“It is already arranged.” Nat shakes her head, stepping back from me. “You can’t keep blackmailing my brother to call each engagement off or they won’t stop until they find you.”
Blackmailing the Gurin Bratva’s pakhan over and over isn’t a legitimate plan, but it is all I’ve got at the moment. “You will marry Nik over my dead body.”
“If you’re not careful, that is probably exactly what will happen.” She says, irritating me further. “The fact is, I have to marry someone.”
A muscle in my jaw clenches as I know the words on the tip of my tongue are crazy, insane even. Even though they make no sense, they are the only two words I can conjure in that moment. “Marry me.”
Nat’s eyes go wide as if she’s stunned. She takes another step away from me, which is not the response I’d hoped for. “Are you insane?”
Perhaps.
“I know it might sound crazy, but—”
“But, nothing. It just sounds crazy full stop.” She crosses her arms over her chest, drawing my attention to her full cleavage in the drop dead gorgeous dress she’s wearing. “There is no world in which Mikhail would ever agree to me marrying a Mexican.” Her brow furrows. “It will be a Russian or nothing.”
I take a step toward her, knowing logically she’s right, but if I can’t have her, then no one can. It’s selfish, but she belongs to me. “I want you, Natalya,” I say, reaching for her hand, which she doesn’t pull away. “Not just for this year.” I can feel my heart thudding unnaturally fast beneath my skin, making me feel a little dizzy. “I want you forever.”
The expression in her dark brown eyes softens, but she still shakes her head. “As I said, my brother would never agree to it. Mikhail has made it clear he wants me to marry someone who can lead the bratva, and you aren’t Russian.”
I know she’s speaking sense, but I don’t want to believe it. “I’m well aware I’m not Russian, Gurin.”
“Nikolai Krushev is who he’s chosen. He needs a Russian by my side.”
I know it’s almost unheard of and getting Mikhail to agree will be damn near impossible. “I can use the information about your family origins against him to get him to agree to our engagement.”
Her expression turns furious as she takes another step backward, making me realize that wasn’t the right thing to say. “Haven’t you learned anything from this entire thing between us?” She asks, eyes frantically searching my face for something.
Remorse perhaps?
“Where does blackmail really get you?” she presses.
I shrug. “It got me you, Nat.”
She shakes her head. “No, it didn’t.” Her expression turns colder. “You are delusional if you think you’ve got me.” Her eyes narrow. “You forced me to sleep with you to keep your mouth shut. There’s an enormous difference between winning someone fairly and taking because you can.”
I press my lips together, knowing she’s right. Nat didn’t choose me, not one time. All the while, I’ve been dangling this information over her head like the blade of a guillotine.
“Not to mention, allowing you to use that information against my brother would drive a wedge between us.” She sets her hands on her hips. “I can’t allow it.”
The fact she’s even continuing the argument ignites a small amount of hope. “You wouldn’t be responsible. It worked to end the last engagement, so if you wanted to marry me, then I could make him listen.” I run a hand through my hair. “It’s your call, but I’m sure Mikhail would prefer the one person who knows the truth about the Gurin Bratva to be part of the family. Other than Finn, who I’ve dealt with. What better way to ensure that I keep it to myself?”
“Are you saying that you would reveal the truth about our family name to my grandfather if I say no?” she asks, taking a step back.
I shake my head. “No, I wouldn’t do that to you or your family.”
She looks unconvinced. “I don’t see why you care so much. So Nik is your friend. Why does it matter?”
Rage coils through me as she’s so fucking oblivious to the truth, and it drives me crazy. And yet, why wouldn’t she be? I’ve treated her terribly over the years.
Natalya Gurin has been mine since the day I set my eyes on her, even if I believed the pull she had on me was because I hated her. I reach for her then, grabbing her hand and pulling her against me. “You are mine,” I say, unable to keep the vicious edge out of my tone. I drop my hands to her hips and claw at her.
Her eyes narrow. “You sound like a fucking caveman.”
I blow out a shuddering breath. As she’s right. I’m not thinking straight right now. All I can think about is securing my little pet’s hand in marriage. She belongs to me and I’ll be damned if Nik lays a fucking finger on her. He’s an asshole and he wouldn’t treat her right.
I swallow hard, knowing that I’ve barely treated her right since the day we met. “I’m asking you to marry me, because I can’t let you go.”
There’s a flash of hurt in her eyes. “Why? Because you enjoy using me like a toy day in and day out?” She shakes her head, unshed tears welling in her eyes. “You can’t give me a good reason you want to marry me, other than stopping Nik from getting me, can you?”