"Your job," Maksim says with deadly calm, not releasing me, "is to protect her from outside threats. Not from her future husband."
"My job is to protect her. Period." Cristian's voice doesn't waver. "Step. Back."
I remain perfectly still, unsure how to defuse this situation.
My eyes meet Cristian's over Maksim's shoulder, and what I see there terrifies me.
It’s not rage, but resolve.
He will pull that trigger without hesitation.
For me.
"It's okay." It's not okay. Nothing about this is okay. But the alternative is death.
Maksim slowly peels his body away from mine. "You've made a grave mistake," Maksim seethes. "Do you understand who I am? What I can do to you with a single word?"
My heart pounds so violently, I can’t hear anything else.
This is my fault.
That dress… my reckless game has pushed us to this moment.
"I understand perfectly who you are." Cristian’s gun remains steady, his dark eyes never wavering. "And I understand my duty to the Dante family."
Maksim scoffs. "Your duty? Your duty was to guard her virtue until she becomes mine. Not to interfere when I choose to sample what's already been promised."
"Miss Dante isn't property," Cristian states, each word precise and measured. "She's the daughter of Don Lorenzo Dante, sister to Don Alessandro Dante. She deserves to be treated with respect."
"You speak of respect while pointing a gun at my head?" Maksim's eyes narrow to icy slits. "Alessandro will hear of this insubordination."
"I expect he will," Cristian acknowledges without flinching.
This is a disaster.
If Maksim decides to retaliate, neither of us might leave this garden alive.
And if by some miracle we escape today, my wedding night promises punishments I can scarcely imagine.
Yet watching Cristian stand unflinching before the Pakhan, defending not just my body but my dignity, fills me with a fierce admiration.
I wanted to seduce him for selfish reasons.
To experience passion before being sentenced to a loveless marriage.
Instead, I've discovered what true honor looks like.
It’s brave and selfless.
The guilt is crushing.
My childish games with that revealing dress have led us here.
Have led us to the edge of war over a kiss.
12
CRISTIAN