Page 14 of Cruel Russian Monster
If you wanted a Bratva wedding, Father Gordon was your man. He didn’t ask questions, minded his business, and got paid and protected for it.
I’d imagined a hundred moves Jaroslav might make…but none of them started or ended with Father Gordon.
“What are we doing here?” I asked.
Jaroslav didn’t answer until Tomas parked and stepped out. Then he turned to me.
“Seeing as we’re at a church, the only educated guess is”—his eyes darkened—“we’re here to get married.”
“What? Are you crazy?” I shrieked. “This is your solution?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not marrying you. So you’d better think of another one.”
He smirked and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. I clenched my jaw and swallowed hard.
“Vera,” he said quietly, “do you really think you have a choice?”
“I do!” My eyes flared. “Why would I marry a man I have a terrible history with? Whom I hate, and who hates me back?”
“You and I both know what we had wasn’t terrible.” He let the corner of his mouth lift in that damn smile…the one that always turned my knees to mush.
Jaroslav's naked body pressed against mine flashed through my mind, his eyes dark with desire as he hovered overme, his erection nestled in my wet pussy, our gazes locked. The emotions that came with the memory slammed into my chest like a damn wrecking ball. My pulse spiked.
Shit.
Get it together, Vera! Now is not the time.
“Besides,” he said nonchalantly, “when you and Lev were arranged to be married, it wasn’t for love. Like him, I’m marrying you for leverage.”
“Are you serious? We’re not even compatible! The marriage is going to suck!”
“I don’t care if it sucks,” he said. His lips curled into a smile, but his eyes were dead. “As long as I get what I want. With you, a precious Rykov sister, folded into the Safin faction, let’s see if Artyom keeps up this little war of his. Let’s see how much he really cares about your safety.”
I laughed bitterly. “You think I’m just going to walk into that church, marry you, and become your pawn? You’re insane. This is Philadelphia. What makes you think I can’t walk out of this car, start screaming that you kidnapped me, and have someone hear? Word will get back to Artyom. You thought he was bad before? First Lev, now you? He’ll burn this entire faction to the ground, and take your life with it.”
His smile broadened. I didn’t expect that, and I knew it wasn’t a good sign.
“I’m so glad you mentioned he’d take our lives. I'm glad that at least our thinking is somewhat on the same level.”
Jaroslav pulled out his phone, dialed a number, then held it out for me to hear.
A deep Russian voice came through on the other end.
“Mr. Safin.”
“Is the target in sight?”
My blood ran cold. Target?
“Ms. Kira Rykov is in sight. I’m ready to take her out on your command.”
“No….” The word barely left my lips before Jaroslav ended the call.
“So, Vera. Here’s what's going to happen. We’ll walk in there quietly, get married, sign the certificate, and you’ll come back to my place. If not, you’ll be one sister short.” His voice was cold.
I stared at him, stunned. “If you kill Kira, her death won't only affect me. It will affect Katya as well.”
