Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81947 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81947 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
The way he liked to push me against a wall and kiss me senseless was fast becoming my favorite drug.
I was in my late twenties. It wasn’t like I didn’t know what kind of men were out there in the shallow dating pool. My choices were dwindling to either Grabby Hands from the club or Boring Bob.
It was getting exhausting and frankly demoralizing to play Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for A Hero” at full volume before I got ready to go out to a bar or on a date, only to be disappointed with the selection of males on offer.
There was something more than a little enthralling about being with the type of man I could envision running through a fire for me.
And without any doubt, Var was a streetwise god with a filthy mouth.
The man was almost always fresh from some fight.
Fuck…. the man was literally a Mongolian Russian who owned a horse farm, who was trying to protect me from a bunch of angry rival mafia syndicates.
I leaned my head on my hands as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
Crap.
Var was quite literally my white knight on a fiery steed.
This type of thinking was dangerous.
I was supposed to be coming up with an escape plan.
Not talking myself into marrying the dangerous Russian Mafia boss I only met a week ago.
I swiped my hand over the counter, sending several makeup items skittering across the smooth surface before rising. Stomping out of the room, I put on the white lace corset and matching panties before moving over to the rack.
Not wanting to choose something too perfect for me, since that would imply I’d chosen my perfect wedding gown for the occasion, I selected a simple Vera Wang. It wasn’t like I had a choice. There were no other clothes in the room.
Just as I was reaching behind me to zip it up, Var walked into the room.
Without knocking.
His warm hands covered mine. “Let me.”
I bit my lip to keep from reacting to his knuckles caressing my spine as he zipped the dress up.
Turning my head slightly, I asked over my shoulder, “Isn’t it supposed to be bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?”
He leaned down and kissed my bare shoulder. “Since you just called me the groom and acknowledged our wedding, I’ll take it as a good luck sign.”
I turned to face him. “Don’t get too cocky. I have every intention of shouting at the top of my lungs ‘I do not’ the moment I’m asked.”
He offered his arm. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, krasivaya.”
As we exited the room, he reached over and touched the diamond necklace. “I’m glad you approve.”
My hand went to my neck. Dammit. I’d forgotten to take it off. “It means nothing.”
“It means everything.”
We slowly walked down the long penthouse hallway. At the end, backlit in front of the massive living room windows, I could see a man in a judge’s robe.
Holy shit.
This was real.
Like real real.
The corset tightened around my ribcage as I struggled to take a deep breath. My cheeks burned as panic washed over me in a wave.
Then I saw it.
On the entryway table just ahead of us.
The holster with Var’s gun.
Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Var.
He was so tall and handsome and confident… and arrogant and cocksure of his control over me.
Without thinking it through, I lunged for the gun.
Tearing it out of its holster, I pointed it at Var.
CHAPTER 40
VIVIAN
Var stared straight at me, not even bothering to look at the gun. “You never disappoint, Vivian.”
With my arms stretched out before me, I steadied the heavy weight of it with both hands. “This is not a joke.” I gestured behind him. “Move aside so I can get in the elevator.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Not a chance.”
I shook the gun. “I’m serious, Var.”
“So am I.”
“What’s going on?”
My arm swung in an arch as I pivoted to face the new threat.
Two men strolled casually down the hallway toward us. I recognized them from the scene of Abakar’s murder and from my Google search. They were Var’s partners, Mac and Anton.
Anton pointed to the gun I was holding. “I didn’t know your wedding had a Western theme.”
Mac shook his head. “I think it needs to be a shotgun.”
Anton pointed at him and nodded. “You’re right. Although usually it’s because the bride wants to get married.”
Mac moved to Var and placed his hand on his shoulder. “Friend, your blushing bride doesn’t seem too eager to marry you.”
Var ignored his taunt, keeping his sharp gaze trained on me. “Her opinion on the matter is of no consequence.”
I threw my arm wide before remembering that I was holding the damn gun and once more held it with both hands trained on him. “No consequence? Are you serious? I don’t know how they do things in Russia, but here in America, you need the bride’s permission to marry her.”