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“And you think if I marry her,” I curl my lip and sneer at my brother, my feelings about his plan clear as fucking day, “it will save her?”
He shrugs one shoulder. “She will at least be safe here.” My oldest brother, a man I have looked up to like a father for almost as long as I can remember, pierces me with a look. “You need some direction. You need some responsibility. We’ve been too soft on you and allowed you too many liberties. It’s time for you to put someone else before you. This is an opportunity I can’t pass up,” he pauses, the corner of his mouth tipping up in an almost smirk, “for many reasons.”
“I’m not marrying some stranger. You can’t ask this of me. You’ll be ripping my life and my future away from me.”
Nikolai’s eyes flare. “You’ve been throwing away your future for years, Viktor. Now it’s time for you to find your place with us and the first step is making a sacrifice in the Orlov name.”
“We’ve all made sacrifices over the years,” Ivan tries to reason with me, his voice gentle.
I know he’s right. I even know Nikolai isn’t asking something of me that is impossible. It just feels like it is.
This will change my entire life and I wasn’t consulted about it.
Then again, it’s not like my brothers were given a choice about who they are or even their roles in the family. I know it. I can even recognize how unfair it all is.
“You’ve been selfish, Viktor,” Sergei doesn’t try and soften the blow, “while you’ve been partying and not giving a single fuck about anything other than yourself.”
“Who knows,” Nikolai begins, “she might be the perfect woman for you.”
I scoff before storming away. I know they aren’t going to budge. Nikolai has already agreed to this arrangement. It might not be something I ever expected him to do, but I know what it means when he gives his word. It’s binding and I’m going to be bound to this woman through marriage.
Does it have to be forever though? Is there a way out?
“Pavel and Calla will be coming by tomorrow. You will be at the meeting and presentable,” Nikolai calls after me.
Fuck. I should have stashed a bottle of liquor in my room.
CHAPTER 3
CALLA
If Pavel cares about how I feel as we stop in front of the Orlov mansion, it’s buried deep. It’s under the arrogance, cockiness, and selfishness rolling off him. Honestly, it’s a big fucking ‘if’ and I’m not about to start believing my brother cares about me at all.
I barely slept last night because knowing I was coming here today, and why, was not easy to wrap my mind around. Everything in my life is about to change.
I thought I had power over my own body, but it doesn’t feel like it right now. It feels like everything is slipping through my fingers and I’m powerless to stop it. The way my heart is pounding while I’m trying to not show how anxious I am is making me feel out of sorts.
Being here is wrong. Our father would be pissed at Pavel if he were around to see this. I’m a little bit afraid the smirk plastered on Pavel’s face is because of how much our father would be against this whole thing.
My mind blanks as my brother leads me up to the door and doesn’t come back online until the door swings open. My lungs seize as we’re led into a formal living room where a few men are waiting for me along with a beautiful woman who doesn’t lookmuch older than me.
The man and woman stand up and take a step toward me. I focus on the woman because I’m afraid that if I look at the men then I’m going to break down or run away screaming. Either would get me in trouble.
Pavel’s energy is rolling off him and it makes me want to curl in on myself. How can he not see that he’s not the apex predator in the room? The man who has his arm wrapped around the woman is and I can only assume he’s Nikolai.
“Pavel,” the man nods toward my brother as the woman gives me a soft smile. His focus shifts to me and I glance up into his eyes for a moment. “Calla,” his voice is softer when he speaks to me, “I’m Nikolai. It’s lovely to meet you.”
“Mr. Orlov,” I murmur, “it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
He gives me a small smile, his eyes filling with understanding. “Nikolai, please, you’re going to be my sister-in-law. That makes us family,” there’s an edge to his words and I can feel Pavel’s energy change to one of annoyance.
I nod slowly and offer him a small smile. The woman offers me her hand. “I’m Nikolai’s wife, Mistletoe.” I try not to show any reaction to her name, but it’s a little strange. I must not hide it well enough because she giggles softly. “I know, it’s a strange name. Most people call me Mistie.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I tell her politely.
She grips my hand and leads me deeper into the formal living room. “Please, have a seat,” she insists and leads me to a chair close to where the youngest man in the room is sitting on a loveseat. He must be Viktor.
I glance his way to find his jaw set and clenched. He doesn’t look happy, and, for some strange reason, that slices through my heart. I wasn’t exactly expecting some instant connection because I’m not delusional, but to see his anger has trepidation filling me.
