AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Igor snorts, but I ignore him.
“Just spit it out, son. I am busy.” Father drums his fingers on the table.
“No. I want to discuss this alone.” I turn and finally look at Igor. “Without the hired help listening. If not, I’ll simply leave.”
“I’ll let him break your fucking wrist if you keep this up.” Grigoriy yawns as if he’s bored.
I shrug and sit back, acting as bored in return. “Fine. Let him. I don’t care anymore.”
My father’s brows draw down in confusion. It’s joyous to behold. He’s not sure how to react. I love throwing him off guard like this. His eyes narrow, and I simply hold his stare, ice-blue to ice-blue. All the fear I used to feel is not there anymore. If he throws me into a dark room, so what? I have my feelings for Mackenzie to keep me warm and safe now. It’s only the dark; it can’t hurt me.
I smile at him, and his frown deepens. To my shock and delight, he turns to Igor and jerks his chin.
“Go sit over there.”
Igor cracks his knuckles and gives me a death glare but does as he’s told.
“That’s better,” I say. “I hate the way that idiot listens in on everything between us.”
“Don’t push it too far, son. Now. Are. You. Engaged?”
He enunciates each word slowly and carefully.
“No. I. Am. Not.” Two can play at his game.
The slap is swift and hard, rocking my head back on my neck. I might have whiplash. I rub my cheek and turn back to him and smile.
“That won’t make it happen,” I say. “I asked, and she said no.”
“You gave her a choice?” He seems surprised.
“This is America, Father. She’s allowed to choose.”
“Nonsense,” he growls. “Real men take what they want.”
God, he’s insane. I stare at him and try to figure out if he’s being serious or if he’s trying to play games with me.
“Her mother is marrying Nataniele Rossi. Mackenzie isn’t just a girl off the streets, Father. She’s one of us, and her stepfather is going to be the man who runs the college. We don’t want to make enemies of them.”
He laughs, low and nasty. “I spend my life dealing with enemies. That’s the difference between you and me. I’ve raised you to be weak.”
“Good business demands a middle ground, though, no?” It’s a very risky thing I’m saying, but I push ahead. “Look at how well I did with the watches. I did that because I was cautious about what I bought.” That’s a lie, but I’ll use anything right now. “I want to be clear that I won’t be doing anything crazy with regard to Mackenzie. I will, however, make her mine. In my own time.”
I throw him a bone. Let him think she’ll still marry me.
He scoffs. “Son, she isn’t going to be yours. She’d have accepted your proposal if that were the case.”
“She’s not twenty-one yet. She’s an American girl, Pappa. Remember, they are not the same. They value independence, among other things. She will be mine, but it will just take a little time. I can’t force it.”
He slams his fist down on the table and, despite telling myself this man no longer scares me, it makes me jump.
“You can force it, Kirill. That’s the problem. You have never learned this lesson. Of course, you can force it. She should be crawling to you. Grateful to lick your boots. You will one day be the head of the Stepanov Bratva. How can she refuse that? Unless, of course, she sees your weakness? Perhaps she knows that, instead of you, I will crown Igor.”
I laugh. “Pappa, you’ll never make Igor your heir. He’s an idiot. It would shame our ancestors to do such a thing. Kill me, break my bones, do what you wish, but you won’t give all you’ve inherited and built upon to him.”
He stares at me, his jaw working. “Very well. Is this your final answer?”
A sense of elation fills me. This is easier than I thought. “Yes. She will be mine, but in my own time.”
