Page 13 of Claimed By River

Something in my chest drops. “You knew?”

“I knew there was a door I wasn’t supposed to open.” She finally looks up at me. “I grew up in a house full of them. I’m not stupid, River. I just decided I’d rather have this job than the answer.”

Her mouth twists. “So, the four of you are secretly hunting criminals while pretending to own a tattoo shop.”

“That’s the short version.”

She blinks. “My life has officially become a terrible action movie.”

Despite everything, I laugh. “It does sound ridiculous.”

“It sounds impossible.”

“Maybe to you but not to us. And this brings me to another matter I’ve decided on.” I pause momentarily, hoping she takes it well. “You should marry me.”

She lets out another stunned breath.

I take advantage of her shock and continue, “Royal’s been in Ivan’s finances. He has five weeks to be married, or he loses his grandfather’s trust. If you’re already married when that clock runs out, he has no choice but to find someone else. He’ll take the money instead of you.”

She simply stares. “Did you hit your head downstairs?” she finally asks.

I raise my brow. “No.”

“Because that’s the only explanation I can come up with.”

I remain silent as I hold her gaze.

She stands abruptly and begins pacing. “No. I’m not doing this. I ran away to avoid an arranged marriage, River.” She pauses to look at me. “This is my life, not a show. Besides, I’ve always known whose son Royal is and what that name buys in this city, so when did he suddenly become Batman?”

There’s the woman I’ve been missing all afternoon. Brown eyes burning bright, fury giving way to panic by degrees.

“This is insane.” She presses both hands against her temples. “It’ll trap me. The same way my father trapped my mother.”

I take a slow breath as I take in her fearful gaze. I stand and gently tug her closer, pulling her into my arms.

She doesn’t resist.

“I’m not your father, Nadia. I’ll protect you.”

“I know,” she whispers as she pulls out of our embrace.

“Once Ivan marries someone else, we’ll file for an annulment or a divorce. You’ll be completely free, and it will buy us enough time to deal with your father,” I explain.

I know she’s mine, but she doesn’t know it yet. If she wants out, I’ll give her a way out until I can convince her otherwise.

Nadia stares at me in confusion. “Why would you agree to all this?” she asks.

I already know the real answer. Because somewhere between bickering over everything and watching her find tiny moments of happiness, she quietly became important to me. But I’m not ready to admit that.

So I shrug instead. “It’s a piece of paper and a signature. Costs me nothing.” The lie comes easier than it should.

She watches me carefully, studying me for what feels like forever before finally releasing a long breath. “I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this.”

A small smile tugs at my mouth. “Good.”

For now, that’ll have to be enough.

Chapter Four