Page 82 of The Pakhan's Dangerous Secret
The realization settles in my chest with satisfying certainty. I dial the bed and breakfast immediately, my fingers moving before Ifully think through what I'm doing. The phone rings twice before a woman answers, her voice cheerful and professional.
"Riverside Inn, how may I help you?"
"I need to reserve a room for Friday night," I say, keeping my tone casual. "Room seven, if it's available."
There's a pause, the sound of keys clicking on a keyboard. "Let me check for you. Yes, room seven is available for Friday. Would you like me to book that for you?"
"Yes." I give her my credit card information, then hang up.
I fold the note carefully and tuck it into my wallet, then stand and head toward the living room. I need to check on Mariya, make sure she's handling Sophia's visit without too much stress. The last thing I want is for her family drama to interfere with what we have planned.
But when I reach the doorway, I stop and stare incredulously.
Mariya is hugging Sophia.
Not a polite, distant embrace. A real hug, the kind you give a friend or family member. Mariya's arms are wrapped around the other woman's shoulders, and she's murmuring something I can't quite hear. Sophia's face is buried against Mariya's neck, her body shaking with what looks like sobs.
What the fuck? My wife and the woman whothoughtshe'd be my wife are hugging each other? Talk about surreal.
I step into the room, and both women look up. Sophia's eyes are red and swollen with tears streaking down her pale cheeks. Mariya's expression is gentle and comforting, but underneath,I see the fury simmering. Her jaw is tight, her green eyes hard despite the soft words she's speaking.
"Everything will be alright," Mariya says quietly, her hand rubbing Sophia's back. "I promise. We'll figure this out."
Sophia pulls back slightly, wiping at her face with trembling hands. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to fall apart like this. I just… I don't know what to do."
"What happened?" I ask, moving closer.
Sophia flinches at the sound of my voice, her gaze dropping to the floor. Mariya looks at me, and the anger in her eyes intensifies.
"Her father disinherited her," Mariya says, her voice tight with barely controlled rage.
"What?" My jaw clenches. I shouldn't be surprised, but I am.
Sophia's shoulders shake with fresh sobs. "He said I failed the family. That I couldn't even manage to bring you into our organization by marrying you. He said I was useless, and that I embarrassed him by not being able to secure the alliance he wanted."
Fury explodes through me, hot and vicious. I curl my hands into fists at my sides, fighting the urge to put my fist through the nearest wall. "That's bullshit. None of this is your fault."
"He doesn't see it that way." Sophia's voice is small, broken. "He said I had one job, and I couldn't even do that. So he's cutting me off completely. No inheritance, no position in the family, nothing."
Mariya's hand tightens on Sophia's shoulder, her knuckles going white. I can see the rage radiating off her in waves, the same fury I'm feeling. This isn't about Sophia failing. This is about her father using her as a pawn and then discarding her when she didn't deliver what he wanted.
So much for fatherly love. I knew the guy wasn't very emotional. Expressing feelings like love wasn't part of his makeup. I figured he just hid his emotions and wasn't one to show them. A lot of Bratva men are like that, especially Pakhans who can't afford to show weakness such as gushy feelings. But to do this to his own daughter? That, I did not expect.
"Where are you staying?" I ask, forcing my voice to stay calm.
Sophia shakes her head. "I don't know. I have some money saved, but not much. I thought maybe I could find a small apartment somewhere, just until I figure out what to do next."
"No." The word comes out sharper than I intend. "You're not going to some shitty apartment. You'll stay here."
Sophia's head snaps up, her eyes wide with shock. "What?"
"You'll stay at my estate," I repeat, my tone leaving no room for argument. "I have plenty of space, and you're not going to be homeless because your father is a fucking coward who can't handle his own failures."
Mariya's expression softens slightly as she looks at me, something like approval flickering in her eyes. "Andrey's right. You shouldn't be alone right now."
"I can't ask you to do that," Sophia protests weakly. "It's too much."
"You're not asking. I'm offering." I move closer, crouching down so I'm at eye level with her. "Your father is a piece of shit for doing this to you. But you don't have to face it alone."
