Page 181 of Wicked Proposal
She’s…
The woman I love.
It hits me all at once, like a goddamn freight truck.
I love her.
Ifuckingloveher.
And I cannot let her go.
“Yulian!” She waves at me when she sees me, eyes bright with delight. “You’re here!” She jumps down from the stool and runs to meet me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to leave. It’s just, Nikita said this is where your friends hung out, so I thought?—”
“Marry me.”
She blinks once, twice. “What?”
Maksim was wrong. Shipping Mia overseas is one choice, but it’s not the only one. There’s another way to save her—one that doesn’t involve fake IDs and burned addresses and me never seeing her again.
It’s almost stupidly simple. All this time, we’ve been playing the part of future husband and wife.
But when it comes down to it, isn’t that an option, too?
If Mia becomes mypakhansha,she will have the full force of my Bratva to protect her. She will live under my roof, have 24/7 security, with private bodyguards for her and Eli.
She will be safe.
She will be mine.
That’s not a reason to marry someone,the voice at the back of my mind mocks.It’s possession. It’s just one more contract.
Maybe so.
But I’m willing to sign it in blood.
“Marry me,” I repeat to her stunned face. I have no idea what else to say to her—to convince her to give me theyesthat will save her life. Right now, I’d say anything. “Be my wife. For real.”
It’s the only way I can keep her alive. The only way I can keep herhere.
“Yul—”
“I love you.”
The only way I don’t lose her.
57
MIA
My head is spinning. My pulse is racing. I can feel thethump-thump-thumpin my chest like a drum, loud, deafening.
And his words, ringing in my ears over and over again.
Marry me.
Be my wife.
I love you.
