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Glad he thinks it’s funny.Little did he know his words gutted me. “She’s not my mistress,” I said venomously. I swallowed back the urge to tell them Anya was already sneaking around my house with digital technology. But they knew that we were allowing an outsider into the fold. And as her husband-to-be, it would be my job to keep Anya under control. Just catching her before she did something unknown wasn’t enough evidence to throw at the boss.
My uncle walked up to me, patting my shoulder in condolence. “It’s okay to have a sidepiece, plemyannik. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking your bride will be understanding enough to allow infidelity in her home. We have to give the wives some semblance of respectability in our world.”
I’d been around long enough that I knew this twisted, disrespectful manner wasn’t just my uncle’s take on life; it was the way of all powerful men in the underworld. That didn’t mean I accepted it. “I would never disrespect Briana by reducing her to mistress status,” I bit out. “Now, if there is nothing else, I’m going to bed.”
While my uncle narrowed his eyes at me, my cousin laughed off my statement. “Goodnight, cuz. We’ll see you in the morning, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I agreed, while still holding his father’s gaze. Ever the loyal soldier, this streak of defiance was definitely a new consideration for my uncle. But Igor merely nodded, and with a barked order to his driver, they left.
I scrubbed my hand through my hair as I walked around the back of the house. The head of my security detail jogged over, and I arched a brow at him. “Has something happened?”
Sergie shook his head. “No, boss. I just thought you’d want to chat—”
I held up a hand and cut him off. “Can it wait till morning?”
The guard jerked back in surprise. “Of course, boss. I’m sorry to bother you, it’s just I know how much you like to know these things.”
I nodded. “Thank you. We’ll discuss this first thing in the morning.”
“Yes, sir.”
I moved away, my mind on the previous discussion. The instruction from the pakhan wasn’t a suggestion. Briana was on limited time here. My uncle’s treaty was at stake, and if I didn’t obey, he would take care of it.
I gripped the wrought iron rail enclosing the patio and glared at the pool.How did I get in this mess?The in-laws were going to be a nightmare. They would expect some shred of loyalty and small concessions in favor of my bride...like getting rid of my sister’s friend.
“And she hates my home,” I muttered under my breath. “Unbelievable.”
“For what it’s worth, I like your home. It’s beautiful,” said a voice I’d recognize anywhere.
Briana’s words made my heart pound double. A lightness flooded my chest, and I wanted to sink into her touch.
“Anya will have it razed—or we’ll move.” As I spoke, I turned slowly to take her in. Briana was now barefoot and still in that pretty, flowy dress. Heat crept into my veins, and my inhale was sharp with desire.
“Happy wife, happy life,” she quipped, but there was mockery in her tone. Briana dropped my gaze and walked over to the patio table, where she skimmed a dishcloth over the surface.
“It’s a pity it doesn’t matter that this place makes you happy, suits.”
“Viktor—” she paused, looking up at me. “This will never work. Even if I can get you out of the contract, I’m not from this world.”
I stilled. “You can get me out of the contract?”
Briana scrubbed the dishcloth over the surface of the patio table again. “I can look at it and try. If you want, that is?”
“How could you think I wanted to be bargained to a stranger? And a child bride, no less!”
Briana smiled sadly. “I know you don’t want that. I’ll do my damnedest to set you free. You deserve to find someone who appreciates your tastes, someone you can create dreams with.”
“You.” The word was sharp, blunt.
Briana froze. “You said it had to end.” While her mouth said one thing, something raw and breathtakingly beautiful shifted through her features. Hope. She fucking hoped for more.
I crossed the distance and wrapped my hands around her arms. She still didn’t meet my gaze. “Hear me out, dammit! I didn’t want it to end, Briana. You were in danger because of my secrets...but now you know. If I was a free man, I’d make you queen of this castle. You’d be mine.”
Briana splayed her fingers on my chest. “That’s a beautiful profession, Viktor. The only problem is I don’t belong in this world.”
“You know that’s a lie, suits. You belong with me.”
She shook her head. “Until I look at the contract, this discussion is moot. My understanding is the goats and sheep are under contract.”
