Page 4 of The Mountain Man’s Unexpected Bride (Mountain Man Sanctuary #5)

Brock

B eing back in Chicago feels weird. I studied medicine here, and back then, I felt like I belonged, but now I belong on my mountain. I look at myself in the mirror one last time and know that I cannot chicken out of this. I made a promise.

There's a car waiting for me when I exit the hotel, and the bellhop opens the door for me. I slide right in and make myself comfortable. It takes about thirty minutes to get to what looks like a very wealthy part of town.

I watch house after house, almost hypnotized. I need to get through this for my uncle's sake. We finally arrive at a Victorian cottage that seems to be worse for wear. I’m starting to understand a little better why this family needs me so badly.

The gate opens for the car, and the driver pulls up to the entrance. I cringe as I watch three women standing there and waving at me from the doorway. They are loud not only in their manner but also in their dress, and I start mentally backing out of here.

I made a promise, though.

"Mr. Masters, we've been waiting for you," they yell as soon as I step out of the car.

Immediately, their hands are on my arms, pulling me inside the house. My driver told me he would wait for me, so at least I have a means of escape. These three women surrounding me are getting on my nerves, though.

"Sit down here in our place of honor, Mr. Masters."

"You can call me Brock."

They push me down in the middle of a huge couch with a horrible pattern on it, and the two girls sit on either side of me, trapping me.

"Brock, these are my daughters, Dima and Masha, and I'm Veronika."

Not knowing what to say to that, I stay silent and just nod.

"My daughters are both smart and savvy and know how to run a household. You won't be disappointed no matter who you choose."

She picks up a bell and starts ringing it loudly. I'm waiting for a butler to appear from somewhere, but instead, a striking woman dressed in ragged clothes comes into the parlor with a tray of beverages. I'm immediately drawn to her shy demeanor.

I see her trembling and catch her tray before it falls to the floor.

"Here, let me help you."

Placing the tray on the coffee table, I get a chance to see her face. She's got beautiful sapphire eyes that light up when she looks at me discreetly. In the background, I hear Veronika say some nasty words, and I catch something that interests me. She said something like 'your sisters'.

Is this beauty another sister? Why is she not here, sitting in the parlor with me? I'm already smitten and want to talk to her, but at Veronika's harsh words, she scurries out of the room, and I've lost my chance.

"So sorry about that, Brock. It's so difficult to get good help these days."

I sit back down, but my mind is wherever this beautiful creature is hiding in this house.

Veronika makes small talk, and her daughters giggle as they grab my arms, one on each side.

I feel trapped, to be honest, and when I can't hear one more story about Birkin or Hermes, I excuse myself to go to the bathroom.

As soon as I leave the room, I crash into the person I was hoping to find. She must have been eavesdropping. Good for her. I grab her so she doesn't run away from me.

"Hey, shhh. I want to talk to you."

She watches me with wary eyes and lets me pull her away from the entrance of the parlor. I look for the bathroom and she points me in the right direction. I enter a lavish room the size of a regular bedroom and see all the expensive touches. This family is used to the finer things in life.

This daughter, however, has not been privy to that lifestyle, I realize as I see her torn jeans and well-used t-shirt. I'm surprised they don't make her wear a uniform.

"Hey, I'm Brock."

She swallows and slowly looks up into my eyes. She's a tiny thing, maybe only five feet five inches, with curves to die for. I tower over her, and I worry that she might be scared of me. Her quiet concerns me.

"Who are you? I heard her say something about your sisters."

"I'm Savannah. Veronika is my stepmother, and Masha and Dima are my stepsisters."

"So you're one of the Ivanov sisters, then?"

She gets an outraged look on her face, and I see her clench her fists so tight they turn white.

"I'm the only Ivanov in this house. My father was Nikolai Ivanov."

Her words tell me that he's left her without protection in this den of vipers. I think I'm going to do something about that.

"I'm sorry for your loss. Why are you the one serving us, though?"

"As soon as my father died I was told I needed to earn my keep."

"Would you like to leave this place, Savannah?"

"I…"

She looks surprised at my question. It might take some fast talking, but I'm getting her out of here.

"You need to answer me so I can fight for you."

"Why would you do that for me? I'm no one special."

"That's where you're wrong, Savannah. You are the biggest treasure there is in this house."

Her face goes completely red at my compliment, and I love how she can be both shy and courageous at the same time. I'm about to try to convince her to come with me when that stupid bell Veronika wields like a weapon sounds, and a look of fear crosses Savannah's face.

She leaves my side and hurries out of the bathroom. When I hear steps coming my way, I start to wash my hands as if I've been using the facilities.

"There you are!" One of the sisters says loudly. "We thought we lost you in the depths of our mansion."

She grabs me as I'm drying my hands on a hand towel and practically drags me into the parlor and throws me onto the couch once again. They all start talking at the same time, and I try to keep track, but it's impossible. It's as if they're talking to hear themselves speak.

I want to get up and leave, but I'm not leaving Savannah behind. When she comes in with another tray full of desserts, I search her face to see if she's thought about my proposition. She won't make eye contact with me, and when she's about to leave the room, I decide it's time to interfere.

"Please don't leave."

The room falls completely silent, and every woman there is looking at me, wide-eyed. Savannah is shaking her head so that I don't say anything, but I have to. She's the one I'm here for.

"Veronika, how many daughters did your late husband have?"

"I don't understand the question, Brock. Savannah, go."

"Don't go. I want her here. I heard you say she was your daughter's sister. So I'm confused. I'm supposed to become engaged to one of the Ivanov sisters and I want to know how many there are."

She gives a nasty look in Savannah's direction and clears her throat.

"My Nikolai adopted my two daughters and gave them his last name."

"That's not what I asked."

"I don't know why you are asking, as you seem to already know the answer."

"Our contract says that I get to choose one of the Ivanov sisters. I see there are three. I'm ready to choose."

Savannah's eyes pop wide open in disbelief. She's grown pale and seems to be slowly backing out of the room.

"I think if you spend more time with my daughters, you'll find they are more suitable for a man like you."

"I don't believe that's necessary. I choose Savannah, and I'm taking her with me to my home in the mountains right now."

Veronika and her two daughters jump up from their seats in a huff.

"You can't do that, Mr. Masters!"

"Mother, what is he saying?"

"Why is he choosing that hussy?"

As this is happening, I keep my eyes glued to Savannah, who is still trying to leave the room. I get up and go to stop her from vanishing altogether.

"Go pack your things, princess."

She looks at me like I've grown a second head, and I hurry to soothe her.

"Everything is going to be okay, Savannah. Just bring with you whatever you can't live without. I'll provide for everything else."

Her face falls, and she looks devastated.

"There's nothing here that I'd miss. Nothing to pack. If you mean it, then we can go now."

I take her hand into mine and pull her out of that horrible house. The other women are shrieking at my back, but I don't spare them another glance. The driver sees me and hurries to open the car door for me. I usher Savannah into the car and then slide in right behind her.

When I look at my new fiancé, my heart breaks as tears roll down her beautiful face.

"Are you okay, princess?"

I reach for her hand once again and hold it tight in between my own.

"Is this a dream?"

"No. You'll never have to go back to that place ever again."

She starts sobbing and pulls her hand from mine in order to cover her face. I follow my first instinct, which is to wrap her in my arms. She feels so tiny and frail, and I mentally curse those vipers that treated her so badly for so long.

For a moment, there's a battle inside me, because this is supposed to be short-term. All I know is that I'll do anything to make sure she lives a good life away from those people, even if it's not by my side.