Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I know how a mafia and bratva princess is trained. Be a good little obedient wife, don’t ask questions, and expect to share your husband with every piece of pussy he feels like fucking. That kind of shit doesn’t sit well with me.
“Yes. I’ll be faithful to you.”
Her eyes sharpen on me as if she’s trying to see the truth of my words on my face.
“My father cheated on my mother, and I saw how much it hurt her,” I explain. “I won’t tolerate it in our marriage.”
Tiana nods quickly. “Okay.”
When she stares out the window again, I relax in my seat. My eyes lock on the bruises covering her neck, and I vow to cut off each of the fucker’s fingers.
Chapter 11
Tiana
To say I’m overwhelmed is the understatement of the year.
Holy crap. Misha arranged for me to marry Armani?
I can’t believe it.
There are so many thoughts whirling in my head it’s hard to focus on anything for long. It feels like I’m stuck in a daze.
After Armani looked at my back, he was so angry it scared the shit out of me. It’s freaking terrifying how he can go from being a perfect gentleman to a lethal mafioso in a split second.
But no matter how scary he is, he came to help me when I needed him, and not once has he yanked me around like I’m nothing but a rag doll.
As I walk up the steps of St. Monarch’s with my hand firmly in Armani’s grasp, I worry about what will happen.
“I need to call Misha,” I say.
“I’ve left messages for him. Once he gets them, he’ll come back,” Armani informs me.
We pause so Armani can hand his weapon to the guard because no guests are allowed to be armed on the premises.
Alek emerges from the dining hall, and surprise flickers over his face when he sees me. “This is a surprise. What are you doing here?”
He gives me a quick hug, then exchanges a questioning look with Armani.
“Your father arranged a marriage for Tiana, so I went to get her,” Armani sums up the crazy week I’ve had.
A dark frown forms on Alek’s forehead. His eyes swing from Armani to me. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“I didn’t want to cause more trouble between you and your father. Things are strained as is,” I answer.
Alek shakes his head at me. “Nothing you do can make things worse between my father and me. You should’ve called me, Tiana.”
Alek only calls me by my name if he’s upset. My stomach sinks because it feels like no matter what I do, it’s never the right thing.
“She’s had a rough night, Alek. Ease up on her,” Armani says with a tone of warning lacing the words.
The two men lock eyes, and for a moment, I worry there will be a fight, but luckily Alek doesn’t push things. “I’ll let you handle things, brother. Let me know if I can help with anything.”
Alek gives my shoulder a squeeze, then walks off. My eyes follow him until he disappears up the stairs.
Armani tugs at my hand to bring my attention back to him. “Let’s go to the infirmary so the doctor can look at your back.”
I’d much rather shower and crawl into bed, but I follow Armani down a hallway.
I was nervous in Armani’s presence before I learned about the arrangement between him and Misha. Now I’m an anxious mess.
I’m highly conscious of his strong fingers that are wrapped around mine. His body moves with predatory grace, but I’m starting to get the feeling it’s all a mask to hide the mafioso who won’t hesitate to maim and kill whoever gets on the wrong side of him.
Entering the infirmary, Amani addresses the doctor. “Examine Miss Petrov’s back.” His eyes flick to my face. “Is there anywhere else the doctor should look?”
I’m about to shake my head when I remember the tumbler incident. “It’s probably nothing, but a glass was thrown at my head.” Extreme self-consciousness and shame engulf me as I say the humiliating words.
In a heartbeat Armani’s features darken, changing him from calm to looking like a killer with an unquenchable thirst for blood and violence.
Dear God.
My body shrinks beneath his vicious gaze while my heartbeat and breaths speed up.
Until now, Armani has treated me with respect, but seeing this aggressive side of him makes me wonder whether he’s just like any other man in the bratva and mafia.
Once again, he reins his temper in, and his features relax, but his voice has a biting edge to it as he says, “Check Miss Petrov’s head as well.”
The doctor gestures for me to take a seat on one of the empty beds. “Let’s take a look at your head,” the doctor says.
I point out where the bump is and lower my eyes while he inspects it.