Page 10 of The Bratva's Forced Bride
I raised a brow. “I’ll let that slide because ... well, because you’re obviously in a state of shock, and I guess I can understand that—”
“You know what’s funny?” Her jaw hung even lower, and she scooted back until she reached the headboard, hugging her knees to her chest. Her hair fell forward, covering the sides of her face like a curtain. She tried to sound controlled and confident, trying to hide her hysteria and quell the rising panic, but I heard the fear in her voice. She pointed at me. “You’re standing there talking like you’re a rational being and not a psychopath who wanted to kill me.”
My jaw ticked. “Again,” I sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. “I’ll let that slide too. And, I did not try to kill you.”
“What?”
If I hadn’t understood how serious her silent accusations were, I might have laughed at her comical expression. She was so fucking adorable with that scowl on her face.
Her eyes were almost out of their sockets when she sputtered, “What universe do you come from? Your ... Bodyguard. He drugged me without my consent. What does that sound like to you, Mark? A proposal?”
I chuckled softly. Not only was she a feast for the eyes with that sexy body, but she also had a good sense of humor and a sharp tongue.
Don’t get too comfortable with her. She's only here for one reason, Logan.
“Hm, want to marry me already, princess?” I smirked. “Yuri is not my bodyguard and I’m not the bad guy here.”
She blinked. Her mouth opened and closed. Then it opened again. “Ugh, unbelievable! Let me spell it out for you. You. Kidnapped. Me. Comprender!” [understand]
Fuck me! Her fiery temper and Spanish accent made my blood rush south. “I took you in.” I stayed calm.
“Took ... Took me in? What are you talking about? I have a house, I have a father, and I have a life, one that doesn’t have men like you in it.”
“Not anymore, you don’t.” I dropped my smile, sat down on the edge of the bed, and glared at her. “You had a house, in Chicago. But in New York, you have nothing. No house, no father, no life. Let me spell it out for you. No. One. Nada.” Yep, princess, I speak Spanish too.
“What the …What did you say?” Her audacious façade melted away in an instant and her ears pricked up. She lowered her arms, raised herself to her knees, and stretched her neck to peek out of the window. “I’m in New—New York. You’re bluffing, right? This has to be a joke. Tell me, this is a joke.”
“I know we’re still getting to know each other, princess, but soon you will learn not to doubt my level of intelligence. You are where I said you are.”
She dropped back on the bed, hugging herself again. “But why ...” her voice trembled. “Why did you take me with you? And where is Logan? What have you done with him? Oh my God, you killed him!” Her hand flew up and covered her mouth.
She called his name so passionately as if the mere thought of harm coming to him was enough to destroy her. I wanted to spit on her affections. If only she knew the half of the man that bastard was.
“Not yet,” I said and scooted closer to her. “I know you are innocent. You’re just a victim of that idiot's mistakes; in the wrong place, at the wrong time. He’s to blame for everything. He was stupid enough to mess with me and the Bratva and put our family’s honor on the line.”
I hooked a finger under her chin and looked into her watery, chocolate-brown eyes. “I only want revenge.” Her fierceness was fading.
“And you say you’re not a bad guy?” Her nose twitched, she sniffled and looked at me under shimmering, wet eyelashes. The urge to kiss away the tears came over me like a full-steam runaway train. But I shrugged it off. Fuck that.
“What did he ever do to you?”
“A lot.”
I let go of her chin, and at that moment I noticed a glint. It came from her ring finger. A pear-shaped, expensive diamond sparkled in the rays of sunlight shining through the window.
When she saw my gaze on the precious piece of stone, she wanted to hide her hand, but I was quicker and grabbed her by the wrist.
“Hm …” I raised a brow and held her hand closer to my face. “You’re not only his girlfriend, are you?”
She wiped her nose with the back of her other hand and straightened her spine. “We’re engaged.”
“Hm ... Not for much longer,” I mumbled.
Nice ring and fucking expensive. Knowing the bastard, he could only have afforded it if he had swindled and fooled another victim with his charm.
“No, please, let us go,” she begged. “You can’t do this to us. You’re ruining our lives. We did nothing wrong.”
I began to get irritated. Anger rose in me, as I imagined how fucking prince charming lured her, taking advantage of her youth and innocence. How could someone so smart fall for a guy like him?