Chapter 14
Mikhail
Ineeded to talk to Olek about logistics. How far away did I need to take her so that she wouldn’t be considered a problem? Were we talking across the country or across the world? I was halfway to his office when I heard Katrina's raised voice through the door.
"This is insane, Olek. Fucking ridiculous."
I stopped, hand on the doorknob. This was a bad time. I started to back away, but the floor creaked and then the door flew open. Katrina stood there, her eyes blazing.
"Mikhail. Good. Get in here. You need to hear this, too."
"I can come back when he’s not busy."
"No, stay." She grabbed my arm and pulled me inside, then rounded on her husband. "Tell him how stupid this entire thing is." She said to me.
I paused, not sure how smart she thought cornering Olek was.
Olek stood behind his desk, his jaw tight, his expression carefully controlled. "Katrina, this is between us."
"Don't 'Katrina' me." She was magnificent in her fury, all protective mama bear and righteous anger for her best friend. "Shanice would never say a thing. She's been through hell because of Marcus, and now you're treating her like she's some kind of threat? Like she'd betray us after everything?"
"It's not about what she would do," Olek said, his voice measured. "It's about what Dmitri thinks she might do. And what he'll do to eliminate that possibility."
"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 to leave, 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's my family. 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."
"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.