tummy trembled wildly but I followed his command. While I slipped out of my heels and peeled out of my dress and undergarments, Yuri began to remove his tuxedo. "Leave on the diamonds."

I touched the exquisite necklace and earrings he'd left on my pillow that morning. As he took off his shirt, I caught sight of the brand new tattoo adorning the left side of his chest. It looked so starkly beautiful among the pinkish scars now dotting his skin. My lips parted with surprise as I realized what he'd had tattooed over his heart.

"For me?" I crossed the space between us and ran my hands around the freshly tattooed area, being careful not to touch his healing skin. He'd placed our interlaced initials inside a circle of vines. The design reminded me of the golden cuff he'd given me, the one I wore nearly every day.

"For you." He kissed my fingers. "I left some space here, over my heart, for later."

"Later? Oh." I blushed as his meaning hit me. For when we were married and had children... "It's always good to plan ahead."

He chuckled softly. "As much as I enjoy keeping you in my bed, I may end up running this tattoo down my arm."

He was teasing but I shook my head. "Let's not get crazy. If-when-we decide to take that step, I think three is a good number."