Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
I also appreciate that he said no one was there. So he didn’t harm anyone. He just got retribution. The Titan House parties suffering as a result of Baranov House activities will no longer be an issue this year.
“Well,” I say, “That sounds like karma to me.”
Baron looks over with a flicker of relief, and I realize he was bracing for my reaction. The flutters start up again.
We pull up and park in front of Baranov House, but Baron doesn’t move to get out.
He shuts off the engine. “Lara…I want to answer your question. The one you asked the other night that I dodged. About why you’re really here.”
I brace myself as my pulse picks up speed. What could it be? What use could they have for me? Or what trouble is my dad in?
What in the hell is going on, and why am I their pawn?
“My dad asked me to marry you to keep you safe.”
I blink at him. That doesn’t make sense. His dad is the threat. The one whose threats made us unsafe.
“I don’t understand.”
Baron opens his mouth but then looks past me through the window. His face transforms into a look of dark rage.
“Blyad’,” he swears and throws open the door.
I twist to look out the window. It takes me a breath for my brain to catch up to what my eyes see. Or at least to process it.
Brash Rostov is here. He’s here, reaching to open my door.
I freeze for a moment. Is he here for me? I remember Baron saying he knew Brash from boarding school. Is this about something between the two of them?
My door swings open, and I hear Baron snarl, “Get away from my wife.”
Brash reaches in and unbuckles my seatbelt, dropping a light kiss on my cheek when he leans in.
I jerk away, confused. “Brash, what are you doing here? I told you not to come.”
Baron grabs Brash’s shoulder and yanks him back.
Brash whirls and punches Baron, who ducks and delivers a left jab to Brash’s gut.
“Don’t move!” several voices boom in Russian at the same time a flood of men carrying automatic rifles swarm around the two men.
“Bozhe moi! Stop!” I jump out of the car.
My fear is all for Baron, but I’m annoyed with him too. Why does he have to be so damn possessive?
Brash’s upper lip lifts in a snarl, but he ignores Baron and turns to look at me. “Lara, you can forget this marriage entirely. You don’t have to give up your studies and your apartment and everything you loved in Paris and let these thugs orchestrate your life.”
My chest tightens. “Brash, I told you not to come.” I try to look past him at Baron. Brash keeps his body between mine and Baron’s. I suppose he thinks he’s protecting me. They both do. It would be sweet if it weren’t so stupid. I don’t need rescuing.
“Do you know why you had to marry him?” Brash jerks his thumb derisively at Baron.
I try to seek Baron’s eye again, but he doesn’t at me; he’s just glaring murderously at Brash.
I shouldn’t have to explain this to Brash. He has greatly overstepped. “I told you, our parents arranged it when we were children. My life is with Baron now. I’ve accepted it.”
Well, maybe not the life, but I’ve accepted Baron.
“It was because of me,” Brash snarls.
I draw my brows together. Of all the arrogant, narcissistic things to say.
Except I finally catch Baron’s gaze, and he looks furious. Like Brash just revealed a truth he didn’t want told.
Like… it might be true.
What was he about to tell me before Brash arrived? The real reason I’m here.
“You had ‘interest from another party’.” Brash makes air quotes around interest from another party part. “Me.”
“Benji Baranov couldn’t stand me moving in on his possession. He knew I have the power to stop this union. And so they whisked you off before you could tell me about the marriage and get my help.”
I didn’t know about the marriage, so there would’ve been nothing to tell.
It sounds absurd, but I see the truth crawl over Baron’s face. He’s not denying it. He’s glancing at the guns around us, like he’s wondering if he can fight his way out of this.
Icy prickles cover my skin. The same sense of betrayal I felt the day my father showed up at my apartment storms through my body.
“Baron?” I ask. “Is this true?”
His teeth clench, and he breathes through flared nostrils. He wears the same look he wore when Lili was trying to get him to stop killing the guy he thought had drugged her at the party. Like he’s in warrior mode and will do anything to protect what’s his.
“Baron!” I snap.
He doesn’t look away from Brash when he answers me. “Not exactly.”
Not exactly. Not. Exactly.
What the actual fuck?