Updated Apr 20, 2026 • ~3 min read
Chapter 14: No More Walls
Riot
Two days after Nadia’s tearful admission that she’s scared but willing to try, Riot realizes he can’t stand the emotional distance she keeps trying to maintain despite her promises, and he decides it’s time to stop letting her run every time the conversation gets difficult.
They’re on the cabin’s porch watching the sunset, and Nadia’s doing that thing where she deflects with small talk, asking about his shoulder and whether he thinks they’ll need to stay in Alaska much longer, and Riot knows she’s avoiding the real conversation they need to have.
“I love you,” he says, interrupting her mid-sentence about weather patterns. “I fell first—weeks ago, back in Montana. Maybe even before that. I love you, Nadia Volkov.”
She freezes, her coffee cup halfway to her mouth. “Riot—”
“And I know you’re scared. I know you think everyone you love dies or leaves. But I’m saying it anyway because pretending I don’t feel it isn’t working for me anymore.” He turns to face her fully. “I love you. And not just in a cabin in Montana or Alaska—I’d love you anywhere. On a battlefield, in a grocery store arguing about cereal brands, in your Seattle penthouse when this is all over.”
“This isn’t real life—”
“It’s MY real life. You’re my real life.” He takes her hand, threads their fingers together. “And when this is over and Viktor’s neutralized, I’m going to ask you to choose me. Not because we’re in danger or because proximity forced us together, but because you want to. Because you love me too and you’re ready to stop being afraid of that.”
Nadia’s eyes are shining with unshed tears. “You can’t know that I’ll be ready—”
“I can wait. I’m patient.” He brings her hand to his mouth, kisses her knuckles. “But Nadia, I need you to understand—I don’t do casual. Never did, really. I tried because that’s what you needed, but somewhere along the way I fell completely, irrevocably in love with you. And I’m not going to pretend otherwise anymore.”
“I’m terrified,” she whispers.
“I know. But I’m not going anywhere. People you love don’t die just because you love them—bad things happen sometimes, but that doesn’t mean you should stop letting yourself feel.” He cups her face. “Let me in. All the way. Stop holding back pieces of yourself because you’re afraid I’ll leave.”
“What if I can’t?”
“Then we’ll work on it together. But you have to try, Nadia. I can’t do this alone—can’t love someone who won’t let themselves love me back.”
She’s crying now, tears streaming down her face, and Riot brushes them away with his thumbs. “I do love you,” she says, her voice breaking. “I do. I’m just so scared of what that means.”
“It means we’re in this together. No more walls, no more running. Just us, figuring it out as we go.”
Nadia nods, and when she kisses him, it tastes like salt and promises and the beginning of something neither of them is quite ready for but both of them desperately want.
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