Page 79 of The Pakhan’s Hidden Heir

I have to get my organization back under my command.

My enemies will come now, fiercer than ever, and I have to be ready.

I have a wife to defend now.

32

RAINA

I’m halfway to Felix when I know I can’t go in there with him. I’m too emotional and too tired.

I need a moment to collect myself so he doesn’t ask me what’s wrong yet again. It’s been one thing after another lately, and life needs to slow down and give me a break.

“Are you okay, dear?” Ingrid pauses right outside Bastian’s door. It stands cracked open from earlier when he forced me downstairs.

My shoulders sag a little lower as I look at the bed I once slept in every night with him. It makes my chest ache at the memory.

“I think I just need to sit down. I don’t want Felix to see me so upset.” I don’t want anyone to see me so upset, but right now I don’t get a choice.

“I understand, sweetheart.” Ingrid pushes the door open farther and guides me in, and while it feels like trespassing, to be in Bastian’s private space without his permission, I follow her in and perch on the side of his bed.

“It wasn’t supposed to be this way,” I tell her softly, fighting back more tears. I loved him—love him.

I don’t think I ever stopped really. Once you love someone you can’t unlove them. It’s not how that works.

But he really hurt me.

His manipulation and control, the anger and the way he was so cold. Ignoring my needs and pushing me away, but micromanagement of every breath I beathed. I had to leave him.

He has to know that. I had no freedom at all. It was untenable.

“Rest a while, dear. When you’re ready, you go to the boy.” Ingrid pats my arm then walks to the door. But instead of walking right out, she pauses. “For what it’s worth, he suffered badly while you were gone. I’ve never seen him so distraught, Raina. Not even when his wife died.”

Sighing, I watch her go, but her little speech does nothing to unbreak my heart. If Bastian wanted me as his wife so badly, why did he force me? Why not just ask? And if that was his end game, why let me run off in the first place? He could’ve had me from the beginning. I wanted it. I wanted him, and now I’m confused and hurting.

Marrying him should be my dream come true, but not like this.

And what about these enemies of his?

They blew up his car right in front of me, and though it was my fault that they found me, they held me and my son at gunpoint, trying to draw Bastian out.

What if they come back?

What if they keep coming back?

“Good,” I hear, and I look up to see Bastian closing the door. He locks it too, which is new for him, and then he stalks toward me, loosening his tie.

This day has gone by so fast, I didn’t realize it was getting dark out yet, until I glance at the window to see the sun going down.

He kicks off his shoes, undoes his belt, and glowers at me.

“What’s good?” I ask, squirming. It’s been years since I’ve been touched.

Years since I even saw a man naked. He was my last, and maybe the last I’ll ever have.

I don’t want my heart to ever feel again the way it feels now.

“Good that you’re here. Get undressed. We should consummate this marriage tonight.”