Chapter 70

Mia

Nearly a month had passed since the raid, and life had settled into a new routine. I was working as a nurse, and the steady rhythm of the hospital shifts was both grounding and exhausting. Mom was at the penthouse on bedrest, recovering from her surgery, but her spirits were high. She had a job interview lined up for a remote position answering phones, a role that promised more stability and a better salary than she had ever seen before.

We had Emma to thank for that.

As Diane prepared for the interview, she asked me a question that had been on my mind as well.

“Mia, do you still plan on leaving the city when your residency is up?”

I sighed, glancing at her. “It’s been a month now, and there’s been nothing from Albert. I think it's safe to say that it’s really over.”

I tried to mask the disappointment in my voice. Albert’s absence had been a silent, lingering ache, a reminder of the abrupt end to something that once seemed so full of promise. The silence felt heavier with each passing day, and I was beginning to accept that moving on might be the only option left.

Just then, the doorbell rang, jolting me from my thoughts. I glanced at the clock—another delivery, probably a package from Emma or Katie. Katie was always sending stuff for me to look at for her wedding. I went to answer the door and found the one person I didn't expect to see today. Albert stood there, holding a bouquet of flowers. They were the same flowers from our wedding day—vivid and striking, a bouquet of deep reds and delicate whites. For a moment, I just stared at them, trying to process the surreal nature of the scene and fight down the smile that wanted to take over my face.

Albert looked just as startled to see me as I was to see him. His expression was a mixture of resolve and vulnerability, his eyes meeting mine with a seriousness that tugged at something deep inside me. He shifted slightly, his eyes searching my face as if trying to gauge my reaction.

He took a deep breath.

Albert

When I arrived at the penthouse, I had to remind myself to stay calm. The familiar building felt strange, almost alien now that I hadn't been here in a month. I waited for her to open the door, going over everything in my head.

Mia answered the door, and I took a moment to study her—her hair had grown out a bit, but it was still short. She seemed healthier than she had been. I forced a smile as my stomach jumped around with anxiety. I offered her the flowers in my hands.

She said nothing for a long time, and I realized I would have to speak first. It made since I was the reason that there was this distance between us.

“Hello,” I began. “I’m Albert Volkov. I was born the illegitimate son of the pahkan of the Volka bratva, Dimitri Volkov. Nearly five years ago I started cooperating with the FBI to bring down the Volka organization, its affiliates, and as much of the criminal underground in the Twin Cities as I could manage. I'm an American citizen, and the CEO of Vulture Financial. It's... very nice to meet you, Mia.”

Mia’s expression shifted from surprise to confusion, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in my introduction. She hesitated before taking the flowers from my hands. I noted the ring on her hand felt a bit of hope in my heart that maybe things would turn out the way I wanted them to.

“I—I didn’t expect to see you,” she stammered, still holding the door halfway open. She cleared her throat. “What can I help you with, Mr. Volkov?”

"These are for you," I whisper. She took them and the flowers trembled in her hands. Were her hands shaking or was I just imagining things? Was that a good thing? Seeing them in her hands brought a rush of memories that made me smile and set a bunch of butterflies off in my stomach.

“I know it’s been a while. Wrapping up everything too longer than expected, and this wasn't a conversation that should be had over the phone... I wanted to see you in person, to talk... if you have the time? If you're willing.”

Mia hesitated, but after a few moments, she stepped aside and motioned me inside. “Come in.”

As I stepped inside, I noticed a small, tentative smile on her face. I looked around, noting the changes and decorations. There was so much more color than before, more color than there had been in their little apartment too. I followed her toward the kitchen. She put them in a vase. A rush of warmth filled me as I inhaled their familiar fragrance.

She leaned against the bar.

“Thank you for the flowers,” she said quietly. “What did you want to talk about?”

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I didn't expect it to be easy, but I had hoped for a slightly warmer reception.

“There’s a lot we need to discuss. About us, about what happened, and about the future. I... I think you deserve all the answers you want. But first, I just want to know how you’ve been. How’s your mother?”

“She’s recovering,” she said, her voice softening. “She’s doing better now, and she’s about to get a new job, hopefully to start soon. She went through Emma's program.”

“That’s good to hear,” Albert said, nodding. “I’m glad she’s doing well.”

We stood there for a moment, the weight of unspoken words hanging between us. Being in Mia's presence was both comforting and unsettling. I could see the questions in her eyes and the restraint. I was probably botching them, but there really was no good place to start.

She shuffled her feet. “Do you want to sit down?”

She gestured to the living room. “We can talk there.”

I nodded, and we moved to the couch. As we sat down, I took a deep breath, grappling with what I needed and wanted to say. I watched her closely, my heart pounding as I braced myself for whatever happened.

"I figure... I should start with the easy part... the truth, maybe? The present?" I groaned and pulled out the divorce agreement from my briefcase, offering it to her.

She glanced at it and stiffened.

“We both signed this paperwork, but Ivan asked Mikhail not to file it... as of the end of today our original contract is fulfilled." I glanced down at her hand and then back to my own where the band still was. "It wasn't meant to trick you, just... them trying to have my best interest at heart. So, if... If you'd like to formally end it, we can sign the ending addendum."

Her cheeks flushed. "Best interest."

I took the chance to reach for her hand, showing the band on my hand that matched the band on hers.

Mia looked down at our hands, a small smile touching her lips.

"I haven't taken it off in all this time..."

“I saw you on television. I knew.”

I nodded, my gaze softening. “I'm sorry that we started our relationship with a lie. I regret that, but I don't regret meeting you... Falling for you." I paused. "What I’m hoping for now is a chance to start over. I can file the paperwork to set a formal end to our prenuptial agreement, and we can get a fresh start, if you’re willing.”

Her eyes met mine, a mixture of surprise and cautious hope in them.

“I’d like to go on a date with you, and we can see where things go from there. No more lies, just a chance to build a real relationship."

She bit her lip. "And... the paperwork?"

"We can nullify it and then... maybe one day when we know each other, when we simply just want each other, we could try again."

Slowly, her eyes drifted up. "... and if I'd rather not start from the beginning?"

My stomach jolted. I squeezed her hand. The air felt charged between us. The look in her eyes had been the same as when we'd been at the casino.

I leaned forward, tentatively, falling into the magnetism of her eyes.

"I... would like nothing more than to pick up just where we were." I reached out, gently cupping her face in my hands. "Is that what you want?"

Mia's breath hitched slightly, but she leaned toward me, closing the distance between us. Her eyes fluttered shut, and I pressed my lips against hers. The kiss was tentative at first, but it filled every inch of me with warmth. Moments later, I dragged her across the couch and into my lap, deepening the kiss with all the longing I'd been holding back for weeks. Mia responded in kind, her arms wrapping around my neck as she held me close to her. I groaned, loving the feeling of her body against mine and the softness of her lips.

When we finally pulled away, our foreheads rested against each other, and I saw a spark of hope in her eyes that matched the one I felt in my heart. For the first time in a long while, the weight of the past seemed to lift, replaced by the possibility of a new beginning.

"I... I want a real first date."

I smiled and kissed her nose. "You can have whatever you want. Mrs. Warren."

"Volkov." She flushed. "Mrs. Volkov."

I smirked, dragging my lips against hers. "How about wife?"