Nikolai bores his intense eyes into mine. “Because I knew you’d be mine the second I saw your picture. I had this already planned way before last night.”
I can’t help but shiver again. It’s both scary and yet strangely romantic that Nikolai had this planned from just my picture.
We get into a town car and are driven to the reception, held at The Ritz hotel.
“This is all so much,” I admit as I look up at the hotel.
“I know it’s a lot. But you made me proud today. Continue to do so.”
“And if I don’t?” I ask, even though I’m terrified to. “What happens if I disappoint you? Will you hurt me?”
His expression softens before he runs the back of his hand down my cheek. “I don’t want to hurt you, Irina. I want you to be mine. But I can be strict and firm when I need to be. But you don’t have to fear me. I won’t torture you if that’s what you’re thinking. I could have raped you last night but I didn’t. I think that earns me some trust.”
“You don’t get brownie points for not raping me,” I snap, harder than I mean to.
His eyes tighten for just a moment. “Fair enough. But am I any worse than your father? The father that sold you to pay his debts?”
I turn away from him. The memory of my father hurts too much. How he betrayed me. Cut me deep to the core.
“He’s going to come back for me,” I say. “He doesn’t want us to be married.”
“I can handle your father. I’ll get him under my thumb eventually.”
“And if you can’t?” I don’t look at him as I ask this and I can’t look at him as I wait for an answer.
“Then I’ll do what I have to do to deal with the problem.”
Nikolai doesn’t say it out loud but I know what he’s implying. He’ll kill my father.
I’ve always known men in the mob were dangerous but the only one I truly knew was my father and I trusted him until he betrayed me. I can’t fully trust Nikolai to stick to his word. Only time will tell.
He leads me into the hotel and to a large ballroom, already filled with our guests. They all cheer for us as we enter as ifthey’re happy for us. As if they even know who I am when all know they don’t. This is the power Nikolai wields.
Nikolai pulls me into his arms onto the dance floor. My heart is pounding as I place my hands on his chest. His heartbeat is steady – not a care in the world. I wonder how nice that is.
“You don’t have to be so tense, Irina,” he murmurs into my ear. The sound of his voice is comforting in a strange way. He runs his hand down my low back and I find myself leaning into his touch before I can help myself. “I know we met through unconventional means. But you don’t have to fear me like this.”
“But I can’t trust you either.”
“Just dance with me right now. Don’t think about anything else.”
I try to push all the fears from my mind but they’re impossible. Even as Nikolai leads me around the dance floor with ease, I can’t relax. Not when I’m in the arms of a stranger.
My breath comes out faster and my head is woozy. I can’t do this. I can’t breathe.
And before I know it, I slump to the floor, all the energy leaving me. Our guests gasp as if they care about me when I’m just as much of a stranger to them as they are to me.
Nikolai kneels down beside me. To his credit, he looks concerned. “Irina?”
I press my head to the floor, trying to breathe but I can’t. I just can’t.
That is… until Nikolai touches my back, running his hand along my spine. Comforting me. Soothing me.
“You’re all right,” he murmurs. “I’ve got you. You don’t have to be afraid.”
“I can’t do this,” I whisper.
“You can. Just stand back up.”