Page 105 of The Bratva Betrayal

“You think that’d stick? Your name?”

“You’re more than welcome to try it out, Mr. Gallagher. But, before you do, you might want to recruit a few more men to fill in for the ones I’d kill.”

“Alright.” He picks up his glass, and I know his next question will be about the dowry before the words leave his lips. “Does that come with the same arrangement?”

“No. Keep the money. We’re allies until you break the agreement.”

“I won’t⁠—”

“One more thing,” I say. “If you arrange her with anyone else … if I find out you’ve put her name on another deal, another alliance, or another table she didn’t choose to sit at … our alliance is over. And I’ll start with your men. The ones closest to you first. I’ll work my way up until there’s no one left between me and the top. You’ll live only in books and documentaries, Mr. Gallagher. I won’t repeat myself.”

He doesn’t say anything, which means he believes me.

“I’ll be in touch about Manifold.”

“We weren’t done yet,” he grunts out. “How long is this arrangement?”

I stand. I don’t like timers or deadlines. “Until I set her free. She will be taken care of. She’ll be free to go where she wants except inside the Volkov business. If you try to engage her in anything else, I’ll skip everything else and come right at you.”

“You have a big mouth to go along with that big body of yours, Mr. Makarov. Are there any brains in there?”

His men by the door part without being asked when I turn toward them and begin for the door without a word.

I take the elevator down and step out into the morning air as the city moves around me.

I think about Cady waking up this morning in her penthouse with a black eye.

I think about what her brothers will think when they see her face.

I think about Colin Gallagher sitting behind his enormous desk, receiving the news about his daughter practically and without sentiment. To him, she’s a variable to be managed rather than a person to be concerned about.

She has spent her life in rooms full of men who look at her and see a piece on a board.

I look at her and see everything else.

I start walking.

Manifold is next.

Then, whatever comes after that.

25

Cady

The first dress is ivory, structured, and corseted, with a silhouette that photographs beautifully.

Until I know exactly what Artem did, I have to keep playing along.

I stand on the pedestal while Sophie moves around me with quiet efficiency, adjusting the train and smoothing the fabric at my waist.

I look at my reflection and feel nothing except the dull, specific misery of a woman doing something she doesn’t want to do.

The bruise has faded to a greenish-yellow at the edges over the past three days. I’ve had moderate success covering it with makeup, which means anyone who knows what they’re looking at can still see it and anyone who doesn’t has probably noticed anyway and chosen not to say anything.

I got out of seeing my brothers the first day with a lie about wedding plans and another obligation. Since then, I’ve been dodging them completely.

Killian has called four times.