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Only this time, it would be on her terms. Not because she’d been scared to return, not because she feared what would happen to all four of us, but because I refused to risk everything I have built and everyone who trusts me for one Russian asshole.

She’s Russian, too, dumbass.

Fuck. I’ve already put so many things into motion. I have no idea whether it’s too late to reel this shit in. I’ve already slapped down over a hundred grand between the wedding coordinator and the location. Then there’s the cost of the dress and all the other bullshit that goes into the type of wedding I planned.

The wedding I’d planned to punish her, to force her father to watch as I married his precious daughter.

The wedding that could very well end up being a massacre if I don’t get this shit under control and planned out better.

Iwillmarry Everest. Shewilltake my last name. Shewillgive me an heir.

Shit. I had Nick remove her birth control implant, and she has no idea. Just like she has no idea she’ll never be able to vanish from my life again thanks to the tracker under her skin.

If she gets knocked up, she’ll probably end up hating me. It’s a price I’m more than willing to pay to finally get the family that was stolen from me.

A stair creaks, and then I feel more than see Everest approaching as though her anger is a physical beast preparing to attack.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” she bites out.

I glance in the mirror hanging on the wall. She’s not within touching distance. She’s got her arms crossed over her chest, her hip popped out, and her dark brows are tightly knitted together.

Fuck, she’s stunning. Even full of rage like she is now, she’s the most beautiful creature on this entire fucking planet.

Turning my back on the bag, I suck in deep breaths of air as sweat beads along my forehead and glistens on my exposed torso.

“Be more specific,” I taunt her.

“You were actually starting to be nice to me. What happened between last night and this morning?”

“The fact you expect us to risk our lives, or the lives of my men to rescue one piece of shit Bratva member doesn’t seem a bit of an ask?”

Her head jerks back and she gapes at me. “That piece of shit Bratva member is the only reason I’m alive and standing here. Unless, of course, everything you said yesterday was bullshit and you still think I’m lying. Do you still believe the bullshit my father fed you, or do you believe me, K? Because I’m not going through life with you if you’re going to do this hot and cold shit nonstop.”

“Again, you don’t have a choice. You can try to leave, but my men will stop you. And, if you somehow manage to make it off the property, I’ll track you down and drag you right back here. I’m not sure how to make this clearer for you –you are my wife. You will legally be my wife in a month. Is there something confusing about that?”

Now her nostrils flare as her rage builds and builds and her cheeks turn pink. Again, I find her so fucking irresistible. Pretty sure she’d try to bury her knee in my balls again if I crossed the room and took her hard and fast on the floor until we both got all this shit out of our system.

“You know what? Fuck you, K. I won’t marry you. You can’t force me to.”

“No?”

“No,” she says, dropping her arms to her sides and balling her fists. “What are you going to do? Drag me to the altar? Tie me to a chair? I can still say no.”

“I can always doctor the documents. How do you know I haven’t already? As far as you know, we could already be legally married.” Eh. Total bullshit.

Not that I haven’t thought about it.

A few times.

If we were legally married, everything I own would be hers. If something were to happen to me, she would still be taken care of.

I love her. Motherfucker, I love her.

So why the fuck can’t I keep from stirring a hornet’s nest? Or maybe it’s more like poking the bear, because she sure as hell looks as though she’s ready to go toe to toe with me, like she’s ready to lunge at me and tear my head off with her bare hands.

When she storms toward me, I instinctively squeeze my legs together and cup a hand over my junk. She can slap me or punch me all she wants, but I learned the hard way the kind of power she has behind her legs. I’m pretty sure my balls are bruised.

“I’m not doing this, K. I will not allow you or any other asshole to treat me like shit.”