Page 78 of The Pakhan’s Hidden Heir

“Let’s begin,” he croons, nodding as he begins changing a homily then offers a benediction.

When he looks up at me and says, “Do you have rings?” I glower at him.

“Can we move this along?” I grumble, and he nods, looking more nervous now.

Raina stands quietly the whole time with her head down. I know she probably resents me.

This isn’t at all how I really wanted this to go, but as hostile as she’s been since the moment I saw her, there is no way she was ever going to agree to marry me.

It doesn’t matter how many times I tell her what I want, it will never be enough.

I’ll never be enough.

“Yes, just…” The priest pats his chest as if searching a pocket he doesn’t have, then winces. “Do you have a pen?” Akim steps forward, presenting a ball point pen, to which the priest says, “Good. All you have to do is sign here.”

I snatch the pen from Akim’s hand, and with a glance at Raina, who still won’t look at me, I scribble my name. When I start writing her name down, Yakov grunts, “Mr. Dravenko. Ms. Volina must⁠—”

But he doesn’t get to finish his sentence. I scrawl her name in my handwriting and it’s done. We’re married, witnessed by two loyal members of my organization who will back me under any circumstance, and Raina is my wife.

“That will never hold up in court,” the priest grumbles, furrowing his brow. I ignore him in favor of turning to my wife.

“Now, is there anything I can get for you? I have work to get done.” My temper has gotten the best of me for too long. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself, watching her wilt even farther.

“I just want my son… I want to be with Felix, please.” Raina won’t look me in the eye. The fight has gone out of her entirely now, her shoulders drooping and posture tired. I feel like the world’s biggest asshole as I nod at Ingrid.

“Take her to Demid. Return the boy to her and make sure they have food and water. His room will be finished by tomorrow.” Ingrid nods patiently, but I can see the disappointment in her eyes too. Am I the monster to everyone in this house now? Both of these woman disdain me for this?

Ingrid leads Raina away by a hand in the small of her back, talking quietly to her.

Then I turn and watch Yakov collect his things, grumbling to himself the whole time. But if there’s one thing I know, it’s that my secret is safe.

That priest will never tell a soul about what goes on in this place because he’s listened to one too many confessions of the horrid things my men have done.

He knows what will happen to him if he does.

When he’s gone, I beckon Akim to come to me and he struts over, puffing out his chest as he awaits my orders. “Sir?”

“I want you on the front gate. I want to make sure we’re prepared if Petrov strikes back. We killed two of his men yesterday. He won’t let that stand.” My eyes narrow on him, scrutinizing his expression.

He’s not happy about Raina being back.

He was never happier when she left.

This changes things for him, and I’d be a fool not to see that.

“Yes, sir,” he says calmly, turning to go. But there is something needling at my conscience. I can’t let it go.

“Akim?” I say, making him pause mid-stride.

“Sir?”

“Why is it that Raina hates you so much?” I wait a second, watching his wheels start to turn. “Earlier when you were in her bedroom, she told me to get you out of there and away from her. Is there a problem between you two?”

He scoffs and offers a nasty grin, then he shakes his head. “She probably figures I’m not a pushover the way she’s used to. Someone helped her get out of this house, boss. She just wants out. I’m not going to help her and she knows it, so she hates me. Nothing more.”

“Yes,” I muse, sighing as he backs up a few steps before marching out the door. I don’t get a great feeling about that, but there doesn’t seem to be a better explanation about why she hates him so badly.

I don’t have time or patience to fuck with it anyway.