I watch her, her delicate movements, the way she licks her lips after tasting the tea.
I have all the time in the world for this perfect little creature.
Kat sighs and smiles tightly at me. “I’m sorry I left as I did,” she says, blinking as she looks away. She sets her tea down.
“It’s okay, talk to me, tell me what’s going on,” I encourage her.
She fidgets with the edge of the blanket, nervously.
“I thought if I could see Artur alone, not with my other brothers, that I could explain things to him. I thought, maybe, I could negotiate some kind of alliance between our families.”
“You really wanted that?” I ask, surprised.
“Yes, Yulian. I’ve seen a lot while I’ve been with you. I don’t believe the things my uncle told everyone about your family. I think…I think he was lying.” She lets out a sharp breath. “I mean, about who you are. I know…I know his death—anyway, it doesn’t matter. My point is that I’ve come to understand that he might have been the bad guy. I never really liked him. It’s hard to say that out loud, because it feels like I’m betraying my brothers, but apparently, I’m pretty good at that these days.”
“Hey, don’t talk about yourself like that, kitten. You were doing something that you felt was right. You were trying to stand up for something you believed. You should be proud of yourself for that,” I smile, brushing my hand over her cheek.
Her eyes soften.
“Did your brother listen to you?” I ask, hopeful.
“No, the opposite. He spoke over me, making me feel like a horrible person. All of them kind of cornered me and lectured me together. It went terribly. And then…they told me they have arranged a marriage for me. Some guy called Mikhail. They are going ahead with the plans now.”
Her voice trails off in disbelief and shock. So this is what was making her shake so horribly. Her brothers are basically selling her off to fulfill their Bratva goals, to make themselves stronger. It’s disgusting. How could they do that to her?
“They’re using you as a tool,” I mutter angrily.
“A tool to help my family, yes,” she nods.
“Your entire family should be against this if you aren’t doing it willingly. This is your life, Kat. No one should have that much control over your life.”
“I know, but what can I do?” she shrugs, tears glittering in her beautiful eyes.
“I don’t know…but I’ll figure out something. There has to be something,” I argue.
“My brother has made up his mind. I’ve never seen him like this before. So determined. So angry with me. I don’t think it matters what I want. It never mattered before. With my fashion design, it got set aside. The family needs always come before the individual’s.”
She slowly leans over towards me again, sliding across the headboard and resting her head on my shoulder. I drape my arm around her and pull her close. She snuggles deeper into me, warming my heart.
Kat silently lies against me. My head is spinning. Helplessness floods me. I can’t let them do this to her, her dreams snuffed out, her life stolen from her. She won’t havefreedom or happiness. She’s being sold off to the highest bidder by her own brothers, and they don’t care what it’s doing to her.
I refuse to let this happen.
Apart from the fact that it’s not fair to her…it’s not something I can personally accept. I want her. I need her. She’s everything to me, even if she doesn’t understand that yet. How will I live my life knowing she’s married to someone else? No.
This isn’t happening.
But I also won’t take away her freedom to choose.
Kat sleeps in my arms, and I watch her while I plan. She deserves the world, and I intend to be the one to give it to her.
Chapter 16 - Katerina
There was no point in rushing back to my brother’s house. All that’s waiting for me there is accusation, guilt, and a wedding I definitely don’t want anything to do with.
I’ve been staying with Yulian. My head is busy, trying to figure out how to deal with my brothers, how to make them understand, but in the meantime, I’m doing what I love. I’m at my studio, talking to a client about a new commission I’m going to make for her.
She’s gorgeous. And as sweet as a button.
