Page 52 of Savage Enemy

After grabbing his pizza, Marco sat on Santo’s previous spot at the foot of the bed, facing me, leaning against the footboard.

“So now that you’re back,” he said, ignoring my question, “some things have changed.”

The permanent knots in my stomach tightened.

“Changed how, Marco?”

“Father’s already contacted the Russians to let them know you’re here. Part of the deal fell through after your disappearance, but not all. A few covenants must still be upheld, and one of them means the Russians still have a claim on you.”

My mouth fell open, though it shouldn’t have surprised me.

“A claim on me? I’m a person, not a fucking dairy cow.”

Marco scoffed. “Don’t act naïve. It doesn’t suit you anymore. We both know how this works. You belong to Father until married, then you become your husband’sproperty?—”

Before he finished speaking, I shook my head.

“It’s archaic and it’s wrong.”

He shrugged and finished chewing.

“Immoral, cruel, totally fucked-up, but it’s still how our world operates. I can’t change it for you. You know as well as I do, the family must come first.”

The blood splatter on his sleeve caught my attention again, the spray pattern moving up his arm from knuckles to elbow.

I hoped like hell he’d broken Aris’s nose.

“So what happens now?” I asked. “I’m expected to pick up exactly where it ended eleven years ago and marry the man who bought me? Like nothing ever happened?”

“No.” Marco leaned against the tall wooden footboard, then set his cardboard plate to the side.

Relieved just a little, I let my shoulders relax until I noticed the growing concern in my brother’s frown.

“Then what, Marco?”

“That ship has long since sailed and thank fuck. Klimov married another teenage bride about a year ago. You’re way too old for him now, not to mention impure.”

Was that disgust showing in my brother’s eyes?

“Great,” I muttered. “So what are my options?”

“Well, Father’s still negotiating the particulars with Klimov. I don’t have any specifics yet, but I do know they want to see you before they make any further commitments.”

“Of course. Inspect the inventory before the final sale.”

I couldn’t believe it. After having been raised in this world, knowing exactly what I meant to the men in my family and which “duties” they expected me to perform, it still made my fucking blood boil.

And it hurt terribly. Marco not putting a stop to it broke my heart.

Then again, I’d also had ten years of freedom. Being forced back into this role now was sure to sting.

But in their eyes, especially Saul’s, I wasn’t really a human being. No one would ask what I wanted. My opinion had no bearing on the conversation, and no one would ever request it. I would never be consulted before a decision was made, but I’d certainly be informed afterward.

Fucking asshole mafia men.

“And what does Saul get this time?” I asked.

Marco blinked, then stared at me for a minute.

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