Page 85 of Her Sweet Surrender
“However…” Marquis glanced at Rytsar. “I do not understand what any of this has to do with Todd.”
“I’m taking him to Russia with me.”
“You said that.” Marquis frowned. “But, putting him at greater risk is not a solution. The baby needs her father.”
“Exactly,” Rytsar agreed. “But the man is wasting away.” He swept his hand toward Brie and Sir. “We all see it.”
“What possible benefit is there to taking him out of the country?” Marquis demanded.
“I will straighten him out.”
Marquis Gray’s sarcastic laughter filled the room. “That’s preposterous. What makes you think you will have any more success reaching him than the rest of us?”
“I’m the only one who understands his pain.”
Marquis sighed heavily and did not offer a rebuttal because he knew Rytsar was right.
“The boy needs distance to be able to clear his head,” Rytsar insisted.
Marquis Gray did not look convinced.
Sir leaned forward, telling him, “Durov speaks from experience.”
“Da.The best thing my dearmamulyaever did was force me to attend college in America after Tatianna’s death.”
“You believe separating Todd from his daughter is the best thing for him—for either of them?” Marquis challenged.
Rytsar furrowed his brow. “Is he really here for her now?”
Marquis glanced at Celestia and frowned. “No, he hasn’t been present since her birth.”
“He cannot embrace the babe until he accepts his woman’s death. Once he does that, he will realize the gift he has been given. I can get him to that point.”
“How can you make such a claim?” Marquis Gray demanded.
Rytsar answered, pointing to his left eye, “The boy saved my life and the life of my friends the day he made that sacrifice. It is a debt I can never repay. I will not let him fail.”
Marquis glanced at Sir. “And you support this idea?”
“Desperate times call for desperate measures.”
“What about you, Brianna?” Marquis asked her.
She could not hide her growing fear from him. “If something drastic isn’t done soon, the baby will have no father.”
Marquis growled under his breath. “I do not care for the risk this involves.”
Celestia gently put her arm on Marquis Gray’s shoulder. “We are losing him.”
He nodded curtly.
Marquis turned to Rytsar. “If Todd insists on joining you, I will not stop him.” He let out a long sigh. “I am reminded of something I learned long ago. There are times when to save a life, you must first lose it.”
Celestia looked at him sadly, nodding her agreement.
Rytsar smiled confidently. “I’m glad you see it my way.”
Marquis Gray’s eyes narrowed. “But if anything happens to him…”
