Page 143 of Twisted Pact
“Marry me,” I both ask and tell her.
Her eyes go wide. “What?”
“Marry me. Be my wife. Let me spend the rest of my life protecting you and making you happy.”
“Alexei—”
“I love you.” The words come out rough but certain. “More than my own life. More than anything in this world. I’ve never said those words to anyone. I’ve never felt them until you.”
Tears stream down her face. “You love me?”
“Yes.”
“Say it again.”
“I love you, Mila Andreeva. I love your stubbornness and your strength. I love how you challenge me and refuse to back down. I love everything about you.”
She launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck despite my injury. “Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you. Yes, I love you, too. Yes to everything.”
I kiss her again, pouring out all the fear and relief and love I’ve kept locked away for so long.
When we finally break apart, she’s smiling through her tears.
“We’re getting married,” she declares like she can’t quite believe it.
“We’re getting married,” I confirm.
39
Mila
Three weeks after Novikov’s death, I’m planning a wedding.
The irony isn’t lost on me.
Almost a year ago, I refused an arranged marriage to this same man.
Now I’m sitting in his office surrounded by fabric swatches and floral arrangements, trying to decide between roses and peonies.
“The white roses,” Katya suggests from her spot on the couch. She points to the sample on the left. “They’re classic. Elegant. Very you.”
I hold up the peony sample next to it. “These feel more romantic.”
“Then go with both.” She grins and adds, “It’s your wedding. You can have whatever you want.”
Alexei appears in the doorway with his phone pressed to his ear. He’s been on calls all morning dealing with the legal aftermathof the attack. Bodies. Property damage. Witness statements to coordinate.
He ends the call and crosses to where I’m sitting as he kisses the top of my head. “How’s the planning going?”
“We’re debating flowers.”
“Whatever you want is fine with me.”
I tilt my head back to look at him. “You’re supposed to have an opinion.”
