“That’s true of you as well,” Alessandro says smoothly. “My brother Luca? I saved you from him so we could forge a peace.”
I wonder if that’s true.
“My sister has been nothing but gracious to you ,Maksim. She was taken advantage of and now you insult her.” Alessandro makes a face of distaste. “And you call yourself a gentleman.”
Maksim’s face contorts into offense, although I’m not sure if it’s the statement about Luca or me that bothers him.
He runs his hand down his tie. "I expect this Cristian was… appropriately handled?"
"Of course," Alessandro replies smoothly. "He's been dealt with permanently."
The implication is that Cristian is dead.
Though I know it's a lie, the words still slice through me. But worse, my brother plans to salvage this wedding.
I could tell the truth.
Alessandro moves next to me, his hand on my back. I close my eyes, knowing he’s asking me to keep my mouth shut. To go along with this.
"And how can I be certain she's not carrying that bastard's child?" Maksim demands, gesturing at my stomach. "I won't raise another man's spawn."
“Again, you insult my sister. You are unworthy of her.”
I look up at Alessandro, hope growing that he’s going to end this arrangement.
“Surely, you’d have such questions in my place,” Maksim says.
“I’m not in your place, though.” Alessandro sighs. “If you’d rather have war, so be it.”
All of a sudden, the weight of so many men crushes down on me.
I’m on the verge of freedom, but at what cost?
I’d agreed to this marriage.
Can I really sacrifice so many lives for my own?
Maksim looks from Alessandro to me. “I suppose I prefer financial gains over war.”
“That’s what I thought. The wedding proceeds as planned."
My heart sinks.
“If she is with child?—"
"I just had my period last week.” The words fly from my mouth before I’ve fully thought them through.
Maksim studies me, searching for deception. I don't blink. Don't fidget. Don't touch my stomach.
"A doctor can confirm this," Adriano suggests, his voice cutting through the tension. "We can have her examined today. Just to be certain."
Ice floods my veins. “No. I will not have another stranger violating my body. Haven't I been humiliated enough?"
"The examination would be clinical, not—" Adriano starts.
"Clinical?" I spit the word like poison. "Then you have someone shove a cold instrument up your ass and we'll wait for the results. How is that not a violation?"
Alessandro looks uncomfortable. Good.
