Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41558 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41558 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
Niko’s stony expression abruptly shifted into a dazzling smile when he reached me. Mikhail and his guards remained across the bar, watching.
I wanted to keep my eyes on them, but Niko stepped between us, edging into my personal space.
“Can we talk?” he asked, a perfect, respectful gentleman.
“What is your deal?” Davis demanded. “Allie already turned you down. And how did you even know she’s here? Are you stalking her or something?”
A shadow danced along his jaw, but he quickly smoothed it away. “Someone tagged her location on social media. I haven’t been able to call her, and I wanted to come check if she was all right after the fire.”
My stomach flipped. That guy who’d taken the picture of me must’ve posted it and tagged my account and this wine bar. I’d had no idea since I didn’t have my phone to receive a notification.
And now, the head of the Bratva and his charming son had tracked me down. They were looking at my friends.
“It’s okay,” I said to Davis quickly, my voice too high and thin. “I want to talk to Niko. I’ll be back in a minute.”
I slid off my barstool, and Niko caught my elbow in a familiar hold as he steered me toward his father. His grip was gentle, but I had no choice but to follow where he led; his big hand might as well have been a shackle around my arm. I didn’t trust these monsters to be anywhere near my friends, and I would do anything they asked to keep them as far from my besties as possible.
“Alexandra,” Mikhail greeted me coldly, his black eyes sharp on mine. “You’ve caused me a lot of trouble. Your father is very worried about you.”
I stiffened, and Niko’s fingers firmed on my elbow.
“What’s going on between my father and me is none of your business.”
His heavy brows drew together in a forbidding slash. “You made it my business when you started fucking around with the Ferrara boy. That ends now.” He glanced over my shoulder, his lip curling in a sneer. “Unless you want my people to pay a visit to your friends, you’ll do as I say.”
A block of icy dread formed in my gut. “You can’t hurt them,” I countered tremulously. “I’ll tell everyone what you really are.”
“Then they will die anyway,” he replied coolly. “But I’m willing to spare them if you do as you’re told. The affair with the Ferrara boy is over. You will marry my son.”
“What?” I gasped, head spinning.
He gave me a sharp nod. Niko’s fingerprints branded my arm.
“Your father agrees,” Mikhail continued on, as though my horror meant nothing to him. “You betrayed all of us, but Niko will keep you in line. From now on, you’re part of my family. And I take family loyalty very seriously.” His gaze flicked to my friends again, silently repeating the threat to their lives.
My left hand was frigid in Niko’s as he took it in a careful grip. I watched in blank shock as he slid a huge diamond onto my ring finger. I blinked up at him to find his eyes blazing with anger.
“It’s done, Allie,” he half-growled. “Don’t argue.”
I straightened my shoulders and snatched my hand back from his toxic grip. “Leave my friends alone,” I seethed.
“Pledge yourself to my son, and I will,” Mikhail drawled. “I have more important places to be. Don’t test me.”
“Tell me you’ll marry me,” Niko commanded roughly, pale blue eyes burning into mine. “And no one has to get hurt.”
My heart pounded up into my throat, choking my ability to respond. I couldn’t let them kill my friends. I had to protect Davis, Isabel, and Charlie.
I swallowed hard and forced out the words: “Yes, Niko. I’ll marry you.”
The promise was insane. The world went hazy around the edges of my vision, surreal.
“Then we’re done here,” Mikhail announced. “The wedding is in three months. You will be an obedient bride and plan accordingly. You will smile for the cameras and be a loving wife to my son. Consider yourself lucky to be part of my family.”
I couldn’t find any words to reply. I could hardly believe this was real. Maybe I’d passed out from the wine, and this nightmare would be over when I woke up on Davis’ couch in the morning.
Mikhail and his guards turned to leave, but Niko lingered.
“We don’t have a choice,” he murmured, resting a hand on my shoulder.
I jerked away from him, rage bubbling in the pit of my stomach. How dare he speak to me with gentleness when he’d just threatened to murder the people I loved most in the world?
“Don’t touch me,” I hissed.
His handsome features twisted in a scowl, and he withdrew his hand. It clenched to a fist at his side. “Do you think I wanted this? This is your fault, Allie. You did this when you sold your father out to Ferrara.”