Page 63 of Marked By His Touch
My eyes drift to Alexander. He’s so handsome, so strong, so incredibly perfect. “It’s over,” I gasp, my eyes darting from Harvey to the men surrounding him, “It’s really over, isn’t it?”
Harvey nods, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The ship is now turning back to Port Haven, a slow, steady motion away from the darkness of Russia and Nikolai Romanov.
“I believe so, Ava,” Harvey says, a sense of finality in his voice. “We’ve won.”
The fight is over. The danger has passed. But the memory of Nikolai, his chilling threat, and his cruel words still lingers like a dark shadow in the back of my mind.This doesn’t feel like a victory.Too much has happened.
The salty airwhips at our faces as the ship glides into the harbor. The city lights appear on the horizon like a glittering kaleidoscope of distant headlights.
We stand at the railing, Alexander and I, our bodies pressed together, a silent declaration of defiance against the world that’s just tried to swallow us whole.
The rhythmic thrum of the engines has quieted, replaced by the distant wail of police sirens.
The sight of Port Haven fills me with a strange mix of emotions. It is home, but it also holds the weight of so much pain and loss. I close my eyes, trying to silence my overactive mind.
I lean against Alexander, feeling his heat seep into my chilled bones, a much-needed anchor in my mental storm. He pulls me closer, his hand tracing a gentle path down my cheek.
We stand there, silent, the city lights shimmering, reflected in the dark water. I turn to him, meeting his gaze.He sees it all—the fear, the anger, the raw grief—and he loves me anyway.
“Thank you for coming,” I whisper. The words feel small and inadequate, a feeble attempt to express the depth of mygratitude. “I really thought it was over. That everything was—lost.”
He smiles a soft, tender smile that melts away the lingering fear that still clings to me.
“Did you ever think I wouldn’t come for you?”
My eyes fall to the deck, a wave of shame washing over me. I shake my head, “No– but for a moment—”
I think of Nikolai’s words and his chilling pronouncements.
“Nikolai said he bribed you,” I say. “He said he promised you the world and that he would make you forget me.”
Alexander cups my face, his touch gentle, his gaze intense. He leans down, his forehead resting against mine. His presence, the strength of his love, is a powerful force I know I can trust.
“Nothing—” he says, his voice is low, his words a promise whispered against my skin. “Nothingcan ever stop me from finding you, being with you, protecting you, and loving you.”
I look down, my eyes tracing the lines of his hand on my cheek. The depth of his love is such a powerful force that I can almost not breathe.
“I know.”
“Don’t ever doubt that again,” he says. He leans down, his lips meeting mine in a searing, passionate kiss. The pain in my shoulder flares, but it is a distant ache, a minor inconvenience compared to the intensity of his touch. I only care about his presence, his love, and the feeling of his strong arms around me.
He pulls away, his forehead resting against mine.
“I can fight now, you know?” I say, tightening my muscles.
He smiles. “I know.”
He seems lighter as if a burden has been lifted from his shoulders. I know he will never escape the pain of losing Michelle, but I hope that by being strong and fighting beside him, I can help him heal.
As if he has read my mind, he says, “You are my strength, Ava; you are my hope.”
The world seems to fade away. The knowledge that I am safe and that I am loved is all I need. I have found my home, not in a place but in a person.
Chapter 17
The Home
The warmthof Alexander’s mansion wraps around me like one of Sarah’s wool blankets. The scent of woodsmoke and old leather spreads from the antique candles flickering in the corners. This place feels like home. This is where I’m safe.
