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“You son of a bitch, where is she? What do you want?” He’s livid, his tone already laced with desperation. His daughters truly are his weakness. How fucking pathetic is that?
“I want you to fulfill your end of the deal. Arianna Kozlov is now my wife. We’re family. I’ll send my demands to you soon. Until then, don’t do anything stupid. If you retaliate in any way, she’s dead. Got it?”
“I understand. Please don’t hurt my daughter.” His anger is tempered with defeat. He won’t do anything that will put her life in danger. I have no clue how he’s still the head of his family. Some day, someone is going to come along and knock him off his throne.
Except… now we’re joined, so if anyone tries to dethrone him, I’ll have to kill them. Isn’t that a funny twist?
“I won’t hurt her as long as you cooperate.” I hang up on him. That’s now settled.
With his daughter as my wife, Pontrelli will help me hunt down my uncle’s murderer. He wouldn’t dare double-cross me.
When his oldest daughter, Sophia, was engaged to my cousin I watched the whole situation unravel from afar. What I figured out by all that happened is that Pontrelli will literally do anything to protect his family—even destroy his reputation as a man of his word.
As long as Arianna belongs to me, so does her father. He’ll be good and do as he’s told. Just like she will.
CHAPTER 6
Dimitri
By the time we arrive at Riot, Arianna is out cold, so I carry her up to my penthouse. I leave Maks to close the door behind us and take her into my bedroom. There I gently undress her, brush her long brunette hair, then tuck her under the covers. Her breathing is steady and even throughout. She looks like a sleeping angel.
Anger curls through me when I realize that she wore that pretty green dress for Connor Bane without any underwear on underneath. That thin piece of silk is all that lay between her body and his prying eyes.
I watch her sleep, the cave man inside me calms knowing that I’ve laid my claim on her. We need to consummate our marriage, but not tonight. When I plunge my cock into her sweet body for the first time, I want her eyes on me. I want her begging for it as I make her come over and over.
For now, I leave her be. We’ll have a lot to talk about in the morning. I make my way to where Maks is seated in front of the television in the living room.
“I’m going down to the club tonight. You’re officially my wife’s bodyguard and driver. Just don’t let her out of here until I say so.”
He nods. “Understood, Pakhan.” He folds his arms and lifts a brow at me. “Do you really think this is smart? The Italians, and her family especially, are going to be pissed.” I read the worry in his eyes. He’s concerned about my reckless actions.
“This was the original fallback plan when her sister didn’t marry my cousin. I’m simply seeing it through.” I shrug.
Maks eyes me. He’s known me too long to fall for my crap.
“I call bullshit. You’re up to something else, but I can’t quite sniff it out. What’s up? And don’t tell me it’s about Vadim’s murder. This is about her, why her?”
I’m not ready to answer that question. Not yet. “It’s a long and complicated story. I don’t want to get into it right now.” I rake my fingers through my short hair. “Just keep an eye on her for me.”
“You know I will.” He leans slightly forward on the couch, elbows resting on his knees. “I know you’re the Pakhan now and all, but you can still trust me to keep your secrets, Dimitri. I won’t let you down.”
“I know. In fact, you’re the only one I trust at the moment. The others don’t even know about my marriage, not yet.”
“Why keep it a secret?” he asks, his expression concerned. “Why not tell them about your plans?”
I shrug. I’m not sure why I don’t want them involved, other than this gut feeling of unease and distrust for my own men. Soon enough they’ll learn the truth. I can’t keep Arianna hidden away, all to myself, forever. As much as I’d like to do just that.
“Just trust me,” I tell Maks. “Everything will be sorted out.”
I hope. One way or another. Either I’ll find my uncle’s murderer and avenge his death, or I’ll end up dead. I just wish I knew where the threat lay hidden. I hope I’m on the right track.
But that’s what I’m going to fucking find out. And soon.
Maks nods. “I trust you, Pakhan. See you later. I’ll keep an eye on your girl.”
My girl. My wife. I like her described as both of those things.
With one last lingering glance at my bedroom door in the hallway, I take the elevator down to Riot, to the underground club. There’s a fight going on tonight between a local favorite and an out of towner.
