Lev: a Shot Callers novel - Belle Aurora Page 0,120

even though I was somewhat sure that wasn’t going to happen.

As we drove home, Lidi fell asleep, which gave me the perfect opportunity to speak to Lev without distraction. “What did you think about Maggie and John?”

He thought about it. “I think they regret causing you pain. They seem like nice people.”

“And James?”

His jaw tensed. “He was an ass.”

I agreed in a sense, but now I had to tell him the awkward part.

“He kissed me today.” I turned to look at him. His hands had tightened around the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. “After I followed him out, we had it out. He was angry with me for leaving. He told me he was still in love with me. That it was why he got divorced.” I paused before landing the biggest blow. “He told me to leave you today and asked me to marry him.”

At the last part, Lev turned to me, his face slack. He gathered himself before clearing his throat and asking, “And what did you say to that?”

I feigned indifference, “Well, after I slapped him for that rude kiss he planted on me, I told him he needed to get a grip. I explained that I only wanted to marry one man, and I was already with that man.” I let out a breath of frustration. “You called it, baby. I was wrong. He definitely wanted a slice of Mina pie.”

Lev uttered an irritated, “I’m not sure whether to find him and beat the shit out of him, or just sit here and be thankful in the knowledge that you wish to marry me one day.”

I grinned saucily. “How about a kiss of gratitude?”

He glanced at me and his hard face softened, a small smile gracing his lips. He leaned over and I pulled back. “Not on my lips.”

He looked confused. “Then where?”

I smirked, turning to look out the window. “I’ll show you when we get home.”

His low growl caused goose bumps to trail up my arms. And when we got home, he kissed me well and good.

In fact, he kissed me boneless.

It was the night before the club reopened, and Sasha called together a dinner meeting before the grand affair. It was held at the main house. Ada had prepared a wonderful banquet in celebration, and I was salivating at the look of it all.

We ate. We talked. We laughed.

Everything was going well. Almost too well, if you know what I mean. So when Anika turned to me and said what she did, it was hardly a surprise. It was expected. “So, Mina, what’s happening? Are you looking for your own place yet?”

The entire table went silent.

“Ani.” Nas stared at her. “Honey, don’t.”

Anika had been drinking since we arrived. She was currently on her fourth glass of wine and she looked rather mellow. She waved Nas off and blinked slowly. “What? We’re all friends here.”

We were?

I wasn’t so sure of that.

I cleared my throat and responded, “Well, actually, I have been looking online at apartments.”

Nas sounded taken aback. “What?” While Lev stated a firm, “No.” And Sasha… Oh, Sasha. All he said was, “Good.” They did this simultaneously, stopping to look at each other after they heard the others’ response.

Lev cleared his throat, putting his napkin down. “Not that it’s your business, Anika, but there would be no point in Mina moving.” He lifted his glass of wine and sipped at it. “Mina proposed to me two days ago.” The table went silent. He placed his glass down. “And I’ve accepted.”

What?

What what what?

Where the heck was I when this proposal was happening?

I was surprised that Lev’s pants hadn’t caught fire, because he was clearly a liar.

“Um…” I started as everyone turned to stare at me.

But Lev helped me out. “Remember? In the car. You told me that you planned to marry one man, and that one man would be me. I agree with you. I think you should marry me.”

I leaned forward, forced a light laugh, and then whisper-hissed, “That was hardly a proposal, sweetie.” I said sweetie like it was sticky and needed to get off me, like, now.

“Sure it was,” he uttered conversationally. “And I accepted.” He looked around the table. “We’re getting married.”

Nastasia chuckled, and that chuckle turned into a laugh. Viktor grinned, and soon, he was chuckling too. Sasha looked to Anika, and Anika looked as though her world was ending. I hated that for her, but she needed to understand Lev and I were together. That