Laughing, I nodded. “Okay. I guess I’ll be adding a trip to the diamond district into today’s schedule.”
Katia rose and strode around the desk. Gripping my hand, she pulled me up and enveloped me in a warm hug. “I’m happy for you. Wretches like us don’t always get a happy ending. Maybe you’ll be the exception.”
Drawing back, I tucked a tendril of red hair behind her ear. “We’re not there yet. I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
“You’ll get there.”
I stared into her pale green eyes, thankful for the shared history between us. Katia was one of the only people in the world I trusted completely.
“You deserve to be happy too, Katia.”
She playfully rolled her eyes and stepped back, sliding her hands in her pockets. “Who’s going to love a washed-up stripper who works for the mafia? I’m forty, Michael. That ship has sailed.”
“You’re more gorgeous than any twenty-five-year-old I’ve ever met,” I said genuinely. “But you’d have to get out of this office and actuallymeetsomeone to have a relationship.”
“I like being a workaholic,” she said, waving her hand. “It gives me purpose. Leave me alone and let me be an old cat lady.”
Chuckling, I kissed her cheek. “You’ll never be that, darling.” Striding to the door, I pulled it open and said over my shoulder.“Can you have the new security candidates vetted and ready for me to interview on Friday?”
“Sure. I’m on it.”
“Thanks. I’ll call you this afternoon to check in. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious and report everything to me.”
I exited the club and returned to my SUV. “I need to go to the diamond district,” I said, noticing Enzo and Rocco both lift their eyebrows as they sat across from me.
“I need a ring for my wife,” I explained.
“Yes, sir,” they responded in unison.
Gazing out the window, we rode in silence to Manhattan.
Chapter 19
Bianca
Ispent the day researching online psychology degrees and eventually enrolled in SUNY Albany’s online psychology program.
Michael arrived home around five o’clock, his expression weary. Worry swished through me at the thought of how difficult it would be to eliminate Victor’s loyalists. But I had faith in Michael, and he’d grown so powerful over the years. If anyone could accomplish the task, he could.
After dinner, we retired to Michael’s bedroom. He tugged off his suit jacket and tossed it to the chair before loosening his tie.
“Do you always wear a suit?” I asked, striding over and unknotting the tie before sliding it off.
“Most of the time. It’s a power symbol. Men are swayed by images of power.”
“And women?”
His lips curved as he reached in his pocket. “I think women are swayed by pretty things, but I’m no expert.” Lowering to one knee, he gazed up at me as he slowly opened a felt box. “Maybe you can tell me.”
I gasped, covering my mouth with my fingers as I observed the stunning ring. It held a beautiful diamond that must’ve been two carats, surrounded by smaller tiny diamonds in a halo cut.
“Michael,” I whispered, shaking my head. “That’s beautiful.”
He slipped the ring from the box and slid it onto my finger. “I’m happy that I don’t need to worry about whether you’ll sayyes since we’re already married. I’m sorry it wasn’t in front of a priest. When I finally eradicate your husband’s loyalists, we’ll renew our vows in a church.”
Tears filled my eyes as I pulled him to his feet. Gazing at the ring, I shook my head. “You didn’t have to do this. I already destroyed the credit card you gave me today. If we’re not careful, this will seem like arealmarriage instead of an arrangement to solidify your empire and my protection.”
“Stella,” he said, desire entering his dark eyes as he kissed my hand. “I don’t do anything halfway, including our marriage.”
