Page 32 of Cruel Romeo

The word hangs in the air. He lets it, on purpose. As if he knows the effect it’ll have on me.

Fuck him; it’s working. “Meaning?”

“Meaning, you’ll be paid handsomely for your services.” He starts pacing the room calmly, fingers interlaced behind his back. His eyes don’t leave mine for a second. “You can have a brand-new identity, a brand-new life far from here, where no one can ever find you. All you have to do is staymarried to me, birth a child, and I’ll consider our contract fulfilled.”

“Contract?”

“Of course,” he says. “I’ll have one drawn up. Sign on the dotted line. If I’m not true to my word, feel free to take me to court.”

Right. As if.But his words are starting to sound more and more appealing. Money, freedom, a life without the looming shadow of my past. Honestly, his offer feels a little too good to be true.

Except…

“What about the child?” I curl a hand protectively around my belly. It’s silly—there’s nothing there. And yet, if there were… I’m not so sure I’d be able to let it go that easily.

“Keep it.” He shrugs. “Give it up. Honestly, I don’t care.”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

“My father’s will dictates that I be married and sire an heir. It says nothing about me raising it.”

I stare at him, struggling to process his words. “So, you’d just… let me keep it?”

“If that’s what you want, then yes.”

For a second, I just reel. Everything he said feels too calculated, too clean. And yet, it’s also the first time he mentioned a way out for me. A future that doesn’t include bars at my window and busted kneecaps. And, as crazy as it is… I’m not totally opposed to it.

I’d get money. I’d get my freedom. More than that, I’d get a baby. Without any strings attached. I wouldn’t need to marry,to co-parent, to be chained to anyone. He’s basically offering me to be my sperm donorandsugar daddy. All in a day’s work—or a year, at most. In a way, Petyr is offering me everything I’ve ever wanted.

“How handsomely?” I pry, searching for the trap in the fine print. Because surely, there must be one. His offer can’t bethatgood.

“Six zeroes,” he says. “You can pick the number at the top.”

Holy fucking spreadsheet.

I try really hard to keep my pupils from turning into dollar signs. Six zeroes—that’s one million atleast.And by the sound of it, he’d let me go as high as nine times that without batting an eye. I’d say no one has that kind of spare change, but realistically speaking,hedoes. The Gubarev family is one of the richest in the country. That means billions.

Naturally, there are drawbacks to this offer, too. Obvious ones, like the fact that accepting would mean I’d have to spend a lot of time with him. Like, alot.The risk of him recognizing me? It would multiply times infinity.

Granted, he hasn’t so far, and provided I keep a low profile, I could probably make it work. But am I willing to bet everything on “probably”?

You’re considering this. You really are.

Yes. How could I not?

With Petyr’s money, I could leave the country. I could start my business. I could raise a child like I always wanted, live without a care in the world, never having to look over my shoulder again.

I could befree.

But freedom never comes for free.The thought settles heavily in my chest.

I lift my chin. “How do I know you won’t eventually come for the child?”

Petyr’s brow lifts. “Because I just told you so.”

“Right.” I make an effort not to roll my eyes. “But most of the time, thepakhanactuallywantsto raise his heir. Even kind of needs it.”

He gives a nonchalant shrug. “I’m not like my father. I’m honestly not that concerned about legacy. I have cousins who would be happy to take over when I’m dead. I’ll arrange whatever legal documents you need to grant you full custody.”