Page 96 of The Disputed Legacy
“Damon and I didn’t really have a traditional wedding,” Lucy admitted.
Katerina huffed. “Nik and I got married in a tacky apartment living room right before assassins crashed it all.”
“Holy shit,” Willow whispered in shock.
“But Maxim and I had a wedding,” Sloane protested. “That should’ve appeased you.”
Grandmother bounced Aurora. “It was asmallwedding.”
Sloan gestured at us. “Well, there you have it. Willow, brace yourself for a big-ass wedding of the century.”
“I haven’t even proposed yet,” I argued.
They all fell silent.
“Thanks for ruining the surprise,” I muttered at Sloane.
She had the grace to cringe sheepishly.
“It’s kind of a given,” Katerina added, “since you brought her here…”
I sighed, turning Willow to face me. “What if I asked you to marry me?”
Grandmother groaned.
“That’s not a proposal,” Lucy protested.
I turned to scowl at them all, but Willow gripped my chin and turned me to face her. “Then I would say yes,” she replied saucily. She kissed me, then keeping her mouth just over mine, she whispered, “Because I loved you since the moment I saw you too.”
I dipped her, kissing her deeply until they all cheered and hollered in applause. It was spontaneous, but just right. I’d do it properly later, but as I righted Willow and turned to leave for business, I was glad we had that light-hearted moment before she’d have to talk about the ugliness of her past.
“I’m not promising any fancy wedding of the decade,” I warned, pointing at my grandmother. “We’re going to do what she wants. Wait.” I frowned. “Don’t tell anyone. I want to ask Oscar for permission first. Let him think he’s got a say in his new family too.”
Willow tugged the front of my shirt until she pulled me close for one more kiss. “You’re a good man.”
“The best,” I replied cockily. “Now. Maxim will come looking for me if I don’t get moving. Willow, Katerina here will show you how no one can evade the Ivanovs. She’ll help you find him. And I will have the time to take care of that situation.”
She nodded, lifting her hand as she watched me leave the room.
With one last look at her, already seeming to belong with the others, my heart felt lighter than it had in years.
37
WILLOW
Ididn’t have to try to fit in. These women welcomed me so seamlessly that it was like we’d known each other for years. Talking with them helped me realize these Ivanov men weren’t scary Mafia monsters but real men. Men they loved fiercely. And I could fit the criteria well. My heart was stuffed with love for Saul now that I didn’t feel like I had to hide anything.
For the first hour or so, Katerina helped me locate the bastard my father had sold me to. When I told the women the story I shared with Saul last night, they weren’t appalled or judgmental. They were sober, then sweet as they offered their support.
“Well, he’ll be a dead motherfucker by the end of the hour,” Sloane announced. She sure had the street-smart kind of sassiness, like a personification of no fucks given. “And good riddance.”
“End of the hour?” Lucy shook her head. “End of the day.” She was quieter and a little more soft-spoken. “I’m sorry you had to go through that, Willow.”
Katerina nodded. “It’s terrible what some people in power will try to do.” She patted my hand once before tapping on the computer again. As she hacked and searched online, she spoke more, telling me about how her uncle Anton had ruined her life. How he’d killed her father then put a hit on her and Nik.
After that, Lucy spoke up, filling in how she and Katerina had swapped places in a marriage arrangement that had Lucy coming here to marry Damon. That gave me more background on how Grigory had been recovering so slowly.
Sloane piped in then, telling me how she’d met Maxim. With her story, I could understand how she could sympathize the most with me about being kidnapped. Maxim had done a similar thing, but I liked how Saul had at least tried to win me over first before just forcing me here.
