Page 1 of His to Own

Chapter One

Elena

When I was five, my birthday present was a doll. My father told me it was a good lesson for me to learn: be obedient and pretty.

When I was twelve, my birthday present was a dress. My mother told me that a young lady should always look her best.

And now, for my nineteenth birthday, my present is a marriage proposal.

I stare at the man standing next to my father in shock. He’s older than my father. Bald on the top with hair on the sides of his head. A large belly that’s straining against his shirt. Bad body odor I can smell even from where I’m standing.

His name is Sergei Petrov and my father just told me that he’ll be my husband.

I open my lips but no sound comes out. That’s not unusual for me. I rarely ever make a sound. Whenever I do, my father snaps at me.

“This is settled,” Father says, nodding once. His dark hair so much like mine. His eyes so much like mine. And yet, I can see the look of disgust he throws my way. Why does he hate me so much?

My mother stands behind me, so I don’t know what she’s thinking but she always follows what our father says. Despite that, I can sense her hesitation. “Gregory, why didn’t you tell me you were going to do this?”

“Because Elena needs to be married and I have found her an eligible husband.”

“But Elena is in school right now. She can get married after she graduates.”

“I didn’t know you cared about your daughter getting an education, Masha,” Sergei says. His voice is rough and deep in a scary sort of way.

I glance at my mother and watch her flush. “I think it’s good for a woman to have talents. Elena is already beautiful. There’s nothing I need to criticize her for there so I believe she should be using her brain.”

“Elena can quit school and get married,” Father cuts in. “This is being decided.”

All the air inside my body leaves and for a moment, I think I’m going to die. As a mafia daughter, I always knew my father would marry me off one day. It’s what happened to my older sister, Lana. She had an arranged marriage, though her husband is young and handsome.

Father was angry that Lana’s husband, Nikolai, forced his hand. He never wanted to marry Lana to Nikolai. But Nikolai has a lot of power being a high ranking Bratva man. He got what he wanted and what he wanted was my sister. Fortunately, my sister fell in love with him.

As I look at Sergei, I get the sense my fate will be different. How can I love a man who’s older than my father? How can I love a man that makes me shudder in disgust?

I want to scream but I don’t make a sound. My throat feels closed off. No air to come through to speak. To object. To beg my father to stop this.

And on my birthday of all days.

“Women don’t need educations,” Sergei says. “They need to be whipped into shape. They need to be obedient to their husbands.”

A shiver runs down my spine. This man is going to hurt me. I can feel it in my bones.

Mother looks horrified. “Gregory, we should discuss this.” She turns her charming smile onto Sergei. “It was nice seeing you again, Sergei, but you should leave now. Family matters. You understand.” As a tall, stunning blonde, my mother looks more like a supermodel than a regular woman. Men have always admired her beauty. Lana and my younger sister, Adriana, got her looks. I didn’t.

Sergei’s eyes rake over my mother’s body. “Of course, Masha. I have to say, you are looking beautiful. No one would even think you’re sixty now.”

Her smile turns flat. “I’m fifty.”

“Ah. My apologies.” Except, he doesn’t sound regretful at all.

Once he leaves, Mother turns her full attention onto Father. “What is this? That’s the man you’re going to marry Elena to?”

“She needs to be married and Sergei is a good choice. He’s high ranking. Has a lot of money and power. You always said you wanted our girls married to men of high status.”

“I did. But I don’t want my daughter married to an old fossil. Find someone else for her.”

“This is happening, Masha,” he growls. “Now, enough. Dinner needs to be made. Get to it.”