Page 49 of Marked By His Touch
"My father—he wouldn't do that—"
I feel a wave of nausea rising in my throat. I push away from the table, my chair scraping against the polished floor. Suddenly, my hand shoots out, gripping the table's edge, my knuckles turning white.
I want to punch him. I want to tear him apart.
“You right—he didn't want to. Boris make deal with my father. When Yan find out— He plan to escape on boat to America. He succeeds. For another twenty-five years. That's how long it took me— find you. You were promised to my father, andnow you promised to me. I am watching you for a while,Anya. You—fascinating."
"No!" I shout, my is voice raw. "Nobody owns me. Nobody!"
I stand, my body shaking, my gaze locked on his. My whole world has been ripped apart, and I don't know how to put it back together. My mind is flooded with a torrent of emotions, a mixture of anger, betrayal, and disbelief. I'm filled with a burning rage, but underneath it, a deeper, darker feeling churns—a deep, visceral fear.
"Is not about ownership,Anya," he says, his voice a low purr. "Is ‘bout lineage, about family. Is—-tradition. And you—part ofourtradition." His eyes hold a strange mix of possessiveness and twisted affection. He thinks this is love, this obsession, this sense of ownership. I’m guessing he's never known anything else, never experienced anything else.
I try to catch my breath, but the air feels thick in my lungs. My uncle Boris—he made a deal. They promised me away. My entire life is a lie.
I'm filled with a sense of betrayal, a realization that I've never truly belonged anywhere, that I've always been a pawn on someone else's chessboard.
Chapter 14
The Good Time
"I thoughtwe were having a good time,da?" Nikolai says. He leans forward, his eyes narrowed, his handsome face contorted with barely controlled fury. "Why would you spoil that?" He slams his napkin down on the table.
“Well, if you found out your parents or some unknown uncle betrayed you, would you be compliant then, huh,Nikolai Romanov?” I spit.
He stares at me. His dark hair, usually perfectly styled, is now slightly disheveled, a few strands falling over his forehead, giving him a more feral look. The anger in his eyes is palpable, burning like wildfire. His lips curl into a dangerous smirk.
He's losing control. That's my chance.
“Your parents, they run— for you. They want—keep you safe. We—looking for you for many, many years. I—-glad I found you.” He gets up and steps towards me, his anger receding, replaced by a quiet intensity that sends shivers through my body. His eyes, as they lock onto mine, darken. A hunger sets in them, as he gazes at my body.
“And if you—not comply,” he says, "I—take what is rightfully mine, what was given—-me through mypapa."
I shake my head from side to side, my hands clenching into fists. I can't believe this. This is all wrong.
"You don't!" I finally manage to say, my voice trembling. My breath hitches. My hands shake, my fingers digging into the tablecloth.
He chuckles. “Oh, but I do. Yan Petrov’s daughter."
My stomach churns. “Don’t talk about my father like you know him!”
“Your father was in—difficult position," Nikolai says, his voice calmer. He leans back, his gaze piercing. "Your father was—good man, but he had bad brother. And now—you— mine.”
He pauses, letting those words sink in. I can't move.
"Enough of this," he says. "Enough foreplay. It is time I make you—rightfully mine. You see this—honeymoon night,da?"
“I won’t comply—"
“Maybe it's better if you don't—more fun—for me,” he grunts, his eyes turning dark. He's enjoying this, enjoying the power he has over me.
"Tie her to bed," Nikolai says, his voice a cold command. His eyes flash, a predatory gleam, then shift to a dark, husky desire. "I will have what is—mine.”
Two of his men grab me, their hands rough against my skin. I kick and scratch, trying to fight them off, but they’re too strong. My body is a writhing mass of defiance, but I'm helpless against them. I see a glimmer of red, the blood staining my fingers from where I've clawed at their arms.
"You—only hurt yourself," Nikolai says, shaking his head from side to side, a cruel amusement twisting his lips.
He's not going to let me escape. He's not going to let me win. But I'm not giving up. I'm going to fight until the very end.
