Page 29 of Bratva Queen

I sighed, brushing the tips of my fingers over the blades of grass like I used to do to his unruly hair. “I’m going to do that. For you. I’m going to make sure I live a life worthy of both of our strong souls. You’ll see.”

I gave him a small smile, then heard footsteps behind me.

“Isabel?” Stepan pulled me up from my knees and hugged me. “It’s okay. Everything will be okay. Just believe it.” He pulled away and held my face between his hands, dropping his head to look into my eyes.

“I know,” I answered, feeling this sense of positivity and hope. Like Oleg was behind me, pushing me to reach for my dreams.

“Good. Because I promise, I’m going to look after you forever and always. Now that you’re away from that club, I finally feel like you’re truly mine.” He brushed my hair away, looking over my face with such love. “And I want you to come back to Moscow with me.”

“Wait, what?” I frowned.This was never mentioned before.

He shrugged with a happy smile. “My business here in Belarus is at a point now where I can leave someone else in charge. I miss my home, where I grew up. My Koslov Castle. And I want you there with me.”

“No, Stepan,” I shook my head. “I’m not leaving my mother. Not now!”

“You’ll be able to see her often enough. There’s a Koslov private jet, in case you didn’t know,” he said playfully, wrapping his hand around my hip. “Or we can move her to Moscow, whatever you want. You can have it.”

I shook my head, feeling confused. “Stepan, this is a lot!”

“Yes,malyshka, it is. I’m asking you to be my wife.”

My heart stopped beating, creating a pain in my chest. “What?” I pulled away, my eyes widening in shock.

I knew that it was what my mother had been pushing for, what all of this actually came down to—getting a man like Stepan andkeepinghim, in the form of marriage. But this was happening too fast. The incident in the dressing room the other day came back to me, and a nagging feeling about it reminded me of my father.

No, I couldn’t think like that. I had just told Oleg that I would reach my dreams, for him. And how the hell was I going to do that if I didn’t marry a man like Stepan, who could send me to college and help me build myself up? If I said no to him, I would be back at square one. No job at the club or worse—a job at the club for life.

While my thoughts swirled and my breathing paused, Stepan shook my arms lightly.

“Please, will you marry me, Isabel? I’m begging you. You are the woman I’ve always imagined having by my side, for life. You are clever and strong enough to handle the kind of life that I live. I know—I know, it will sometimes take me away from you. But truly,” he lifted my chin to look at his charming smile, “once you have a few kids to fill that big heart of yours, you won’t care too much about my absence, huh?”

It was so, so much. Children? I was still trying to get myself on my own two feet, not ready to get children on their feet!

“I… I had no clue that this was your expectation,” I said, my eyebrows furrowing deeply in confusion. “You’re the kind of man who frequents strip clubs, who walks around with bullet wounds like they’re papercuts! What kind of life will I lead? Being your wife?”

“You’ll get everything you want,kukla!” He threw his hands out, looking so excited and happy. “Anything at all! You will be my queen, darling.”

Well, being a queen did sound good. I didn’t want to be poor and trapped in a loveless marriage like my mother. I wanted more than to be the princess she wanted me to be. I wanted the crown.

Stepan made me believe, and I’d have opportunities I’d never had before. I’d be able to put my mom up in a good home, allowing her to retire. I could get my degree, start my business, earn my own money and pride.

Pride.

Would getting there by riding on the coattails of my husband bring me pride? I just didn’t know if that’s what I wanted. I needed more time.

“Stepan, honey… Please can I think about this? It would change a lot in my life… Especially if it would mean I’d have to move to Moscow.”

“Of course, baby,” he said, brushing my hair behind my ear and looking softly into my eyes. “Take your time. In fact, I do need to go to Moscow tonight, so you’ll have a few days. Okay? Does that sound good?”

I smiled, slipping my arms around his waist. “Perfect.”

* * *

When Stepan droppedme at home, I walked in to find my mother somberly cooking dinner. Even if Oleg had been gone in the military for months before leaving us, the place still felt quieter. I squeezed her shoulders, kissed her cheek, and asked her to sit down.

“Mama… Stepan asked me to marry him today.”

She gasped, her fingers flying to her cheeks. “Oh, Isabel! This is such great news!” She burst into tears, squeezing my hands.

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