Genius at Heart

Four Months Later: Beau:

"I won't walk down the aisle until we found Dinara." Her chin was firm, and her brown eyes were flashing. She had made her position on such a touchy subject age ago.

"Okay, detka. You win. But you have to sign this." She narrowed her gaze at her fiancé. Though it was no use calling him that, everyone took leave to address her Mrs. Vasiliy or tzarina. She let them be. She was enjoying it anyway, but she wouldn't admit it to the man towering over her with possessiveness.

"What are these?" There were at least five copies of documents that he wanted her signature on.

His jaw clenched and he refused to answer. "I just need your signature, detka. Don't fight me on this one, please."

"Okay. Then give me a copy so I can study whatever business proposal you have there." She held out her hand imperiously, the other one on her protruding stomach, gently caressing her kicking son.

"This is not a business proposal," he mumbled. Though his gray gaze softened when he witnessed what she was doing. "Is he kicking again?"

Despite her irritation, she smiled and nodded. Dominic had loved the times their baby made his presence known. He even gave some extra kicks upon hearing his father's deep voice. Few things could delight them in this crazy world, this was one of them.

"Yes. Here, feel." She rounded the desk, pushed him to his admiral chair, and inclined her back on its surface in front of him, her belly right on his face.

Dominic grinned up at her and held her hips while he leaned forward and nuzzled her baby bump. Their son kicked once more. "Hey, there, sport. Playing again?" He cooed. And the tiny precious baby boy somersaulted and dented the surface of her skin.

"Oh, that's a good one," Beau said, a bit winded. She grimaced.

"Are you okay, moya lyubov?" Dominic asked. Alarmed.

She nodded and sat on his lap instead. With her arms around his neck, she slanted him a shrewd glance, daring him to lie to her. He snorted.

"Now, tell me. Why do you want me to sign those papers you don't want me to read?"

"You are in your third trimester," he said matter-of-factly, as if she didn't know. They continued to look at each other. Both gauging.

"And?" She prodded. Her brow arching.

"I want to legalize everything." God! Pulling teeth would be easier.

Then it dawned on her. His defensive and short answers made sense.

It didn't take long for her to figure it out.

Beau's eyes squinted at the words on the front page. License.

"It's our marriage contract," she muttered.

He sighed heavily and nodded. "Yes."

"How were you able to solemnize it?" She was curious.

Eying her cautiously, he cleared his throat. "One of my godfathers is a judge."

"I see." And she did. She understood him perfectly. He just wanted her to be his completely. In every way possible. But... "I want to do this right."

"I know that, detka. Nothing would make me happier than to see you walk down the aisle in the whitest of white but finding my sister may not happen before our baby boy is born. And I'd be damned if I'd allow him, my heir, born outside of our marriage. I love you both so much, I just want..."

"Then we say our vows, here," she interrupted.

Startled, he looked at her as if he was seeing her for the first time. "I would love that," he answered in a hushed tone.

Beau grinned. She really did have brilliant ideas. "Okay. Let's see what you can do."

"Is that a challenge, moya lyubov?" With his deep and gravelly voice, a promise of something more later, she shivered. Damn! She was as big as a whale and yet he was looking at her like she was a pin-up model.

"Yes." She was looking forward to it.

Dominic's gaze roamed her flushed face. Memorizing her anew. Deep inside her, she felt him. His love. His commitment.

"The first time I saw you at Euphoria, I knew then and there you were mine. I've felt it here," he grasped her hand, placing it over his thudding heart. Beau blinked back her tears. Hormones. Hello. "I didn't care if I was the first in yours. I only care I would be the last. As you are in mine. The first and the last." He took a deep and shaky breath, his emotions, one he didn't show to anyone except her, was reflected in his eyes. "I vow to protect you and cherish you. All my days, I will honor you, as my woman, my wife, the mother of my children. In the eyes of God and men, I bind my heart, body, and soul to you, Beauty Grace. Will you take me as your husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and health, for better or for worse, till death do us part?"

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Beau was shaking her head yes while tears were streaming down her cheeks. "Yes. I do." He was exceeding expectations. "Yes, I will honor you and love you and keep you. For all the days of my life. I'd bear your children and be the best wife and helpmate I could ever be."

It may seem the most unconventional wedding vows anyone has ever made, the shortest version, but it's theirs. From the heart. And she wouldn't change it one bit.

Smiling gloriously at the most dangerous Mafia lord there was, she muttered, "Do I still have to ask you if you will take me as your wife?"

He chuckled, his deep voice gravellier from the emotions clogging his throat. "I think you know the answer to that." He raised the papers in between them. "Please sign this now?"

"We need witnesses..."

As soon as those words left her lips, Maman opened the door and glided in her customary elegant grace, followed by Dominic's father, then Alec and Lizzie and Nani Sandri and his father. All smiling widely at them. "Witnesses, you say?"

"Alright, you win." A concession she would gladly give for the man who had changed her life because of his possessive overprotective love.

Their shared life soared before them. Finding Dinara was an utmost priority. They won't lose hope and will continue searching for her. Soon, Beau would find her. She had enhanced her facial recognition software. Soon. The Mafia Princess was out there, and they would be waiting for her to come home with open arms.