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“The story about the most eligible bachelors of New York?” I chuckle. “That was a silly article.”
“Maybe, but your picture was memorable,” she says, twisting her head so her gaze meets mine. “You didn’t answer my question. Why me?”
“Because one of your brothers was responsible for the car accident that killed my mother and fiancée,” I explain, carefully observing her for any sign that she knew about it. “All these years, he’s escaped punishment. You can imagine why that infuriates me.”
“I had no idea you were engaged,” she breathes. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
She places a gentle hand on my shoulder.
“Won’t you ask me who it was?” I inquire.
She pauses, probably not expecting me to take that route.
I just can’t help myself. I need the satisfaction of knowing how well she knows her brothers.
“It was Igor, wasn’t it?” she whispers. “He’s crashed a lot of cars, but I never knew there were any casualties.”
“Your father covered it up,” I growl. “He has half of the police force on his payroll.”
Katarina lifts her head, studying me closely.
“How come you haven’t killed him, then?” she challenges softly. “Why come after me instead?”
“Killing them would be too easy,” I reply. “Losing you will hurt them deeper.”
She pulls away from me and sits on the edge of the bed. “Is that all I am to you? A pawn in your game of vengeance?”
“We’re all somebody’s pawn, serdtse,” I tell her, pushing myself into a sitting position. “What are you willing to do about it? How will you play the cards you’ve been dealt? Will you partner up with your enemy or become one more name on the never-ending list of casualties? The choice is yours. That’s the one thing no one can take away from you.”
She swallows. I’m laying everything out there, trying to get the conversation on the right track. Finally, there’s nothing else between us but the truth.
“I either try to escape and be killed in the process, or I agree to marry you,” she muses, with a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.
“Marry me, and I’ll treat you like a queen,” I promise. “Show me I can trust you, and I’ll give you equality and freedom. If you do well by me, I’ll give you the world, serdtse. It might feel like you’re going into this as a prisoner, but I assure you that once we’re on the other side, you’ll be more free than ever before.”
Katarina’s pale green eyes study me for the longest of moments. I hold my breath as I wait for her reply. The way she will react now is the foundation on which we’ll build our future. This is it. I hope she can see it.
Before I realize what’s happening, Katarina is back in my arms, her lips pressed against mine.
I pull her onto my lap and wrap my arms around her.
Yes. Fucking yes.
I claim her mouth. I can’t get enough of her.
She pulls back and rests her forehead against mine.
“Hurt me, and I’ll kill you myself, Nik,” she warns, and with that, I have her. It’s her way of giving in and offering me her heart.
Katarina Sokolov has been tamed.
TWENTY-SEVEN
KATARINA
Even before I fully wake up, I know that something’s different.
The warm, bright rays of the sun caress my skin, reminding me that I’m not in my windowless cell anymore.
