Page 78 of Married to the Don (Kornilov Bratva Duet 1)

And looking up at me is Fedor.

He’s holding a gun. For some reason, I’m not very surprised. It’s like, deep down, I’ve been expecting something like this ever since I walked away. That doesn’t make seeing him any less terrifying.

“You have a mouth on you.” He grins. “But if you don’t mind, I’d like it if you would get in the car without making a huge racket. I’d hate to have to shoot you.”

The silky-smooth way he says it lets me know he would not have any trouble at all shooting me. In fact, he might even enjoy it.

I look up and the customer has a gun, too. His is held close to his jacket so it isn’t obvious, but I know that any chance at escape would be met with a bullet in the back.

The man nods for me to walk around the back of the car, and I pivot and obey his orders. My legs shake as I open the passenger door and drop down into the seat.

“Thanks, Kent,” Fedor says.

The other man—Kent, apparently—closes the door and then walks across the lot to his car parked a few stalls down. As soon as his back is turned, I reach for the handle. Maybe if I get out and run straight for the road, his distraction will allow me to escape. Maybe I can—

“Child lock,” Fedor says when I pull on the handle and it flaps open with no resistance. “Wonderful invention. Besides,” he says, laying a hand on my thigh and squeezing. “You can’t leave just yet. I’ve got big plans for you.”

* * *

I feellike my chest is caving in. I can’t breathe. Can’t think. Can’t move.

Fedor pulls out of the diner parking lot without checking his rear-view mirror, and he floors the gas pedal, propelling us through traffic as though this is a race.

Is it?

If Fedor has captured me at gunpoint, I have to assume things between him and his brother are not great. Is he running from Viktor and trying to use me as bait? If so, someone should tell him Viktor only cares about Theo, not me.

If Fedor found out about our marriage, he might think Viktor actually loves me. He might think I’m really his wife.

“He doesn’t love me,” I say softly, trying to think of some way out of this. “The marriage was—”

“A sham, I know. My brother did it to get back at me.”

My heart lurches. Does he know about Theo? Why else would Viktor marry me to get back at Fedor? It doesn’t make any sense.

“I know more than you think I do,” Fedor says over the roar of his engine, answering a question I haven’t dared voice. “But I’d like to know what you know. Or rather, what you think I know.” He takes his hands off the steering wheel, letting the car swerve dangerously over the yellow lines so he can clap in excitement before grabbing the wheel again. “Yes, this will be fun. Tell me why I kidnapped you.”

I lick my lips but it doesn’t do any good. My tongue is dry and my lips are cracked, and I feel seconds away from crumbling and blowing away in the wind. “Because you’re mad at Viktor, and you thought kidnapping his wife would be good revenge.”

He tucks his upper lip in and wavers back and forth on the road. “That’s part of it. But why am I mad at Viktor?”

I don’t want to tell Fedor anything he doesn’t already know. I don’t want to make things worse for myself.

Suddenly, Fedor slams his hand on the steering wheel and punches the gas. We fly around one car, cutting off a truck in the other lane. Angry honks rise up around us, and I grip the seat and squeeze my eyes closed. “Answer me!”

“Because he married me without telling you.”

“That’s weak, Molly,” he says. “Why?”

“Because he didn’t tell you about his son.” I can’t even bring myself to say Theo’s name in front of Fedor.

“Ah yes, Theo.” He smiles. “That is part of it, but you are still keeping your little secrets.”

He knows everything. I can see it in the glimmer in his green eyes. Fedor knows everything, and he’s delighting in this little game.

So, I decide to end it. I fold.

“Because Theo is your son, and Viktor protected both of us and lied to you about it.”

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