Her Russian

Chapter 77-Family

After their big family breakfast, Ilia asked Galina to meet with him, Maxim, Tori, Roman, Erik and Yuri.  She swallowed hard and knew what she was walking into.  She was going to get a piece of everyone's mind and then hopefully once they were done raking her over the coals, they could let this die and move on with their lives.

Placing her hand on the door knob, she hesitated just for a moment before going ahead and walking through the study door.  As soon as she stepped in, all heads spun around and all attention was on her.

Galina had never wanted a hole to open up and swallow her more than she did right in that moment.  She felt like a dead woman walking as she advanced to the empty chair she assumed was for her.

Sitting down in the offered chair, Galina, curled her feet up under her and placed her folded hands in her lap.  She was prepared for their wrath and their hard words and she promised herself that she wouldn't say anything until they had all said their peace.

Fidgeting with her rings, she could feel six pairs of eyes on her, burning holes through her body and she was feeling uncomfortable as hell right now.

"Well" Tori said clearing her throat and breaking the silence.  "I guess I will go first."  Tori had a tendency to pace when she talked.

"Jesus woman.  Do you have any idea the thoughts that went through my head when I came back to check on you and you were gone?  I panicked!  I looked everywhere for some kind of clue, something that would give me an idea of where you had gone and how you got out of the house without anyone noticing.

Then I found a full cup of cold tea on the counter in your bathroom and next to that your phone.  Guess what I saw there?  An unsent text message to Max!  With an address of where you had gone.  Then I'm told by the gate security that they had seen me drive off forty-five minutes earlier.

Imagine to find out how shocked I was to hear that I'd left the compound, only I was still there.  I'm not going to stand here like a hypocrite and say that I wouldn't have done the same thing you did.  I would.  But I'm not pregnant either.

When I figured out how you were able to get out of the house without being seen, I almost lost it!  Do you realize that you could have fallen?  Then where would Ilia be?  Where would the rest of us be?"  Tori was crying at this point, when Max threw a comforting arm around her.

Galina sniffed as Yuri handed her a tissue box.  Barely looking up at him, she mumbled thank you before taking the tissue and wiping her nose.  Tossing it on the desk, he was next to let her have a tongue lashing.

"You know, I was never really sure about you, Galina.  I mean in our business trust is a hard commodity to come by and it's not easily given out.  But it didn't take us long to figure out how you felt about our boss.

Anyone could see it, when you looked at him, the way you talk to him and the way you care for the rest of us.  When I heard what you had done and while we were on our way to rescue you both, hoping and praying we weren't too late, it sunk in.

How many people can honestly say that they love someone so much, that they are willing to sacrifice themselves for that person?  To know, in your present condition, that you were willing to give yourself over to Petrov, so the Savin organization could go on, was commendable but on the other hand, there would not have been an organization to go on without you."

Galina teared up a little more as Yuri huffed when he sat down but they came even more when he leaned over and kissed her head.  He'd forgiven her thank God.

Next was Erik and it was more of the same and as Galina listened to what these people were telling her, it all of a sudden dawned on her that even if she had saved Ilia and had to go away with Petrov, Ilia would have ceased to function without her.  The organization would have caved eventually and her efforts would have been in vain.

Erik finished and now it was Roman's turn.  He was a little more tactful but he still got across to her just how pissed off he was and honored to have her as their queen at the same time.  They loved her and she knew that now.

Finally, it was Maxim's turn and this one, besides Ilia, would be the hardest to hear.  Pacing, he ran his fingers through his hair as he was still trying put into words what he was feeling and had been feeling.

"You are like the little sister I never had" he began, his back to her.  "I saw the little changes in everyone you came into contact with.  Hell, I even saw some changes in me and for the first time, I saw that man" he said pointing to Ilia "My friend, happy and wanting something more out of life than he'd been experiencing.

And it was all because of you.  But damn it, Galina.  The chances you took with not only yourself but our Savin heir, God I've never wanted to spank someone so hard in all my life!" His voice raised an octave as Galina watched Tori place a gentle touch on his shoulder.

Clearing his throat, his voice sounded normal again.  "I get that you were frustrated with what had happened and I know that it seemed like a lack of progress to you, but we had everything under control.

Before Tori found your text message, we already knew where Petrov had taken Ilia.  We have spies and informants everywhere.  Nothing happens around here that we don't know about and because of what you did, we not only had to rescue Ilia but you as well."

Turning around, he walked over to where the down-trodden Galina sat, squatted and took both her hands into his big ones, lifted them and placed a kiss on her knuckles.

"Please, don't ever do anything like that again.  I happen to know that no one in this room would be able to make it if anything happened to you.  We love you, you are our queen and it's our sworn duty to protect you.  Let us do our jobs.  Okay?"  He ended it with broad smile.

Galina sniffed and threw her arms around Maxim's neck.  Her soft sobs could be heard around the room as everyone, except Ilia, gathered around her.  Once they were done, Max stood up and took Tori by the hand.

"Now that we are done with this and ready to forget it and move on, Tori and I have some news that will lighten the mood.  You want to tell them, baby?" he asked looking at the smiling Tori.

She didn't say anything but held up her left hand instead.  Nestled on her ring finger, was the most beautiful ring Galina had ever seen, well next to hers that is.

"We were going to tell everyone but Petrov ruined those plans when he kidnapped Ilia.  Anyway, we are going to be married, here on the grounds at the chapel, next month.  Galina, you will be my matron of honor, if you want to, that is."  Tori looked at her cousin with hope.

Galina jumped from her chair and threw her arms around her cousin as they both wept with joy as the remains of the day slipped from their bodies.  Finally some more good news worth celebrating.

"I would be honored to stand up for you" Galina said to Tori.  "I also want to, if Ilia is okay with this, put together a little get-together, so you can officially announce this to the rest of the family.  What do you think babe?" she asked her husband, who had still remained quiet throughout the entire time.

Holding out his hand to his wife, she said nothing but instead walked to him.  He pulled her into his chest and grasped her like he wasn't ever going to let her go.

"I think it's a great idea, detka, and do whatever you want.  This is all you, so do it the way you want it done" Ilia finished with a kiss to her cheek.

"I love you, Ilia" his wife whispered.  "And I you, my darling" he said, smiling down at her.  Finally they could move on and never talk about what had happened ever again.

There was a new life that would be coming soon and new chapters to be written for the others and everything was as it should be and Galina couldn't have been happier.