Page 81 of Guarded Rebellion

The Boss smirked at me. “Not you,” he deadpanned.

I exhaled, knowing how ridiculous it would be for me to insist on an active task like going back to that college campus anytime soon. Not in this condition.

“Rurik can handle it,” Oleg said. “Besides, it was my fault to send you with her to that campus in the first place. When they said they were targetingtheBaranov, they meant you.” He shook his head at me, slightly smiling in that way that suggested he might be amused. “Not Eva.”

“But that wasn’t the first thought that came to mind.”

“Why not?” He crossed his arms.

“Because I’m not a Baranov.”

“I should hope not, considering you’ll marry my niece.”

Eva and I reacted in unison. She whipped her head around to stare at him, shocked. I opened my eyes just as wide as hers had popped open too.

We hadn’t told him. It had been chaotic in the aftermath of what went down.

“Uncle.” Eva cleared her throat. “I…”

He lifted his hand to quiet her. “For such a smart young woman, you seem to have short-term memory issues. Your phone was recording, Eva.”

She winced with a smile. “Oh. Right.”

It seemed that when she reached for the metal file in her coat pocket the first time, she’d pushed the video button on her phone. She’d captured it all. What Irina told her. What we said. The first time we’d told each other that we loved each other had been captured in the recording that her uncle listened to later. Hell, many men in the family had likely heard it.

I smiled at her, taking her hand to squeeze it.

“You do wish to marry her, correct?” the Boss asked.

“If I may, sir,” I replied.

“Uncle Oleg,” Eva said gently, “it just… happened.”

He nodded. “I can see that. That’s why you won’t be following up with what we’ve learned from Irina that day. Or this matter of any family trying to expand their territory. Or who is to blame for that drug trade deal falling apart.” Shoving his hands into his pockets, he rocked back on his heels once, looking every bit the part of a man at ease, not a taxed and overwhelmed crime lord.

“You’ll be busy marrying her.” He smiled at her. “And good luck keeping her in line, Son.”

She grinned, hugging him. “You mean it?”

“It’s up to him to ask, but you have my permission.” He kissed the top of her head. “I can see the love you share. And I would be a fool to stand in the way of it.” Then he huffed. “As if I’d trust another family to let you marry into them.”

I laughed, pleased that she returned to me and sat down on the bed.

“I wanted to check on you and make sure you’d be resting, not eager to get back up on your feet,” Oleg explained. “Rurik can resume looking into this angle with Irina and the Petrovs. Marcus has been eager for more challenges too. We are a family, Lev, and we have plenty to keep us all safe. A family you are a part of, not just if you marry Eva. You’ve been a part of this family since the day I took you in and you swore your loyalty to me.”

“Thank you, sir.” My heart squeezed with the pure joy and sense of belonging that his words carried. “I appreciate that.”

“You’re past due a break, don’t you think?” He winked as he moved toward the door. “You need to pause from the assignments, especially if a wedding is on the way.”

After he left, I turned to Eva and smiled at the pure, bright hope shining in her eyes.

“I—”

“Marry me.” I cut her off, impatient to say the most important words of my lifetime.

She leaned against me. “Just like that?”

I nodded. “I love you, Eva. Be my brat.”

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