Page 12 of Darkest Desire

I know why Mikhail stopped instead of running through the red light. He didn’t want to put Natalya in danger.

“That was thrilling,” Nico says with a laugh.

“You’re unhinged,” I tell him.

“That’s not the worst thing I’ve been called.”

“What is?” I’m not sure I should even be asking.

“Heartless.”

I shiver. I’m going to be forced to marry a man who’s considered heartless. I felt a flash of hope and it’s been dashed to the ground.

“How did you find me?” I ask.

“One of Denis’s guards noticed the back gate was unlocked. They did a sweep of the house and found you missing. Denis called me right away, said you couldn’t have gotten far. So, I drove around the area until I happened to see you. Fate.”

I glower at him. “It’s not fate. You’re obsessed with me. You’re the problem.”

“I never said I was a good man. You keep expecting me to feel shame for my actions but… I don’t feel any shame. Now, let’s get you back home. We have our wedding tomorrow.”

I want to scream and shout and cry and panic but what will any of that achieve? It will just lead to me feeling drained and I need all the strength I can get for tomorrow.

Because tomorrow, I’m going to be married to the devil himself.

My sisters and mom are in the living room when Nico brings me back home. A guard is keeping an eye on them, his gun visible, silently telling them not to do anything stupid.

Mom jumps to her feet when she sees me. “Sasha.”

“I’m ok,” I tell her.

“What happened?”

“I can tell you what happened,” Denis says, charging towards me and grabbing my face, his nails digging into my skin. “She was being a brat, was what happened.”

“Don’t.” Nico’s one word is infused with so much power.

Denis frowns. “What?”

“Don’t hurt her. I want her looking good on our wedding day.”

Slowly, Denis lets my face go. Nico tilts my chin up so he can see the damage.

“You left red marks behind in her skin,” Nico muses.

“She can cover it up with makeup,” Denis says with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Nico takes a moment to look me in the eye and hold onto my face before he lets me go. My exhale is shaky.

“Just make sure she’s dressed and ready to go for tomorrow,” Nico snaps.

“Tomorrow?” Mom asks. “The wedding isn’t happening until a month later.”

“It’s tomorrow,” Nico says. “I’ve changed my mind. So, you’ll need to get your daughter a dress by then. Have a nice night.” He throws me a wink before leaving.

“I can’t get her a dress in that time,” Mom says.

Denis sighs, running a hand down his face. “I don’t care how you do it. Just do it! Now, all of you back to you rooms. And seal Sasha’s window shut so she can’t escape again.”