Page 7 of Savage Pakhan

Her short brown hair is a cute bob that settles below her chin. The wind sways the shining strands, and she tucks them behind her ear. Her big doe-like brown eyes catch the sun and shades of gold sparkle like spilled honey.

Breathtaking.

Absolutely breathtaking.

There’s the faintest dash of freckles across the bridge of her nose, spots that I find I want to kiss. Her cheeks a full and her lips are a shade of pink that have me believe they taste like cotton candy.

The longer I look at her, the more I notice things that are out of place.

“What happened here?” I growl, brushing my thumb across her busted lip.

I barely hear her speak. Fury consumes me. Blood rushes in my ears. My heart pounds. My fists clench at my sides. I’m trembling with rage.

Nonsense excuses about a damn door.

I look over my shoulder, doing my best to reel in my anger. I don’t ever want Mia to think my frustration is towards her.

“Where’s my son?” He’ll be hearing from me later. How dare he have her come here alone with a bruised fucking cheek and a busted lip.

I will not doom Mia to a lifetime of abuse.

I’m not a stupid man. I know the excuses she’s feeding me are lies. Whatever my son is doing to her, I plan to find out. I don’t give a fuck about the contract. I don’t give a fuck about the Roswell’s especially since I think Mia’s father is trying to take advantage of the kindness I’ve given them over the years. They have relied on this wedding far too much. I don’t think this is about power at all.

It’s about money. Business always is.

And I was a fool to plan an arranged marriage for Ivan and Mia before they were born. I was a different man. I wish now that I’d let them pick their own futures. Maybe then, Mia wouldn’t have the bruises she has.

Her pain is my fault.

“He said he’d be here.” She pauses, doing her best to lie for him. “He had an errand to run.”

“And you drove here? With no security? You shouldn’t be driving. It’s why I gave him extra security so neither of you are without.” The more questions I ask, the more enraged I become. How can my son call himself a good man and not make sure his fiancé is protected?

“Um. I wanted to drive. It’s no big deal. It’s the last little bit of independence I have.”

Lies. Every single word is a lie.

“Come on.” My hand drops to her lower back, and I don’t miss how she flinches from the unexpected touch. I keep my palm light against her, a whisper of my fingers dragging across her back. “Your bridal shower is about to start.”

If I find out Ivan is putting his hands on Mia in any way, son or not, I will kill him. Violence against woman is a matter I’ve always taken seriously. It’s one of the rules we have in my organization.

Always protect women.

We don’t have many rules to follow. Everything is on the line when it comes to my job. Lives are at stake. Money. Fame. Power. Territory. Employees. Enemies.

Everything is connected.

But harming woman will never be a part of it.

Mia doesn’t look up at me as walk inside. She keeps her eyes cast downward, staring at the floor as if she wishes it would swallow her whole.

I can’t seem to move my gaze from the bruise yellowing her cheek or the fresh cut on her lip. I want to drag her into a room and demand answers, but I know she won’t tell me. Now isn’t the time or the place.

“Wow. This place is beautiful. You didn’t have to shut down the entire building for me. You didn’t have to do any of this at all,” she says, her gaze finally peering up to the tall ceilings and glittering chandeliers that are hand polished.

Everything about this resort is luxury. From the rich green walls that are so dark, it almost looks like velvet. Leather chairs and benches are placed strategically and there’s a bar with handmade cocktails in every room. People pay for the rich life here and I always follow through.

A man and woman come up to us. Gregory Avchek and his wife, Belinda. They own a stretch of fine jewelry stores across the entire west coast. They’re wealthy and also allow me to sell any diamonds they import through the black market.