Page 15 of Darkest Desire

He’s walking so fast, I struggle to keep up with him and end up tripping on my dress. I stumble forward. If it weren’t for Denis holding onto my arm with a tight vice, I would have landed on my face.

He yanks me up and keeps on walking, wasting no time.

“Careful,” Nico says. “Don’t break my wife before our wedding night.”

What doesthatmean exactly? I shiver at the thought.

Denis’s smile is strained. “She ran from you, Nico. We have to make sure you two get married today.”

“I’m well aware, Denis. But you don’t need to drag her down the aisle.”

The priest standing beside Nico acts as an imposing figure. I know he won’t help me. A man like him has already been debriefed on the situation. Probably paid off by Nico to go along and not say a word.

Denis places my hand in Nico’s and I have no choice but to walk up the small steps and stand before the man who will become my husband in a matter of minutes.

Denis takes his seat right by my mom. She nudges over, creating space between them, which only makes Denis look more pissed off.

Nico’s hand is so different from Denis’s. For one thing, it’s not as rough but it’s just as strong. His hands feel softer but also more masculine. I find myself staring down at Nico’s hands, never realizing that a man could have such nice hands.

“Sasha,” Nico murmurs, drawing my attention up to his eyes. I can’t help but blush. Caught red handed staring at his hands.

“Father, begin,” Denis says.

The priest nods and starts the ceremony, talking about love and obeying one’s husband and creating a partnership. All of it is bullshit. I do not love Nico. We are not going to be partners in crime.

And I most definitely will not obey him.

Unless he threatens to hurt my sisters like Denis does. If that’s the case, then I’ll fall in line but I won’t be happy about it.

“Do you, Nico Bernardi, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do.” Nico’s rich voice echoes through the large church. Even his voice has to be handsome. It’s not fair for a man to look as good as him and be evil.

I tighten my hands with his, wishing I was strong enough to hurt him. But Nico only tightens his hands in return, squeezing mine until I relent and loosen my grip. He’s the one with power. The one in control.

And I hate him for it.

“Do you, Sasha Petrov, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“No.” I don’t even hesitate to say it.

Nico looks amused while Denis shoots to his feet and starts berating me for making a fool out of this ceremony.

“You will marry him,” Denis blabbers on. “You will say ‘I do.’”

“You cannot force the words out of my mouth and if I’m not consenting, then we cannot marry. Isn’t that how it works?”

“You will say you will marry him!”

Nico holds up a hand, silently telling Denis to be quiet. The power Nico exudes is intimidating though I will admit, watching him take charge over Denis is satisfying.

“I will not force you to say the words,” Nico says. “But I will remind you that your uncle is unhinged and who knows what he’ll do? Do you really want to put your sisters at risk like this?”

“Are you threatening them?”

“I have no desire to hurt them. But your uncle does. Think wisely about this, Sasha.”

I turn to Irina and Ana and hate how helpless they look. How petite and young and innocent they are. I’m the same way but soon my innocence will be stripped away when Nico finally gets his hands on me.