My face falls. “You just ruined my second proposal.”
“I’m sorry.” She jumps up, kneeling beside me. “I didn’t mean to, but?—”
“Nope.” I look away, shrugging my shoulder, hurt ripping down my face. “Too late. I thought it’d be romantic in honor of our first date, but I’m not asking you now.”
“Loocchh.” Her voice bends with worry. Her hand tries to turn my clenched jaw toward her. “I’m sorry. Itisromantic, and I’ll eat the cheesecake and go slow so I don’t choke on the ring. Oh, please, don’t be mad. It’s sweet and?—”
“Psyche!” I whip my smile back at her before whistling for Mutt, chasing crabs in the surf.
He bounds over while I meet her on bended knee. Tied to his leather collar, I fastened a green ribbon, praying like fuck it wouldn’t break with his frolicking.
Alena’s shocked silent while I fumble with the ribbon and rings.
The one my mom gifted to us. The green Russian demantoid royal heirloom ring. The five carats I’ve been wearing around my neck, praying for this moment again.
And the one I bought months ago, knowing I’d never give up on our love. It’s an elegant gold eternity band set with small green diamonds.
The precious stack shakes in my hand as I hold it over her finger. But…
“Alena, I, uh…” Can’t find words this time.
I’m too overwhelmed, staring into her happy, crying eyes and seeing our future. Kids. A cabin. Creeks and cozy nights. Nothing stands in our way now.
She saves me from stammering stupidity with her whisper, “Yes. Again and again and always.”
Fuck, the wind is making me cry.
The rings slide into place before I pull her into my arms, lying on the blanket. Minutes we spend kissing, admiring her rings, pushing Mutt’s licking muzzle away.
Then, Alena gasps, and I jolt, “What’s wrong?”
“Where are we gonna get married now?” she stresses. “The mountains or the beach, because like hell if I’m ever setting foot on a golf resort again.”
I chuckle, cradling her head to my chest. “Let me plan our wedding this time. Everything. You just show up looking beautiful in your dress. Deal?”
“Deal.” She rubs her sandy foot over mine. “But how long, so I can?—”
“Goddammit, Alena.” I laugh. “Give me a few months, and I’ll make it perfect. I swear.” Squeezing her tight, I mumble, “Besides, we need to catch our breath after everything we just found out.”
She palms my chest, muttering, “I still can’t believe Axel has a son. That Katya left him, knowing she was pregnant with his child, and that she’s married to your father now. What a bitch, and poor Axel. He’s missed three years with his son, and?—”
“And our father found us years ago, and Sire kept the secret.” I stare at the sky, still in shock, almost forgiving one brother, and in awe of another. “Our father bribed Sire with threats because he wanted us back.” I kiss her hair, hovering, protective. “He wanted revenge. He wanted an heir. The lengths he’d go to get one, Sire knew. He tried to protect us. It’s why he went to Moscow, not Ukraine, and?—”
“And then Katya tried to kill him while he was there.” Alena sits up, staring in disbelief at the horizon. My heart clenches with this new knowledge.
I almost lost my brother.
Sire came home Christmas Eve, after weeks of being virtually MIA. He was, unbeknownst to us.
Then, he summoned us to an emergency meeting at his church. And dropped a holy bomb.
Our father found us over a decade ago and bribed Sire for an heir. Sire stalled, so our father sent Katya to seduce Axel. To get pregnant by him and return to Moscow with his grandchild.
But the evil joke was on our father.
Fate doesn’t like to be fucked with.
Our father fell ill with a fatal kidney disease.
