Epilogue
Dmitri
Two months later, I’m across from my brother, trying to convince him that an arranged marriage is what he needs.
“You’ve lost your fucking mind,” Alexei growls, slamming his coffee hard enough to rattle the saucer.
“I’m not marrying a stranger just because you think it’s good for business.”
“The Andreevs control half the Baltic shipping lanes. Marrying in doubles our reach and kills three disputes that are bleeding us dry.”
“Then sign a contract. Like normal people.”
“Contracts can be broken. Family ties can’t.”
Alexei leans back and crosses his arms. “Youknowwhy I can’t do this.”
“Natalia was five years ago, brother.”
“And she betrayed you,” I remind him. “Used you. Almost destroyed everything because you were in love.”
“Exactly. I don’t make the same mistake twice.”
“I’m not asking you to marry her tomorrow. Just meet the family. See if there’s potential.”
“Potential.” Alexei sneers. “You make it sound like a corporate merger with vows attached.”
“Itisa merger. It just happens to involve vows and children to carry both legacies.”
Alexei rises and goes to the window, his hands shoved in his pockets. His shoulder has healed from the bullet I put in him, but he still favors it when he’s thinking.
“What’s Sasha think about this brilliant plan?”
“Sasha thinks we need stronger alliances to expand into Europe without war. She also thinks you’re too old to keep playing the bachelor card.”
“I’m thirty-two. You’re older than me.”
“By our age, most men in our business have wives and kids. The bachelor thing raises eyebrows.”
“Most men in our business don’t take a bullet from their brother over a woman.”
“That was an extreme circumstance, and you know it.”
I study his face, trying to read past the instinctive resistance to being told what to do. Alexei’s always been hard to read, which is great for business, but bad for relationships.
“What’s really bothering you about this?” I ask.
“Being back in a position to let someone use my feelings against me.”
“Then don’t develop feelings. Keep it transactional. A contract with protections. Don’t let her close enough to hurt you.”
“Easier said than done when you share a room with someone.”
“The Andreevs want an answer within the week. Either we take the marriage alliance, or we find another way to strengthen our hold on the Baltics.”
“And if I hate her? Or find her unattractive?”
“Then you’ll get an expensive divorce in a few years, and we’ll keep the shipping routes.”
