“What about the merry widows and Doug and Carlton? They had to know it was you who came for me. Especially since you brought me here.”
“We used the tunnel entrance. They weren’t anywhere near the tunnel. They were at the club, distracting guards. We told them you’d been rescued by some team and brought to us because we had a doctor waiting.”
She kept her gaze steady on his. “They won’t believe you, Andrii. They think you’re James Bond. Doug and Carlton especially won’t believe you.”
“Doug and Carlton would never betray us. They wouldn’t because they wanted someone to rescue you, and they knew they could never get in. They’re coming here and will meet some other Torpedo Ink members. They wouldn’t take a chance on crossing us. They can read what we are. The widows will love believing they’re putting one over on the cops. They can honestly say they didn’t see anyone.”
“You sound very sure the police aren’t going to try to get you and your friends for this.”
“Fortunately, we have alibis. We’re very good at planning. Any time I go out on a mission, I want you to remember that.”
She looked around her. “This is a beautiful home.”
“Perfect for writing your books. And we aren’t that far from the widows. We have plenty of room for them to visit.”
“You want me to move in with you?”
“Yes.”
She was silent for a minute. He pressed his hand to his chest. Bog, this relationship shit was fraught with land mines. He’d given her honesty and had no idea if what he wanted from her would drive her away. Was it too soon? Why hadn’t he studied romance the way he’d studied kill tactics? He should have at least read a few books. He knew if he voiced his thoughts, she’d laugh, and it would hurt, so he remained silent.
“I do want to move in with you, Andrii, but I have to finish school first. That’s important to me. I’m in my last semester, so close to getting my degree.” She made a little face. “This has probably set me back. It isn’t like every professor I have is the understanding type.”
“They’ll understand.” He kept his tone very mild. Velvet soft. He didn’t fool her for a minute.
Her gaze jumped to his, and she narrowed her eyes. “I know you aren’t thinking of talking with my teachers.”
“I had Absinthe meet with each of them separately and explain your situation. They were very understanding and sympathetic.”
“Who is Absinthe?”
“He’s one of the brothers and our lawyer. Very soft-spoken, but he can be persuasive.”
“I suppose I should question you more about this, but I’m too tired and sore. And I think you’re rather wonderful to remember how important my classes are to me. Thank you for letting the school know I was attacked.”
Maestro decided he may as well go all in. So far, she was with him every step of the way. She seemed to believe she loved him. It was there in the way she looked at him, her lack of condemnation for his actions. Her protectiveness. She hadn’t even considered giving him up to the Billows brothers to spare herself pain.
He pulled the little jewelry box from his pocket and crouched down beside the bed.
Her eyes widened. “What are you doing?”
“Marry me, Azelie. Be with me forever. Grow old with me. Take your last breath with me. Have our children. I love you more than life. I sometimes can’t breathe without you. Just say yes.”
Her gaze moved over his face, feature by feature, and then dropped to the open jewelry box. She gasped. “Andrii.”
“Ice is a jeweler, and he made it for you. I picked out the design and stones. The blue reminds me of your eyes. Such a gorgeous color.”
He loved the vintage look of it, and it was reminiscent of the things he loved about Russia. The main stone was a rare blue Russian diamond with extraordinary color and clarity. The stone was set in white gold. Going up both sides of the ring was scrollwork made of very small blue diamonds. Three blue diamonds representing suns were set on either side of the ring just below the larger diamond. The ring was dainty looking, even loaded with all the tiny blue stones.
“Marry me.”
“I might have to just for that ring. It’s amazing. And perfect.”
“Say it.”
“Yes.”
He actually choked up. To cover his idiocy, he pushed the ring onto her finger. “Looks like it was made for you, which it was. One of a kind, a rare beauty just like you.”
“Take a picture with my cell phone. I want to send it to the widows.”
“They’ll be here shortly.”
“I know. I love it and want to share. They’ll go crazy and scream in the car and make Doug and Carlton crazy.”
He took the picture with her cell phone. “They might put those women out on the side of the road. You’re an instigator.”
She giggled and hastily tried to stop. “I know. I shouldn’t encourage them, but I can’t help myself.”
She sent the photograph of her hand with the ring prominent. It looked perfect on her if he did say so himself.
“If I forget anything important to you, let me know. I like taking care of you, Solnyshkuh. With what you give to me, it’s very little in return.” That was Maestro being honest.
There was a knock on the outside frame of the master bedroom door, and Lana stuck her head in. “You feeling up for a visit? I know the widows are coming, so I promise to make it short.”
Maestro assessed Azelie’s features. She was tired, but he could see she wanted to visit with Lana. She touched the stitches on her lip with her fingertip.
“I look a little like Frankenstein, but if you don’t care, I don’t either.”
