“It’s okay,” I said to Davis quickly, my voice too high and thin. “I want to talk to Niko. I’ll be back in a minute.”
I slid off my barstool, and Niko caught my elbow in a familiar hold as he steered me toward his father. His grip was gentle, but I had no choice but to follow where he led; his big hand might as well have been a shackle around my arm. I didn’t trust these monsters to be anywhere near my friends, and I would do anything they asked to keep them as far from my besties as possible.
“Alexandra,” Mikhail greeted me coldly, his black eyes sharp on mine. “You’ve caused me a lot of trouble. Your father is very worried about you.”
I stiffened, and Niko’s fingers firmed on my elbow.
“What’s going on between my father and me is none of your business.”
His heavy brows drew together in a forbidding slash. “You made it my business when you started fucking around with the Ferrara boy. That ends now.” He glanced over my shoulder, his lip curling in a sneer. “Unless you want my people to pay a visit to your friends, you’ll do as I say.”
A block of icy dread formed in my gut. “You can’t hurt them,” I countered tremulously. “I’ll tell everyone what you really are.”
“Then they will die anyway,” he replied coolly. “But I’m willing to spare them if you do as you’re told. The affair with the Ferrara boy is over. You will marry my son.”
“What?” I gasped, head spinning.
He gave me a sharp nod. Niko’s fingerprints branded my arm.
“Your father agrees,” Mikhail continued on, as though my horror meant nothing to him. “You betrayed all of us, but Niko will keep you in line. From now on, you’re part of my family. And I take family loyalty very seriously.” His gaze flicked to my friends again, silently repeating the threat to their lives.
My left hand was frigid in Niko’s as he took it in a careful grip. I watched in blank shock as he slid a huge diamond onto my ring finger. I blinked up at him to find his eyes blazing with anger.
“It’s done, Allie,” he half-growled. “Don’t argue.”
I straightened my shoulders and snatched my hand back from his toxic grip. “Leave my friends alone,” I seethed.
“Pledge yourself to my son, and I will,” Mikhail drawled. “I have more important places to be. Don’t test me.”
“Tell me you’ll marry me,” Niko commanded roughly, pale blue eyes burning into mine. “And no one has to get hurt.”
My heart pounded up into my throat, choking my ability to respond. I couldn’t let them kill my friends. I had to protect Davis, Isabel, and Charlie.
I swallowed hard and forced out the words: “Yes, Niko. I’ll marry you.”
The promise was insane. The world went hazy around the edges of my vision, surreal.
“Then we’re done here,” Mikhail announced. “The wedding is in three months. You will be an obedient bride and plan accordingly. You will smile for the cameras and be a loving wife to my son. Consider yourself lucky to be part of my family.”
I couldn’t find any words to reply. I could hardly believe this was real. Maybe I’d passed out from the wine, and this nightmare would be over when I woke up on Davis’ couch in the morning.
Mikhail and his guards turned to leave, but Niko lingered.
“We don’t have a choice,” he murmured, resting a hand on my shoulder.
I jerked away from him, rage bubbling in the pit of my stomach. How dare he speak to me with gentleness when he’d just threatened to murder the people I loved most in the world?
“Don’t touch me,” I hissed.
His handsome features twisted in a scowl, and he withdrew his hand. It clenched to a fist at his side. “Do you think I wanted this? This is your fault, Allie. You did this when you sold your father out to Ferrara.”
I shook my head sharply. Max had told me the truth about my father, but I hadn’t done anything other than believe him. Somehow, Daddy had known about our relationship, and he’d obviously told his Russian friends. Now, they were forcing me into a horrific farce of a marriage to keep me in line, to punish me for daring to love Max.
“Don’t blame me for my father’s sins,” I seethed. “You’re the one who’s threatening to kill my friends. I’m not the monster here.”
His jaw firmed to granite. “You will marry me, Allie.”
“Yes, you’ve made that clear.” I clung to righteous rage in an attempt to stave off my panic. The diamond dragged at my finger like a lead weight.