Page 139 of Beautiful Obsessions
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Archie - 2 months later
Home.
The word sat wrong in my chest.
Russia hadn’t been home in four years.Russia had been the scene of the greatest betrayal.The last time I saw it was the day my world split open.
The day Bass dragged me out of the wreckage and put me on a plane to Italy before Viktor could finish what he’d started.
And now Viktor was dead too.
I should have felt something.Relief.Triumph.Closure.But all I felt was empty.
Tone stood in the doorway of the study, arms crossed defiantly across her chest, eyes heavy with concern.
I looked at her.And for a moment, I hated that she had become the first thing my eyes searched for when the world shifted beneath my feet.
Her jaw tightened.She had fought for days over me leaving for Russia.Not because I had to go—that, she understood—but because she insisted on coming with me.
“I’m coming.”
She walked into the room until she was standing in front of the desk.
“Let’s not do this now, Tone.”
Her chin lifted immediately.
“Archie—”
“No.”
I rose and walked around the desk, stopping in front of her.
“Russia is unstable.I’ve been gone four years.I don’t know who’s still loyal, who’s dead, who’s turned.I’m not taking any chances with you and our baby.”
Her eyes flashed, then softened at the words.
“I’m not as fragile as I look, Arch.”
I almost laughed.
Tone Cavalho fragile?
That would’ve been funny if the circumstances weren’t what they were.
“I know exactly what you are,” I said quietly.“That’s why you’re staying right here.”
Her mouth parted, ready to argue.But we were interrupted by an unexpected guest.
Raze walked into the room first, dressed sharply, his pace hurried, as though he were running on borrowed time and had somewhere else he needed to be.
Atlas followed.
Raze folded his arms.
“I’m going with you.”
