Page 11 of The Marriage

“That’s all I want for you, Karine. To have a happy life,” he said, kissing the top of her head.

“With you?”

“With me.”

*

A row of the most beautiful diamond rings twinkled in front of her. Each sat pretty on its own black velvet cushion, and every single one glittered like a thousand stars, blinding her with their luminescence. Karine couldn’t bring herself to look away even as the jeweler and Roman discussed creating something original. They were just too beautiful, and it was a strange feeling to know she could pick out whichever one she wanted.

All of them, even.

Roman had told her so.

He still seemed interested in having her design something despite the jeweler laying out options for her to look through, but she could also sense Roman leaning towards the gorgeous princess cut with a collection of rubies around it. Right in the middle, the ring stared up at them. It was classic in its appeal, and also very big.

If she didn’t go with designing her own ring, she was positive he liked that one the most.

Personally, Karine was drawn to a daintier one—the small gold band with a single carat diamond in the shape of a heart. It was simple, but poignant.

She wanted something that she would never have to take off, unless absolutely necessary. A ring with larger diamonds might prove difficult in that regard, but the simpler band she could wear constantly and always look down to see it whenever she wanted ... well, the idea of that made her smile.

It was perfect.

“Do you have a favorite yet?” the jeweler asked from behind the counter where he stood in his very smart suit.

The man sat with his elbows on the glass, his gloved hands careful to stay out of their way, looking expectantly at both their faces. He seemed surprised by the immense patience Roman displayed while Karine stayed silent and appraised the pieces, refusing to engage a stranger any more than she had to.

Karine couldn’t even remember how long they’d been standing there, going over each piece only for her to nod politely and say nothing, but it had been long enough.

She turned to Roman, chewing on her bottom lip.

“I know this is the one you want for me,” she said, pointing toward the larger ring he’d been eyeing, “if I don’t decide to have something made.”

He picked up the princess cut and held it up to the light. It shone even more brilliantly, the cuts of the diamond so pristine and amazing. Even she had to admit she did like it. Just not enough.

“It looks like it was made for the madam,” the man added to the conversation.

Neither paid him any attention.

Roman studied it closely while Karine slipped the other one she preferred on her finger. As strange as it was, she felt an instant connection with it, and like she hoped ... looking down at where it sat on her finger only made her smile.

It didn’t have any embellishments. What you saw was what you got. Perfect, in its own way. Much like Roman.

“But this is the one that is calling to me,” she continued. Roman turned to look at the ring on her finger.

Of course, he wanted to get her the best ring the store had to offer. She was supposed to be his queen, and he wanted everyone who looked at her—or the ring on her finger—to see it was true. Only the biggest and best would do. He wasn’t even the first bratva man she’d met who thought like that—they were who they were.

Karine decided she would get the one he wanted if he looked at it again ... but he didn’t. Roman curled his fingers over her hand, encasing the ring that sat there, and holding tight enough to make her heart skip a beat.

“I told you, Karine, you should get the one you want.”

Her smile was wider than ever.

“I’ll never take it off,” she promised fiercely against his lips when he pulled her in for a kiss that made even the jeweler turn away.

Someone would have to take it from her dead body first.

*