Page 44 of The Pakhan's Dangerous Secret
"Try me."
I make it three steps into the hallway before she caves. "Fine! Fine, put me down. I'll get dressed."
I set her on her feet, and she glares at me with such venom, I almost smile. Almost. "Five minutes," I tell her. "Then we're going down there, whether you're ready or not."
She storms back into the bedroom, and I follow, watching as she yanks on the clothes she wore yesterday. The jeans hug her ass perfectly, and the T-shirt molds to her breasts in a way that makes my mouth water. When she's dressed, she turns to face me, her expression still furious.
"This isn't over," she says.
"I know."
We walk downstairs in tense silence. The library doors are closed, and I can hear voices inside. Matvey is standing guard outside, his massive frame blocking the entrance. When he sees us, he nods once.
"They're waiting," he says.
"Any trouble?"
"Bogdan's pissed. Sophia's crying."
Great. Just fucking great.
I push open the doors, and the conversation inside stops immediately. Bogdan is standing by the fireplace, his face still red with anger. Sophia is sitting in one of the chairs, her eyes puffy and her hands twisted in her lap. When she sees us, fresh tears spill down her cheeks.
The tension in the room is thick enough to choke on. I can feel Mariya beside me, coiled tight like she's ready to bolt at any second. I need to handle this carefully. One wrong move and this could turn into a war I don't want.
"Sit," I tell Mariya, gesturing to the chair across from Sophia.
She doesn't move. "I'll stand."
Of course she will.
I turn my attention to Bogdan. "Let's get one thing straight. I never agreed to marry your daughter. You asked. I said I'd think about it. That's not a promise. That's not a contract. There was no betrayal."
"You led us on!" Bogdan's voice rises. "Years of planning, of preparing Sophia to be your wife. And then you marry this… this traitor's daughter without even telling us?"
"Watch your mouth," I say quietly, dangerously. "That's my wife you're talking about."
"Yourwife." He spits the words like they're poison. "You married Pushkin's daughter. Do you have any idea what that looks like? What people are going to think?"
"I don't give a fuck what people think." I cross my arms over my chest. "Mariya is under my protection now. Anyone who has a problem with that can take it up with me."
"This is unacceptable." Bogdan takes a step toward me. "You've dishonored my family. Dishonored my daughter."
"I've done nothing of the sort." My voice drops lower, colder. "There was no agreement between us. No contract. If you know what's best for you, you'll stop right now before you cause a war you don't want."
His eyes narrow. "Are you threatening me?"
"I'm stating facts." I hold his gaze, letting him see exactly how serious I am. "You came into my home uninvited. Barged into my bedroom and made accusations that have no basis in reality. I've been patient because of our history, but my patience has limits."
"Your patience?" He laughs, but there's no humor in it. "You talk about patience when you've destroyed years of planning? When you've humiliated my daughter in front of the entire Bratva?"
"I've done no such thing." I glance at Sophia, who's still crying quietly. "I'm sorry if you were hurt, Sophia. That was never my intention. But I never promised to marry you."
She doesn't respond as tears trickle down her cheeks.
Bogdan's face turns an even deeper shade of red. He spins toward his daughter, and I see the rage in his eyes shift, redirecting. "This is your fault," he snarls at her. "You couldn't keep him interested. Couldn't make him want you. What good are you if you can't even secure a marriage alliance?"
Sophia flinches like he's struck her, and more tears stream down her face.
