Page 13 of The Forbidden Bodyguard

And I was his latest deal.

“These people are dangerous, Stella. You don’t understand—”

“I don’t understand? Oh my God. You just said he’s dangerous, and you want me to marry this man. Can you not hear yourself?” I felt sweat building in my armpits from fear. I had never fully trusted my father, and as it turns out, I was right not to.

Mom stood to the side of his desk, looking ashamed.

“There is no choice. It was either do this deal or one day I’ll be floating in the Hudson. Do you want that? Do you want to be responsible for my death, Stella? My own daughter. I can’t believe how selfish you’re being!”

My mouth fell open while I stood there, shocked and confused, but ironically seeing my family clearly for the first time. This deal was exchanging my life for his. He’d offered me in exchange for someone who wanted to kill him.

My own father.

“What did you do?” I whispered, covering my mouth.

Dad refused to look me in the eye as he shifted something on his desk. “I misjudged a situation, that’s all. And the people I was dealing with, they are unreasonable and won’t negotiate. Damn heathens. I was told I had to pay with my life or another’s.”

Mine.

My life.

Wait...did he mean? My eyes bulged. “As in kill someone?”

“No. As in hand over my daughter.” He looked at me as if I were stupid.

Everything came crashing down on me as I realized I couldn’t argue my way out of this. Nausea hit like lightning. I gagged.

Mom rushed around and rubbed my back. “She can’t do this, Victor. Go to the police. The CIA.”

He leaped to his feet, his face turning ruddy. “The authorities can’t know about this. And I’m not explaining myself anymore. Jesus, I can’t believe the two of you. Do you want to attend my funeral? I’d be returned to you in pieces inside a box.”

Tears rolled down my face, knowing he’d traded me to a man he was terrified of, to save his own life.

Mom clung to me, crying.

“Christ.” He shoved his hand into his graying hair. “Listen, I’ve thought this through. Stella only needs to stay married to him for a few years. Five at most. Then she can ask for a divorce.”

My eyes flew to Mom’s, waiting for her to tell him he was fucking insane.

“Victor.” She shook her head.

“They’ll kill me, Susan!”

“This isn’t fair, Dad. You can’t put this on me! How do you know this man won’t hurt me?”

Despite not wanting to marry a stranger, I did want to fall in love, get married, and have a family. Something I couldn’t do if I were manipulated into this sordid situation. Even for five years. I was in the prime of my life, and that was an eternity.

Hell, one day was unacceptable.

And who knows what sort of treatment I’d succumb to in this man’s home.

Would he expect a child?

Jesus.

That I’d even thought about it becoming a reality was crazy.

“Life isn’t fair. Five years is nothing to keep me alive. I would hope my life is worth something, Stella. I gave you life.”