Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Daria
My final performance had so many hitches, but the audience didn’t have a clue. I noticed Teena wasn’t in the corps de ballet. I was going to confront her, but she wasn’t there. Other dancers said she left town unexpectedly.
Then there was Masha, who tried to get me to leave so she could dance in my place. She said my heart was breaking and dancing wasn’t my focus. Then after the shooting, she warned me that Patrick would get me killed next, or that he was only using me to get to my brother and the rest of my family.
I was so upset, Hayes ended up giving Masha a warning. She could either walk away or never dance again. He told her he knew how to break the bones in her feet that would prevent her from ever going on pointe again.
As soon as I’m changed into a pale green, spaghetti-strapped dress and a pair of strappy heels, I slip my wool trench coat on and step out of the dressing room. I’ve already turned in my costume, and I’m ready for a break for a couple of weeks. Maybe I’m done. I don’t know yet.
Hayes is waiting for me. When we step out the back door of the theater, several men surround us. I look at Hayes, and he nods. I’m led to a new SUV and climb into the back. Hayes sits next to me. Another man drives, with a second in the front passenger seat.
“May I ask your names?” I ask as soon as I’m belted in.
“I’m Sloane,” the passenger says. “And that’s Harry.” He nods toward the driver.
“Nice to meet you both.”
“Same, mistress,” they both say.
I turn to Hayes. “Okay, is this because of today? Or is there more I need to know?”
“Your brother and Paddy feel there is a threat to you too. Because of that, you’ll have more than just me as your guard. I need you to wear this for me. This one is from me, not Paddy. He knows I’m giving it to you.”
He hands me a silver bangle bracelet. I slip it on my wrist with the others I wear all the time. A couple are from my brother, and I suspect there is a tracker in one of them. I’m fairly certain there is one in this bangle.
“Tracker?” I ask him.
He nods in response. I gather he doesn’t want to confirm more in front of my new guards, which puts me on alert.
“May I ask how often you go to the gym and hone your self-defense skills?” he asks me.
I can’t help but chuckle. He’s so formal. “Hayes, you don’t have to be so formal with me. I haven’t gone in a few months because of rehearsals and work.”
“We’ll be working on that weekly, if you’re okay with that. Until…” He pauses and glances down at my stomach.
I place my hand there, and a thought hits me. I haven’t had my period in a while. I’m always regular. It’s one of the reasons I’m not on birth control.
“I’m…” I pause. I’m not sure what to say.
“It’s okay. The way Paddy has been acting, I’ll assume he’s going to rectify that situation soon. I know when I finally find my girl, if I ever do, that’s how I’d tie her to me.”
“You would?”
“I would, but I believe in different relationships than you and Paddy have. Someday, I’ll explain. Let’s just say I’ll be with a woman I completely take care of, no matter how capable she is.”
“Oh, you like alternative lifestyles. My brother and Lyric have some kind of kink. She hinted at it one time, and I told her not to share anymore.”
He laughs, and I join in until I think about what happened this afternoon.
“Did you find out who put a hit on Patrick?”
“Jordon is working on that. Andrei also has Mikhail running a deep dive search to find out more information.”
“I’m so glad our families are working together. I was worried in the beginning, but I’m not now.”
“Good. You should know Paddy would do anything for you.”
“I know, but I would never ask him to compromise himself with his own family. I know he feels privileged to have his men’s and their families’ respect. He takes his position seriously. It’s one of the reasons I love him so much.”
As I speak, I notice the soldiers in the front shift in their seats. I hope hearing what I said will help ease any fears they may have. Patrick did tell me his men’s respect is important to him. He worked hard to earn it.
“Daria, we are honored to have you join our family. We respect you and your position with the family, and with your own highly too.”
“Thank you for saying that, Hayes. I’ve often struggled to figure out where I belong. When I was growing up, we never mingled with my uncle very much or his organization. I knew about Alek, but I didn’t know how close he was to the Bratva until we found each other in January. Can I ask a question?”
“I’ll try to answer you, but some things I won’t be able to for your safety.”
“Why aren’t you using Lyric? She’s amazing with computers. I’ve watched her do some stuff and couldn’t believe how she does it.”
“She is a highly accomplished hacker and researcher. As a matter of fact, we are using her for another assignment.”
We pull up to the Bellagio hotel. A bellhop runs out to open my door, but Sloane steps out and stops him. Hayes gets out and walks around the vehicle. I can’t believe we’re here, and I don’t know what is going on.
As soon as Hayes opens my door, I step out. The three of us head for the entrance, while Harry drives off with the SUV. I assume to go park it.
We bypass the concierge and front desk and head straight for the elevators. Hayes flashes a card across the scanner as we step inside, and the penthouse floor lights up. He presses the button, and the doors close as people watch us. I want to ask questions, but I know I should be patient and wait.
As soon as the doors open, we step out. There is a door ahead, flanked by guards.
That must be where we’re heading. Patrick is taking our security seriously after today’s attempt.
One of the guards sees Hayes and opens the door.
I step in with Hayes, while Sloane stays in the hallway with the other guards.
Roisin is sitting in a chair in the spacious living room. She jumps up and rushes to me.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to insinuate you were a floozy or any such thing. My brother has been keeping you secret. I just wanted to know. But when he explained everything, I felt so bad. I’m sorry.”
I can’t stop myself. I pull her into my arms. “It’s okay, Roisin. I jumped to conclusions, and it was a huge mistake.” We hug for a moment.
“It was a huge mistake, sweets, because I told you you’re never getting rid of me. Never.”
I pull away and turn to him. I’m not sure what I should do in front of his little sister, but she isn’t a kid. She’s only a few years younger than me.
Patrick takes the decision out of my hands and walks right up to me. He pulls me into his arms and kisses me deeply. When he finally releases my lips, he keeps me in his arms.
“Tonight’s performance was amazing. I was afraid I was going to miss it with all of my plans.” He looks over to Roisin. “Ro, could you and Hayes go into the next room for a bit while I talk to my girl.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in there.” Ro smiles excitedly, and Hayes takes her from the room, leaving just Patrick and me.
Patrick releases me, and I glance around nervously, wondering what’s going on. When I turn back to face him, he’s on his knee in front of me.
“You are the only woman I’ve ever gotten on my knee for. You promised if I made all your dreams come true, you’d marry me. Right?”
My hands go to my mouth as tears blur my vision. “Yes.”
“I didn’t ask.” He chuckles. “I made a promise to your brother, and this is me making good on that promise. This is also me making this just us for right now. I will do everything to keep you safe, and you having my name will do that.”
“Patrick.” I start to shake my head. “You couldn’t have gotten everything.”
“Sweets.” He cocks his head and smirks. “I got it all.”
He pulls a jewelry box from his pocket and flips the top. He’s still on his knee, and it causes an ache in my chest. He’s lowering himself for me. The great and powerful Patrick MacEvoy is willing to be vulnerable to me.
“In the next room is a beautiful pale green wedding dress and a priest, who is willing to marry us because I know you’re Catholic too. Look down, Daria.”
I shift my focus from his eyes to the box and see a beautiful pear-shaped emerald and diamond engagement ring.
I nod like a bobblehead as he rises and takes my hand to his lips.
He kisses my ring finger before sliding the ring onto it.
Then he kisses me, long, deep, dominate, and so possessive.
I can’t explain it, but it’s perfect. My head is spinning when he pulls away.
“I almost forgot, your matching green shoes too.”
“How did you do all this in one day?”
“Don’t ever challenge me, sweets. I’ll make every dream of yours, within reason, come true. Not only will I protect you, but every day I’ll show you what you mean to me.”
“You say the sweetest things.”
“Don’t tell my men.”
I laugh, and he gives me a quick kiss.
“Okay. You go into the next suite and get ready. There are hairdressers and makeup artists waiting, along with the designer. I’ll see you in an hour right there.” He points in front of the window.
He walks me next door, and sure enough, there are women waiting for me.
The dress is amazing. Strapless, with a sweetheart neckline, draped and gauzy green-and-white fabric cascading from it. The skirt is a ball gown with leaf accents and falls to the floor with just a small train. It’s the most perfect dress I could have imagined.
When the girl opens the box with the delicate shoes, I start to cry.
Patrick thought of everything, and then some.
I never gave him perfect examples, yet he just picked what he knew I would love.
The shoes are open-toe, with green butterflies across the toe strap.
The laces are a thin green cord that will wrap around my ankle several times.
Paddy
As my girl gets ready in the next suite, I’m in our room, getting ready myself. My phone rings, but I ignore it until JJ walks in and holds out his phone.