“Go ahead, baby.” She patted my hand again.
“I’m only involved with unsavory things, when it is a threat to my family.”
She exhaled. “That I understand all too well.”
“Ava will never be around any of this because I’m not going to be around it either.”
“But can you guarantee that?”
I began to say yes, but I knew my world. Kazimir battled with people all the time. If someone came for him, I would be at his side. No one could hurt my cousin. That was the only time I would drop everything and join the fight.
“I can’t guarantee it,” I admitted. “But I will put all my energy into protecting her and you.”
“Don’t you worry about me, Misha.” A dark edge filled her eyes. “Grandma know how to take care of herself.”
And for the first time upon meeting her, a deadly threat smoothed over those pretty eyes. There were those in my world that had the same look. Not all of them were killers, but none were to be fucked with. Instantly, I made a mental note to research Jacqueline more. She had a story—one that could tell me a lot about her.
Jacqueline shifted the topic. “When will the funeral for your father be?”
“I must go to Prague soon to bury him.”
“I don’t know, if this is proper, but I would like to go. Only if you need help. I’ve buried many. Planning such an event is the last thing you want to focus on, when you’re mourning.”
Again, she shocked me.
I was flabbergasted. “That. . .that would be helpful.”
“It’s an offer, but—”
“I need the help.”
She widened her eyes. “Then, I’ll help. I’m already here. . .far across the world, I might as well be useful.”
And you would like to know more about my family. A funeral would give you that inside look.
Jacqueline was smarter than I could imagine. No wonder Ava had accomplished so much. Her grandmother was nothing to play with.
“As far as your passport and any other dealings back in New York, I will take care of that. You’ll have the appropriate paperwork by tomorrow evening.”
She gave me another weak smile. “I’m hoping you have some smarter people on your staff to handle that, then the other young man.”
“I do.”
“Misha, I don’t know if you have to tell Ava about the kidnapping.” Her even saying the word made me flinch, but I was surprised her conversation had shifted to that. “I don’t want Ava’s night or week to be ruined. She lost her best friend. You lost your father. Tonight and the rest of the week, we should be celebrating. Now. . .if you can keep your crazy men away from my family and me, then we can keep that whole situation to ourselves.”
My heart boomed in my ears.
She extended her hand. “What do you think?”
I swallowed and shook her hand. “Thank you. I. . .I don’t want to lose Ava because of a psychotic idiot.”
She didn’t let my hand go as she stared intensely at me, almost digging her gaze into my soul. “Be on your best behavior for me, please.”
“I will.”
“That Bratva stuff has no place in my granddaughter’s life.”
“It won’t be anywhere near her.”
“She stays safe. Ava needs someone smart and powerful around her. I don’t know, if that’s you yet, but we’ll see.”
“I’m the one.”
“And as far as you having any other women—”
“Not even a possibility.”
“Don’t you break my baby’s heart.” She let go of my hand as menace laced her words. “You do, and not even the Bratva will save you from me and mine.”
I blinked. “Yes, ma’am.”
“And one more thing.”
I waited patiently for those next words.
“If Ava ever wants to walk away, then that’s what you let her do.”
Not happening. There will be no one else.
I said nothing.
She curved her lips into a smile. “You’re a good man, Misha. You can’t even lie to me and say that you’ll let her end it.”
“That’s not an option for me at the moment, but every part of me, every cell will make her so happy that she will not want to walk away. There will be no need for her to want another man. She will be too busy being spoiled.”
“You don’t have her yet, Misha. Remember that and take it slow.”
She’s mine.
The theater’s management, Mrs. Carson entered, saving me from Jacqueline’s further probing. But at least we’d come to a resolution. Ava would not have to know. While I was happy, part of my felt guilty for keeping this a secret. I didn’t want to start a relationship with Ava, having things hidden from her.
I’ll have to figure this out later. For now, Jacqueline is right. It’s time to celebrate.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about Jacqueline attending the funeral, but that would mean that Ava would come too. That brightened the moment. I would damn sure need her as I moved through that horrific day. Hopefully, Kazimir and the rest of the brothers would be on their best behavior.