Page 147 of Tarnished Tyrant (Zhukova Bratva 1)

But when her hand lands on Nikolai’s bicep and then drags slowly down his arm… I nearly throw my glass across the room.

He’s mine, I want to scream, beating on my chest all the while.

Except Nikolai isn’t mine. Not really.

A week ago, I hated him. I was going to turn him in to the police for embezzlement. That’s laughable now, considering he killed a man while we were out to dinner together, and considering I know all the other terrible things he’s done, and I slept with him anyway.

If I went to the police, I’d end up in a cell right along with him. Maybe even a straitjacket.

The woman in red stretches up on her toes and presses a kiss to Nikolai’s cheek. My heart clenches so hard I want to vomit. I wait for him to push her away, to pull back.

But Nikolai stands perfectly still.

He accepts it.

I look over at Elise. She’s staring at me, her eyes wide. She’s all the way across the room, but I can hear her voice in my head.You cannot let a man treat you like this.

We aren’t really dating, I want to tell her.Nikolai didn’t promise me anything.

But then I hear his words in my head, too.Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.

Well, I don’t fucking wantthis.

I grab the train of my gown in my hands and march across the room towards Nikolai and the woman. I’m burning up from the inside out with a fiery cocktail of emotions. Rage and shame, disgust and lust.

But above all,righteousness.What’s that thing they say about kids—they’re always watching? I have to show my baby sister—and almost as important, myself—that I’m worthy of respect. That I won’t be treated like a throwaway piece of trash. That women deserve more than to be the playthings of powerful men.

Nikolai and the woman don’t look up as I approach, which makes this all hurt even more. They’re so wrapped up in each other that they don’t even notice me. I have to clear my throat to get their attention.

Only then does he look over. But as expected, his expression is neutral. Calm. What would actually ruffle this man’s feathers, I wonder? Nuclear explosions? Pigs in the sky?

“Hi.” I should have thought of something better to say on my way over, but there wasn’t time, so I’m stuck with the lamest opening line in the history of bitchy, pre-catfight confrontations.

The woman looks at me now. Her makeup is smudged into a perfect smoky eye and her cheekbones are high and sharp. She looks like the kind of woman I’d expect Nikolai to be with. Flawless, just like him.

“Hello,” she drawls, arching a brow like a bug just crawled across her shoe. “Who are you?”

“Belle Dowan. Who are you?”

Something like recognition flickers over her face. It’s like she’s heard my name before. Did Nikolai mention me? Stupid hope flares in my chest at the thought.

Stupid, stupid hope.

“I told you I’d be back, Belle,” interrupts Nikolai. “I’ll explain everything after—”

“There’s nothing to explain,” the woman cuts in.

Nikolai clenches his jaw. “You showed up unannounced, Xena. That deserves an explanation.”

Xena.Even her name sounds interesting and unique. Exotic. More exotic than “Belle,” at least.

“Is our engagement not explanation enough?”

It feels like someone has poured a bucket of ice cubes down my back. “I’m sorry… what?”

“Belle.” Nikolai’s voice is a warning. “You need to—”

“We’re engaged,” Xena blurts.

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