Page 4 of Darkest Desire

“Are you going to hurt me if I don’t comply? Hurt me just like my uncle?”

“Are you asking if I’m going to beat you?”

I look him straight in his handsome eyes. “Yes. I have the right to know what kind of man I’ll be marrying.”

“You don’t have any right,” Denis says. “It is your job to marry well and you will do it. No questions asked. Nico and I have made an alliance. But this only works if you’re married to him. I will drag you down the church aisle if I have to but you are marrying him.”

“Are you going to beat me?” I ask Nico again, ignoring my uncle altogether. It’s more funny to ignore him. I know it drives him crazy.

“I have no desire to beat you.”

Nico’s answer surprises me, though why would he tell me if he was going to beat me? He could tell me he wont and still do it after we’re married.

“I saw you kill a man without blinking. I don’t believe you.”

Nico shrugs. “Believe whatever you want.”

“You two should have a minute to talk,” Denis says, ushering my mom and sisters towards the doorway.

“I want them to stay.”

“You don’t get a say,” he snaps back. “Nico wanted to talk with you alone.” He practically pushes my mom out the room. She shoots him a glare, which doesn’t even faze him.

Once I’m alone with Nico, I realize just how more intimidating and scary he is.

“You wanted to talk?” I ask.

He sits down beside me, keeping some distance between us, which is surprising. I thought a man who didn’t care what I wanted would be disrespecting my personal boundaries.

“I did. I was fascinated with you, Sasha, the first time I saw you.”

“Well, you scared me.”

“I’m sure I did.” He undoes the button on his suit jacket, exposing his white shirt underneath that clings to his body, showcasing the strong chest he has. That is something I don’t even want to notice.

But I can’t help but notice.

“Why do you want to marry me?”

“I want to make a deal with your uncle. I was deceived by the Irish and I want to take them down. I need help with that.”

“Why can’t you make a deal with Mikhail Novikoff?”

He smirks. “Why? So you could see your sister again?”

I flush, turning my head away. I will not let this man who I barely know read me like this.

“I refuse to make a deal with your sister’s husband because I hate him. Plain and simple. He shot me in the back.”

“Too bad he didn’t kill you.”

“Trust me, Sasha, if it weren’t me, then your uncle would be marrying you off to someone else. I know you don’t like me but am I really that bad? I think I would make a wonderful husband.”

I can’t help but snort. “Really? You’re a murderer.”

“And so was your father.”

His words hit me straight to the chest and I have to blink back tears. I will not cry before him.