His eyes narrowed. “She already told me. Your plan to turn us against each other didn’t work.” He listened, then paced three steps. “I am willing to make the trade.”
Bree covered her mouth with her hands, realizing that Vladimir was offering to give up his billion-dollar company to save her baby sister. Then he scowled.
“Kasimir, don’t be a fool! You can still—”
Vladimir stopped, then pulled the phone from his ear, staring at it in shock.
“What happened?” Bree said anxiously. “What did he say? Is he willing to make the trade?”
“No,” Vladimir said, sounding dazed. “He said he no longer has any intention of divorcing her. He told me I could keep my stupid company.”
Her mouth dropped open. “He said that?”
“His exact words.” Vladimir’s lips twisted. “It seems he cares about keeping her more than hurting me.”
Bree took a deep breath. She could still hear Kasimir’s cold words. What I want is revenge. And I will have it. “I’m not so sure….”
Then she remembered the anger in his blue eyes.
So much for Josie’s sacrifice, he’d accused her bitterly.
Bree had wondered about that then. It seemed even more certain now. She licked her lips. “Is it possible…he could care for her?”
“I don’t know about that. But he won’t hurt her. My brother had—has—a good heart.”
“How can you say that, after how he’s tried to destroy you?”
Vladimir’s jaw tightened.
“Perhaps he had a good cause,” he admitted in a low voice. Shaking his head, he continued, “But your sister is in no danger. Kasimir hates me, and perhaps you. But he has no quarrel with her.”
“If I could only be absolutely sure—”
“She is safe,” Vladimir said simply. “I would stake my life on it. And the fact that he actually wants to stay married to her…” He slowly smiled. “It’s interesting. Very interesting.”
His phone rang abruptly in his hand, and he put it to his ear. “Hello?”
Kasimir? Bree mouthed.
He shook his head at her, his hand tightening on the phone. “Lefèvre, at last. Give me some good news.” He listened. And then a smile lifted his handsome face. Seeing that smile, Bree’s heart soared. She suddenly knew everything was going to be all right.
He hung up. “My investigator has found her.”
Bree gave a joyful sob. “Where is she?”
“Safe.” His smile widened. “And very close.”
Bree started to turn. “We should go to her—”
Vladimir grabbed her by the wrist. “First things first,” he growled. “I want to do this before anything else comes between us.” And before her amazed eyes, he fell to one knee.
“I don’t have a ring,” he said quietly, “because I didn’t let myself hope this could happen.” Quirking a dark eyebrow, he gave her a cheeky grin. “And I think I’d better let you pick out your own ring, in any case.”
She held her breath.
His darkly handsome face grew serious. Vulnerable.
“Will you marry me?” he whispered.