Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Glancing at Galina in the reflection of the elevator, he knew she was going to be an amazing mother. She was the perfect candidate to be his bride. At first, his father had hoped to align with another brigadier, or at least to use a woman from either the Italian mafia or a local MC, to make him a wife.
Mikhail didn’t want anyone but Galina.
Even though Galina was offered to Vik Kuzlov.
It was the first time he had dared to question his father. He had told him straight, if Galina married Vik Kuzlov, they were signing away her life. They were guaranteeing her death. He had also told his father that if Galina died, Vik would follow, because Mikhail would see that he suffered, and then everyone who allowed their marriage to take place would be on his death list. Peter wouldn’t have made the list. It was her brother who had warned him of what their parents were planning. He had given Mikhail enough time to deal with it, and make Galina his.
He had convinced his father how strong it would make them look. The elevator came to a stop, and he led Galina down the hall to the final door in front of them. He pulled out his card, slid it into the lock, pressed the code, and opened the door. Stepping into his penthouse suite, he placed his hand at the base of Galina’s back and urged her forward.
She unwillingly stepped through. He noticed when he touched her, she tried to avoid him. There was going to come a time when she craved his touch, when she’d lean against him to get as close as possible to him. He had the patience to wait for that time.
Her coat was back at the nightclub. Closing the door, he pressed the lock into place and then moved away.
“You can go and take that shower. Bedroom’s through there. I’ve left some clothes out for you.”
He removed his jacket and threw it over the back of the sofa before heading into his kitchen.
“What’s going on?”
“You don’t like going out and dancing, so I figured we’d come here, watch a movie, and just hang out. I had some business to deal with. Peter knew all about my plans, and he’s going to cover for us. If your parents ask, you both stayed here all night.”
“I’m not in the habit of lying to my parents,” she said.
“Yeah, you are, otherwise you’d have told them about all those times at school that I made your life miserable. You never did.” He grabbed a beer from the fridge, along with a bottle of her favorite chocolate milk. “Now, if you don’t hurry up, I’m going to be the one choosing the movie.” He took a sip of his beer and left her alone.
Mikhail had a feeling he had surprised her, which was more than okay with him. He took another sip of his beer and took a seat on his sofa. He grabbed the remote and switched on the television, waiting for his woman to come back.
Galina didn’t make him wait long. Within ten minutes, she was back wearing a pair of sweats, a hoodie, and looking so fucking cute. She stood beside his sofa and he patted the space beside him.
“What’s with the nice guy routine? I’m not convinced.”
This made him laugh. “I’m just hanging out, but if you don’t want to, you can stand and watch the movie.”
He heard her huff and then drop down on the sofa beside him.
Mikhail tried to contain his smile, but he handed her the remote. “Pick what we watch.”
“And I can choose anything?”
“Go ahead.”
“What if it’s something sweet and romantic?”
“Then go ahead.” He leaned back and took another sip of his beer.
She gave a huff and he laughed as she actually chose one of the scariest movies that had been released in decades. He’d seen the movie, he didn’t think it was scary, but after the first fifteen minutes, Galina was snuggled up against his side, with a pillow in her hand.
“Oh, God, I can’t watch. Why did I pick this one?”
“We can turn it off.”
“No, I’ve got to see how it ends. Bad choice. Bad choice.”
She kept looking over the pillow, and Mikhail used this to his advantage to wrap his arm around her shoulders and pull her close. He pressed his nose against her head, and she was so distracted she didn’t even realize he’d kissed the back of her head.
Galina smelled like lavender. He’d first detected the smell when he got a couple of the guys at school to shove her into the janitor’s closet. She hadn’t known he was there. For a good ten minutes, she kept trying the door, slamming her palm against the wood, and screaming.
He’d told the guys that if any teacher came by, they needed to warn them he was there, and if they interfered, it would cost their life.