Page 35 of Shielded Secrets

I nodded, leaning against Rurik again.

“How about we go to my place for a while instead of hanging around here?” he asked.

I blinked in surprise. I hadn’t been expecting that. I was trying hard to believe Eva and Irina when they said I wasn’t a hostage. A houseguest, but also a person they’d want to monitor under house arrest. “Sure.”

More privacy with this man would be a blessing.

In the car, he asked me the same thing Eva had. “Are you all right?”

I nodded but then settled on a shrug. “It’s just a lot. A lot has happened so quickly.”

He held my hand as he drove. “It has. But don’t feel pressured.”

“By you?” I joked.

“By anyone or anything.” He kissed the back of my hand, still paying attention to the road. “I didn’t save you because it was my job. I didn’t help you because I was expected to. I wanted to. I missed you since Eva’s protection detail wasn’t needed on campus anymore. I’d been looking forward to seeing you again, however I could, but please do not think that you have to stick around and be with me because you’re obligated to.”

I sighed, appreciating his words more than he could realize. That meant something to me, that he could be so altruistic without demanding anything in return. If that wasn’t love…

No. Stop. Don’t go there and start with the wistful thinking.

“And I want you to understand that your protection—whether you want to just be Eva’s friend instead of my girlfriend, or to be a collaborating independent party to Oleg’s investigation into the Benson family—is not contingent on anything you do. If you want to be with me, good. If you don’t, then I’ll deal with it.”

“Thank you.” I leaned over the center console to kiss his cheek.

“I don’t feel pressured to make a decision yet. The girls were telling me to think about it, and I will. I don’t know how to explain it to you since you were born into the Mafia, but considering working for the Mafia is a very unique job offer.”

“I understand.”

“Idofeel pressure to decide in terms of what I’m giving up, though. Classes are on hold for break, but…” I shrugged, feeling silly to say what mattered to me. He’d saved me from being attacked. When comparing things to a life-or-death matter, being concerned about grades seemed frivolous.

“But what?” he asked once he parked in the underground parking area of a well-maintained garage.

I followed him out of the car and happily took his hand again as we walked to the elevator.

“But it’s a big ask to just stop my life and make it something else. I had my jobs, and I need that money. I missed my shift last night already, and if I’m expected to stay with you for my safety and until I accept Oleg’s ‘job’ offer, I’m not working.”

He framed my face after we got on the elevator. “I’ll pay you.”

I rolled my eyes. “For sex?”

He grinned, kissing me deeply before saying, “No. But I’ll have an account set up. For every shift or hour you miss, I’ll pay double.”

“What if I lose my job and when I leave, I won’t have anything?” I was borrowing trouble playing with what-ifs, but financial security—and independence—were important to me.

“First of all,” he replied once the doors opened directly to a penthouse floor, “I don’t want to think about your leaving.” He picked me up and carried me inside, lowering to a couch with me and spooning me.

Just like my dreams.I smiled, knowing it would be the hardest thing I’d ever do to leave this man. Rolling onto my back so Icould see him, I admired the hard angles and lean lines of his rugged, handsome face.

“And if you were to leave, I would make sure you are covered. With a new job. With all lost wages. I want to take care of you, Kelly. In whatever way you’d let me.”

I sighed, staring into the depths of his serious, dark eyes. “I don’t want to leave,” I admitted softly. “I’ve only just found you again. We’ve only just started, and leaving is the last thing on my mind.”

He kissed me tenderly. “It’s happening so fast,” he admitted.

I nodded, reaching up to kiss him again just because I could. Just because I liked to.

“But I mean it. I missed you. I worried about you. I wondered about you. And I’m excited for the chance to get to know you and keep you.” He set his hand on my hip and pulled me closer in a hug as we cuddled.

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