Page 132 of Taken By My Grumpy Pakhan

I looked at the man built like a brick. When Lev asked for a plan, he meant an attack scheme. I had no doubt he already had men waiting.

I swirled the glass of water I’d been pretending was vodka. “Hopefully it won’t come to that.”

“And if it does?”

My vision blurred slightly. “Leave no survivors.”

Among the most important lessons I’d learned from my father and grandfather was the importance of fear and respect amongst men.

If Svetlana’s family came up with a slippery scheme, I would be more than willing to put an end to the lineage before stories of my benevolence spread.

The pilot's voice echoed a few more times before I felt the wheels hit the tarmac. By the time we got out, three cars were lined up and waiting.

Nikolai and I took one whilst Lev took another and headed out.

It took less than thirty minutes of Nikolai’s bland analysis and reports on Genevieve’s wellbeing—details I already had—before we arrived at our destination.

Svetlana’s father received us in a study lined with old books I knew he never read and portraits of men who’d built his family’s name on the same blood mine had been built with.

He was a small man who’d learned to make himself look larger through the company he kept, and today he looked smaller than I’d ever seen him.

“Kazimir,” he said, standing. “I assume this isn’t a social call.”

“Where is everyone?” I questioned his lack of kinsmen.

“I assumed this was a matter of the utmost delicate nature.”

We exchanged a brief glance, which was enough for me to know he understood the implications of his daughter’s actions.

“Your daughter kidnapped a pregnant woman and held her against her will,” I said. I didn’t sit. “I trust you’ve heard.”

His jaw tightened. “I’ve heard a version of events.”

“There’s only one version,” I said. “My men were there. Nikolai was there. Svetlana ran the moment she saw us coming, which tells you everything about how confident she was in her own defense.”

He was quiet for a moment, calculating and weighing what a fight would cost against what a concession would save. “What is it you want?”

“The agreement ends,” I said. “Tonight, on paper, with both our signatures. No war, no retaliation, no talk of broken honor. Your daughter did this to herself.”

“You understand what you’re asking,” he said. “Fifteen years of alliance, undone in an evening.”

“I understand exactly what I’m asking,” I said, taking a step closer. “And I understand that if you refuse, I’ll make sure every family knows precisely why the engagement ended, in detail. Your choice is how much of your dignity you keep on the way out.”

He looked at Nikolai, who offered nothing but a flat stare, and then back at me. Whatever he saw in my face made the decision for him.

“I’ll have the papers drawn up,” he said.

“Tonight,” I said again.

“Tonight,” he agreed. “But in the meantime, what do I offer you? The agreement might be broken, but we’re still in business, I presume?”

“Nothing.”

He regarded me for a while before nodding. “I’ll draw up the contract then.”

Nikolai waited till the door shut behind him to speak.

“That was a bit too easy.”