Page 7 of Forcibly Sold to the Bratva (Zolotov Bratva #14)

“At least I should know what I’m working with!” she argues desperately.

“That’s none of your concern.” I shake my head.

“Of course it is! You married me because of what they owe you, didn’t you?”

To this, I say nothing.

“I can’t believe you’re keeping me in the dark!” she protests.

“It’s not like your brothers didn’t,” I spit back, annoyed at how she’s looking at me like I’m the devil when her brothers have done the exact same thing.

“You have to tell me something!” she insists.

“I really don’t,” I shrug. “But I am keen to hear exactly what you’re negotiating here. I’m a good listener, give me a shot.”

I speak firmly, and her expression shifts from annoyance to an even more annoyed resignation. She knows she won’t get any information from me, and as for me, curiosity is literally itching at my skin.

“Well, I was thinking,” she explains. “I’ll stay married to you until you consider their debt repaid. Through me.”

“Through you?” I ask, trying not to hold back laughter. “You think marriage is what, like an hourly chore job?”

“I don’t know,” she hisses. “But I’m trying, aren’t I? I’ll do whatever it is you think I need to. I won’t argue. I won’t fight. I’ll take care of your house.”

“And cook and clean?” I ask, stifling a laugh.

“Sure.” She scribbles it down on the paper and chucks the pen away. “And cook and clean.”

“I was joking,” I add. “We have maids.”

“Okay. Whatever. I’ll be your wife until you consider the debt repaid. Would that work?”

The truth is, this is an absolutely absurd idea.

She could be married to me for seven lifetimes, and it won’t be enough for what her brothers did to Nikandr and Lilibeth.

But I can’t explain that to her and expect her to understand.

Someday, I will have my revenge. Until then, I need her around for leverage against Tikhon, Andrei, and Alexey.

As long as I agree to this, she’ll think she chose to remain by my side.

It’ll make this whole living under one roof thing a lot more peaceful. At least she won’t fight me every single day. This deal she proposes helps me stall her, keep her at peace, until I figure out what to do next.

“Fine,” I say, after careful consideration. “Deal.”

Relief and pride wash over her face, as though she can’t believe she possibly won. With excitement, she pushes the paper toward me to sign. I’m about to sign, chuckling when I notice what she’s written under terms and conditions.

“Arina Sokolov will not be compelled to sleep with Ilariy Letvin under obligation?” My eyes blast open in shock, and I look up at her mortified face, signing the spot under my name as I do.

“What?” she shrugs. “I wanted to make it clear!”

“You thought I would force you to sleep with me? Don’t flatter yourself!” I can’t help but argue, humiliated to think that she thinks so little of me.

She stands, grabs the paper, folds it, and tucks it into her jeans pocket. “I couldn’t be so sure, could I now? You kidnapped me and forced me to marry you. I don’t know what you’re capable of!”

She makes a good point, though I don’t say so.

She considers it a win and puts out her hand. I take it, and she gives it a tight squeeze. This woman, in a boardroom, would be a force to be reckoned with. “It was a pleasure doing business with you.”

As she removes her hand, she accidentally brushes her thumb over mine, and I feel a shiver shoot down my spine. She freezes, as though she felt it too, and turns on her heels and darts out of my office.

I watch her leave, leaning back in my chair, still processing what the hell just happened.

***

Later that evening, I receive a call from Agafon.

I’m in the middle of reading a report, but push it aside immediately upon noticing who is calling.

“Hello?” I pick up, feeling a nervous energy hum around me. Agafon doesn’t know what I did last night. If he did, I don’t know what might happen.

“Brother,” he greets me. “I was calling to check on you after the meeting yesterday. You were upset.”

“Yes,” I say, my throat tightening. Just thinking about how easily my brothers and our allies gave up makes me so very angry.

“Well…” He clears his throat and sounds guilty as hell. “I just wanted to say, we might have officially put the hunt for the Sokolovs on hold for now, but if you find any leads, please don’t think twice to call for support.”

“Alright,” I say, curtly, now the guilt is turning on me from what I’m keeping from him.

“Did you find anything yesterday? When you went out to make your inquiries?” he asks with keen interest.

“No,” I say, immediately lying. “I came up empty-handed.”

I don’t know why I lie, but there’s a whisper in my heart telling me to do this for Arina. If my brothers and allies find out I have her, they might put everything into questioning her. I lie…to protect her from their wrath.

“Well,” Agafon sounds disappointed. “Maybe next time.”

“Maybe,” I say, and we end the call. I toss the phone on my desk and feel a headache coming on. Lying to my brother doesn’t sit well with me. But if he knew Arina was here, how I married her in a fit of miscalculation, he’d rain down fury on me.

I rub my forehead and groan. What the hell am I supposed to do with her now? She’s completely innocent.

And of course she’s upset. She’s trying to make the best of a situation she should never be in. I should go check on her. Not because I care. Just to make sure she’s not doing anything stupid. That’s all.

But I also don’t want it to seem like I’m spying on her. On impulse, I head into the kitchen and brew a cup of tea, taking to to her room. As I thought, the lights are on, which I can see from the crack in her door.

I knock and hear her soft voice. “Come in.”

When I enter, I’m hit with a punch to my gut. She scrambles to wipe her face and puts on a small smile, and I know I shouldn’t ask. She’s been crying. But she doesn’t want me to see, and for some reason, I want to let her maintain that dignity.

“Needed something?” she asks, her voice hoarse.

“I…brought you some tea,” I walk over and set it by her table.

“Oh,” a flash of surprise crosses over her face. “Thanks.”

“You okay?” I ask, before I can even think.

She looks at me like I’ve sprouted leaves. Incredulous.

“Sorry,” I murmur, shaking my head. What was I thinking, asking her that when I already know the answer. “I should let you get some rest.”

She nods, and I’m at the door when I hear her soft voice. “Good night, Ilariy.”

I turn and see her watching me, confusion etched across her face. I shouldn’t have come in here. My innocent gesture of kindness is one she can’t comprehend, and that makes me feel like an even bigger monster for putting her in this situation.

“Good night, Arina,” I manage to choke out before leaving her to rest.