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Paige shifts in her seat, sitting at the end of the couch away from Dmitri.
“What do we need to do to get better families on this list?” I ask.
Dmitri stares at the screen. “We can offer a gift?”
Paige stares daggers at me. “Are you talking about auctioning off my sister?”
Dmitri glances at Paige and then focuses on me. “Perhaps there are better ways than using marriage? You’ve had mixed luck with matrimony so far.”
I scowl at Dmitri. “Names? What about Semenov or Tarasov?”
“He’s married to Dmitrieva, and the Tarasovs were no fans of Vasily. A rushed marriage isn’t going to mend a blood feud. Especially a marriage to a sister-in-law,” he replies quickly.
I have to restrain myself from shouting at him. “I need a better name, Dima.”
He looks at me coldly. “Perhaps the girl has plans for her own life.”
Instantly, I remember the day when Eva said something similar about Paige.What if that woman you brought here also made promises that you are making her break?
My voice lowers. “I’m looking out for Emma’s interests first, then ours.”
Dmitri smiles at Paige, who stares back at him. “Paige Geraldovna, I’m sure Emma planned to go to college. She’s a smart girl.”
I watch Paige as her body tenses and her lips thin. She swallows hard before she speaks. “I agree with Andrei. It would be better for Emma to marry well. For her own protection. I never want her put in harm’s way again.”
Dmitri nods and heads toward the door. “Then I will continue to look,” he says as he leaves.
I glance over at Paige; her hand is pressed against her belly, and her eyes are shut tight. If there had been a choice other than me, would she have taken it? I stand up and approach her.
Before Paige can react, I grab her around the waist and pull her close to my chest, holding her tight against me. My mouth comes down on hers, and she struggles as if my kiss is a vicious attack.
She lifts her hands to my chest, trying to push me away. But it’s impossible.
Slowly, her fists unclench, and her breathing quickens. Her eyes part slightly and close again as she holds onto me. Her mouth is hard against mine as her anger turns into desire.
“You’re lying if you say you don’t want me,” I whisper.
My voice makes her eyes open, and she stares hard into mine. Paige has nothing to say. At first, I think it’s good, or maybe she’s pleasing me until she can get away.
Her eyes blaze as she steps away from me. “Staying alive is not a joke when you’re around.”
“It will be okay, Paige,” I tell her. “We do this together, and your sister will be okay. Have you heard from Kenney? Has he tried to reach you?”
She tenses up, and I would be a fool not to notice. But we stop speaking as the sound of voices approaches the front door.
Emma enters, and behind her is Zhanna Nikolaeva’s grandson, the one I met at the funeral. I hesitate, unsure of what he wants. Does he plan to warn me? But then I notice the look he gives Emma when she glances at him.
I know what he wants.
“Hello.” Paige extends her hand toward him. “My name is Paige, and this is my husband, Andrei.”
“My sister is so formal,” Emma says to the boy. “Paige, Stefan gave me a ride home from school.” Emma laughs. “When we were leaving school today, it was like we were leading a parade with our Rovers and Mercedes riding behind us.”
Stefan smiles and shakes Andrei’s hand. “Dobrei dyen, Andrei Vasilyevich, and I wish this could have taken place under better circumstances.” The young man is perfect for us both. Well-connected and wealthy for me. And attractive, with a friendly smile and sparkling blue eyes for her.
Emma walks Stefan to the door and down the steps. Andrei pulls me into his arms as we watch them joke with one another before he gets into his car. But my gaze rests on Viktor. His expression reveals nothing except for his icy eyes.
Andrei said he hadn’t expected to find trouble at home.
