Viktor sat down next to me as the boat began to pull away from theOcean Darling, his men driving it. He was too close to me, his thick thigh pressed up against mine, and no matter how hard I tried to move away from him, I couldn’t. When I tried, he reached down and gripped my leg, his large fingers like a vice.
“When you’re my wife, Katya,” he snarled, his hard gaze on the side of my face, “behavior like this won’t go unpunished.”
My heart stuttered momentarily and I turned to look at him. “Who said I would ever be your wife?” I bit out, hating every inch of this man. He was almost old enough to be my father, and twice as domineering, and not in a sexy way, but in an old school, rich bastard way. Everything I’d thought before; that this man wouldn’t be so bad given that he was good looking and rich, meant nothing now.
Because he could never be Nik.
Viktor smiled, but there was nothing kind or loving about his smile. “Haven’t you heard? Your father has given me permission already. The wedding is set.”
“What?” I gasped, my head swiveling to look towards my father and brother in the boat with Nik. They were shouting and arguing with him, but I could see Nik still looking in my direction. “He wouldn’t,” I said, looking back at Viktor.
He laughed cruelly. “Oh, but he has. Tomorrow is our wedding, my love. Your father said the sooner the better, to get you in line. And be grateful that I still want you after the shit you just pulled.”
*
Back on the island, my mother and Marisha met us at the dock. Viktor helped me off the boat, the picture of gentleness, but his grip was tight to the point of pain on my arm and no matter how much I tried to shrug out of his grip he wouldn’t let go.
Lucky for me, my mother saw this, her gaze narrowing on his fingers wrapped on my bicep and keeping me by his side.
“Viktor, I’ll take it from here,” she warned, “it’s not customary for a man to see his bride the day before their wedding. Let me prepare her for tomorrow for you.”
He sighed deeply, his gaze narrowing as he turned to look at me, before turning back to my mother and smiling. A harsh warning for me, the picture of good manners for her. Would that be our marriage? Marisha’s now dead husband Ivan came unwanted to my mind and a chill ran down my spine. Was that my life now?
“Very well,” he said, releasing my arm, and I scurried to her side. “Until tomorrow, Katya.”
My mother smiled pleasantly, but it was obvious that she didn’t like him anymore than I did. She wouldn’t intervene though. No, she wouldn’t go against my father’s wishes, especially not after what had just happened. I’d embarrassed her the most of all. A daughter should be a mirror of her mother. A fountain of respect for her husband and father. Me running away from Viktor had made her look bad and that was a fact that I would pay for.
I gave Viktor one last look, hoping to soothe his ego in some way, but he stood there with his bodyguards a look of pure disdain on his face.
“Come, Katya,” Mother ordered and turned to leave.
Marisha offered me a sad smile and we started to walk, several steps behind my mother.
“Are you okay?” Marisha asked.
“Yeah,” I replied, sullen.
She glanced behind us to Viktor and then back to me, her gaze straying to the redness on my arm where he had gripped it. She swallowed, looking nervous and then I realized she must be thinking, like I was a moment ago, how Ivan had beat her and punished her. How badly he had treated her, and I realized how concerned she was for me.
I put a hand on her wrist and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I’m fine, Marisha. He wouldn’t be alive if he laid a hand on me.”
Would my father actually intervene?I wondered.
I wasn’t so sure, what happened between a man and woman was between them. But I already knew that Nik wouldn’t allow me to be treated that way. That he would stand by my side and kill any man who tried to lay a hand on me.
My steps slowed until I was stopped, and my hand went up to my mouth. “Oh God,” I said quietly.
“What? What is it?” Marisha asked, her gaze darting between my mother’s retreating back and me.
“Nik,” I said, “Nik loves me.”
I looked up at her and her expression softened. “Did you not realize?” she asked with a small laugh.
“You knew?” I asked, incredulous.
Her smile grew wider and she pulled me to catch up to my mother, keeping her voice low. “Yes, from the first moment I saw you two together it was obvious.”
“How?” I asked, completely bewildered now. “How did you know?”
