“I see,” I say, frowning. “How do you know who is who?”
“We know,” he says, chuckling again. “The same way you know who your friends and enemies are. But to others, our markings differentiate.”
Ah. The tattoos imbued with meaning. I remember the way one of our assailants paled when he saw Demyan’s chest, whispering “Bratva,” like it was an oath.
“So these men are your rivals, and you both wanted an in with Amaranov.”
“Precisely.”
“And how does he decide which of you he’s going to… conspire with, or whatever?”
His lips twitch. “Often the highest bidder wins,” he says. “But in this case, his decision was based on who could be more efficient to get the job done. Fortunately, this time it was us.”
“And this is a good thing,” I surmise. “Because he’s very powerful.”
Bending down, he kisses my forehead. “Very.” Then he pulls me to him and hugs me to his chest. I’m surprised, but when he doesn’t let me go, I encircle his neck with my own embrace.
“It’s a big day today,” I tell him, “Isn’t it?”
“Very,” he repeats. “Today I make you my bride.” He chuckles. “My mama would be proud I’m making an honest woman out of you.”
I can’t help but snort at that. “Indeed.”
“The Bratva has become your family,” I say, understanding now. “So today when I say my vows, your family witnesses.”
“Exactly this,” he says with a nod. “Now let’s get something to eat. As much as I want to lay you out on my desk and eat you for breakfast, I’m going to insist we abstain today until we’ve said our vows.”
“How noble of you,” I mutter, which earns me a teasing tweak to the nose.
We eat in comfortable silence. At first I wonder how I’ll keep myself occupied until the big event, but it seems that’s not an issue. Shortly after breakfast, the team of people coming to prepare me arrive. Hours pass while they doll me up, and after I’m good and ready, my makeup and hair perfected and set, a photographer shows up. Demyan is nowhere to be found, and I’m made to pose by myself for the photo shoot. I wonder where they’ll post these. Will it be online? Or in the papers?
I wonder what Glen will think when he sees them. I wonder how effectively he’ll hide them from Calina.
Demyan appears in the doorway, wearing a stunning tux that accentuates his raw, masculine beauty.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I tell him. “You’re not supposed to see me before the wedding.”
“Fuck that,” he says. “I’ll see you whenever the hell I want to.” Of course he will. He crosses the room and takes my hand. “And I want to see you now.”
Why? Why does he care? I’m merely a means to an end.
“You will be escorted to the ballroom with my men to protect you,” he says. “And I will meet you there, prepared to say our vows.”
I nod. Something is off, though. He’s holding me close but his mind is elsewhere. He’s almost… aloof. And something else is wrong.
I haven’t seen him use his phone all day. It’s ever-present by his side, while he works and leads his men. He plugs it into a charger beside his bed at night, and it’s the first thing he checks when he wakes.
It’s his wedding day, I tell myself. You’re paranoid.
But I can’t help the niggling fear that he’s discovered something. That he suspects I’ve done something I shouldn’t, and he’s going to track down Glen. What would he do if he found him?
What would he do if he found the real Calina?
I shove all fears out of my mind, though I’m nauseous with worry. I can’t think of that now. I have a job to do.Chapter 15I wait for her in the ballroom, a jumble of nerves and fury and testosterone. I long to be in my workout room, pounding the bag until my fingers numb with pain and sweat blurs my vision.
I left my phone for her last night, and she used it. She fucking used it. We haven’t been able to trace who or where she called yet, but we will. And if I find out she called a man…
But today, I have greater control over her. Today I will say my vows then fuck my wife until the thought of any other is but a distant memory.
She’s just a tool, I remind myself. She doesn’t mean anything to me.
But Christ, it’s a lie. It’s impossible to punish her as I have, to fuck her as I have, to watch her melt into hopeless orgasm after orgasm, clinging to me as I reap pleasure from every inch of her body, and remain immune to the power of her seduction.
I’ve barely managed to keep my temper in check today.
I’ve barely managed civility.
But I have to. I lead the most powerful organization in all of Russia. Dignitaries and politicians come to hear us take our vows, and with Calina by my side, I gain prestige and honor in the eyes of my contemporaries.