The doors seal shut, cutting her from my view, but not from my mind.
And in the darkness of the descending elevator, I already know one thing with absolute certainty:
She’s going to fight me. Hard. And God help both of us—I want her to.
My phone beeps as the elevator takes me down. The sound slices through the silence, sharp enough to drag me out of my thoughts. I pull the phone from my pocket.
A text from Lukin.
We need to talk.
Followed by an address. It’s Lev’s house.
Great. I know why Lukin is calling a meeting. I’d rather not, but when the Pakhan calls, you answer. Even if he’s your brother.
The elevator opens into the underground garage. My mind keeps drifting back to Vivian’s face in that last second—the tears she refused to shed, the anger she didn’t bother to hide. I shove it away and slide into my car.
The engine roars to life. I drive.
The city blurs past in streaks of light. I’m not really seeing any of it. All I see is Lukin’s text. Lev’s house. I know all of themwill be waiting in that room. That combination only happens when someone is either dead…or about to be.
When I pull up to Lev’s place, the gate opens immediately. They’re expecting me.
Sasha opens the front door before I can knock. She’s barefoot, still wearing the dress she had on at the reception, her hair tied up messily like she’s starting to wind down for the night.
“Dimitri, hi,” she says, stepping aside. “How’s Vivian holding up? Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. Where are they?”
“They’re in the study.”
Something tightens in my chest.
I nod and step inside. The house is warm, quiet, unsettlingly still. I can hear low voices from deeper inside—Lev’s controlled tone and Lukin’s dark rumble. Kaz laughs.
I make my way down the hallway, every step heavier than the last, and pause with my hand on the study door.
Whatever waits for me on the other side…I have a feeling Vivian’s name is about to come up in a way I won’t like.
I step fully into the room, letting the door click shut behind me. The faint scent of expensive liquor hits me, but it’s nothing new. I already know how this will go.
Kaz grins, amusement flashing in his eyes. “Well, if it isn’t the leading man.”
I smirk, letting it roll off me like water. “I’d have thought you all knew better than to summon me on my wedding night.”
Roman scoffs, leaning back in his chair, his glass half-empty.
“Cut the bullshit,” he says, voice low but edged. “Elara knows the truth about your wedding to Vivian. She told me everything.”
I raise an eyebrow, pretending to consider the magnitude of his words. “And I assume you’ve told everyone else?”
“Why not?” Roman leans forward, voice sharper now. “It’s unfair. You bought a wife via auction, Dimitri!”
I tilt my head, letting the words settle. There’s a rhythm to this room—the tension, the unspoken rule that no Rusnak hides anything for long.
“I don’t see the unfair part,” I say, voice ice-cold but calm. “She was offered. I merely…made sure the price was right.”
Lukin leans forward from his seat, amber eyes narrowed. “The price isn’t the point. You treated her like an item. She is not a commodity, Dimitri. She’s—”
