"We don't have time for that. Dmitri lands in?—"
"Ten hours," Olek finished. "I know. But Katrina's right. If you force this, if you make Shanice feel like she has no choice, it'll destroy whatever you're trying to build with her. If Katrina is right about how you feel, I don’t think that’s what you want to do."
I scrubbed a hand over my face. "So what am I supposed to do? We need her protected by tomorrow morning, but I also need to give her time to make a real choice? Those two things are mutually exclusive."
"Are they?" Katrina's voice was softer now. "Or are you just afraid she'll say no if you give her the option?"
The question hit home. I was afraid. Terrified, actually. Because if I gave Shanice a real choice, if I took away the threat and the urgency and just asked her to be mine, she might refuse. And I didn't know if I could handle that. What in the fuck was I supposed to do if she said no and the only other option was death. I could handle her hating me, but I couldn’t fathom her not being alive.
"I love her," I said, the admission rough. "I'm in love with her. And if she says no, if she walks away, I don't know what I'll do."
Katrina's expression softened completely. "Then tell her that and not as a tactic. Not as a way to convince her. Just as the truth. Tell her you love her and you want to marry her, then let her decide what to do with that information."
"And if she still says no?"
"Then we find another way," Olek said. "I'll handle Dmitri. I'll make him understand that Shanice is off limits, marriage or not."
"He won't listen."
"Then I'll make him listen." Olek's voice was steel. "She's Katrina's family. Which makes her my family. And I protect my family."
Relief flooded through me. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. This is going to cost us. Dmitri won't back down without demanding something in return. Especially with the police checking into things." Olek met my eyes. "But Shanice is worth it."
Katrina moved to stand beside her husband, her hand finding his. They looked at each other, some silent communication passing between them. Then she turned back to me.
"I'm disappointed in you," she said quietly.
The words hit like a slap.
"Not because of how you feel," she continued. "But because you're not fighting for her the way she deserves. You're so focused on keeping her safe that you've forgotten to show her she's wanted, loved, and chosen. Any woman would want that. A love that’s for her, about her, and that cuts you bone deep. She needs to know you’re in it for her, Mikhail. Nothing but her."
"I'm trying?—"
"Try harder." Katrina's voice was no nonsense. "Shanice has spent her whole life being needed. Be the person who wants her instead. Not because she's useful or because it makes sense. But because she's her and you can't imagine your life without her in it."
My chest felt tight. "I don't know how to do that."
"Yes, you do. You just have to be brave enough to risk rejection." She smiled. "Go upstairs. Talk to her. Leave out Dmitri and threats or obligations. Talk to her about you. About what you want. About the future you see with her."
"What if she doesn't want the same future?" Because she seemed to detest it before.
"Then at least you'll know. And you can make decisions from there." Katrina moved closer, reaching up to put her hand on my arm. "But I don't think that's going to happen. I think Shanice is already halfway in love with you. She's just scared and you need to give her a reason not to be."
I looked at Olek. He nodded once, a gesture of permission and understanding.
"Go," he said. "I'll handle the logistics. You handle Shanice."
I left the office and headed upstairs, my heart pounding. Katrina was right. I'd been so focused on protecting her that I'd forgotten the most important part. I love her and it was time that I showed her what that meant.
Mikhail
Istood outside Shanice's door trying to gather my thoughts. Then I realized I was done thinking, strategizing, and holding back. I knocked once, then opened the door without waiting for permission. Shanice was sitting on her bed, her laptop open in front of her. She looked up when I entered, her expression immediately guarded.
"I didn't say you could come in."
"I don't care." I closed the door behind me and locked it.
