Instead, I tell Izzie I’m taking the car for a test drive, wave her off, and slide behind the driver’s seat.
I let the car purr and then drive out of the lot even fully knowing that my last class of the day starts in five minutes. I skip it without a second thought.
Because the truth is simple…I’m not driving this car for any test drive.
I’m driving home…to him.
Chapter 21
Kirill
For the past couple of weeks, my life has felt like someone turned the brightness all the way up. I’ve been living on cloud nine, each day better than the last, the kind where mornings feel lighter and even ordinary things seem to shine.
And that’s all because of Stella.
Whenever she can, my woman sneaks to my lake house after school so we can have some time together, sometimes even using the excuse of needing to study just to stay the night.
Sure, more often than not she can only stay for a few hours, but it’s enough… It’s more than enough. It’s fucking everything.
One day, I hope she’ll make her permanent home there. But until then, these small steps… these little stolen nights… They’re what I treasure most.
Right now, my mind has to stay clear and focused on what’s in front of me, because whatever happens today could make or break everything between Stella and me.
She thinks we can’t be together.
That our worlds are too far apart.
That aBratvaprince could never have a life with an Outfitprincipessa.
Today, I’ll prove her wrong.
The plan I put in motion to gain better roots in Chicago is almost complete, there’s just one more thing I need to do.
“Wait here in the car for me,” I tell Kostya once we reach our destination.
“But I want to go in too. Fuck, I worked for this as much as you have.”
“I know. And you did an amazing job.” I ruffle his hair teasingly, only for him to slap my hand away.
“Don’t fucking patronize me,” he grumbles.
“I’m not. It’s just… this last part, I have to do on my own. There’s more on the line than the deal. There’s—”
“Stella,” he says instantly, going right to the root of it.
“Yes. Stella. I need to make sure I don’t piss her father off. I need to fortify this alliance. It’s the only way our relationship will work.”
“It’s a good plan, Kill. He’ll see the merit of it, I’m sure. He’s a businessman, after all.”
“He’s also a boss,” I remind him. “If he sniffs out even a hint of my ulterior motive, all this work we’ve put in…all this time…will go down the drain. And then it’sourboss who will be pissed at me.”
“I doubt that. Misha’s beyond proud of you. He’ll know it’s Romano’s loss if he doesn’t agree to our deal.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Kostya goes quiet, worry creeping into his expression.
“Have you told Stella yet? About your… upcoming nuptials?”
