Page 103 of Arrogant and Merciless

I can’t pretend any longer—I’m grinning from ear to ear. "I used to love playing treasure hunt when I was little, and wouldn’t you know it—I got lucky today." I bring my hands around in front of me. "Think you could give me a plum?" I say, pointing to the fruit with my right hand, specifically my ring finger, where I’m wearing the enormous engagement ring I found hidden in his nightstand.

I wasn’t sure he’d actually bought one, but I suspected—and I went hunting for it.

He comes closer, no longer smiling—wearing that dominant expression that makes butterflies flutter in my belly—and grabs my hand. "What am I going to do with you, Taylor Jarvis? I spent months hiding this engagement ring to avoid putting pressure on you, and out of nowhere, you go on a treasure hunt and steal my chance to officially propose?"

"There’s still time."

I was joking, but my eyes fill with tears when I see my white-clad god on his knees at my feet.

"I’ve made so many mistakes, it’s a miracle you still love me, Taylor. I told you I fell in love with you multiple times, but I was wrong. It happened once, straight to the heart, and it’s forever. I’m yours, my woman. Be mine, too."

"I’ve always been yours, William. We’ve always belonged to each other." I place a hand on my baby bump. "Yes, I’ll marry you."

* * *

Two weeks later

LUNCH AT ATHANASIOS’S HOUSE

I’ve been to many lunches at Athanasios’s place, where the four Kostanidis brothers usually gather.

It’s Greek everywhere you look, and with the four from that clan plus our three “gods in white” from our side, it’s an overwhelming amount of handsome men.

They’re also loud and bossy, which makes me wonder how they all get along. So much arrogance in one enclosed space.

Today, however, my attention isn’t on my friends; it’s on another Greek man who stands apart, watching the group.

He arrived with his wife and children and spent a lot of time talking to William.

He’s somewhat intimidating, but after my fiancé told me who he was, I decided I needed to thank him.

I wait until William goes to the kitchen with Athanasios, and his wife, Elina, is happily chatting with Brooklyn, then I approach the stern-faced Greek.

"I know we’ve been introduced already, Odin, but I had to thank you for what you did for me."

He’s just like William. He looks me in the eye with a hard, analytical expression that might make me run if I didn’t know he was my husband’s friend. "Favors among friends don’t require gratitude, Taylor. Live a good life. Enjoy your second chance. Many aren’t so lucky."

I know he isn’t being rude, just reminding me that I’m one of the lucky ones.

Curtis went into cardiac arrest three days ago. They tried to revive him, but there was nothing they could do to save him—a quick and relatively unjust death for someone so evil.

Odin said I got a second chance, and he’s right.

According to my kidnapper’s testimony—the one I watched—the only thing that stopped him from hurting me was a bout of madness very similar to his father’s. Like William III, he thought maybe I could love him the way I loved his brother.

"Yes, I really was lucky. I pray every night for the girls he hurt. I hope they had the support of family and friends as good as mine."

"And what about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"No one goes through what you did and comes out untouched, Taylor."

"I know. I still have nightmares, but when I remember that at least one of them is already dead?—”

"No, both of them are," he says cryptically, not elaborating, and walks away just as William comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around me.

"Everything okay?"

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