Page 59 of The Pakhan's Forced Bride

But it ended up being a nightmare.

It’s late morning and I’m in the kitchen making a second cup of coffee. Belle is still tucked away in her bedroom. She hasn’t come downstairs yet. She’s been sleeping late and going to bed really early. Maybe it’s just to keep her distance from me.

Coffee steams from the spout, pouring into my waiting mug, and that familiar, rich aroma fills the air. I lean forward with my hands on the counter, thinking about ways to fix this mess.

Her brother won’t even take her calls. I gave her cellphone back, and I don’t think she’s managed to get through to him.

She hasn’t said much, but she also hasn’t asked to go back to Vegas.

“Hey, Ardi the Party.” Kira is the only person on the planet who calls me that. I turn to see both of my sisters standing in the kitchen doorway, grinning at me.

“You’re back in LA,” I say with a wide smile.

Alya skips across the kitchen and slams into me with a massive hug.

“We got back last night,” Alya says. “Longest flightever.”

“Well, you did come all the way from Russia,” I laugh, hugging my sister tight, lifting her feet off the floor, and squishing her.

“Ugh, stop that, I can’t breathe,” she gasps, wiggling free.

Kira walks to me and gives me a gentler hug.

“Missed you,” she grins.

“So, how was it exploring our family roots? Did you see the old house our father grew up in?”

“We did, the family stuff was really cool—but the snow train was way cooler. And we went on a camping trip, and I swear we came this close to getting eaten by a bear,” Alya says excitedly.

“She’s being dramatic.” Kira punches Alya in the shoulder. “Wesawa bear. He didn’t even look hungry, though.”

“Hello?” Belle says, looking at my sisters nervously.

“Belle.” I walk towards her, happy to see her. “These are my sisters, Kira and Alya. They just arrived back in LA from a trip.”

“Hi,” Kira says, tilting her head to the side. “Ardi? We didn’t know you had a house guest.”

“This is my wife, Belle.”

Kira snorts with laughter. “Funny,” she sasses, sarcastically.

Alya is staring at me with her brows furrowed.

“You’re not joking?” Kira gasps, catching sight of Belle’s ring.

Belle laughs nervously as she holds her hand up to give them a clearer view.

“What is going on? You can’t just get married and not tell us. We’re your sisters! We should have been there!” Kira scolds me, marching towards me and pulling Belle from my arm. Belle is tense, obviously nervous, caught off guard with this introduction.

Belle yelps in fright, and I step nervously forward to defend her against Kira’s boldness. But Kira pulls Belle into a tight hug and says, “I’m sorry my brother is such an idiot, and I didn’t get to meet youbefore you got married.” She laughs. “I’m Kira. This is Alya. I guess we’re family now.”

She lets Belle go, and Aly bowls her over with a hug, too.

“Oh,” Belle says as Aly crashes into her.

“Sorry, I’m a hugger,” Aly says, giggling.

Belle laughs as well, and the tension in the room eases.