Page 123 of About Love and Revenge

“Yes.”

He goes to the closet and comes back with a box. “I had planned a special night for the two of us after the masquerade ball. Christos said I wasn't romantic when I first proposed. I'm a little clumsy with these things, so I wanted to fix everything and had dinner prepared on the terrace of the convention center,” he says apologetically as he approaches. “We were going to have musicians and candlelight, as you deserve.”

I get up and stand in front of him. “But then...thathappened,” I say.

“Yes, it happened, and I didn't think I had the right to force you to make up your mind.”

We haven't talked about Naim yet, and to be honest, I don't feel any urge to ask about it, but I've noticed that Odin isn't so uptight all the time about my safety anymore, so something must have happened.

He kisses me on the mouth, but instead of kneeling down like men do in movies, he picks me up and sits back on the bed with me in his arms.

I know what's going to happen, and my heart is simultaneously racing and feeling light.

I think our love story is the craziest ever. Who has ever proposed to their girlfriend wearing boxer briefs?

I look at my man's masculine face. He's not smiling, but I've gotten used to his constantly closed-off way.

“I'm not the best person in the world, Elina. Until I met you, there weren't many good feelings inside me, but since we started dating, you've built a bridge that reaches right into my heart. I didn't plan your arrival—I wasn't even expecting it. I was taken by surprise. I couldn't predict my love for you, but I'm glad it turned out this way, since you haven’t given me the opportunity to screw it up.”

I am attentive to every word. I want to engrave the scene forever on my memory, because now I can dream of my own love story and no longer need to borrow dreams from movies.

“I love you. Every part of you. I'm crazy about your smell, your skin, your mouth, but I'm also passionate about your strength and the way you’ve survived all the obstacles that life imposed upon you. I love your quarrelsome way and also the way you challenge me. I want to live by your side, protect you, and honor you. I want to love your body but also be responsible for your smiles. Marry me. I want you by my side until my last breath here on Earth.”

It's only when my face feels wet that I realize I'm crying.

“I’ve never had doubts about the love I feel for you, only about our secrets,” he finishes.

I know secrets are still a barrier between us, but I won't let that worry get in the way of my happiness. “Yes, I will marry you.”

As I speak, he opens the jewelry box and places a huge diamond ring on my finger.

There's a lot more to be said, but I don't need words right now. I think that when he's ready, we'll talk. I would like him to tell me from the beginning the story of his parents, the role of his savior, and the promise he said he made.

Right now, however, I just need the certainty of what we feel.

Odin

CHAPTER FORTY

Weeks Later

“Any news of the girls, Grigori?”

“Nothing yet. Just odd clues. But honestly, I don't have much hope that Darius's daughter is still alive.”

“Me neither. I tried to track her. She practically vanished into thin air the moment she set foot in Athens.”

What hell of a world do we live in that a little girl can be sold as if she were a commodity? I can't even imagine the agony it must be for a father not to know the whereabouts of his little girl, and all because of that bastard.

“What about Argyros?” I ask.

“We're following up on a lead. I think this time he won't escape.”

I nod, but he remains still, just looking at me. “Tell me what you're thinking, Grigori.”

“What are you going to do?”

“What am I going to do about what?”

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