A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Chapter 61

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Matteo

The doctor came in to check up on Alena again for a few times today to make sure she was recovering well. The injuries she suffered were traumatic and it was best for her to rest for the next few weeks until she fully healed. Not just that, the doctor wanted her to be in a stress-free environment, too. Alena was able to go home tomorrow, even though she had persuaded to leave tonight but another round of checkup was needed to confirm that.

She was prescribed with an IV drip of painkiller and now, she was sound asleep. The medication had made her feel comfortable for a good rest-even though in reality, the pain was supposed to make her restless.

I stared at her for the past few minutes, my mind empty.

I glanced down at her hands, reming were kept safely near my chest; I had kept them as a necklace ever since she left, incase she came back. I wanted to feel her close to me and in a way, it was to keep me sane as well.

Mikhail and Alexei had been calling me since morning. Pretty sure they knew we had found Alena and they wanted to take her away from me but they couldn't possibly think it was possible for them. Alena didn't know about the calls because if she did, she would've wondered why I didn't want to pick them up. reminded back of when she used to wear the wedding band and her engagement ring before she took them off. Her wedding band and and engagement ring I had almost lost my mind in trying to remember about our marriage. Now, she was here with me, I knew we could make it it work. We

was terrified.

When Alena left, it almost felt as if she never existed and I was could fix our relationship in order to become better for our future despite the rough patches we went through. This time, I had every chance to make it right, to keep her safe.

My phone rang again and I sighed after glancing at the caller ID.

So, it was best to step outside for this call-I didn't want Alena to wake up. Besides, I didn't want to stress her out anymore about the situation between her family. She had enough of being controlled in her life and it was for her own good to decide. I closed the door behind me as I walked to the window, looking out at the busy streets.

"Matteo. It's nice of you to finally pick up the damn phone." Alexei said from the other line, trying his best to hold his

Cont

A smirk appeared on my face as I noticed the annoyance. Alexei was impatient but I understood it from his point of view, he had every right to be annoyed. Things weren't going according to his plan and as a man who had every power, somehow that part was out of his

"Don't go quiet on me. I know you're there," he added. "Can I help you?" I asked.

I imagined him rolling his eyes at my question.

I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with him during our investigation about Alena's whereabout and I took the time to observe him. Alexei had quite the temper when it came to unsolved mysteries but he had a soft spot for his sister; he wanted to protect her and if he could, he wanted to destroy anything that came in his way.

Despite almost being ruthless towards his men, he was a bit of a sadist. Those type of men used to suffer on their own

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Chapter 61

up and he didn't bother hiding that fact. However, he

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would disappoint his father. Actually,

good leader with the Bratva, he prioritised his men and their safety whenever he went to war. He had good strategies and different set of skills. He wasn't afraid to die every time he joined his men because he knew,

from different men and most of them

same page. We always had our disagreements and we couldn't come to the same term-one of the reasons why we decided on a peace treaty, to never bother one another, to mind our own business,

only conclusion

been like that even before me

you found her." Alexei

makes you

leave little traces

all

"You're testing me, Matteo. You don't want to

take her back. I'm

out.

The one who let his wife be alone? The one who let this whole kidnapping happen? You're not a husband, you're a coward. You need to know where you stand." The words felt like daggers being stabbed in my heart but I kept calm, not wanting to let to let my anger Alexei i was purposely testing my patience and he was doing a very good job at that but I knew myself better, I knew my marriage better, he was an

T

when it came to the things they wanted. As for now, they wanted their Bratva princess back and they could start a war just for that reason. "You do know that when I married your sister, we're practically family, I gain an alliance with you through the

you and we thought the very least you could do was to protect her but you showed us how incapable you

me and I

still out there and we haven't found any clue of him-he

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Chapter 61

could be sure that she was going to be safe

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but Alexei was right, I had failed twice. The first time was with Sofia and now, I couldn't even tell who. This tragedy could happen again and if the next time Alena got killed, I had no one else to blame but myself. The thought had sent shivers down my spine. "You're thinking... I can tell.

"Get out of my

head."

"You know what, Matteo? I'll give you a couple of days to sleep on it. It's either you break her heart and set her free or we'll take her away but only after we kill your men." Just like that, he

stood still with the phone in my hand as I stared outside, knowing he had given me no choice. Either

behind me but I didn't have to turn around to

called you again?" Luca asked,

knew about my decision to keep it quiet. He had been with me through a lot of hardships in my life and he knew me better than anyone else.

count."

and jeans. He had taken the time to leave and change earlier after stopping by my house to grab

do about it?" He asked, raising an

shook my head, "He wants me to let her go or he'll come and ruin