Page 62 of One of Them

“Malek listed his demands, and I agreed to give him what he wants.”

He spoke loud enough for the room to hear, but his words felt like they were meant for me.

“I’m preventing a war. One person’s sacrifice compared to the hundreds of lives a war would cost us.”

What war? The question formed, but it died on my tongue at his next words.

“Taya, as part of the deal, you will marry Malek. Today.”

Nothing could have prepared me for this moment. Not years of training.

Not even the level of control I possessed.

Words escaped me. Logic and reason abandoned me. Never have I ever been this blindsided.

When I finally regained some composure, I addressed him with a shaky breath. “I am sorry. What did you say?”

Far too calmly, Ilya repeated. “His first demand was that I make you an official member and agree to a union.”

Union? Marriage?

The words resonated, and the anger began to build. Forgoing any formalities, considering he had lost my respect mere seconds ago, I demanded, “Why the fuck would he want to marry me?”

Silence.

“You agreed?”

“The paperwork is complete.” Ilya inclined his head.

An image flashed through my mind of the two men shaking hands over someone else’s fate. My fate. They exchanged me, negotiated over me. A person. A woman. Like livestock, sold on the market. I became a transaction.

For the greater good? Or for personal gain? They bartered with my life as if it was theirs to possess.

I was so done with all these people. All these men.

“What the fuck, Ilya?” I gritted my teeth, letting out the emotions swirling inside. “Do I mean nothing to you?” A naïve attempt at reaching whatever humanityhe had left.

“You were always meant to be something to me,” Ilya replied. “After all, I shaped you into who you are.”

I laughed, a bitter one at his expense, well knowing it was hard work and dedication that got me here. “Please,” I mocked.

He dared to sound annoyed. “If you chose him once before, you can choose him again.”

“For the rest of my life?” I yelled at him over the ringing in my ears.

Moisture gathered in the corner of my eyes. Blurry spots clouded my vision, but I refused to let any tears fall. Painfully aware of the other men witnessing the exchange, I took comfort in knowing they were here to see the situation unravel. I didn’t glance their way, focusing on the problem at hand.

“How many times have I asked you what’s going on?” I reasoned. “You never mentioned anything.”

The boss’s voice took over. “It’s my decision as Pakhan. And you will accept it.”

By this point, I barely stood still. “I am not yours to command, you hear me?” I gathered any strength left and pushed back. “I will fight this, Ilya. With everything I have.”

“You mean to tell me you will put lives at risk?” he tried guilting me. “Why? Because you can’t be with a guy?”

Enraged at his audacity, I growled. “Don’t you dare put this on me!”

Ilya insisted, pointing an accusatory finger at me. “It is on you. If the deal fails, Malek will come after us.”

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