Page 5
Story: Arranged to Marry the Russian (Nikolai Bratva Brides #4)
After the call had ended, Adrian was surprised at how easily Rhiannon's father accepted his proposal. It made sense that they would prefer to align with the Bratva, but he had anticipated more resistance, especially considering that Rhiannon was his only daughter. However, after witnessing her reaction and the simmering resentment in her eyes, he began to understand their relationship a bit better. A flicker of something—sympathy, perhaps—stirred within him, but he reminded himself that this was ultimately a business deal, one where emotions had no place.
As they sat together in the living room, Rhiannon's father laid out the terms with a cold efficiency that bordered on clinical. Adrian could see Rhiannon perched uncomfortably on the edge of the couch, struggling to maintain an air of defiance while the weight of the situation bore down on her. Her father spoke with authority, treating her almost like a child.
"Rhiannon, this is your chance to solidify our family's standing in this alliance," he had said, his tone brooking no dissent. "We need this partnership, and you will play your part. You will marry Adrian, and you will do so with grace."
Adrian had kept his expression neutral, but inwardly, he was annoyed by the disregard her father displayed toward Rhiannon's feelings. It felt wrong to discuss strategic alliances while treating her as if she were merely a pawn. Rhiannon deserved more respect than that.
Silent, Rhiannon had only glanced at Adrian for a second, her eyes betraying a mix of anger and hurt that didn't show anywhere else on her face, before she averted her gaze, attempting to mask her emotions. "I understand the importance of this alliance, Father," she had replied, her voice steady but laced with tension. "But I’m not just a pawn in this game."
"Stop being dramatic," her father shot back, his voice cutting through the air with a finality that left no room for argument. "This isn't about feelings. It's about family, security, and our future. Your personal desires are secondary to our need for strength."
Once the terms were finalized, her father left the room, not sparing her another word as he walked out the door, leaving Rhiannon behind as if she were an inconvenience rather than his only child. Adrian watched the door swing shut, a heavy silence permeating the room.
At that moment, Rhiannon appeared to endure a battle of emotions. Her expression was conflicted, with anger and betrayal clashing against her attempts at defiance. But as the door closed, that facade flickered, and cracks appeared as despair briefly overtook her. He could see a fleeting, broken look in her eyes—an unsettling mix of vulnerability that contrasted sharply with her fierce exterior.
The moment she knew her father was gone, that facade flickered before stubbornly remaining in place. Rhiannon cleared her throat, tilting her chin up in a way he'd only witnessed from a distance. "I need to grab some things from my apartment," she informed him, her words stiff and far too formal for what he'd observed from her before.
"We can go later," he replied, his mind flitting toward the deal he'd just made with her father. Adrian had to update his brothers before things went any further.
"Fine," Rhiannon snapped, but even he heard the slight crack in her voice that told him she was nearing tears. That surprised him; he wouldn't have taken her the type to break down over something so small. Though, now that he considered it, she had just been blindsided by this agreement—and her father had shown her no sympathy in facing it.
Before he could say anything to console her, she added, "Don't expect me to fake my happiness about this whole deal," her voice laced with steel.
Before Adrian could stop himself, he shot back, "I have a feeling you'll be much happier here than you were back with your own family."
She laughed bitterly, the sound echoing with unresolved resentment. "There's no need to act as if I didn't just swap one prison for another," she retorted, stomping toward his bedroom. He followed behind her, more amused than he should have been, considering the seriousness of their situation. He couldn't help it, though—she shouldn't have known the layout of his apartment, and yet she'd managed to find his bedroom out of all the rest. If those were her instincts, he might've underestimated her.
"And why's that, Princess?" he asked right before she closed the door firmly in his face.
"A cage is just a fucking cage," she snapped from the other side of the door.
Sighing deeply, Adrian leaned against the wall for a moment, contemplating her words. He recognized her attempt to conceal the hurt, the frustration at being thrust into this situation against her will, but he also sensed the fierce determination brewing beneath that exterior. As he recalled her father's callous disregard, it became painfully clear that Rhiannon's autonomy was of little concern to the man who should have been protecting her.
Shaking off those thoughts, Adrian knew he needed to inform Mikhail and his brothers about the whole situation. This wasn't just a personal decision; it would impact the entire family, and he was certain they'd have something to say about it.
He phoned Mikhail, pinching his bottom lip between his teeth as he considered what to say. It wouldn’t help to try and smooth things over—his brother, his Pakhan, wouldn't take the news lightly either way. He didn't want to further agitate Mikhail by trying to change the narrative. Adrian decided to be blunt about it.
That settled, he straightened as soon as his brother picked up, and Adrian wasted no time in breaking the news. "I've secured a marriage alliance with Rhiannon Callaghan."
There was a brief pause on the other end. " Jesus Christ. The fucking Irish? And you didn't think to consult anyone before making such a strategic step?" Mikhail's annoyance was clear, the same tone he often adopted when Lev or Ivan pulled surprises. Never Adrian, no, because up until now, he'd been a good little foot soldier who only did what he was ordered to.
"I know, but it was necessary. The Irish would much rather align with us than stay in their own dysfunctional affairs," Adrian replied, fully aware of how much more complicated the dynamics were likely to become—and that he was now in the middle of it all.
Annoyance flared, but it was all his own fault.
"Still, this raises concerns," Mikhail responded cautiously. "No one really cares about the Irish other than wanting them dead. It's been hell trying to keep Lev and Ivan away from them these past few months. How do you think they're going to react when they find out about this?"
Adrian understood the underlying tension. "When has there ever been a situation without tension concerning brides?" he countered, a smirk creeping across his face as he recalled old battles fought over women and alliances. He decided against mentioning Mikhail’s own wedded troubles; that was not a road he wanted to go down.
Mikhail's voice turned serious. "I get that, but you know as well as I do how the men will react to this. Things haven't been right between the families since the attack."
"I'm aware of the politics involved," Adrian replied, pinching his nose. He hated to admit he might have been a little reckless with this agreement, but if his brothers had anything to say about it, then they could come to him. It wouldn't be the first time they'd come to blows over a disagreement. "Though, you can't deny what an opportunity this is."
He still wasn't entirely certain that the Callaghans were involved. They were far too fucking reckless, and besides the weapons he'd found, they still didn't seem to be coordinated enough for the attack that had taken place. He needed to talk to his brother regarding both those things but now wasn't the time.
"I won't disagree," Mikhail stated gruffly. "But just be careful. You'll need to keep an eye on your bride. Emotions can complicate things," Mikhail continued, a shred of humor in his tone. "I've heard about her temper. The last thing I need is for you to be stabbed because you decided to marry Rhiannon fucking Callaghan."
Adrian didn’t doubt Rhiannon would prefer to see him bleed out if it came to that. "I’m fully aware Rhiannon would much rather see me bleed out in front of her than marry me," he replied dryly before his humor broke away. "This isn't a love match."
"Good, I was starting to wonder," Mikhail snorted before his tone turned serious once more. "Just remember your priorities; this must remain business-oriented. Otherwise, we risk everything. Regardless of whatever you've just agreed to, I want to know what the fuck's going on with the Irish Mafia."
"Understood. I'll keep that in mind," Adrian replied, already strategizing how to manage not only the business alliance but also Rhiannon's fiery temperament, as well as his own spying. One thing was for certain: it would be a lot fucking easier to spy on them now that he had an immediate in with their family and business. So, while the immediate future might be filled with complications, beneath it all, Adrian couldn't shake the thrill of what was to come.
As he ended the call, Adrian felt a swell of excitement mixed with caution. Rhiannon was a force of nature, and he recognized they would have to navigate treacherous waters together. The memories of her defiance stirred something inside him; there was an edge to her that intrigued him, a challenge he welcomed.
He envisioned Rhiannon in his apartment, not just as his wife but as a partner who might complement him surprisingly well. The thought was both exhilarating and daunting, knowing their dynamic could shift in unexpected ways.
But first, before he could entertain those notions further, he had business to attend to. He needed to ensure the logistics for Rhiannon's move were in place, arrange for her things to be transferred to his place, and lay the groundwork for their new life together.
His mind raced with thoughts of the weeks to come—meetings with Mikhail, interactions with Rhiannon, and potential fallout from both families. Yet, amidst it all, he felt more excitement stirring. He fucking loved a challenge, and what better than to win over the Irish as well as finish the mission he'd been assigned along the way?
Adrian was ready to seize this opportunity, even if it came wrapped in complications. He was determined to make this alliance work, not just for the families but for himself and Rhiannon as well. Though it would be fucking hilarious to see how she would react in the coming months, he smirked, striding through the house. He was fully committed to the path laid out before him. There was something promising about marrying into the Callaghan family, and he had no intention of letting that promise slip away—especially not with Rhiannon in the equation.