Page 6 of Arranged Control

“You’re not getting married then?” The hope in her voice breaks my heart into a million pieces.

“No,Katyusha, I am definitely getting married.”

“Oh, dear—” She wraps me in a tight hug. It’s such a familiar feeling, her skinny arms squeezing me, but it doesn’t help at all. “I’m so sorry, Alinochka, I’m so, so sorry.”

I don’t cry. I don’t let myself. Not in this house, anyway.

I manage to make it back into the car before I finally crumble.

Chapter 3

Alina

It’s around nine at night when I get back to my building. I trudge into the lobby, not thinking or paying attention to anything around me. I’m floating on autopilot, looking forward to a warm bath, three glasses of decent wine, and a sleep so black it’s like falling into a void.

I might as well stay in a coma until my wedding. What’s the point of getting out of bed?

It’s not like anyone would notice.

“Alina.”

I flinch and look around. I’m halfway to the elevators, and there’s a man standing in the small waiting lobby behind me. I hadn’t noticed him before. The night desk clerk looks uncomfortable, watching from behind his security desk, as the big stranger steps forward.

I know those eyes. Pale blue, nearly gray. He’s much, much bigger than I thought in person. Still in that expensive black suit. Still with those muscles showing. Just a little bit of tanned andtattooed skin. His hands are huge, more like paws, and his voice is even nicer than I thought over the phone.

He’s beautiful. God, it hits me all at once. I’m not usually attracted to men like him, but there’s something about this monster. He holds himself with the air of a man who doesn’t give a shit what anyone thinks, and right now, that’s the total opposite of me. He’s supremely confident and in control of every room he enters. While I’m slinking around and barely surviving.

Seamus Whelan tilts his head, studying me carefully, that sly smirk on his lips.

“What are you doing here!?” I blurt out, too emotionally raw and tired to be subtle.

His smile deepens. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m fine. Totally fine. How do you even know where I live?”

The desk clerk stands up. “I’m sorry, Miss Morozov, but is there a problem? This man told me you two were friends?—”

Seamus completely ignores the clerk and steps closer. He’s still twenty feet distant, but it’s like that single step swallows all the space between us. “You’re going to be my wife. I did some research.”

My heart rate doubles.His wife. This man is supposedly my future husband, but that makes no sense. He’s way too attractive for that.

“Excuse me? Miss Morozov? I can call the authorities?—”

“It’s okay,” I blurt out, not even sure why I’m doing it. I don’t belong to this guy yet. I don’t even know him. After that call earlier, I want to disappear into a cave and never come out again.I catch Seamus glancing down at my body, at my baggy sweats, and I know what he’s thinking.She’s hiding a lot under there.

“Are you sure?” the clerk asks. “If this is a problem?—”

Seamus glances at him. The smile disappears and there’s only ice in his expression. “Sit back down. This isn’t your concern.”

The sharpness of his tone surprises me. He’s a man who expects to be obeyed. Even the clerk seems taken aback.

“It’s fine. Really, it’s okay.” I gesture at Seamus. “Come upstairs. We’ll talk in my place.”

The clerk glares at the pair of us. I turn my back on him, mortified, and stalk over to the elevator. I can’t believe this night’s somehow getting even worse. Seamus follows and we get on together, crammed into the tiny space as it ascends to my apartment on the thirty-third floor. The whole time he watches me, not saying anything, studying me carefully.

It’s not until we’re in the hall that he finally speaks.

“You’re smaller than I guessed.”