I’m at war with Nico. Cillian betrayed me. And Denis hates me.
I have my fair share of allies that can help me in this war but Nico and Cillian and Denis all have their own men too. And now Nico and Cillian are working together to go against me.
And Denis is against me.
And I have to save Natalya’s family before they get hurt because I don’t want Natalya to be hurt.
And I’m running out of fuckin options.
So, when Natalya bursts into my office, I’m already in a bad mood.
I stifle my sigh. “What is it?”
“Sasha called me. She managed to sneak her phone from Denis. He’s trying to marry her off.”
“Did he say to who?”
“No. She doesn’t have a name. He didn’t give her one. But she did say he wanted her married off within a few months. It’s happening fast, Mikhail. You have to do something. Please.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing? I’ve been working on a way to get them out of there. I had a way and Denis foiled the fucking plan. I am trying, Natalya.” My tone is a lot harsher than I intend for it to be.
She flinches. “I’m just worried.”
“I know. But if you can’t stop, I will have to spank you again.”
“Is there no way to help her?”
“If I had a name, I could try to kill the man.”
“That’s what I told her. She’s going to find out.”
I shrug. “Then that’s what we have to do. We have to wait for her to find out the name.”
“And what happens if she doesn’t find out until her wedding day? What then?”
“Then I go in with guns and shoot down your uncle and her husband and save her. How does that sound?”
“It sounds like she could be put in danger. That my entire family could be hurt. I just lost my father, Mikhail. I can’t lose my mom and sisters too.”
I run my hand down my face, tamping down my anger. It’s not anger directed towards Natalya. It’s anger from this entire shitty situation I have found myself in.
“I can… I can try to talk to Denis,” I say slowly as a plan forms in my mind.
“Talk to him?”
“I can try. That is if he doesn’t shoot me first. I can suggest a deal. That we work together.”
“Isn’t he angry with you for killing Antoni and marrying me?”
“Yes. He is. But I can offer… I can offer him power. I can suggest that I play a part in who Sasha marries.”
All the color leaves Natalya’s face. “Play a part in who she marries? I don’t want her to have to marry anyone!”
“Don’t snap at me,” I remind her gently.
I can see the challenge it takes to tamp her own anger down. “I’m sorry. But is this the way?”
“Your father was going to marry you all off at some point. Wasn’t he?”
