Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 76915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
I looked from one to the other. Like the brothers, their father was tall, muscular, handsome beyond reason. But his cruelty shone from his cold blue eyes.
Then his lips quirked into a smile.
“This was all a misunderstanding. Today is your wedding day. We will return to the estate, and celebrate with you.”
“Like hell you will,” Anton snarled.
“Me alone, then. I should be there,” another smile. “Or people will talk. You want the other Bratvas to know she is fully under our protection, do you not?”
A pause. Anton made a strangled sound.
“Uranov can wait outside,” Anatoly continued as if Anton had agreed. But I knew he was right. Anton and his brothers would agree. They would not start a war. Not now.
Not today.
Anton snapped out an order and one of his men knelt in front of me and snipped through my zip tie. Suddenly I was wrapped in his arms, inhaling his warm, unique scent. It felt like coming home.
“Tell your men to get out,” Alexei said, sounding only slightly calmer than my husband had. A moment later, Anatoly nodded and men streamed from the warehouse towards the back. All except for their father, and Uranov. A small contingent of men remained behind, surrounding them.
“Anton,” I heard Andrei say, his voice surprisingly gentle. “Let’s go.”
I felt Anton losen his grip on me slightly. Just enough for me to realize I was on the verge of fainting. I felt myself drop in his arms.
Anton cursed and lifted me, his proud handsome face staring down at me with concern. I gave him a look.
“I’m mad at you.”
He squeezed me.
“I know.”
“Why? Why did you…”
“Hush. I will tell you everything. Let me get you home first. You need to rest.”
“What about the wedding?”
“We can delay it for a day,” he said mildly. I could feel him tense before he asked “do you still want to marry me?”
I glared at him.
“Honestly? I am not sure.”
He gave me a tender smile.
“It is a good thing we are already married, then.”
He placed me into the backseat of an armored SUV, then climbed in beside me, pulling me back into his arms immediately. He draped his black wool blazer over me, using his hands and body to warm me. He snapped at his men and a bottle of water appeared, along with some crackers.
“We could get an annulment,” I said, pouting at him as he opened the crackers and tried to feed them to me.
“We could not. The marriage has been thoroughly consummated,” his eyes were full of heat and promise. “And will be consummated again. As soon as you are rested,” he added, trying to get me to drink the water.
“I could run away.”
“I will find you. And bring you back,” he lifted my chin and stared into my eyes. “I will always bring you back.”
His men were in the car now, studiously ignoring us as they pulled out onto the road and turned towards home.
Home.
“It would be best if you forgave me.”
“Why?” I asked, still angry. Still pouting. But feeling so safe and secure in his arms.
“Because I will never, ever let you go.”
I huffed. I had to. But I let him tend to me. It was not long before I gave into the inevitable and found myself snuggling deep into his arms.
Chapter 49
Anton
It was the best day of my life.
My beautiful Mishka had agreed to marry me.
Again.
The only fly in the ointment was the man who had insisted on staying at the estate last night, without any security, to be present in the morning for the ceremony.
My father was here. I had agreed to a ceasefire. Particularly after he had agreed that Uranov should wait outside, all night. I was quite pleased that it had turned cold and rainy. We did not offer him food or water. I was certain that the old man would not do so either. He rarely thought of anyone other than himself, and certainly did not recognize the humanity in others.
How could he see something in others that did not exist in himself?
So, for now, for my wife, I would allow him to be here. I would not be civil. I also would not tear his head from his body with my bare hands.
Even though I had never wanted to do anything, other than make love to my beautiful bride, more in my life.
But someday, our father and Uranov would answer. For everything. Most of all, for Mishka.
I had slept in her room the night before. Not in the bed. In a chair, watching her rest. She had forgiven me, at least a little. My love had a tender, kind heart. However, she was a woman, and she had not forgiven me completely.
How could she? My love was not a doormat. Nor was she a church mouse. She was a warm, living, breathing, passionate woman.