"So you're just going to let him dictate terms? Let him threaten an innocent woman who's already lost everything?" Katrina's voice cracked. "And if the marriage thing doesn't work? What then? You're just going to kill her and make it disappear?"
"No," I said, the word coming out hard. "That's not happening."
Both of them looked at me.
"Killing her was never an option," I continued. "That's why I'm sending her away. New identity, new life, somewhere Dmitri can't find her."
Katrina's eyes widened. "You're what?"
"If she won't marry me, I'll get her out. Set her up somewhere safe." The words tasted like ash in my mouth. Bitter and fucking foul. "She'll have to leave you and Zara. Hell, and everything else. But she'll be alive."
"And you think she'll go along with that?" Katrina's voice was gentler now, but still sharp. "You think she'll just abandon her family and disappear? She doesn’t have anybody else, Mikhail."
"If it keeps her alive, yes." I sighed. “I’d be willing to stay on as her guard.”
"God, you don't know her at all." Katrina shook her head. "She won't run. She'll fight. She'll dig in her heels and refuse toleave, even if it gets her killed. That's who she is. And if you think she’ll leave Zara in a million years, you’re nuts."
I knew she was right. Had known it from the moment the plan formed in my head. Shanice wouldn't run. Wouldn't abandon Katrina and Zara, no matter the cost. Which left marriage as the only real option.
"Then I'll convince her to marry me," I said.
"Will you?" Katrina turned her fury on me now. "Because from what Shanice told me, you didn't exactly ask. You informed her. Told her it was the only way to keep her safe and expected her to fall in line. Why does that seem to be a common theme around here?" She turned and looked at her husband before looking back at me.
"That's not—" I stopped, because it was exactly what I'd done. "I told her the truth. About Dmitri, about the danger, about what marriage would mean."
"And did you tell her how you feel? Did you make it clear that this isn't just an obligation?" Katrina moved closer, her eyes searching mine. "Or did you let her think this is all just you solving a problem? Cause if so, I wouldn’t buy that shit either."
My jaw tightened. "I told her I want to marry her. That I was always going to ask."
"But did she believe you?"
I didn't answer. Couldn't.
"That's what I thought." Katrina's expression softened slightly. "Mikhail, I've seen the way you look at her. I know this is real for you. But Shanice has spent her entire life sacrificing for other people. Putting herself last. And now you're asking her to do it again, to marry you to protect this family’s secrets. She can't tell if you actually want her or if you're just doing your damn job."
"I want her," I said, my voice rough. "More than I've ever wanted anything."
"Then prove it." Katrina glanced at her husband. "Both of you need to understand something. Shanice isn't just some witness you need to handle. She's my best friend. She'smyfamily. And if you think I'm going to stand by while you manipulate her into a marriage she doesn't want, let her run off to some unknown country, or worse. If you think killing her is an option, then you’ve got another thing coming." She pointed her fingers at us both.
This is why Olek loved her so damn much. She didn’t back down for anybody. Not even two men who had more weapons at their disposal than she probably knows exist. That mattered not a bit to her. I didn’t blame her.
"I'm not manipulating her," I cut in.
"Aren't you? You've been making her care about you, taking care of her, taking her places, and don’t think I haven’t seen the way that you look at her. And now that’s being thrown in her face and used as leverage to get her to go against her own beliefs. Things that felt good at the time feel backhanded." Katrina's voice was hard. "That's manipulation, Mikhail. Even if your feelings are real."
The accusation stung because there was truth in it. I saw the logic. I had been strategic. Had been deliberate about getting close to her, making her want me. But not for this. Not so I could trap her.
"My feelings were never part of the strategy," I said quietly. "I didn't plan to fall for her. It just happened. And yeah, I've been pushing, been making my intentions clear. But that was because I wanted her to want me back. Not because I was setting her up for this."
Olek finally spoke. "The intent doesn't matter if the result is the same."
I turned to look at him. "What?"
"Katrina's right. Whether you meant to or not, you've put Shanice in an impossible position." He moved around the desk, his expression weary. "And I'm as much to blame as you are. I should've found another solution. Should've dealt with Dmitri differently. This is my territory and I’ve been trusted to run it. But I let my emotions and pride get in the way, and now we're here."
"So what do you suggest?" I asked.
"I suggest you go upstairs and actually court her," Katrina said. "Not inform her of her options. Not tell her what needs to happen. Court her. Romance her. Give her a reason to say yes that has nothing to do with survival."
