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Both men looked at each other, Sergei pushing. “Ill-advised unless you put the fear of God into everyone.”

“That’s exactly what I plan on doing,” I told him.

“How so?”

I glanced at Roman, his genuine curiosity almost amusing because he knew what I was about to say. “We’re going to be getting married. As the Pakhan’s wife, the marriage will send a clear message to all those who oppose me.”

While my men would always do what I commanded, doing so for a girlfriend versus my wife was entirely different. Different cultures. Different outcomes.

I didn’t hear a noise so much as I sensed her presence.

She stood in the doorway, her look of consternation everything I’d come to expect from such a powerfully controlled woman. I’d seen tears in her eyes along with both fury and fear, but now it was as if there was nothing left inside her beautiful body.

There was no real frailness about her and I could sense she was doing everything in her power to maintain a level of strength that few people would have.

She turned her attention from Roman to Sergei, her angry gaze followed by her crossing her arms.

“We will talk tomorrow, gentlemen. For now, keep the news quiet.”

“I’ll see what else I can find and set up the meeting with the fire inspector,” Sergei told me.

“Do that.”

The two of them walked toward the door and she sidestepped them completely. The glare remained intact, but she wasn’t angry with them.

She was furious with me.

CHAPTER 9

Isabel

“Marriage.”

The single word out of my mouth dripped of sarcasm.

“You overheard,” Maxsim stated and his tone was as if what I’d overheard was about just a simple course of business.

“Yes, I did.”

He seemed uncertain what to say to me. A man like Maxsim was never at a loss for words. Until today. At least I knew exactly the kind of effect I had on him. I walked closer although I took my time in doing so. I wasn’t entirely certain how to feel now that I knew at least some of his intentions.

“Is Mina asleep?” he asked and avoided the caustic topic by walking toward the bar.

“Yes, she is. With Shadow by her side. Hopefully, she’ll sleep through the night.”

While he only nodded in response, I could tell even he was riddled with concern. I knew how much he cared. Of course I did. I also sensed he was at a strange place of being unable to figure out the best course of action.

At this point, I wasn’t entire certain how or what to feel, but I refused to be pressured by anyone.

“I’m not marrying you, Maxsim. At least not under duress.”

“You think I’m forcing you?”

“Well, aren’t you? You just told your brother and your top soldier we were getting married. That sounds final to me, as if I have no choice in the matter.”

He poured us both drinks without asking me what I wanted. So typical for the overly controlling man, but I reminded myself that he was suffering alongside the two of us.

“It’s the only way of putting the fear of God into people.”