She rolls her eyes at that, but I shake my head at her.
“I’m serious, baby. It’s just not possible. You own every part of me. And as far as strip clubs go, yes, we own a few, but I think the more important question is have I stepped foot in one since I met you, and the answer is no. Will I ever step foot in one again? No, I will not. You’re the only woman I want to see, Evie, and I understand if you have your doubts. I’ll happily prove you wrong again and again.”
She worries her bottom lip while she thinks about what I’ve said, and I know it’s going to take some time for her to trust me. She’s been told her whole life that she’s not pretty enough, not good enough, and that she’ll be stuck with someone like Lyle. She’s wrong, though, and over time she’ll learn to believe me instead of all the insecurities that have been forced on her. She pulls my shirt up, exposing the large bear tattoo.
“This is super important, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” I pull my shirt off the rest of the way. “My brothers have the same tattoo. It shows that we’re all three bosses in our Bratva. This one,” I say, showing her the bear on my forearm with my name written beneath it in Cyrillic, “is the same one that every member of our Bratva has. They don’t have my full name, though, just the last name. When we get married, yours will be identical to mine.”
“When, huh?”
“Yes, when.” I smile at her blush and pick her back up, carrying her to the bed. “That tattoo on your arm will send a message. It will mean that you’re mine, and that if anyone touches you, they’ll pay for it with their lives.”
She thinks about that for a minute and then says, “Vasily told me about how he met Nina, that she begged him for help when she was being held against her will at a brothel. He said her dad sold her to them to pay off his debt.”
“Yeah, her dad was a real asshole too.” I get on the bed and pull her up against me. “She wouldn’t let him kill the bastard either.”
She rests her head on my bare chest and traces her fingers along my tattoos. “Did he break his hand like you did?”
“No, he sliced his face up pretty good so he’d have to see the scars every time he looks in the mirror.”
“I’m glad you broke his hand,” she whispers.
“Me too, baby.” I kiss her head, smiling when she gives a big yawn. Neither one of us got much sleep last night, and I know her body must be exhausted.
“Can you set your alarm so I don’t sleep too late?”
“Why do you need to get up at a certain time?”
“I have work tonight.”
I laugh and stroke her head. “Sweetheart, you’re done working.”
“I can’t just leave Jerry like that. It’s not fair to him. He and his wife have been so kind to me. She often packs him extra snacks so he can share. They don’t know all the details, but they know things have been kind of rough for me.”
“We can go in together tonight and talk to him about you quitting, and I also want to get you added to all my bank accounts so you have access to everything.”
“So I’m like super loaded now?” she asks with a laugh.
“You are.” I run my fingers through her hair, marveling at how soft it is. “What do you want, Evie? Anything you want, you can have.”
She thinks for a second, still tracing her fingers along my skin. “I want to give Gale some money.”
“The bus driver?”
“Yeah, she’s always looked out for me. I always told myself that if I ever had money, I was going to give her some. I also want to help Jerry and his wife Betty. I told you they’re saving for an RV. Maybe we could give them something to help out with that.”
“So no big shopping sprees or spa days or a closet full of shoes? You just want to give it all away?”
She hears the amusement in my voice and kisses my chest. “No, I wouldn’t mind getting some new clothes, ones that are brand new so Lisa can kiss my ass if I ever see her again, but I don’t give a shit about designer labels and a closet full of shoes. I wouldn’t say no to a bookshelf full of books,” she says with a smile.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I’m already planning the home library I want to have built for her as she lays her head back on my chest.
Her voice is a whisper against my skin when she says, “Tell me about your scars.”
“Which ones?” I ask with a laugh.
“All of them.”
