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“No!” She doesn’t struggle out of my hold. “We met at a pool party at the beginning of the summer. He’s… He’s supposed to move to Boston to be near me.”
“What’s in Boston?” I feel so fucking unsettled.
“The private college I’ve been going to for three years. I’m a senior and I’m supposed to graduate.” She lowers her head. “Ivan was moving there to expand his uncle’s reach.”
This news makes my head swim. Before my brain overloads, I get on my phone, keeping Isabella pinned with my free hand. “Balor, get over to the house right now.”
“I’m already in your office,” he says. “Eoghan called me.”
“Good. Ivan Petrov. Find him, and give me a report on him by the time I get downstairs.”
Isabella pushes on my arms. “Don’t hurt him. He didn’t do anything.”
I snicker and swing her legs to the edge of the bed. Those big, brown eyes kill me. Without thinking, I tap her lips with my fingers. Soft. Moist. “Listen, princess. Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Sorry.” She lowers her head, and all the fight leaves her body. Her submission should arouse me, but it’s born of fear.
My stomach twists, thinking I scared her.
I lift her chin, tempted to apologize, but it’s her first day here. She needs to know I’m in charge. I take what I want. That will include other women. It will be easier to accept her role here if I make that clear from the start. “Isabella, I’ll give you everything you need and want. Clothing. Jewelry. Protection. But understand, this marriage is an arrangement. There will be no love. I will respect you in public, show you off as my queen.”
“In private?” Her hands grip the bottom of her T-shirt, the fabric twisting. “Will you brutalize me every night?”
“As your husband, that will be my right.” I run my hand across her cheek, grateful it’s not swollen. “Brutalize isn’t what I’d call you screaming my name from the pleasure you’ll get when I take you.”
“Uh huh,” Isabella sputters, her cheeks heating up under my touch.
She grew up in this world. This shouldn’t be a shock. Her mother’s not here to guide her, as I knew my maimeó did for my mother when she was handed over to my father. I’ll have to be patient with my bride.
School… She’s going to school and getting an education. I can be…flexible. Then pivot if needed. “Isabella, what are you going to school for?” It will also give me more insight into this girl I’m going to marry.
“Women’s studies,” she says softly. “With a minor in finance. Mama…” She chokes on a sob. “Mama wanted to arrange for me to marry a businessman. Not a…”
“Savage,” I answer with a grunt.
“A don.” She looks up. “Like Papa.”
Being compared to a man who would strike his own daughter enrages me. “I’m nothing like your father. I promise you that.”
“Okay.” She lifts those big eyes to me, doubt lingering there.
“What are you expecting to do with your degree?” I’m not against women getting an education, but it will be on my terms.
“I assumed a businessman would let me at least do charity work. I want to start a foundation that helps victims of domestic violence.” She lowers her head. “Papa used to beat my mother. I understood her situation was unique. She could never leave him. But being away at school, I figured out that there are plenty of women whocouldleave but don’t. Because they don’t have the means.”
I take in that one word.Leave. Would Isabella leave me? I will never hit her. Or hurt her. I, too, hate the idea of women being stuck with animals. I’m a businessmananda savage, but I consider myself decent. I tuck these thoughts up into my brain. Something to negotiate later.
“So, what do you need?” I ask her.
“This is my senior year. I’m supposed to do an independent study project. I was going to build a business plan for the foundation. And then figure out funding.”
I shake my head, surprised at every turn with this girl. She’s a senior in college. She’s smart and caring. She also has a boyfriend, who’s in Koslov’s Bratva.
“Can you do your project online from here?” I get back to my line of questions.
“I guess.” She crosses her legs. The sexy curve of muscle in her thighs has me picturing them around my waist or my face. “I have all my research in the school’s cloud. I just need a computer to get them. Mine was destroyed. I planned to buy a new one when I got to school.”
Complications, details, other people’s problems, I’m ready to punch the wall. “I’ll have my brother Balor come talk to you. We’ll get you set up with a new computer, but he’ll monitor everything you do.”
