My hand comes to rest over the back of her head. “We’ll figure it out, detka. All of it.”
She squeezes me, her words spilling out like she can’t hold them in. “I never thought this would ever happen for me. To fall in love, to have someone love me back. And I don’t even know how this will work between us, but I want you. I want us to date and get to know each other and?—”
A chuckle slips out of me, cutting her off.
She stills instantly, reading the shift in me as she pulls back, her brows furrowing. “What’s wrong?”
Dating. Getting to know each other. Is that really what she thinks is going to happen?
No. Not after what she just told me.
I step away, reaching for my pants and pulling them on. “We won’t be dating, Sloane.”
“What?” She scrambles for her clothes and slips them on, confusion settling across her face.
“You’re going to marry me. Tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Her mouth falls open, like she can’t make sense of what I’m saying.
I finish getting dressed and look her straight in the eyes. “You heard me. You will be my wife. You will have my name. And every man, including Eli, will know you’re a Marinova now.”
Her hands drag through her hair as she starts pacing. “No. No, I can’t marry you. This is insane. We don’t even know each other.”
I stop her, catching her wrist and pulling her against my chest. “We know enough.” My hand slides to the back of her neck. “And this is happening.”
She shakes her head, still staring at me like she’s waiting for me to come to my senses.
“I’ll arrange it here,” I tell her. “There will be a priest my family has used for years. He’ll come to the house and perform the ceremony. It will be quick.”
She stares at me, waiting for the punchline that never comes. “You’re really serious.”
“I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
“Kirill—”
“I don’t want to hear it.” My tone leaves no room for argument. “You don’t understand the situation you’re in. The only protection strong enough to keep men like Eli from touching you is my name.” I cup her cheek, unable to stop myself. “My wife.”
Just saying it has my heart beating harder.
“And my son?” Her eyes fill with worry. “What happens to Milo in all of this?”
Does she really think I would leave him there?
“After school today, we go get him.”
She jerks back. “Oh my God. Really?”
“Of course. If you’d told me sooner, he would already be here.”
Her gaze drops to the floor, and I can see the realization settling in at last: that I would’ve done anything for her.Anything.
“But my sister?—”
“What about her?”
That woman means less than nothing to me.
“What if she calls the police?”
