Silence filled the room. Hearing a noise from behind, I whipped around just in time to see the man in the white coat drop to the ground. Luka stepped back from the man, wiping his knuckle-dusters on his pants. He’d slit the white coat’s throat.

My eyes fell on Luka, then on the man in the white coat, then finally back to Jakhua. I glanced down at my hands; they were shaking. I stared at my bloodied hands, and images of my family raced through my mind. My chest grew tight. I felt like all of my blood had drained from my body.

My knees hit the ground. A pressure built in my stomach, traveling up my throat. Shaking with too much emotion, too many memories blocking my mind, I tipped my head back and screamed.

I screamed and screamed until the pressure left me. One single realization took its place as I sat, weakened, on the ground.

I was free.

I was finally free and completely free.

Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I turned. Luka Tolstoi was behind me. He met my eyes and said, “We need to leave.”

“Where do I go?” I asked, my voice rough and raw.

“To Talia,” Luka replied. Any tension, any anger I had remaining, left my body at the simple mention of her name.

I nodded and got to my feet. “Yes,” I said, “take me to Talia.”

*   *   *

“Let’s go,” Luka said as we pulled up to a house.

I stared at the large house and took a deep breath. It was the Tolstoi house. I looked to Luka. “I will not be welcome.”

Luka sighed and opened the van’s door. I followed him onto the dark street. I stood, looked at the house and my heart clenched. Talia was in that house. My Talia was in that house.

And I needed her. I wanted to see her again so much that all my muscles ached at the thought.

Luka laid a hand on my shoulder. I wore a sweatshirt and pants. But my skin was covered in Jakhua’s blood. My hair was not smooth.

Talia liked my hair smooth.

“She’s inside,” Luka said, and walked up some stairs. He glanced back, and taking a deep breath, I walked behind him.

Luka opened the door and walked toward a room. I could hear voices and, with each step, my heart beat faster and faster.

I was a Kostava in a Tolstoi house.

I was hated.

My father had killed Talia’s dedushka.

They had cause to hate me. I should not be here.

Luka walked into the room first. I heard relieved voices rushing to greet him. I remained behind the wall.

I had no family.

I did not know how it was to be in a family. I did not know how to act around people.

The room then went quiet. Luka came back into the hallway. “Come,” he said, and walked back into the room.

Inhaling through my nose, I stepped forward and rounded the corner.

I stopped in the entranceway. Every face looked my way. My gaze fell on two men standing at the back of the room, one who bore a strong resemblance to Luka.

Ivan Tolstoi, I thought.

Luka’s wife was there, wrapped in his arms. An older woman was there staring at me, a curious look on her face.

My pulse thundered as they all watched me in silence.

Then I heard a gasp from behind me. My muscles tensed as light footsteps approached. I briefly closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I exhaled, and turned. I saw the golden hair first, then a set of brown eyes.

Talia.

A cry of relief sounded from her mouth as she entered the room and moved before me. Her trembling hand covered her lips as tears ran down her cheeks.

She looked at me as if I were not real. Then, on a sigh, she ran forward and jumped into my arms. “Zaal,” she cried, and wrapped her arms around my neck.

Holding her in my arms, her legs wrapped around my waist, I crushed her to my chest. “Talia,” I whispered back, and tucked my nose into her neck.

I held her tightly.

I never ever wanted to let go.

She was mine.

I was hers.

We were each other’s.

Talia pulled back, and crushed her mouth against mine. As our lips connected, my soul filled with her kiss. Always full for Talia.

Her hands pushed into my hair and she broke away. “Are you okay?” she asked, her eyes dropping to my chest and arms.

“He did not drug me,” I assured. More tears ran down Talia’s cheeks.

“Are you okay?” I asked remembering her chained up and hurt on the wall.

“Yes,” she whispered.

Lifting my hand to her face, I pressed my forehead to hers and whispered, “You are … for me.”

Talia smiled. “I am … for you,” she whispered back, and wrapped me in her arms once again.

I would have held her forever, but someone coughed from behind us. Talia tensed in my arms. Slowly she pulled back and my pulse spiked when I saw the fear in her eyes.

Talia released herself from my arms and slid gently to the floor. Threading her hand through mine, she led me forward, straight to the two men in dark suits. Dark suits like Jakhua used to wear.

“Papa, Pakhan,” Talia said quietly, “this is Zaal.” She swallowed and added, “Zaal Kostava. My love.”

Both men stared at me. The room was silent and thick with tension. Talia reached out her free hand and took the arm of the man with longer hair, the one that looked like Luka. “Papa,” she said confidently, “I love him. I love him with my whole heart. I know you may not approve, and if you don’t it won’t change a thing. I love you, you know this. But I am head over heels in love with this man, and I want you to accept him as my other half.”

Talia’s father watched me as his daughter spoke. I was so proud, so floored at how Talia bravely fought for our love, but could also see the hatred for me in his dark stare. Talia curled herself back into my arms as her father’s cold expression spoke volumes.

“Papa,” Luka said from behind. I turned and met Luka’s eyes. I shook my head, telling him without words not to defend me, and Luka quieted. Talia stepped to the side.

Turning back to the Volkov Pakhan and Ivan Tolstoi, I stepped forward and laid my hand on my chest. “I am Zaal Kostava. I am the son of Iakob Kostava, the man who murdered your father.”

Ivan’s face hardened.

“But I am not my father,” I stressed. “I was not raised in that life. I was taken as a child, like Luka, and forced under Jakhua’s control.” I breathed in a long breath, and looked to Talia. “I am in love with Talia. I wish to stay, with Talia.”

Talia’s hand reached out for mine and I took it briefly. I then let go to fix my gaze back on Ivan. His face was unreadable. Then I remembered something from my childhood. Something I had seen men do to my papa in his office.

Dropping to my knees before the Pakhan and Ivan, I looked up. “I, Zaal Kostava, of the Kostava clan of Georgia, pledge my loyalty to you, Ivan Tolstoi. I swear to never betray you.” I laid my hand over my heart, and I continued, “I give you my life for the life of your father. Blood for blood.” I breathed out through my nose and said, “I have no family. I have no obligation to the Kostava clan. But I will pledge myself as a Tolstoi. As a brother of the Volkov Bratva. If you will have me.”

I held out my hand, my head still bowed, waiting to see if Ivan would take it. He did not move, but then I heard him ask. “You love him, Talia?” My breathing paused.

“Yes,” she said, her voice strong and unshakable. “I love him so much, Papa. He saved my life, hell, he is my life.”

Ivan didn’t respond. Then I heard Luka’s voice. “You know my decision, Papa. He’s Anri’s brother. That makes him mine. And I have seen him with Talia. He is for her, like Kisa is for me. He will protect her and give her his loyalty. You have my assurance on that.”

I risked a glace up to see that Ivan’s head had dropped. He then looked to the Pakhan. The Pakhan shrugged. “He’s no threat to us. His family’s dead. He’s lived his life under Jakhua. And Ivan, he is a Kostava. He could strengthen our connections with the Georgians in the future. He’s the sole heir, the sole survivor to the biggest clan that existed in Georgia. Many people will be happy he is alive, many will still follow him if he wishes to one day lead. And if he is an ally of the Volkov’s, in the family of the Volkov’s, it will only ever work in our favor. It makes good business sense. He’s contractually a stronger marital match for Talia than any other suitor you could have picked out.” The Pakhan shrugged. “Let the boy pledge.”