Dominik

  “Katerina, Katerina, I need you to stay with me. You’ve been holding on for so long and I need you to stay with me, please! I’m sorry that it took so long for me to get to you, I’m sorry that you had to go through all of this by yourself, but I’m here now. I’m never going to leave your side again, Katerina. Come back to me, please,” I begged, feeling her body starting to go limp in my arms.

  “We need to get her out of here,” I instructed as Viktor helped me carry her out to the car. We drove her to the same unknown location I was at when Viktor’s doctor had saved me. I watched as the same doctor did everything he could, waiting around hoping that she was going to pull through, but I couldn’t help but notice just how lifeless she looked. She was incredibly pale, her lips were starting to go blue, and I was afraid that he was just going to tell me that there was nothing more that he could do. I couldn’t bear that thought, and eventually Viktor had to drag me out of the room and get a few drinks into me as I held my head, hoping that this nightmare was going to be all over soon.

  I finally met the woman of my dreams. I can’t have her taken away from me so soon. She has so much life left in her, and I just want to give her the life she’s always wanted. I just want to protect her forever, I just want to make her mine, and tell her that I love her.

  A few hours passed, and when the doctor finally came out into the living room, I saw the look on his face, and I thought that all was lost. It was just as he put his hand on my shoulder, that I realized that there was still hope after all.

  “She’s been through hell, but she’s going to be just fine. She’s going to need some time to rest, but she’s going to come to very soon. You got to her just in time, because any longer and there would’ve been no saving her, I’m afraid,” said Viktor’s doctor.

  “Thank you so much,” I said, with every ounce of gratitude I had left. I went to her, turning to my brother to also thank him for everything he’d done for me over the last few days. He really put his life on the line for me, and for that I’d always be grateful.

  I sat by Katerina’s bedside for what felt like forever, waiting patiently for her to wake up, and I’d just fallen asleep with my hand in hers, when I was woken up by feeling her twitch ever so slightly. I looked up to see that her eyes were fluttering open, and I couldn’t contain the excitement and relief that flew through me.

  “Oh, thank God,” I said.

  “Dominik?” She said, her voice barely audible, but it was still there.

  “You came back to me,” I said, feeling the tears stream down my face, worried that I’d lost her for good.

  “What-what happened?”

  “That doesn’t matter now, Katerina. You’re finally safe again, and I’m sorry that it took so long for me to come to your rescue. I’m never going to let you out of my sight again, okay? I love you with all my heart, you’ve done everything you could to make me a better man, and I can’t see myself living another day without you,” I said, being as honest with her as I possibly could.

  I could see the tears began to well up in her eyes as I held her close, promising her that everything was going to be okay after all.

  “I didn’t think that you’d come, I didn’t think that you loved me back,” she said, through her tears.

  “I’ve always loved you, Katerina, and I always will. From here on out, I’m going to make sure that you’re the safest that you can possibly be, I’m going to make sure that nothing like this ever happens again. I’m so sorry,” I said to her.

  “Don’t be sorry, Dominik. You saved me, and for that I’m eternally grateful.”

  “I love you, Katerina Auclair.”

  “I love you so much, Dominik.”

  I knew that this was just the beginning for us, as she taught me a valuable lesson about holding out for the right one. I was well aware that she was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and this was the end of a chapter, but also the start of a new one. I couldn’t wait to see where life was going to take us, because now I could see that when we were together, we were absolutely unstoppable. There was nothing that we couldn’t do as long as we were by each other’s side. Let me give you everything you deserve, Katerina. The world is yours, and that is a promise.