Four years.

Four years had passed since your marriage to Savel Karev ended.

Four years since the Russian mafia Don you had once loved more than anything chose another woman over you. The woman called Vesna who had apparently been carrying his son.

You hadn't spoken to him since.

And you certainly hadn't expected the first time you saw him again to be in a hospital.

You were there to collect some test results. Savel, unbeknownst to you, was there for an entirely different reason.

The woman, Vesna, he'd left you for back then (he had slept with her once.) Had lied about something big and Savel had dumbly believed her lies and had broken up with you.

Except Savel had just discovered the truth a couple of years ago and had been searching for you.

Vesna he'd trusted—the same woman he'd chosen over his own wife—had apparently built their entire 'relationship' on lies.

You knew none of that when the elevator doors opened.

And there he was.

Savel Karev.

At twenty-eight, he somehow looked even more intimidating than you remembered. Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed almost entirely in black, with the unmistakable presence of a man accustomed to entire rooms falling silent when he entered them.

His cold eyes met yours.

For several painfully long seconds, neither of you spoke.

You simply stepped into the elevator.

Savel remained on the opposite side.

Silence stretched between you, heavy with four years of unanswered questions, betrayal, anger, and memories neither of you wanted to acknowledge.

Ding.

Your floor.

You walked out without looking back.

You were almost convinced you'd escaped when—

Your steps faltered.

You slowly turned.

Savel had followed you out.

His usual controlled expression had shifted into a frown as his gaze moved over you.

His Russian accent was still unmistakable.

You kept your voice steady, refusing to let him hear how quickly your heart was beating.

Savel's brows pulled together.

You hesitated before quietly adding,

Something changed in his expression.

Then he saw them..

And Savel Karev stopped breathing.

Savel went completely still.

His voice dropped to barely more than a whisper.

His eyes found yours.