Page 51 of The Pakhan’s Accidental Bride

"I don't want your protection."

"Too fucking bad. You need it anyway. Someone already tried to kill you, remember? We still don't know who or why. You're not safe out there, Kiera. But you're safe here. With me."

She's shaking now, and I don't know if it's from fear or anger or both.

I stand and move around the table. When I'm close enough to touch her, I stop.

I reach out and cup her face, feeling her tremble under my touch. But she doesn't pull away.

"We're getting married, Kiera. In one month."

23

KIERA

Istare at him like he's lost his mind.

"No." The word comes out flat, final. "Absolutely not. Not after what I just saw."

Emil's expression doesn't change. He doesn't argue, doesn't try to convince me. He just looks at me with those dark brown eyes that have seen too much violence, done too much damage.

Then he nods to Luca.

"What? No. I'm not…" I start to stand, but Luca is already moving toward me, his movements careful and non-threatening.

"This way, Miss," he says quietly.

"I said no." I look at Emil, willing him to hear me, to understand. "I'm not marrying you. I can't. Not after…"

The image flashes through my mind again. Emil's fist connecting with that man's face. The blood. The cold, empty look in his eyes as he delivered punishment without hesitation or remorse.

"The sooner you come to terms with accepting the wedding," Emil says, his voice calm and measured, "the sooner you'll get some freedom."

"Freedom?" I laugh, and it sounds slightly hysterical even to my own ears. "You're forcing me to marry you and you're talking about freedom?"

He doesn't respond, just watches me with that unreadable expression.

Luca touches my elbow gently. "Please, Miss."

I want to fight, want to scream and throw things and make them understand that they can't just decide my life for me. But what's the point? I'm surrounded by armed guards on an estate I can't escape from. Emil has already made his decision. I'll have to think about it and find a way out of this mess later.

I let Luca guide me out of the dining room and up a sweeping staircase. My legs feel numb. We walk down a long hallway lined with expensive artwork and polished wood floors. Luca stops at a door near the end and opens it, gesturing for me to enter.

The bedroom is spacious. Huge, actually. There's a king-sized bed with a plush cream comforter, matching nightstands with elegant lamps, and a sitting area with a couch and chairs near floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the gardens. A door on the far wall probably leads to a bathroom.

It's beautiful. Luxurious. A prison cell dressed up in silk and expensive furniture.

"I'll leave you to settle in," Luca says.

"Wait." I turn to face him, desperation clawing at my chest. "You can't seriously think this is okay. Forcing someone to marry him?"

Luca steps into the room and closes the door behind him. For a moment, he just looks at me, and I see something in his expression that might be sympathy.

"This was not what Emil wanted," he says.

"Then why is he doing it?"

"Because now he doesn't have a choice."