“That doesn’t sound like an answer,” she said, her eyes fixed on my neck.
“Yes,” I said, trying to sound firmer. “You can trust me.”
The bow came together, and she shifted her hands from my tie to my throat. “With my sister’s life?”
“Yes,” I squeaked, terror racing through my veins.
“And her heart?”
I nodded. “I care about her. I…love her. I know how that sounds but…I’m not a super normal guy, and when I fall…I fall pretty fast and pretty hard. I’d do anything to protect her.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, squeezing my cheeks between her thumb and fingers as she tugged me closer. “If I find out that you are being disingenuous in any way, if you so much as lie about your middle name to her, I make certain you die in the most painful way I could possibly conceive. Do you understand?”
“My middle name’s Milton. I promise. Check my driver’s license,” I said, my voice rushed.
She squeezed my cheeks a little harder. “Do you understand?”
“Uh-huh,” I choked out before she released her death grip on my face and sent me stumbling back a few steps.
“Good. Then we have an understanding.” She poked a finger at my jacket. “You’d better hurry. You wouldn’t want to be late, doctor.”
She strode from the room, slamming the door behind her. I grabbed my jacket, my hands still trembling. As I tugged it on, I couldn’t help but wonder what I was in for. What was my life about to become?
CHAPTER 26
NATASHA
The ruby drop earring dangled from my ear as I fixed the backing to it, flicking my gaze to the mirror in front of me. The whirlwind that had happened since Kyle had sunk to one knee and asked me to marry him had been unexpected, but very welcome.
I lost myself in the memory, recalling the eagerness on his features, how tentative they looked as he waited for my answer.
And of course, how he’d thrown his arms around me when I’d say yes and kissed me.
My eyelashes fluttered as I recalled my sister’s less-than-enthusiastic respond to our announcement. Hand in hand, we had strolled out of the office into the hall.
Telling my sister our plans had been less than a happy occasion.
Any smile on my features from the engagement had quickly faded as I stared into Nadia’s incredulous face.
“Marry him?” She poked a finger at Kyle. “You’re joking.”
Kyle’s features pinched as he fluttered his eyelashes at her. I threaded my arm through Kyle’s, stepping closer to him. “I am not. I hardly find this laughable on any level.”
“Neither do I,” Nadia retorted.
“Nadia, have you forgotten that we are in quite a pickle? Kyle has graciously asked me to marry him to solve that.”
“I’ll bet,” Nadia said as she glanced at Stefan. “I’m certain he jumped at the chance.”
“Of course, I did,” Kyle answered, his voice strained. “She’s beautiful. And I love her. I would do anything to protect her.”
“No,” Nadia said, crossing her arms. “No.”
“You cannot say no.”
“I can, and I will. I am here to make certain that you are protected, and that includes this potential marriage.”
I heaved a sigh, shaking my head. “Not even Papa would object to this. It is my decision. You have no say in it.”
