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The whole of the Kingston family hadn’t hesitated to enfold her into their number, increasing her sense of belonging.
She’d met Nikolai Volkov several months ago too. Casper was right, the steely-eyed Russian was scary as hell, but to those he liked and considered a friend, he was also totally loyal. After just a few minutes in his company, Persy knew she had been accepted into that small and privileged circle.
Persy had never dared to ask nor ever had it confirmed, but she was pretty sure that Nikolai’d had a hand in the death of Vadim Morozov four months ago, several weeks into the much-publicized divorce proceedings brought against him by his Polish wife. The death of Morozov had put an end to those negotiations, and, true to her word after inheriting Morozov’s whole fortune, Martyna had given some of Morozov’s money to the families of the three bodyguards who had been executed when she left her husband. The rest of the money, Martyna put into a charitable trust that paid for the opening and maintenance of several centers and housing where abused people could be safe.
Martyna had contacted Persy with her new telephone number when she and Piotr settled back in Poland after Morozov died and she and Piotr married in the Cayman Islands. The two women talked occasionally. Which was how Persy had learned Martyna was now expecting a baby, and the happily married couple were ecstatically happy.
“Persy?” Remy prompted again softly so that she didn’t wake the baby sleeping on her shoulder.
“I— Do you have any idea where Casper is this morning?” She’d woken alone in bed, the cold sheets beside her indicating that Casper had been gone for some time.
Remy’s brow cleared. “Malachi drove him into London.”
“To see a new client?”
“They didn’t say. But Sinclair is upstairs taking a shower, so probably not.”
“Oh.” Because Sinclair was always present when a new client was being considered.
“Problem?”
Was it a problem that Casper had disappeared and gone to London?
Yes, it was a bloody problem!
Today was exactly six months to the day since Casper last asked her to marry him. The day she had told him to ask her again.
The day she had intended to say yes as well as sharing some other news with him.
And now she learned he’d gone off into the city without saying goodbye or telling her when he would be back.
Maybe he’d forgotten the significance of the day?
If that was the case, then it didn’t auger well for another marriage proposal being forthcoming.
She sighed her disappointment. “Not really.” She gave Remy a strained smile. “I thought we were spending the day together, that’s all. There will be other days.”
Yes, there would be other days, but none of them would be the six month watershed she had been waiting to arrive for the last few weeks.
* * *
“You sure about this, bro?”
Casper glanced at Malachi, his brother bending low enough to be able to look at him as he sat behind the wheel inside the cabin of his newly refurbished Jaguar.
It had taken Mike six months to replace and repair all the dented and scratched panels, as well as having the seats covered in the same original leather.
But Casper had a feeling it had been a labor of love for his friend, the other man obviously still unhappy about Rachel’s involvement in the damage, no matter how many times Casper told him to forget it and move on.
Rachel was out of the sanitorium now, with a new regimen of tablets that seemed to be working for her. Not that Casper had seen her at all, Mike having refused to take her back as his receptionist. Rachel was currently working as a receptionist for a dental practice and seemed to be coping well, according to Mike’s parents.
Casper’s own life had been happier this past six months than he could ever have imagined. And that was all due to having Persy at his side and in his bed.
He was so happy in their relationship that he shuddered now whenever he thought of the loneliness of his nights of clubbing and one-night stands.
He had also finally realized, when Persy blossomed within the warmth and love of his family, that this was what she had been longing for when she cried that day six months ago. A family of her own again.
“It seems a bit drastic for a gesture.” Mal frowned. “You love Dad’s old car.”
