Page 72 of The Pakhan’s Unwanted Bride

"Of course." I try to keep the disappointment out of my voice, but I'm not sure I succeed.

He studies me for a moment, and I wonder what he sees. Then he leans down and presses a brief kiss to my forehead, so quick and unexpected that I barely have time to register it before he's pulling away.

"Thank you," he says quietly.

"For what?"

"For listening. And for not looking at me like I'm a monster." He turns and walks away, leaving my mouth hanging open in shock, his long strides carrying him quickly back toward the house.

I stand there in the garden, my hand pressed to my forehead where I can still feel the warmth of his lips. Samuil Galkin, the notorious Pakhan whom everyone fears, just opened up to me about the worst moment of his life. He trusted me with his pain and his carefully guarded secrets. And somehow, that feels more intimate than anything physical we've shared.

Later that afternoon, restless energy drives me through the halls of the estate. I'm walking past Samuil's study when Gregory's voice drifts through the partially open door, and I slow my steps without meaning to.

"The accountants found another withdrawal." Gregory's voice is careful, measured in a way that immediately puts me on alert. "Same pattern as before. A large sum transferred to an offshore account with no clear business justification."

I freeze in the hallway, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest. They're talking about me, I just know it! About the money I've been quietly moving to help the families affected by the recent violence and the widows and children who need support that no one else is providing.

36

SAMUIL

Istudy the withdrawal report Gregory has placed on my desk, noting the amount and the timing. Another large sum transferred from Ana's personal inheritance account, routed through the same offshore channels as the previous withdrawals. The pattern is consistent, deliberate, and completely unauthorized by anyone except her.

Gregory shifts his weight, clearly expecting me to be furious. "The accountants flagged it because of the frequency and the routing. They wanted to know if you were aware."

I lean back in my chair and consider the numbers. Two withdrawals are significant, but it's her money. She has every legal right to do whatever the hell she wants with it. The question is what exactly she's doing with it and why she's being so careful to hide it.

"Tell the accountants I'm aware and it's authorized." I close the folder and hand it back to Gregory. "Continue monitoring the withdrawals quietly, but don't interfere and don't let Ana know we're watching. If she's indulging in something stupid, I'll deal with it when the time is right."

Gregory nods slowly, though I can see the questions in his eyes. He's wondering why I'm not confronting her immediately, why I'm allowing my wife to move large sums of money without explanation. The truth is, I'm curious. Ana has surprised me more than once since we married. I want to see what she's really up to before I make assumptions.

"Understood." Gregory tucks the folder under his arm. "Anything else?"

"Actually, yes." I stand and move to the window, looking out over the grounds. "I need to inspect the clubs this week. The quarterly reviews are overdue, and I want to see the numbers myself before the end of the month."

"I can handle the inspections if you'd prefer to stay here with Ivan still recovering."

"No." I turn back to face him. "I'll do them myself. But I'm taking Ana with me."

Gregory's eyebrows rise slightly, the only indication of his surprise. "You're taking the princess to inspect the nightclubs?"

"She's my wife now, not just the princess." A deep heat settles in my gut at the word "wife" but also sends a prickle of alarm down my spine. "It's time she sees more of the business than just the estate and the occasional meeting. Besides, we could both use a night out that isn't a formal obligation or a family crisis."

The truth is more complicated than that, but I'm not about to explain to Gregory that I want to spend time with Ana away from the estate and the constant reminders of threats and danger and family secrets.

"I'll make sure security is arranged." Gregory heads for the door, then pauses. "For what it's worth, I think it's a good idea. She should understand all aspects of what being your wife means."

After he leaves, I sit at my desk for several more minutes, thinking about Ana and those withdrawals. That's serious money being moved with serious intent. Whatever she's doing, she's being careful and deliberate about it.

I find myself almost hoping it's something reckless, something that gives me a reason to be angry with her. Because the alternative is that she's doing something good with that money, something generous and selfless, and that would make it even harder to maintain the distance I need to keep between us.

Later that evening, I find Ana in the library curled up in one of the leather chairs with a book. She looks up when I enter, and I catch the flash of wariness in her eyes before she masks it with a polite smile.

"I'm inspecting one of the clubs tomorrow night." I lean against the doorframe, keeping my posture casual. "I want you to come with me."

The wariness transforms into genuine surprise. "You want me to come with you? To a nightclub?"

"It's not a social visit. I need to review the books, check on the managers, and make sure everything is running properly. But yes, I want you there." I cross my arms over my chest, the movement pulling my shirt tight across the tattoos that cover my forearms. "Unless you'd rather stay here and reorganize more furniture."