“Is there something wrong?” I ask him.
“I must confess, I had an ulterior motive in coming here. I wish to see my daughter.” His eyes bear into mine in a challenge.
I’m not going to say no, but something about it bothers me. While it’s a normal request, it’s odd. Katerina is free to leave whenever she’d like. She’s free to meet her father. So why is he sneaking his way into our home just to see her? Maybe she doesn’t realize she’s allowed to?
“Of course. I’ll call her in here now.” I tell him through gritted teeth. I don’t like being fooled. I knew this meeting was a farce. I knew when he insisted I host that it was a trap. But I didn’t listen to my instincts.
“I’d like to speak to her privately. You know, father-to-daughter.” His sleezy grin makes me uneasy.
I nod in agreement, then tell Stefan to go get her. He shoots me a worried look, and it concerns me that he feels hesitant too.
A few long minutes later, my beautiful wife walks through the office doors. I shoot her a smile, but it drops at herexpression. She’s a few shades too pale, and her posture is ramrod straight. She seems worried. No, she seems like the weak, timid porcelain doll she used to be.
“Hello, Katya.” Viktor’s tone may be endearing, but his eyes are hard. “Why don’t you give us the room?”
“Of course.” I sneak a glance at Katerina and almost call this all off and demand he leaves. She looks like a shell of herself.
I lightly touch her back on my way out, a silent show of support, and her demeanor changes.
I see her shoulders pull back as her fists clench. I see her become the fighter I respect. It fills me with relief. She’ll be just fine in there.
But just in case she needs me, I’m standing outside the door listening the whole time.
Chapter 32
Katerina
Fuck.
This is my karma for torturing Dominic this morning.
Because of my ill intent, Viktor’s here to torture me.
Dominic shuts the door behind him, and the sound echoes throughout the room. I refuse to feel fear because of his absence. I don’t need a man to protect me. I’m strong now. I don’t need to fall into the silent Bratva Princess role. I can be the fierce Syndicate Wife I’ve become.
I meet Viktor’s sharp gaze and return it with a glare of my own. I cross my arms over my chest in a defiant stance that I know will piss him off.
He looks me over for a minute, sneering the whole time, then throws his head back and laughs.
“Look at you. With your masculine haircut and clothes. I bet you think this makes you tough. I bet you think this makes you fierce. But you’re not. You just look ugly and pathetic,” he spits out in Russian. He laughs again as if my new me is something unthreatening.
I look over my black cropped leggings and grey hoodie. Thankfully I threw it over my sports bra. Viktor would probably beat me for parading around so inappropriately.
“You don’t know anything!” I spit at him, still in our native tongue. I know my husband well enough to know that he’s listening through that door right now. We don’t need to give him any reason to storm in here.
“I know you’ve been screening my calls and ignoring my texts. But you can’t shut me out. You can’t get rid of me. You were sent here on a mission, and you’re failing it. It’s your job to help us. Remember who your family is, brat.” Viktor’s sharp eyes meet mine in a challenge.
“What if I don’t want to do your mission?” I throw back at him. I remember my conversation with Nik. This is my chance to put him in his place.
Viktor storms the few steps between us and grips my arms tightly. He shakes me furiously, as if trying to knock some sense into me.
“I don’t give a shit about what you want. You belong to me. You will do as I say.” Viktor’s voice is somehow a low whisper while still yelling. His face reddens with rage as spit flies from his mouth.
“I won’t do it! I won’t betray him!” I use a defense maneuver to get out of his grip and push his chest hard. “I’ll tell him everything. I’ll tell him this truce is a farce!”
“Oh, I see how it is. You like him. But let me assure you of something, the only thing he likes about you is that cunt. You’re just business with a side of pleasure. All he cares about is the treaty. And if the treaty is void, he doesn’t need you anymore. If he casts you aside like the useless trash you are, life will be so much worse than just marrying Sergey when you come back tous, little traitor.” Viktor’s eyes light up as he speaks of my impending misfortune. He’s a sick bastard.
I hear Vova scratching the door, trying to get in. I hear my husband pick up my cat and sooth him. And that’s when I know he cares for me.
