Page 24 of The Pakhan’s Accidental Bride

"I don't need protecting. I need you to respect my choices."

The argument continues, voices rising and overlapping. It's complete chaos, and my patience, already worn thin from the adrenaline and fear, is reaching its limit.

I've had enough.

I look at Luca, catching his eye across the room. He reads my expression immediately, knowing exactly what I need. He brings two fingers to his lips and lets loose a shrill whistle that cuts through the noise like a blade.

Everyone stops. Every voice cuts off mid-sentence. Every eye turns to me.

Good.

I let the silence stretch for a moment, let them feel the weight of my presence. When I speak, my voice is quiet, controlled, but it carries absolute authority.

"Kiera will be going home with me."

11

KIERA

I'm still in my damn robe.

The realization hits me as I stand in my living room surrounded by six men, all of them staring at me like I'm some fragile thing that might shatter.

I pull the robe tighter around myself, acutely aware of how exposed I am. The fabric is thin, barely covering my thighs, and I'm not wearing anything underneath except panties and a tank top. My brothers might not notice, but Emil does. His dark eyes track the movement of my hands as I clutch the lapels together, and something hot and possessive flashes across his face.

I need everyone to leave. Now.

My apartment feels too small, too crowded. The walls are closing in, and I can't breathe properly with all these bodies taking up space, sucking up oxygen. I need quiet. I need to think. Someone just shot at me, for God's sake, and I can't even process what the hell happened because my living room has turned into some kind of testosterone-fueled convention.

Why would someone shoot at me? What the hell is going on?

"Everyone needs to leave," I say firmly, crossing my arms over my chest. The movement makes the robe gape slightly, and I see Emil's jaw tighten. "I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine. I just need some space."

No one moves.

Kevin, my oldest brother, exchanges a look with Jack. Devin leans against the wall with his arms crossed, his gym-sculpted muscles bulging beneath his shirt. Kaleb just shakes his head. Emil stands near the window, his broad shoulders blocking out the streetlight, looking like some kind of dark angel who's decided to take up residence in my life whether I want him to or not.

"Did you hear me?" I try again, my voice rising. "I said leave."

Still nothing. They might as well be statues.

"She's going home with me."

Emil's voice cuts through the silence like a blade. Deep, accented, absolutely certain. He doesn't ask. He doesn't suggest. He just states it like it's already decided, like I have no say in the matter whatsoever.

Something inside me snaps.

"Excuse me?" I whirl on him, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. "I'm going home with you? Are you out of your mind?"

He doesn't flinch, doesn't even blink, just watches me with those dark, unreadable eyes that make my stomach do stupid, fluttery things even when I'm furious with him.

"You put an engagement notice in the newspaper," I spit out, my voice shaking with anger. "You didn't ask me. You didn't even tell me you were doing it. You just went ahead and announced to the entire city that we're getting married, and now you're standing in my apartment telling me I'm going home with you like I'm some kind of possession you can just cart around wherever you want?"

"Yes," he says simply.

The audacity. The absolute fucking audacity of this man.

"What the hell is going on?" Kevin steps forward, his marketing executive voice taking on that authoritative tone he uses when he's trying to take charge. "Kiera, what engagement notice? What is he talking about?"