Page 4 of The Pakhan's Forced Bride
Months ago, when Benedikt’s mother made the arrangements for my sister, Kira, to marry her son, I wasn’t surprised or offended when he pulled out of the deal. It wasn’t a deal he’d made. He wasn’t even aware of it.
Benedikt Karamazov and I don’t particularly get on very well, but that whole incident didn’t bother me very much. Besides, I figured that Benedikt would know he owed me one after that. It would somehow play in my favor in some future interaction.
However, after we allied to take down Miron Galik, and I quite literally saved his wife’s life, he basically spat in my face and told me to fuck off when I asked for something in return.
Thatpissed me off.
And anyone who knows me is very aware that I am not the man you want to piss off.
Yes, my temper has an incredibly short fuse. And it quickly escalates to blind rage. But that temper has saved me many times in my line of work.
To run a kingdom, a king must be ruthless. He must act on instinct and let his wild inner beast take over when it needs to.
And Benedikt is about to learn what it means to provoke my inner beast.
Sitting at the corner table of a popular restaurant, I watch Belle Karamazov on a date her mother set up for her. She’s been on a number of these; I’ve watched her interact with the men, always smiling, polite, appearing to have fun. But there isan undercurrent. An annoyance, or agitation that suggests she really doesn’t want to be there.
This particular date is probably the worst of the lot. This guy looks like someone needs to hold him under a shower and scrub him. He’s creepy, and even though he isn’t actually dirty, he looks it. Greasy.
I pick up my vodka, swirling the drink in my hand before I take a sip.
Belle is wearing a gorgeous black dress that dips low over her ample cleavage. She’s a beautiful girl. The kind of girl this guy would never be able to pull.
She’s elegant, womanly and voluptuous. She’s the kind of girl whose ass I want to slap and then watch it bounce while I take her from behind.
I shake my head, taking another sip of vodka.
That’s not what I’m here for. I don’t know why I keep getting distracted by lusty thoughts while scouting her. I’m here to exact revenge on her brother. That’s it.
I can have any woman I want. I didn’t choose her because I wanted her—I chose her because of her brother.
I guess that doesn’t stop me from thinking she looks like a goddess.
Belle stands up, politely excusing herself from what appears to be the most boring conversation on the planet.
I wish I could hear what they were talking about, but I chose a seat further away. I’m not sure if Belle will recognize me, but I assume so, considering I own Los Angeles.
She turns away from the table, walking towards the ladies' room. This is what I’ve been waiting for. Everything isin place for me to carry out my plan tonight. I’ve been patient, waiting, and tracking her movements—and finally, tonight, I am going to take her.
My guys are waiting out back with the car ready.
My heart beats faster as I stand up from my table and stalk after her, like a hunter following its prey.
It’s a thrilling feeling.
I’ve hunted men before.Obviously, I’ve chased down enemies and torn them to pieces.
But this, for some reason, is more exciting.
Stalking a beautiful woman, knowing she has no idea what I have planned for her.
She disappears into the bathroom, and I radio my men waiting outside, telling them to be ready while I wait in the passageway, out of the way, near the door to the men’s bathroom.
While I wait, I think about Benedikt. His arrogance. He had a chance to make things right with me. He could have worked with me to show gratitude for the help I gave him, help that saved the love of his life.
But he didn’t.
After he so rudely rejected my suggestions, I started messing with his operations. Small things, minor, because I didn’t want to upset the greater alliance I have with Nestor. I value that alliance. But I also didn’t want Benedikt to walk away free without repercussions for his rudeness.
