“Actually, Yelena Dashkova was one of his top lieutenants.” His smile is apologetic. “She wasn’t related to you.”
I laugh. I can’t help it. This whole thing is so absurd I can barely take it. “We didn’t look alike,” I say, wiping my eyes. “I always figured, but god, it sucks hearing it.” I get myself under control and drink more coffee. “You still haven’t explained anything.”
“I know. I’m getting there. I want you to understand that this is all very real first.”
“As if the exploding apartment didn’t already do that?”
He concedes the point with a shrug. His eyes stray to the dress. It sits in the corner like an open secret. I know it’s there, watching me, and I really don’t like what it represents. I doubt he showed up on my doorstep looking like that for no reason. This night might’ve come together quickly, but he had a plan. Only he’s taking his time nudging me in the right direction first.
“Why do I matter, Gabe?” I press.
“Your father was smart and extremely paranoid. He was the top brigadier for an even more powerful warlord named Medved.”
“Let me guess. Medved’s dead?”
“You’re good at this.”
“Seems like everyone’s dying these days.”
He nods at my joke and keeps talking. “Your father left behind a lot of enemies. There’s a reason he kept you hidden away. You’re his only heir, the only blood child he ever conceived. Very few people knew about you, until recently, and now they want to make sure there aren’t any members of his family left alive to claim his former power. That’s why they want you dead, Nika. You’re a threat.”
I snort at the thought. “I got fired last night because my boss grabbed my chest. How the hell am I athreatto anyone? I can’t even hold down a job without getting harassed.”
His expression hardens. “You didn’t ask him to touch you.”
“No, that’s true, but I didn’t have to punch him in the face.”
“Actually, it sounds like you did.”
“That’s not the point. I’m trying to say, I’m nobody. I’m just some girl. Yeah, my dad gave me money over the years. His men showed up and checked on me. I guess Aunt Yelena was one of his employees or whatever. But I don’t know anything about his business. I’m just…” I spread my hands, desperate, confused, and very upset. “I’m just nothing.”
Gabe sits with that. I let it sink in too.I’m just nothing. I’ve been feeling that way for a long time, and now it hangs in the air like a poison cloud. I’ve always had enough to be comfortable, but never enough to be happy. I’ve never been pushed, never been knocked down, never been truly hurt, until recently.
“I’m here because you are far from nothing,” he says softly. That charm is back, and I’m not sure how much I should trust it, even if I want to. “I’m here to protect you, Nika, and to give you what’s rightfully yours. I’m going to keep you safe, but you have to do something for me in exchange. It won’t be easy, but I swear, I’ll die before I let anyone get near you.”
I believe the last part. A cut on his cheek is still bleeding. I can almost feel his arms around me as he sheltered me from the explosion.
But now I start to see the shape of what’s going on. He needs something…
My eyes drift to the wedding dress. A cold dread fills me.
“What do you need from me?” I ask and I really don’t want to hear the answer.
But Gabe reaches out. His fingers brush mine. I go very still, heart beating fast. I lick my lips and want him to touch me again, but that’s probably a lingering head injury from the drone blast.
“If you want to survive the night, you’re going to marry me.”
CHAPTER 3
NIKA
Ilook from Gabe to the dress and back to him again. I wait for him to smile and laugh like this is all some hilarious joke, but he’s only watching me carefully for any reaction. I make a noise in the back of my throat, like a surprised grunt, and pull back. He remains eerily still.
“First, you come bursting into my life like the Terminator.Come with me if you want to live.” I do a terrible German accent. I’m definitely not thinking straight. “Then my apartment explodes. And now you’re telling me that I need to marry you?!”
“That sounds right. Nice Schwarzenegger by the way.”
“No, no no no, no thank you.” I wave my hands in the air, shaking my head rapidly. “Uh uh, nope, no way, this is done. Thanks for not letting me get blown to little pieces, but that—“ I point at the singed dress. “That’s not happening.”
