I try to squeak out a response but can’t get the sounds out with his grip on my neck.
He loosens his grip just enough for me to let out a meek, “Yes, sir.”
He throws me to the floor and slams my door on his way out.
I gasp for air on the floor and think over what he said.
Part of me wants to put on something obnoxious and risqué to parade around the house just to piss him off. But the rational side of me shoots down the idea. The consequences wouldn’t be worth it. And it’s not like I even own anything near that. I don’t even own pants or shorts. Viktor doesn’t think a lady should wear those.
Fuck Viktor! I’m so fucking done with him.
I’d do anything to get away from him and this hell he has me suffering in.
Chapter 4
Dominic
The gaudy office overflows with extravagant items that clash hideously. Viktor Sokolov has no taste. It looks as though he bought every expensive thing he could find and threw them in here with no care of cohesion.
There’s a metal desk sitting on an ornate rug that insult each other. The rest of the room is just as unmatching.
The whole house looks this way. I recognize some of it from our rescue mission for my sister-in-law a few years back, but at the time, I wasn’t focused on the décor.
Viktor stands when I enter, welcoming me into the room.
“Viktor, thank you for having me. I’m here to offer an alliance,” I shake his hand, then sit. I don’t waste time on mindless conversation. Neither of us are men that enjoy pleasantries in subtlety and introductions.
“We had an alliance. Your brother destroyed it, desecrated my men, and reveled in it.” He sneers and rubs his beard in aggravation.
“Again, I apologize for his actions. They were made out of desperation. His woman was gone.” I don’t understand it. I can’t comprehend how one woman can bring a man to such insanity. How he can lose all sense when she’s gone.
“From what I understand, she left of her own volition.” He snorts at the irony of the situation.
“It was a miscommunication.” My voice remains even as his obstinance drives me to anger.
“One that my family paid for,” he shoots at me.
I rub a hand down my face. We aren’t making any progress. I need him to hear me out, but I’m starting to think he has no intentions of doing so.
“Again, I have come to apologize and offer a truce in the form of an alliance,” I say in a patient voice, despite the urge to strangle him. Roman’s the hothead of the family or at least was before his wife calmed him down and made him start meditating. It’s a bullshit thing to see. I’m the calm, cool, collected one. I don’t show any emotions, but Viktor is testing my patience at the moment.
“What makes you think we are interested in a truce after what you’ve done?” His eyes are sharp as he throws it at me.
As much as I want to, I don’t mention what his men did to my family. How they destroyed my brother’s wedding and almost killed another one of my brothers.
“I come with a new offer.” I keep it vague to gage his interest. When he leans forward slightly, I internally grin. I’ve got him.
“And what would that be?” He tries to appear uninterested in his stoic facial expression, but I can feel his excitement.
“I’m proposing…” I hesitate, knowing the minute I say it, it’s solidified. Knowing there’s no going back after this. “A marriage alliance.”
It’s a gamble. The Irishmen do it often, but no other families have done it as far as I’m aware of. He could take offense to it.
“Explain.” The glint in his eyes tells me he’s interested.
“Someone from the Bratva will marry someone from the Syndicate. It’ll be a peaceful union in front of both families. Our men will see that we seek an alliance built on the most important thing to us: family.”
“Hmm…” he mulls over the idea. “Who are you offering up in this marriage?”
