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We sit in quiet for several minutes.
“So, would you like to explain to me how you became on a first name basis with the head of the Russian Bratva?”
Roxanne giggles. “My sparkling personality, obviously.”
“Obviously.”
“You were right thinking that there would be no love lost between Dimitri and the rest of the Bratva. Volkov also seemed to have lingering suspicions about his rise to power. It turns out that Dimitri’s whole trafficking business was not sanctioned. Volkov was a bit miffed about that.”
I hear her stomach grumble loudly. I pull out a backpack with first aid supplies, bottled water, and PowerBars. Her eyes light up at the sight of the PowerBars.
“So, anyway, he brings Dimitri in and calls him out. They then argue in Russian for a while. Dimitri pulls out a gun, but before he gets it halfway up, Volkov shoots him.”
I nod. Roxanne takes a minute to down another half of a PowerBar and a bottle of water.
“So, he puts the gun down. Boris storms in with his gun drawn. I take Volkov’s and kill Boris.”
I stare at her. Holy hell. “So you saved the life of the fucking Pakhan?”
“Well, mine too. I’m pretty sure Boris wasn’t going to stop at him.”
I realize with dead certainty that I’m holding my soulmate in my arms. I tell the driver the change of plans in Gaelic. I’m not waiting another fucking day.
Roxanne falls asleep in my arms, which is just about the best thing I’ve ever felt in my life. As we pull over in front of the Cartier store in Manhattan, I kiss her forehead. She blinks and looks around in confusion.
“Where are we?”
“Making a stop. Close your eyes.” I carefully step out, cradling her across my chest.
Patrick and Declan are already inside, as are most of the men. Everyone is still decked in head-to-toe black tactical gear, though the exposed weapons have been left in the vehicles. Declan called ahead and had the store cleared out. Maurice, the owner, stands patiently behind a display cabinet.
I set her on her feet.
“Keep your eyes closed, baby.” I gently kiss her lips. My forehead pressed to hers, I whisper, “You are the most amazing, strong woman I’ve ever met. Please don’t make me go another day without you.”
Because she deserves it, I settle down on both knees, and hold her hands in mine.
“Open your eyes, baby.”
She does. I see the overwhelming sparkle of millions of diamonds and jewels reflected in her eyes as she looks down at me.
“Roxanne Johnson, will you marry me?”
Her mouth opens and closes. Tears well up in her eyes.Oh, shit.Then she’s on her knees, knocking me over with the force of her arms wrapping around me. Her kisses are deep and frantic.
“Yes. I’ll marry you, gangster.”
CHAPTER43
Rocky
The image of Sean on his knees in front of me will be burned into my retinas forever. Rationally, a sane person would not make life-altering decisions with a person they’ve known for days, on the heels of an emotional day.
But fuck rationality. I knew without a shadow of a doubt the truth in my words when I told Declan to pass that message. I’m not fighting this. Looking into Sean’s eyes as he kneels on the jewelry store floor, I know in my soul he feels it too.
The owner, Maurice, is a gem of a man that reminds me of every grandfather I’ve ever known. He takes great pride in carefully showing me ring after ring, before I finally fall in love with a cushion cut solitaire on a platinum band. Sean finds a matching band covered with intricate Celtic knots. When he slides the ring onto my finger, the men gathered in the store start cheering. Sean kisses me and whisks me back to The Tank.
Sean holds me in his lap the entire way. When we park, he carries me into the elevator and all the way up to the apartment, setting me down only so I can run squealing to Tasha.
