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“You can’t force me to marry you,” Giselle snapped, her raven hair falling over her face in a disheveled manner.

I tilted my head to look at her.

My God….

There was nothing I would rather look at first thing in the morning aside from the beautiful view in front of me.

She wore a thin nightgown that showed off most of her cleavage, and her nipples strained against the useless fabric.

My body twitched in response to how sexy she looked in it, my balls tingly with need.

I remembered it all, how she came on my tongue, how she moaned my name as I fucked her that night. I needed to feel her again soon, or I’d lose my fucking mind.

It had been two days since she had run away and been kidnapped, and I was happy to see some of her fiery spirit return.

To be honest, I’d been quite worried when she didn’t protest the marriage like I was expecting her to.

Giselle Rae wasn’t a pushover, and she certainly wasn’t the kind of girl who would give in to a marriage she didn’t want to begin with, especially not with a man she was pretending to hate.

She’d barged into my room this morning with the wind behind her, her emerald eyes wide with defiance. She was seething, hands crossed over her chest and her foot tapping the floor impatiently.

I rolled out of bed bare-chested, and her cheeks turned red with embarrassment. Still, she didn’t back down.

I bit back a smile as I walked to the recliner and sat on it. “Don’t you think it’s too early for so much noise?”

“Noise?” She gave me a once-over. “Not a chance. We need to talk. I gave it some thought, and I realized I didn’t want to get married to you.”

“Hmm.” I nodded slowly. “Who would have thought? I’d assumed you came here to see my morning boner.”

A rosy hue appeared across her face, and she shook her head. “Shameless. You’re a pervert.”

I smirked. “I’m not the one who barged into someone’s room without knocking first. Tell me, solnishko , which one of us is the pervert now?”

“Pervert,” she repeated with a roll of her eyes. “Anyway, I’m not here to engage in your games. I can’t marry you.”

I leaned back, watching her. “Why?”

Her eyes widened. “Why? Because I don’t love you, and I’m pretty sure you don’t love me, either. You’re only marrying me because of that damn shipment.”

“Is jumping to conclusions your specialty?”

“Is forcing a woman to bend to your will yours?” she returned. “You forced me to live with you, which is basically kidnapping, and now this?”

I tilted my head from side to side. “You’re remembering it all wrong. I saved you from the police and brought you here to keep you safe. I saved you yet again, and you were very willing when you followed me this time.”

Her lips eased into a sly smile. “Is that what you tell yourself before you fall asleep at night? That I followed you willingly, and hence, you did nothing wrong?”

“No, I tell myself you’re mine.”

She raked a hand through her hair, clearly frustrated with how the conversation was going.

A rush of warmth spread through me.

I liked it when I could draw a reaction like that from her.

I was the only person who could do that, the only person allowed to draw a reaction of any sort from her. No one else.

The doorbell rang downstairs, and I smiled.

She glared at me suspiciously. “Who’s that?”

“The designer for your wedding dress. I booked her for this morning,” I said. “Make sure to pick the prettiest dress she has.”

“Not happening.”

“Being stubborn won’t change anything.”

“We’ll see about that,” she insisted, her arms still crossed over her chest and her eyes wild with fiery defiance. “If you’re that desperate to get married, why not try on the wedding dress yourself? I’m sure Dobryn would agree to be your groom.”

She didn’t look like she was going to back down anytime soon, so I resorted to something else—something she wouldn’t be able to refuse.

“You still need my help to find the bastards that murdered your father, don’t you?”

Her expression shifted to something sad, her hands dropping to her sides. “Is this how you want to play this?”

“Nothing is free in this world, Giselle. You should know that by now.”

“It won’t be for free. I’ll help you find the shipment.”

I sat up and ran my fingers through my hair. “How? It doesn’t seem like you have any clue about the shipment so far. I won’t cut a deal with you unless you have something to offer. And so far, I have a lot more to offer than you do.”

“That isn’t fair, Andrei.”

“That’s as fair as it can get, solnishko . The choice is yours now.”

She thought for a moment, her eyes wandering from the walls to the ceiling and then me. “Fine, I’ll test the dress or whatever. I’ll marry you, too, but don’t think I’m doing any of this because I like you. I’m doing it for my father.”

I loved the lies she told herself, how she’d managed to make herself believe the only reason she was agreeing to this was because of my shiny offer. We both knew the truth: that she wanted every bit of this as I did.

I didn’t mind, though; if lying helped her cope with everything, then I was okay with it. “We have a deal then.”

“Pervert!” she muttered as she turned and left the room.

Now that I’d gotten her to consent to our marriage, there was only one thing left. I had to break the news to my cousins, and I already had a feeling Egor wouldn’t take a liking to it.

He’d probably seen through my bullshit the day I told him she was nothing but a pawn.

Egor was smart and hard to deceive. It was one thing about him I admired and hated at the same time.

Regardless of whether or not he’d already guessed that Giselle meant more than a tool to me, it wasn’t going to be easy to convince him to let me marry her.

Grabbing my phone from the nightstand, I sent a text to the group chat.

Andrei: “Anyone free tonight? Let’s meet at the club. Drinks on me.

Miron’s message popped up next.

Miron: what’s the occasion?

Andrei: you’ll find out if you’re present.

I dropped my phone, cracking my fingers and neck as I tried to imagine what their reaction to the news would be.

Miron took things surface-level; he’d joke about it.

Rafayel would be more interested in whether or not I loved her.

Egor was too unpredictable. I couldn’t say what he’d do. But I had to break the news first to find out.

Giselle’s giggles traveled up to my room. It was the first time I’d ever heard her giggle that loudly.

My curiosity was piqued, so I went outside to see what was happening.

Her hands were raised to her shoulder level. She and the designer were discussing something I couldn’t make out, and she looked really happy.

A smile curled on my lips, and warmth spread through my chest. I never thought I would smile at the sound of someone giggling, but Giselle had made many things that once seemed impossible come true.

She had no idea what she meant to me and how much I was willing to risk just so I could have her by my side.

Maybe she’d find out someday.

Another message popped up on my screen. It was from Egor, which was surprising because neither he nor Rafayel ever responded in the group chat.

Egor: 8 p.m.

I tightened my grip on the phone, feeling the beat in my chest grow louder.

Tonight, I was going to risk it all.

***

“Are you really getting married to the girl?” Dobryn asked, staring at me in disbelief.

Miron and Rafayel had the same looks on their faces, as if I was committing a crime against humanity or something even worse, like drowning a puppy.

It wasn’t as dramatic as I’d suspected, but Egor’s absence played a role in that, I supposed.

Despite being cousins, everyone tensed in his presence to some degree, but it wasn’t out of fear; it was how much we respected him.

I stared ahead, pretending to have the slightest interest in the stripper dancing on a pole ahead.

Her red hair cascaded over her back in curly waves, her silver lingerie catching the neon light.

I used to enjoy strip shows like this until I met Giselle. Now, all I could think of was going back home to my woman; just watching her sleep would spike up my dopamine more than a half-naked woman dancing on a pole.

I peered at each and every one of the men sitting in the VIP section of the club with me.

Miron and Dobryn had the same excitement in their eyes. Rafayel looked like he would rather be anywhere else than here.

The sly fucker missed being home with his wife, Leonora. He’d changed a lot since he met her, and I hadn’t understood him and how much he was willing to sacrifice because of her until now.

I would go against everyone and everything in my path just to be with Giselle, including the Pakhan .

“Last time I checked, my middle name wasn’t the Joker,” I said, glancing at Dobryn.

Miron grinned cockily. “The Pakhan will lose his shit when he hears this bullshit.”

“I’m already losing my shit,” a deep, rough voice said from the entrance door.

We all turned our heads to see Egor stride in. With his domineering manner, the man commanded respect when he entered a room, and for some, he evoked fear.

“What was that quote about speaking of the devil?” Miron teased, wearing his usual irritating smirk that made him appear like a maniac with a dagger.

He thought he was the joker in the group. His smile would give children nightmares instead.

Egor settled on the empty couch beside Rafayel and crossed his legs, his brows lifting. “What was that bullshit about you marrying the girl?”

I sat still, holding his gaze. “It’s not bullshit. We’re getting married in three days.”

He tilted his head, anger burning in his eyes. “Is this all still part of your game to win her trust.”

“It’s not a game. I want her regardless of the shipment.”

The room grew quiet and heavy with tension.

I knew it wouldn’t be easy to convince Egor to allow this marriage.

It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in love; he himself had hopelessly fallen for someone and married her.

As Pakhan , it was his duty to make sure the security of his empire remained uncompromised. One mistake could be the end of all of us, and it was his job to stop that from happening, even if it meant wasting a life.

The stripper made a move at the wrong time, catching his attention.

“Get her out of here,” Egor ordered.

Dobryn flew up to his feet and ushered the stripper out.

“You do realize this could be a mistake or a trap, don’t you?”

I’d given enough thought to that possibility, but Giselle had grown up away from the mafia world. I’d kept track of her, her friends, and the countries she’d visited. She hadn’t had any sort of contact with the mafia until now.

I didn’t see how she could be a threat aside from withholding the information on Tyfun-1. And even then, I believed she wouldn’t hold on to that information for very long.

“It is not a trap.” That I was very certain of.

“Would it make a difference if I told you not to go ahead with the marriage?” he asked.

“It wouldn’t,” I answered honestly. “She’s mine, and I won’t stop until I have her.”

“And you’re willing to go against me for her?”

“There will be no need for that if you don’t try to stop me.”

Egor’s jaw tensed. His dark eyes locked onto mine and remained there, as if he was trying to see through my thoughts.

The silence between us thickened, pressing against the walls of the VIP section, muffling the bass-heavy music thumping outside.

“You’ve lost your fucking mind,” he finally said, his voice low but sharp. “This isn’t some playground romance, Andrei. You don’t get to throw away everything for a woman just because she makes your cock hard.”

Anger rippled through me, but I forced myself to stay seated, to not rise to his provocation.

Giselle wasn’t someone who merely made my cock hard. She was someone I cared about. Someone I was willing to die for. “This isn’t just about that,” I said, my tone even. “She’s mine. I need her.”

Egor’s lips curled into something between a sneer and a smirk. “Need?” he echoed, leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees. “That’s a dangerous word. Need makes men desperate. Desperation makes men sloppy. And sloppy men die young.”

Rafayel shifted beside him, his fingers tapping against the armrest of his chair. “Not if it’s real,” he said. “You feel the same way about Freya. It’s the same way I do about Leonora.”

Egor turned his glare on him. “How are you sure it’s love and not some weird obsession and need to own her? She’ll be nothing but a distraction to him if that’s all he sees her as.”

Rafayel shrugged. “I can’t say for sure.” His voice was calm, deliberate. “I thought Leonora was a distraction once. That she’d make me weak. Instead, she gave me more to fight for. If Andrei feels the same about Giselle, then stopping him won’t change a damn thing. He’ll still go after her, with or without your blessing.”

Egor exhaled sharply, his patience clearly thinning. “You think this is the same?” He gestured at me. “He barely knows this girl.”

“You didn’t know Freya enough either when you chose to put everything at risk and chase after her like your life depended on it,” I cut in, ignoring the death stare he was giving me. “Her father worked for us for years. I think I know her enough to want to be with her.”

Miron let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Giselle must have some magic between her thighs if you’re willing to go up against the Pakhan for her.”

I ignored him.

Egor studied me; his expression was unreadable, but I could see the calculations happening behind his eyes. He was weighing risks, measuring the potential for disaster against my determination.

Finally, he sat back with a slow, deliberate sigh. “You want to be with her against all odds?” His voice was quieter now but no less dangerous. “Fine. You’re responsible for everything she brings with her, too.”

I didn’t blink. I was willing to handle anything as long as I had her by my side. “I accept that.”

He nodded once, but there was no victory in it. “If she turns out to be a threat, I won’t hesitate to put a bullet in her myself.”

Something dark and lethal unfurled inside me, but I kept it buried. “That won’t happen. Giselle can’t even step on a flower, let alone become a threat to us. It’s not her you’re worried about; it’s the information she has.”

“At least you’re thinking straight now. You should be getting answers from her, not trying to marry her after what happened.”

My teeth gritted at the reminder of Gavril kidnapping Giselle and hurting her. The bastard was dead; still, a part of me wanted to bring him back to life just so I could kill him all over for what he did to her. “It won’t happen again. No one will ever get their hands on her or the shipment.”

Egor’s smirk returned, but it was colder now. “Let’s hope not.”

With that, he rose to his feet. The conversation was over. He’d made his stance clear. “I’ll be at your wedding. Text me the date and venue when you’ve decided on it.”

I had a date and a venue in mind already.

She was going to be my wife in exactly three days, and we were getting married in my mansion. A Yezhov wedding was usually a big deal, but I didn’t want to draw attention to Giselle or myself with so many vultures circling over a single carcass.

We were going to have a small wedding with very few guests. I didn’t tell Egor that, though. He was pissed already as it was; engaging him in further conversation wasn’t going to be helpful to either of us.

As he strode toward the exit, Miron exhaled a dramatic breath. “Well, that was fun.”

Rafayel gave me a look. “You really love her?”

“Love?” I filled the empty glass in front of me with whiskey and lifted it to my lips. Taking a sip of my drink, I leaned back in my seat and allowed the liquor to simmer in my stomach. “Do I need to love her?”

He narrowed his eyes on me. “You’re not getting married to her just because you view her as a possession that belongs to you, are you?”

“Is that such a bad thing?” I asked with a smirk. “Will you run after the Pakhan and tell him not to allow the marriage if I admit that is the case?”

“As much as I’d hate to, I won’t allow you to mess with her. Her father worked for us for years. The least we can do is keep his daughter safe.”

“Interesting,” I drawled. “And who will you be protecting her from, me?”

“I won’t hesitate.”

A laugh ripped from my throat. I was amused at how much Rafayel had changed. I was even happier that if, for some reason, I was no longer here, there would be someone who cared enough to take care of her and protect her.

I thought of what it meant to love someone for a moment. I knew how much I wanted Giselle, how much I’d changed since I met her, and how happy she made me without even trying.

I thought of the rage I felt when she’d gotten hurt and how much I wanted to keep her safe.

Was that what love meant? Caring about someone so much that you would want to protect them, even at the cost of your own life? Wanting to make them happy and smiling at you thought of them?

If that wasn’t love, then I was satisfied with whatever it was as long as I had her.

“I don’t know if I love her or not, man,” I answered honestly. “I do know I will burn in hell before I let anyone hurt her, and when she smiles, it feels like the world stops spinning and she’s the only person in the universe. Is that enough reason for me to want to marry her?”

He nodded once, like that was enough for him. “I hope you’ll both be happy.”

“Thank you.”

Miron grinned beside me. “That’s either the dumbest thing you’ve ever said or the beginning of something legendary.”

I smiled coldly. “We’ll find out soon enough.”