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“That has always been the deal,” Moon cuts in and my father puts a hand on his shoulder.

“Listen to me Jade,” my adoptive father says, starting to drone on about the family heritage and keeping it in the family. Why? No idea, we barely spend any time together. So, I don’t know why he even sees me as family. My father gives me a stern look. “Your brothers voted, and he complied. They cast their votes and send their regards because they couldn’t be here today. They’re tying up some loose ends in Bangkok, but in the end Moon has the last vote.”

I look at Moon who takes his seat at the head of the table next to my father. His stoic gaze lands on mine, but there’s also something else in his eyes. Concern, protectiveness, and trepidation for what’s about to happen.

“Who the fuck am I supposed to marry?” I can’t believe my brothers didn’t have the decency to come. I go through every single one of my traitor brothers in my mind. They all do his bidding, even Tian’s brothers, but none are on the same level as the fucker who stole my cigarettes.

Tian’s mask slipped once, when I turned eighteen and he walked in on me trying to kiss one of the waiters. Without saying anything, he grabbed the poor guy by the collar and dragged him out of the kitchen, never to be seen or heard from again. That was the last time he looked at me. After that, he ignored me. I attended a couple of company meetings afterward, the most recent one being in Tokyo last year, when I accompanied Eliot. That was were I tripped and almost fell into a koi pond.

What happened tonight—or last night, before Moon and him were waiting for us at the door when El and I stumbled back inside—doesn’t count. Tian was leaning against the wall, head lowered and smoking. Moon gave me a whole tirade while El stepped in front of me protectively. Our eyes met over El’s shoulder. I stared at his broad back, his narrow waist accentuated by his black waistcoat. Tian smiled at me around the cigarette, blowing out a string of smoke through his nose. The smile he flashed me was menacing, and my heart skipped a beat. He looked so calm, almost detached, but his eyes felt like they set my soul on fire.

The hate in Tian’s eyes matching the tone of his voice made me want to punch his lights out at the same time. I felt like dirt under his very expensive designer shoes, and that’s when I decided I would stab him with a chopstick when, not if I had the chance. I can still remember that night; it was like he knew, the way his lips curled up as he watched me the whole time, waiting for me to make the first move. I asked Eliot about it, come to think of it; he chased away every guy who ever tried to get close to me, with the exception of El.

“I can’t marry any of these fuckers,” I say, my voice rising as I pace frantically around the room while Moon shakes his head. He’s the one who knows me the best, we have the same temper. The same mannerisms. I cock my head. Sometimes I think I recognize myself in him when I look at his face. “I just fucking can’t, Moon.”

My adoptive father holds up his hand. “Language, Jade.”

Moon leans back in his chair, watching me pace with no expression on his stoic face.

“This was always part of the deal made with me, isn’t it Moon?”

Moon looks at my father; why does he look a little uncomfortable when his eyes land on mine again? I can see it in the rigidness of his shoulders. He always gets like this when someone mentions my mother.

“You belong to us. Haven’t we all treated you as one of our own, sending you to the best schools? Giving you the best life that this family offers. Giving you everything you ever wanted,” my adoptive father says, his eyes flicking to Moon.

Moon holds up his hand and my father stops speaking. He might be sixteen years older than me but he feels more like a father than the man sitting at the head of the table who runs a hand through his grey hair.

Moon stands and pushes his hands in his pockets. “This is the best for you, Dash. It’s the only way,” he whispers to me, as he passes. “Trust me.” His voice is ice cold while he looks out of the window, the glistening lights of Shanghai slowly moving by. I know what my mother signed me up for before she died when I was just two years old.

“Moon,” I begin, but he shakes his head and I deflate losing all my steam. He’s the only one who can calm me down or put me in my place.

Marrying into the other family will mean my life is over before it ever really begins. I’ve always lived in a prison, but this would certify it. My life will be in their hands. I now have some sort of autonomy. But with them I would be reduced to nothing, I know that much. I’ll be a pawn in their deadly games, and this would also mean my future husband could do anything to me.

“Moon,” I try again. The man has his eyes trained on El who walks into the room. He ignores him, and I can see Moon getting angrier as the minutes tick by. He hasn’t done anything to hurt me the last sixteen years; I was two when I started living with them. Moon loves me as a sister. Sometimes I would look at him, wishing he was my father. He’s a killer and a criminal, but I love him unconditionally. My adoptive father couldn’t care less if I flunked geography, but Moon always made time to help me with my homework. He’s given me everything, this was the only thing he was asking in return. I know I owe it to him for giving me a life but standing on the edge of that new life is harder than I imagined. My stomach flips as I watch him take a deep breath. Somehow, he looks older, the lines around his eyes more pronounced. When he looks at me, I can see the pain in his eyes.

“Who is it, Moon?” I ask my voice shaking.

“Tian,” he says, his eyes darting from mine to Eliot who looks at me apologetically. My stomach swoops as bile rises in my throat. This isn’t happening. No, hell no, not him.

“You’re giving me to him?” I gasp, looking around the table and all the brothers look guilty as hell, but none dares to say anything. “Moon, I can’t marry him. He’s crazy, he likes to carve people up for fun. You’re his best friend, how can you do this?”

Moon’s eyes fly to mine. I’ve never raised my voice at him. This is the first time I’ve done it, ever since I was a kid when he wouldn’t buy a kite for me.

“Enough, Dash!” he roars making us all sit up while he slams his hand on the table. “That’s the deal we made. He isn’t keen on marrying you too, but it’s happening and that’s final. He promised to treat you with the respect you deserve. You’ll still be part of this family, but the main family will be your home from now on. He’ll be your home. Trust me, Dash,” he says, his voice much softer.

“I…” I begin feeling my eyes starting to fill with tears. I can’t let them fall though; I can’t show weakness. I trained as hard as my brothers; I know ten ways to kill a man with a pencil. I know how to fight; I speak Thai, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and English. I know how to handle myself. But this is one fight I can never win. What he says goes. I know that. “When do I have to sign my name in blood?” I ask, trying not to make my voice break as I look at Eliot whose eyes soften while he mouths I’m sorry. With a promise in his big eyes, he’ll protect me no matter what.

“Tonight,” Moon says, swallowing hard. I thought they were at least going to give me some time to get my things in order.

“Tonight?” I bite out. “Where? On this fucking boat?” I seethe.

“Yes,” he says, he looks a little guilty, I give him that. “Dashie,” he whispers and him calling me by my nickname breaks my heart all over again. He’s never used it like that. “I know what we’re asking from you. I know what I’m asking, but Tian won’t hurt you. He’ll be the husband you deserve. He knows his obligation to this family and knows he needs to marry you for the families to continue.” And by continue he means I need to give them an heir.

An heir. Holy shit, this means I have to sleep with him. Sleep with the devil himself. The man who hates the sight of me. Who looks psychically ill every time he’s near me.

“We need this,” Moon says. Eliot’s eyes meet his and I can see the murderous glare in them. El hates this as much as I do.

I know I need to step up. It means me and Tian will be bound. I shake my head while my cheeks flush and I lean back in my chair while my father and brothers start to talk about the particulars of marrying him. Where we’re going to live, how their empire will flourish. Besides him being unmerciful he’s apparently a great businessman who mixes legit business with their underground ventures.