Page 14 of Cruel Russian King
“You kidnapped me to marry me?” My voice cracked despite me.
He ignored my question, reached into his jacket, and pulled out a folded paper and a pen.
“Father Gordon has already signed it. So have I.” He grinned but it held no warmth. “All that’s left is your signature. Once I have that I'll get them to make it official.”
“No.”
He raised an eyebrow. “No?”
“I’m not marrying you. Whatever twisted revenge you’re after, think again.”
“Oh, Ninel.” He took a step forward. “You will sign.”
“And why the hell would I?”
“Because unlike your brothers, Idon’tplay fair.”
“And you think Kira, Vera and Katya will forgive this? That they’ll be okay with their brother forcing me to marry him?”
His expression darkened, and his eyes turned steely grey. “Which sisters? The ones who turned their backs on their faction, their leader…their blood? I don't give a fuck about what my sisters think. Their opinion has never mattered when I've made decisions for my faction, why would I care now?”
“And you’re willing to throw away the relationships we’ve built over the past year? For this?”
“You mean for power and control? For revenge?” He stepped closer. “Yes.”
I didn’t back down. I met his furious gaze with one of my own.
“I built my empire long before your pathetic faction was ever tied to mine. You Safins need us more than we’ll ever need you. After the hits you’ve taken these past two years? You’ve improved, sure. But you’re still crawling behind the Rykovs.”
I stared at him, stunned.
Then his tone turned deadly. “Now, sign the certificate…or I’ll carve up Evie and Alexi and send their remains to their parents, bit by bit, for the next twelve months.”
My stomach twisted. A gasp escaped as my hands flew to my mouth. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t.
Are you willing to risk it?
“Fine.” My voice cracked. “I’ll sign it.”
His lips curved into a cruel smile. “Good girl.”
He handed me the certificate and pen. My fingers trembled as I signed it. Then threw it at his chest angry because of what he made me do.
“If you think for one second I’m here because I want to be, or because I like you…”
“You don’t have to like me.” He said tucking the pen and paper back into his jacket. “Because either way, you belong to me now. You are my wife, under Rykov's protection. And it would do you well to learn your place…quickly.”
He stepped out of the bedroom locking the door behind him.
I sank onto the bed, tears brimming in my eyes. How the hell was I supposed to survive being married to a psychopath like Artyom Rykov?
Chapter 5 - Artyom
For the next two hours, I sat in front of the monitors, watching Ninel unravel.
She started with the windows, clawing at the boards like a desperate animal. When that failed, she went for the bed, working the material of the mattress painstakingly slow with her earring, trying to pry a coil loose. When nothing came of it, she pounded on the door, her voice rising with each useless demand. Fifteen minutes later she slid to the floor, knees pulled tight to her chest, shoulders trembling.
I knew she was crying. These weren’t tears Scott caused, so I wasn't pissed that someone else had hurt her. This time, they were because of me. And that was something I could live with. In fact, I welcomed it. Her tears meant she was breaking, finally realizing her world would never again be what it once was.
