Page 43 of The Pakhan’s Unwanted Bride

I turn to find Ana standing in the doorway with Benedikt behind her. She's wearing fitted black pants and a deep red sweater that hugs her curves, and I go half hard just looking at her. Her hair is pulled back, and she's watching the scene with obvious curiosity.

"Princess." I keep my voice neutral. "This isn't a spectator sport."

"I want to watch." She moves closer, Benedikt following like a shadow. "I'm a big girl. I won't go screaming at the first sight of blood."

The last thing I need is to be distracted by her, but I have no valid reason to deny her. I gesture for her to stand beside me, and Benedikt positions himself on her other side, his expression carefully blank.

The fight starts brutal and stays that way. Both men are skilled, angry, and determined to prove themselves. Fists connect with flesh, blood starts flowing, and neither one backs down.

Ana watches without flinching, which, despite what she said, surprises me. I expected at the very least a gasp, a hand flying up to cover her mouth. But she just watches.

After fifteen minutes, the taller captain lands a solid hit that drops the other one to his knees. He stays down, breathing hard, with blood dripping from his nose.

"Enough." I step forward. "It's done."

Both men are bruised and bleeding, but they're alive. They'll heal. And more importantly, they've worked out whatever poison was building between them.

"You" —I point to the winner— "keep your position. You." I turn to the one still on his knees. "You're reassigned to the eastern territory. Fresh start, new crew, and a chance to prove yourself again."

The man nods, accepting the judgment without argument.

As they leave to get cleaned up, Ana turns to me. "Why didn't you just execute them?"

The question is direct, no judgment in her tone. Just genuine curiosity. She may be a princess and shielded from most of our dealings, but she's still part of the Bratva world and knows how things are usually handled.

"Because a Pakhan who kills every man who disappoints him eventually runs out of loyal men." I meet her eyes. "Fear keeps people in line for a while. But respect, earned through fair judgment, keeps them loyal for life. Those two are good soldiers who let personal shit cloud their judgment. They needed to work it out, not die for it."

She considers this answer seriously, her expression thoughtful. "My father rules through fear. Everyone's terrified of disappointing him." She pauses, cocking her head to the side as she studies me. "You're not what I expected," she says quietly.

"Neither are you, Princess."

The moment stretches between us, charged with sexual tension left over from the night before. Benedikt shifts slightly, drawing my attention. His expression is carefully neutral, the usual hatred for me not visible for once.

Ana breaks the silence. "I want to learn to defend myself."

"What?" That question takes me off guard and I jerk my head back in her direction.

"After what happened to my father, I want to know how to protect myself. I want to learn to shoot a gun."

Benedikt immediately steps forward. "I can take her to the indoor range. I've been training her in basic self-defense for years."

Something hot and possessive flares in my chest. "No. I'll teach her."

Ana's eyebrows rise slightly, but she doesn't argue. Benedikt's jaw tightens, but he steps back.

I lead her to the private shooting range in the compound's lower level. It's a long, well-lit space with multiple lanes and a variety of targets. I select a Glock 19, checking the magazine and chamber before handing it to her.

"Ever fired a gun before?"

"Once. When I was sixteen. My father thought I should know the basics."

"Show me your stance."

She positions herself, feet apart, arms extended. Her form is decent but needs work. I move behind her, close enough that my chest nearly touches her back.

"Adjust your grip. Firm but not tense." I reach around her, my hands covering hers, repositioning her fingers. "Your dominant hand does the work. The support hand steadies your grip and the gun."

Her breathing changes, becoming slightly faster. I'm close enough to smell her perfume and her own unique scent.