Page 104 of No Longer Safe

“That’s fine. I just don’t understand the part where I’m going to own a house in New York City with you,” I cleared my throat. “With agarage.”

“Malaya,I’ve loved you since the first moment you turned your nose up at me and the sex wet spot on my slacks.”

I pointed right at his nose. “I knew it!” He wrapped his hand around my finger. “Don’t forget the stripper glitter!”

“I’ve wanted nothing more than to tell you how much I loved you since Brian walked, with pee pants, out of your life.” His eyes were shiny with unshed tears and I didn’t know what to do with all of this information. “I could have lost you. I don’t want to live another day wondering if it’ll be your last. I want every day that I can possibly get. I want us to fill a new bookshelf behindourbed inourhouse with all of your favorite novels. I want to dance wild with you in clubs or on exotic beaches. I want you to tell me all about the masterpiece novels you work on during the day. I want every second of every minute of your time if you will give it to me.”

“Thats a lot of time, Alexei.”

“I want it all. I want all of you.”

“That was an intense proposal, aren’t you still engaged, Alexei?” Nana said from the doorway and the laugh that escaped me hurt entirely too much but I couldn’t hold it back even if I tried.

Alexei scowled at his Nana but still got off of his knees to kiss the side of her cheek. Grandmother was the next to enter the room. She smiled down at me. “You don’t look too good, my girl, but it’s better than seeing you in a casket.”

“Thank you for your cane.” I’d never felt so grateful to see someone so frightening.

Alexei went to her and wrapped his arms around her next. She patted his back like she couldn’t stand a hug but I saw the amusement on her face all the same. “My son is a lot of things but lately he’s been a littlepredictable.I know him better than anyone else. I hate to say it. I saw him staring at you most of the wedding and the reception. I knew that I couldn’t intervene because I never knew when it would happen so I knew I could at least give you the opportunity to protect yourself if it did everhappen. Unfortunately, it happened a lot faster than I predicted. We are happy you are alive and that’s all that matters.”

Nana sat down in the recliner and smiled with all of her teeth. “He will not bother you again, my dear.”

Alexei shook his head. “How could you possibly know?”

Grandmother picked at something on her sweater. “Because I pull the strings on many of his operations. Though we aren’t very close, he can’t even trust Ace for many things. He has always been a suspicious fellow. I took over most of his accounts when you were all babies. He really had no one then. I knew the time would come when I would have to show my hand. I will put your father’s accounts to zero in no time if he crosses me.”

“If there’s one thing my father loves, it’s his money.”

Nana and Grandmother nodded together. “Worry not, my loves. You will both be safe.”

Chapter Sixty-Eight

Audrey

Alexei didn’t believeI would ever be safe again. He was paranoid as we left the hospital a few short days later and even more paranoid as we moved into our new home. I couldn’t believe I said yes to him, but I knew I loved him and even though I was afraid, I understood after finding the information out myself in Ace’s office. It helped even more that he’d left Vina to her own devices. But the icing on the cake, was the big fat zero in his account from his parents. I was horrified while he laughed in my hospital room about how he knew it was coming. It didn’t matter to him, he insisted because he had everything he needed right in front of him. I also knew about all of his investments so he wouldn’t be broke by any means.

My parents went home once we got information on my discharge and knew I was in safe hands with Alexei. Emeline visited us the first day of our move-in. Very gently, she wrapped her arms around me and held me for a few beats before she pulled away and looked into my eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

“There is nothing for you to apologize about. You are not your husband.”

“And yet, I’m still married to him.”

I understood more than anyone else would. “If you left, you would have nothing.”

She winked. “Not nothing. I’ve been making moves to take care of myself for a long time.”

“Your life, Mother.” Alexei said as he brought in another box from Carina and Ace’s penthouse. They would be a little shocked when they got home. Mrs. Phipps was when she returned from all the festivities to find me in the hospital, instead of home and ready to greet her. Georgie was taking good care of her and I was sure I was hardly missed. She promised she wouldn’t call her daughter but that we would all be having a serious conversation when they got home.

“Well, yes,” she sighed as if she’d gone over this a hundred times. She probably had. “One day I will be free. Don’t worry about me. I’ve been putting up with this for thirty years. I will survive.” She looked at her second oldest with pride shining in her gaze. “Give me a tour of your new home and tell me how you can afford all of this on your own dime.”

Alexei winked at me over his mother’s head as he looped his arm through hers.

My phone rang and I winced as I looked down at the Caller ID. I’d given Lu very vague details but it was time to pay the piper.

“Hey, Lu.”

“You’ve been in the hospital and you won’t answer FaceTime. You can’t come to work next week. What’s going on?”

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