Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Ever since my mother died—and my father soon after—I had vowed never to be powerless again. Never to let anyone else’s decisions control my fate.
And yet, here I was.
I had no control, no leverage—and I couldn’t, wouldn’t, let that stand.
“Don’t be stupid about this,” Artem muttered, rubbing his temples like the conversation itself was giving him a headache. “We know you want her, but that’s not a good enough reason to keep her.”
I ground my teeth. How could they not understand?
Every single one of them was married—something they swore they’d never do. Not even for convenience or gain. But they had all married for love. Even if they hadn’t recognized it at the time.
Hell, they let their sister marry for love. That marriage should have come with an eight-figure dowry. Instead, she wed a penniless orphan with no name.
I didn’t begrudge Mikhail and Nadia their happiness—at least not until now, sitting here with the rest of the hypocrites trying to take mine from me.
“This isn’t about what I want,” I ground out.
Gregor scoffed, dismissive. “The hell it isn’t. You want to fuck her. She’s pretty and feisty. She’s the first woman who didn’t immediately throw herself into your bed, and now you think you get to keep her.”
The accusation stung.
I clenched my jaw, holding back a retort I’d regret.
What they were implying was completely wrong. Keeping her wasn’t about strategy, or lust, or pride.
It was her.
For the first time, I truly understood, deep in my bones, why my father had followed my mother in death.
“I won’t let you send her away,” I said quietly.
They stared at me. I took a breath, trying to rein in my fury. Threats wouldn’t work here. They were just as stubborn as I was.
I picked up my chair, sat down, and laid my hands flat on the polished wood of the tabletop. Unarmed. A gesture of peace.
“There has to be another way. We don’t kill women. And I won’t let you send her away. If she goes back to Russia, I go with her.”
“The family’s pulling out of Russia. We’ve moved on to greener pastures. You were ordered to relocate here,” Artem said, fingers steepled in front of him.
“I’m aware. If you want me here, if you want my skills, then she stays.”
Damien, Kostya, and Mikhail all groaned. I didn’t blame them. We were going in circles.
I wasn’t budging.
“Okay,” Gregor said, unusually calm. “We don’t trust her. We don’t want her near the family. You won’t work without her.” The corners of his mouth began to curl up. “I have an idea.”
Nothing good ever followed Gregor’s shit-eating grins. I knew that smile. It meant he thought he had you trapped.
“What?” I asked, wary.
“Marry her. Make her one of us. Immediately. You want her? Fine. Make it permanent. We all know how you feel about commitment.”
“Done,” I said without hesitation.
Silence.
Everyone stared at me, waiting for the punch line.
“Wait, what?” Kostya said. “You said you’d never…”
His voice trailed off.
“Call a priest. Or a judge. Get the paperwork. Then Zoya can plan the wedding of her dreams.”
“You don’t even want to think about it?” Pavel asked.
“Nope. I’ve thought enough. Call the judge.”
Artem exhaled sharply.
He leaned back, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“You can’t just marry her,” he said.
“Pretty sure I can. Gregor’s satisfied. I’m satisfied. Either get on board or get the fuck out of the way.”
“It’s up to Zoya,” Artem warned. “If she says no, she’s gone.”
Silence again.
I hadn’t come this far to lose her now.
“Since when have any of us waited for a ‘yes’? I seem to remember several brides being carried to the altar, yours included. Her church language wasn’t exactly saintly.”
The others smirked, stifling laughs behind fists and coughs.
“We did that to give the women we love our last name and the protection that comes with it.”
“I’m protecting Zoya just as much as—”
“From who?” Gregor interrupted. “Who’s gunning for your bride if she’s not an Ivanov?”
“Other than you?” I snapped. “She put her father in one of the most brutal asylums in the world. How long do you think Egor stays there? She killed one of the most ruthless businessmen in Russia. She made enemies—and then aligned herself with Los Infideles. Mateo and the others may be dead, but they weren’t the last of that organization.”
It might not be true.
But I didn’t need truth. I needed to win.
“No,” Artem said. “She’s a threat. If she joins us willingly, fine. I’m sure the women will welcome her.”
“Maybe give Alina some time,” Pavel mumbled.
Artem glared and continued.
“But if she’s forced into this family, we’re inviting a viper into our home. I won’t have someone I can’t trust near our children.”
“He has a point,” Gregor said, still smug.
Fuck.
How was I going to convince her, after everything, to marry me?
“That, and I’ve been informed that it’s the twenty-first century. Dragging women to the altar is,” Artem lifted his fingers in air quotes, “no longer ‘okay.’ A little too caveman.”