Page 55 of Dark King Daddy

“Explain,” I said.

Uncle Kostya moved to the window.

“A written alliance can be abandoned. A freight agreement can be suspended. Captains can claim orders were misunderstood. Clients can choose other carriers. Men can whisper that Anton intends to pull away from the Sokolovs or Daniil intends to take the waterfront.”

He gestured toward the operations room beyond the wall.

“That is happening now.”

I said nothing.

“A marriage would make the alliance visible and personal. You remain the Orlov Pakhan’s sister. You become the Sokolov Pakhan’s wife. An attack on you becomes an attack on both families. A betrayal of Anton becomes a betrayal of Daniil’s wife. A betrayal of Daniil becomes an offence against Anton’s sister.”

“Women have been called bridges before,” Anton said. “Usually while men walked over them.”

Uncle Kostya’s jaw tightened. “And organizations have been destroyed because young leaders refused ugly solutions that worked.”

“Ksenia is not a solution.”

I looked at my brother.

He meant it.

Uncle Kostya continued. “Captains understand marriage. Union men understand it. Clients understand it. A contract is paper. Marriage is family.”

“So is Ksenia,” Anton said.

“Yes. That is why it has value.”

Anton crossed the room in two steps.

“Choose your next word carefully.”

I stood.

“Enough.”

They looked at me.

My voice had not risen. It did not need to.

I turned to Uncle Kostya. “Would Daniil agree?”

“I don’t know.”

The answer surprised me.

“At least you’re honest.”

“I believe he would consider it. The Sokolovs need the alliance as much as we do.”

“That isn’t what I asked.”

Uncle Kostya studied me. “You asked whether he would agree. I cannot know until Anton speaks with him.”

I looked at Anton. “Does he want to marry?”

“I have no idea,” Anton said. “And I do not care, because you are not marrying him to settle a logistics problem.”