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“I have Tiana. Luca and Viktor are on their way to St. Monarch’s for a meeting with Aslanhov and Makarova. I hope you get this message soon and get your ass back to Switzerland. If you don’t, I’ll handle everything.”
I place my phone back in my pocket, and looking at Tiana, I see the worry is back in her eyes.
“The meeting is inevitable,” I inform her. I wish I could put her at ease, but wanting to prepare her for the worst, I say, “Viktor will have the final say about who you’ll marry.”
The blood drains from her face. “Oh, God. What if he chooses Karlin?” She paces away from me while shoving her hands into her hair. “He’s going to choose Karlin. The bratva wants his business.” Panic tightens her voice until she sounds frantic. “This is going to be so bad. I’ll probably get punished for running away.”
Walking to Tiana, I take hold of her shoulders, spin her around, and press her to my chest. “Viktor isn’t an unreasonable man.” I lean down so I can see her face. “Tell him everything Karlin did to you. Leave nothing out. The Vetrovs disapprove of women being abused. It will count in your favor.”
Tiana nods, her eyes jumping over my face. “Do I have any say in this? Do you think it will help if I tell Mr. Vetrov I want to marry you?”
“Definitely.”
“Do you think Misha will get back in time?”
I let out a sigh as I hold her to me again. “I don’t know. Try not to worry too much. I’ll do everything in my power to keep you with me.”
Tiana wraps her arms around me, pressing her face hard into my chest. Her words are mumbled against my shirt as she pleads, “Please, Armani. I want to stay with you. I know it’s asking a lot, but I can’t marry Karlin.”
I press a kiss to her hair and wrap her so tight against me it will take an army of men to pry her from my arms.
There’s no way on this godforsaken earth Tiana will marry Makarova. Over my dead body will I allow that to happen.
Chapter 13
Tiana
Armani puts on the TV to try and distract me, but it doesn’t work. It’s impossible to focus on anything but the sword hanging over my head.
Please, God. Please, please, please, let me marry Armani and not Karlin.
“Let’s get some rest,” Armani murmurs as he switches off the TV.
“I’ll take the couch,” I try again, not wanting him to struggle with the small space.
He shakes his head and nods toward the bedroom. I follow him, and he points to the bed. “Get in. I’m just going to shower, then I’ll be out of your way.”
“Take your time. I’m invading your space,” I say as I inch closer to the bed. On the spur of the moment, I add, “The bed is big enough for both of us.”
Armani comes out of the walk-in closet with a pair of sweatpants in his hand. He stares at me for an intense second, then says, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. You’ve had one hell of a day, Tiana. Get some sleep.”
Nodding, I pull the covers back and climb into bed. Armani walks into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
I lie down and stare up at the ceiling while I listen to the shower running.
Why did the thing with Karlin have to happen? Sometimes I don’t understand why life has to be so hard.
Even though there were times tonight when Armani downright terrified me, I’ll pick him a thousand times over Karlin.
Where Karlin spoke to me as if I was shit under his shoe, Armani has only treated me with respect and kindness.
Please, God, I’ll never ask for anything ever again. Let me marry Armani.
When the bathroom door opens, my eyes dart to Armani. He’s only wearing a pair of sweatpants, making my eyebrows fly into my hairline. His chest, abs, and a V curving into the waistband is the most attractive thing I’ve ever seen.
Sweet mother of God.
I blink a couple of times as I stare at his chest. His muscles aren’t overly defined and bulky. No hard ridges of abs. Instead, golden skin runs smoothly over what I’d call pure perfection.
He walks closer to the bed, and staring down at me, the corner of his mouth lifts. “Try to get some sleep, bella. If you need anything, just wake me.”
I nod, and when he leans down and presses a kiss to my forehead, my heart flutters in my chest.
He smells heavenly, like wild spices and calm waters. I don’t know how else to describe the scent, but I think it fits him perfectly.
“Good night, Armani,” I murmur before watching him leave the room. Then my eyes get stuck on his shoulders and back.
