Page 27 of Bratva's Secret Girl

I’ve done some scary and difficult things in my life, but standing and walking around the table to Hayley makes my heart slam between my ribs and my throat like nothing else.

“Maxim?”

I kneel and grasp her chair, dragging it so we’re eye to eye. With my hands on the armrests, I cage her in.

She’s going to listen while I bleed out my heart and soul.

“I mean it. I don’t have a ring yet, because this has all happened a little quicker than I expected. I assumed I would need months or years to earn your trust and affection, and I was willing to wait. I still am. But from the moment we met, I wanted you to be my wife and have my children. I want to put a baby in there.” My gaze dips to the gentle softness of her belly. “I love you, and I always will. If you give me a chance, I’ll be your fiercely loyal, besotted, adoring husband. I will protect you, and love you, and I will take on every burden you carry, happily.”

Her mouth falls open in a sweet pink “O”. She scans my face in apparent disbelief.

“I will fight for you and your sisters. Anything you want, I’ll provide. I might be jealous, and protective, but I will put you first, above anything.”

“Maxim,” she breathes, but I don’t stop. I can’t, now I’ve started.

“I’ve called you malishka since we met because it means ‘baby girl’ or ‘little one’ in Russian. I want you to be my baby. To love me and be my wife.”

Her gaze gets caught on my Adam’s apple and the bristles on my jaw.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” she whispers.

“Because I’m a Bratva boss, and my life has aspects I thought would break you, and that’s unacceptable to me. I love you. Hurting you in any way was the last thing I want. I couldn’t let you get dragged into dirty mafia business.”

“Payton did that well enough for all of us.”

“Yes.” My mouth hitches up in an ironic smile. “She did. But today you showed me that you can cope with anything.”

She’s still not looking into my eyes, so I tip her chin up so those pretty blue eyes meet my grey ones, and yes. Yes. The fear is there, but this girl’s wonder and trust are intact like no one I’ve ever met, just as it has been from the beginning.

“You’ve been so brave, and strong. Not only today, but for your whole life. But you don’t have to be anymore. You can tell me what you want, and I’ll provide it.”

She nips at her bottom lip.

I cup her jaw and let my expression go dark.

“Tell me the innermost secrets of your heart.” It’s a rasp.

“I want someone to look after me,” she whispers.

“Good girl.” I nod.

“To not have to work,” she adds, quicker this time. “And to have my sisters back.”

“Yes.” My gaze doesn’t waver from her eyes.

“And I’d like kids to love.”

I give a rumbling purr of approval. “That’s it.”

“With you. Because I’ve been half in love with you since we met, and today…”

“Go on.” The air is thick as I wait.

“I fell. I’m… I’m yours, if that’s what you want.”

She’s mine.

“Are you good at buying expensive tableware?” I ask.