Page 112 of Darkest Sin

“Then you’ll see what happens when you test me. So be a good girl and do what I want.”

It’s time to act like the white swan – innocent and demure. But inside, I’m boiling. Inside, I’m ready to kill.

Chapter Nineteen

Natalya

Denis drags me from my room. I kick and scream and claw at him. I’m not going down without a fight. Mikhail may be dead but that doesn’t mean I’m going to just give up. I’m going to continue to fight, for him, for my family. I’ll never stop.

“Hold still,” Denis grunts.

“Let me go!”

He drags me down the hallway and shoves me onto the couch. A wedding dress is draped over the back of the loveseat. “Put this on. You’re going to marry Cillian today and you’re going to be happy about it.”

“I will not be happy.”

“Fine then.” He motions for his guard, Josh, to go upstairs. “Retrieve Natalya’s sisters for me.”

Denis and I glare at each other as we wait for Josh to return with my sisters. The moment I see, Sasha, Irina, and Ana, I almost break down into tears but I hold it together. For them. For myself.

For Mikhail.

He would want me to be strong in this moment. He would want to take away my pain and fear. But he’s not here so I’m the one who needs to do it for myself.

“If you’re not going to get dressed, then I’ll have to resort to this.” He walks to Sasha and punches her right in the stomach, making her double over.

“Stop!” I scream.

Denis slaps Irina across the face. He then turns to Ana. “Are you going to get in that wedding dress now, Natalya?”

“No,” Sasha says. “Don’t do this. Don’t do what he wants.”

“Mikhail is dead,” I whisper. “And I have to save you.”

“Don’t.”

“I’m sorry, Sasha. I wanted to save you. This is how I can.” I force myself to walk to the dress.

“If you marry whoever Denis wants, you’ll be trapped forever.”

“And I can’t stand back and let you three get hurt on my watch.” I pick up the dress. “I’ll wear it. You don’t have to hurt them.”

Denis smiles. “Great. Now put it on.”

“I’ll go change in the bathroom.”

“No. Right here. In front of all of us. I don’t trust you to be alone in the bathroom after what you did last time. So you will change right here.”

“Right in front of you? You’re my uncle.”

“No. I’m the man in charge of you now. So you will do as I say. Put the dress on.”

I catch Irina’s eyes across the room. Her face is red from Denis’s hand. I know I have to do this. I have to save them.

So, with a deep breath, I slip off my dress and keep my eyes focused on Denis. He will not see my fear. “Like what you see? You’re disgusting.”

“Put the dress on.”