“I understand why you believe you did the right thing, but it’s important to me that you’re always truthful with me, even if you’re afraid it might hurt me.” His palm cupped the side of her face. “You don’t believe you’re in my league, and you’re right, Solnyshkuh. You’re so far above me it isn’t funny. If I were a decent man, I’d walk out just like you want me to and leave you to find a good man.”
Azelie couldn’t look away from the darkness and deep sorrow in his eyes. He was telling her the truth as he saw it. She had developed a sense of radar ever since her family had been murdered. Even before, she had become concerned when she was around her brother-in-law. At the time, she thought it was because she didn’t like the way Quentin treated his wife and children. He’d grown selfish and overbearing, using drugs and drinking quite a bit. It hadn’t occurred to her that she often avoided certain people because they felt off to her. Andrii might feel dangerous and even powerful, but he didn’t feel at all the way he portrayed himself.
“I’m not easy. I’ll never be easy. I’m not even a good man, and you deserve so much better, but the truth is I have no intention of giving you up. I’ll work hard to make you happy. I believe that we’re right for one another and that I can do that—make you happy.”
“Andrii,” she cautioned, not sure what she was going to say to protest. She didn’t want to protest. She wanted to be his. She just wasn’t sure she had enough trust in her to develop the kind of relationship he needed.
As if sensing her hesitation, he continued. “I’ll keep you safe. I’m not a man other men want to fuck with. I don’t ever want you to think I wouldn’t put your safety first. As dramatic as it sounds, I’d take a bullet for you. I’d kill for you if that was necessary.”
She tried to find a smile, but at the mention of him taking a bullet for her, the shocking pain of metal tearing into her flesh, the terror, the memories of the long road back surfaced.
Again, he seemed to know what she was feeling. His arms circled her and pulled her tight against his chest. She felt surrounded by a fortress. He was that strong and sure.
“I’m sorry I triggered a bad memory when I was trying to reassure you, baby.”
“It isn’t your fault,” she admitted readily. “I still haven’t gotten over what happened.”
“You won’t. How could you?” His voice was that soft, soothing velvet that stroked over her skin like the finest of paintbrushes. “You can’t expect to ever get over something like you experienced. You learn to live with it, Zelie. When the nightmares get bad and you’re having a difficult time, you can talk to me. I’ve got things in my past, not the same, but similar. I understand lasting trauma.”
“You think we can do this,” Azelie said. “But I don’t have your faith. Not because of you, but because I can’t seem to trust anyone. Not even the merry widows, and they’ve been so good to me. Consistently good to me. I still can’t talk to them about my brother-in-law and what he did. I’m not just trying to save myself heartache; I’m trying to save you too.”
His hand came up to fist in her hair, the fingers threading through the thick, luxurious strands. He gave the lightest of tugs, sending fiery tingles of awareness through her scalp.
“Right there, Zelie, that’s what I’m talking about. I know you’re trying to look out for me. Do you realize how rare you are? I’ve never had that. Never. Not even from my parents or relatives.”
Her heart hurt just hearing him. Her parents hadn’t been the best, but she had had Janine. Her sister had treated her with love and kindness. She’d never acted as if taking on Azelie was a burden. If anything, Janine had made her feel as though she was a great help to her, that she needed Azelie and felt lucky to have her living with them.
“I’m so sorry, Andrii. Some people shouldn’t be parents.” She gave him a small smile. “But then neither of us would be here, so I guess in the end, we should just make the most of our lives. That’s all I’m trying to do, just live the best life I can without hurting anyone.”
The color of his eyes softened to an intense gray. “I watched you, and yes, I know I sound like a creepy stalker, but I realized in the time I paid attention that you are an extraordinary woman. That was just observing you. Being with you just assures me how right I was.”
“Andrii, I can’t make decisions. I despise making them. I’m good with numbers, but I don’t especially like the work. It’s the only thing I am good at. I can make decisions without hesitation when it comes to numbers, but anything else, I’m a wreck. I worry about everything. You see me being nice to a couple of people and think I’m worth something. I’m not.”
“I asked you not to make disparaging remarks about yourself.”
“I’m trying to get you to see the truth about me.”
“All you’re doing is sealing your fate, Solnyshkuh. You’re telling me you need me. You won’t have worries when you’re with me because I’m willing to take those on for you.”
She couldn’t speak. His declaration was obviously sincere, but she found herself too attracted. Wanting to give him everything. She’d be so lost in him.
“Don’t look so scared, Zelie. Trust me when I say I’ll take care of you.”
The pad of his thumb swept gently, tenderly, over her cheekbone, and then traced her lips, setting her heart pounding and sex fluttering.
“I’m just as distrustful as you are. We both have good reasons for being the way we are. Let’s do this together. Say you’ll try for me. Commit, Zelie.”
He mesmerized her, a predator cornering his prey, yet she didn’t want to escape. As much as she feared she would be swallowed by him, he was the only man she had ever been attracted to, physically or emotionally. “All right.” She whispered her capitulation because there was no way to make her voice any louder.
A slow smile softened his hard features. It didn’t make him look any less dangerous, but it made him even more attractive.
“You should be outlawed,” she said. “Seriously, Andrii, I’m not certain I can think straight around you.”
“I’m going to fuck up,” he warned softly, his thumb still moving over her bottom lip. “That temper you saw, it gets away from me. When it happens, you’ll need to know my anger isn’t at you. When I’m upset with you, we’ll talk about it. Calmly. Without anger.”
She swallowed hard. Was she really going to commit to a relationship with a man who admitted he had a bad temper?
“You’re looking scared again.”
Her cell phone played a few bars of Sheb Wooley’s “Purple People Eater.” She scowled before she could school her expression, but she made no move to answer.
Andrii’s brows drew together. “Who is that? Clearly, you don’t want to talk to them.”
“That would be my boss, Alan Billows. He knows I have class tomorrow. I told him I couldn’t come in for a meeting tonight, but he doesn’t take no for an answer.”
“I’ll tell him no for you.”
She found herself laughing. “You probably would. I need the job until I finish school and can get another one.”
She wasn’t certain it would be that easy or smart to walk away from Billows, but she wasn’t going to tell Andrii that. She changed the subject instead. “What’s in the box?”
SIX
Andrii debated whether to allow Azelie to get away with the change in subject. It wasn’t in his best interest—or Azelie’s—for Billows to find out they were dating. He didn’t want more attention on Azelie from Billows. The man was a psychopath, and he was deeply involved in human trafficking. If the information Torpedo Ink had worked so hard to acquire was correct, Billows trained women and teens as sex slaves before they were put up for auction. He didn’t like the thought of Azelie anywhere near the man.
Azelie was a gorgeous woman, whether she wanted to think so or not. She wore baggy clothes to hide her curves, but she had them. Any man who looked at her—and they would look—would be able to guess what was under her sweaters and hoodies. Her jeans clung to her body lovingly, and all that was without mentioning her face. She had beautiful skin that glowed and was rose-petal soft. Her eyes were large, vividly blue, and heavily lashed. Then she had all that wild hair.
Billows trafficked women. He would be able to assess Azelie’s worth easily. The fact that she was a pleaser would go a long way to adding to her value. The man needed her for her skills in manipulating his books, but if he felt threatened, he would turn on her in an instant. In some ways, being with Andrii would be a protection for her. Men like Billows recognized immediately when there was a threat. At the same time, Billows might feel he was losing control of Azelie. Bookkeepers could be replaced.
“You aren’t returning the dress and shoes to me, are you?” Azelie asked.
Her finger crept up to her bare ear. She didn’t wear jewelry as a rule. She didn’t even have studs in, although her ears were pierced. Andrii loved the little shells of her ears.
“Yes.” He poured firmness into his voice, all the while keeping his tone low. He moved around her to pull the tie from the box and lift the lid. “I don’t want you to give back any gift I give you, Zelie. It’s a little hurtful, although I appreciate that you don’t want to use me for my money.”
She bit down on her lower lip as she took a step back. “Do you have money?”
“Yes.”
“You said you were a contractor and that you played in a band,” she protested. One hand went defensively to her throat, and she gave a little shake of her head. “And that you did security.”
Andrii could see that the idea he had money really bothered her. She wasn’t after him to see what she could get from him. That felt good. He’d known she wasn’t all about money, but it was good to have it reaffirmed, to know his instincts were working.
“I am a contractor, and I do play in a band. I also work in security,” he crooked his finger at her as he sank back down into the chair he’d occupied. “Come on, baby, there’s nothing in here that’s going to bite you.”
She didn’t move even though he’d used a compelling voice, the exact tone she was so susceptible to. Andrii was a little shocked at the genuine amusement welling up in him. As a rule, he didn’t experience intense emotions. If he had them, they were usually negative rather than positive. He realized, almost from the moment he began studying Azelie’s character to get close to her, he felt things much more deeply. He also found himself genuinely happy, as if by discovering a woman like her existed, there was hope for him after all.
