Page 9 of The Pakhan’s Arranged Bride (West Coast Bratva Pakhans #2)

With the fire no longer burning, the flames doused by the extinguishers, gray smoke is slowly blowing out of the warehouse and the air is beginning to clear.

The destruction is becoming easier to assess.

We’ve been working non-stop for two hours now, getting the injured workers out of danger’s way, moving the dead bodies to one corner of the warehouse, helping those that we can.

Everyone looks shocked, but we are all working together to do the best we can. My medical team has a truck parked out front, and they are tending to the emergency cases before sending them off to the hospital.

We’ve managed to save a lot of men who would otherwise have died. But we also lost a lot of men. Seven lives.

Seven fathers, sons, brothers, husbands. Seven people died today because of Miron, and I want to destroy him.

I keep seeing Ulyana, working tirelessly, passing me, running back in, helping anyone and everyone.

I’m furious that she’s here. I don’t understand why she’s here. But I’m so grateful that she is, because she’s been responsible for countless men getting out of the danger zone.

I’m blown away by her courage and determination to help my workers. But why was she here?

Jadon walks towards me, filthy, covered in dirt and blood and ash.

“That’s the last of them. Those who need to go to hospital have been taken. The ones with minor injuries are mostly sorted. The total loss was seven,” he says gruffly.

“Seven,” I sigh, happy that it didn’t go up since he last reported. “Have we run a check on the rest of the warehouse to make sure there are no other explosive devices?”

“Yes, but I’ve told the men to do a second sweep now and also to check the cars.”

“Good. Is the coroner on the way?”

“Yes, sir. Everything is covered. I, um, noticed that Ulyana was here.”

I sigh, shaking my head. “I don’t know what she’s doing here.”

“She was at home when I left this morning.”

Clenching my jaw, I stand with Jadon, both watching her.

“She’s been incredible,” he mutters. “She helped so many people.”

“I’m going to get her home. Is there anything else you need from me before I leave?”

“No, sir, I’ve got it under control here. I have a second team of fresh men arriving in about ten minutes to take over so we can send the first team home. They’ll finish the clean-up.”

Thanking Jadon, I walk towards Ulyana.

She sees me coming and stands straighter, turning to face me.

She is covered head to toe in grime. As filthy as every other person here, and yet she still looks absolutely gorgeous.

“Benedikt,” she stammers as I step close.

“What are you doing here?” I growl, staring down at her. My concern for her safety has suddenly risen back to the surface, no longer distracted by the urgency of everything else that I needed to do.

“Can you please just take me home?” she says, her voice shaking.

“Not until you tell me what the hell you were doing here, Ulyana. You didn’t tell me you were going to visit me today. You can’t just roll up, not knowing what you’re walking into. Look around you—this isn’t a safe place.” I’m shouting, and she’s hanging her head low.

I grab her chin and force her to look at me.

That’s when I see the tears streaming from her eyes, leaving clean streaks over her ash-covered cheeks. My heart clenches tight in my chest as I really look at her, her expression, her body, her fear.

She’s in shock. She’s been holding it together to help everyone else, making sure my workers get to safety—but the whole time she’s been falling apart herself.

Her entire body is shaking. Her hands are shaking so much she doesn’t know what to do with them.

“Fuck,” I mutter, pulling her into my arms, holding her tight against my chest. “Let’s get you away from here. Leave your car, I’ll drive.”

She nods her head, leaning into me as though she’s been fighting for strength for the last two hours and she no longer needs it now that she’s in my arms. It breaks my heart to see her like this. I lean down and scoop her off her feet, cradling her against me as I carry her to my car.

She’s quiet on the drive home, staring straight ahead with her eyes blank. I can’t tell if she’s overthinking, or completely blank with shock. I have no idea if she’s ever been exposed to things like she saw today. It was a horrific scene.

Her brother kept her sheltered, I am aware of that, but how sheltered, I don’t know.

Reaching across the car, I gently touch her leg. “We’re home, Ulyana,” I say quietly. She turns towards me, bewildered.

I climb out of the car and walk to her side to lift her from her seat.

I carry her straight up the stairs to our bedroom, into the bathroom, where I stand with her in the shower.

Before I turn the water on, I slowly peel her clothes off, piece by piece. Each layer that I strip off her stirs a more intense need inside me. She doesn’t stop me. She’s still shaking from shock. Her eyes are still wide and wild.

She’s naked in front of me, her arms hugging her own body. Her body is beyond perfection. Every inch of her is more beautiful than I could have imagined.

I tug my own clothes off and kick them out of the shower, pulling her into my arms I switch on the hot water.

Desire is overwhelming me. Her naked body against mine is almost too much to bear. But her vulnerability, her softness and her trust in me—it holds me back from doing what I want to do.

She has her head resting on my chest as hot water flows down her back, washing away the dirt.

I pick up the shampoo and lather it onto her hair, gently rubbing, washing, massaging her body.

The shower smells of pine and flowers mixed together.

I take my time with her, letting the hot water soothe her while I wash her.

The water is running clear as the conditioner rinses off her hair.

She looks up at me and her eyes are calmer, but she’s still in disbelief over what she saw today.

“Are you okay?” I ask, as water rains over us.

She bites her lower lip and nods slowly.

I lean closer to her, wanting to kiss her. Wanting so much more than that.

But I have to stop myself. I can’t.

I can’t take advantage of her when she’s so vulnerable.

I flick the shower off and step out, my body screaming at me to get back in there and take her, but instead, I grab two towels, gently wrapping her in one of them, and wrapping the other around my waist.

***

Ulyana is sitting on the edge of the bed, dressed in white sweatpants and a tight white T-shirt.

She looks angelic and innocent and I want to possess her in the darkest ways.

Standing in front of her, I tilt her chin up to look at me.

I’ve carefully blow-dried her hair. I’ve helped her get dressed. I’ve fought against my raging desire every step of the way.

She is mine.

She is my beautiful wife, and she belongs to me.

I am responsible for keeping her safe.

She will do as I say.

“You are no longer allowed to leave this house anymore, Ulyana,” I say, a dark growl that spills from my lips and causes her eyes to flare wide.

“What?” she huffs. “You can’t lock me away. I’m not your prisoner.”

“No, but you are mine to keep safe,” I argue.

She pulls her face away from my hand and shifts backwards onto the bed to escape me.

“I am not your prisoner,” she says again, angrier this time as she scoots over the bed, not wanting me near her.

I grab her ankle and tug her back towards me. She falls onto her back, and I pin myself over her, kneeling between her legs as I grab her face, forcing her to look at me. Her eyes are wild with emotion.

But I’m the one who’s angry.

I’m angry that her body could’ve been amongst the ones we found dead today. I’m angry that it would have been my fault for bringing her here. I’m angry that she won’t let me be with her.

I’m angry that I lose control around her and she has power over me.

“You aren’t my prisoner, you are my wife. And it’s time you started behaving like it,” I growl.

Ulyana kicks at me, but she doesn’t stand a chance.

“Get off me, Benedikt,” she shouts, punching at my chest.

I grab her wrists and pin them above her head, leaning the weight of my body onto hers, pinning her down. My cock grows hard, her legs spread around my waist as she tries to fight me off—all she’s doing is rubbing herself against me, making me harder, making me want her more.

“Get off me,” she shouts without conviction. Her breathing changes and catches in her throat, her lips parting as she takes a sharp breath in when I rock forward against her.

She turns her face towards mine and her lips are pink and swollen, begging to be kissed.

I lean closer to her, my lips brushing over hers, my cock throbbing against her. But then I see her tears.

Her vulnerability, her anger, her emotions running a million miles an hour.

Even if she is as heated with desire as I am, this isn’t the right time.

I can’t do this now. It’s not who I am.

I groan as I roll off her.

Ulyana doesn’t move away. She lies there, quickly wiping her tears as though they are embarrassing to her.

“I-I—" she stammers.

“I’m sorry,” I say quickly. “I’m the one who was in the wrong now. I’m sorry.”

She turns her head towards me, her eyes narrowed in confusion.

“Please don’t lock me away, Benedikt. My whole life, I’ve been sheltered and suffocated by my brother’s rules. Please don’t do the same thing to me. I’ll go crazy.”

I sit up, shifting to lean against the headboard, then I lean over and pull her towards me.

She sits with her back against the headboard, too, surrounded by pillows, and I lift the blankets over her, wanting her to feel safe with me.

“I’m worried, Ulyana. You put yourself in so much danger today. Anything could have happened. Terrible things did happen, and you were right there at the time,” I say tightly, desperate not to let my anger get too loud.

She sits quietly for a while, gathering her thoughts, taking deep, slow breaths.

“Ever since I was little, I haven’t been allowed to make many of my own choices.

My brother loves me. I know that’s the reason for him not allowing me to go out as much or to learn as much about life, through my own mistakes, or to experience as much.

He even tried to send me away from San Francisco to a university far away—and it wasn’t because I wanted to go, it was because he wanted me away from the danger.

I know he meant well. And when people asked me why I left uni, I told them it was because I changed my mind, but the real reason was because I didn’t want to be sent away. ”

She pauses, visibly upset, her fingers knotting around the edge of the blanket, tugging it back and forth.

Ulyana sighs loudly and shakes her head. “Benedikt, I’m sorry, but I won’t let you lock me away.”

“How am I supposed to keep you safe?” I ask, stressed.

When she looks at me, her eyes are wide, beautiful hazel orbs.

“I’d rather take the risk of living my life than be locked away in safety and watch life slip past me.”

“Ulyana…” I want to argue with her, but how can I disagree with that statement?

I’m the same as her in that regard. I’d rather take a risk than regret it later. I’d rather get out there, be bold, confident and forward, instead of losing out on amazing experiences.

How can I tell her not to do that when I do it myself?

But it’s my job to keep her safe.

And if anything were to happen to her, I would never forgive myself.

I watch her expression, her eyes, her body language. She’s still very stressed. Perhaps tonight is not the right time to be pushing this conversation any further.

“Can I make you a cup of tea? Maybe a snack, or some hot chocolate?” I ask, changing the subject.

She smiles sweetly. “I’d love a little bit to eat, and a hot chocolate, definitely.”

I’m happy that she’s calm enough to want food, so I head down to the kitchen to see what the chef made for dinner and make her a warm drink.

When I come back to the room with a bowl of tagliatelle and her hot chocolate, with two marshmallows melting on top, she looks considerably better.

At least I’ve helped her calm down before going to bed. The place she was in before was horrible to see. I don’t want her to suffer like that again.

I might not be able to lock her away, but I’m going to have to find some way to keep her safe.

Ulyana chats a little while she eats her dinner, and I watch, drinking my coffee.

When she’s done, I take the empty dishes and set them aside.

Leaning over the side of the bed, I kiss her forehead.

“Try to get some rest,” I whisper, still feeling that deep yearning for her.

I walk from the room, headed towards my home office to get an update from Jadon regarding everything that happened and how the rest of the clean-up went.

It’s been a long day, but when you have an entire city to run, long days are common.