Page 15 of Bound By Hate (Born in Blood)

Aleksander never breaks eye contact as he answers. “He was born into Bratva royalty as the son of Ivan Petrov. When Ivan died, Damien went into hiding, but in the last year, he’s started making a name for himself by using his father’s old contacts. He’s quickly amassed wealth and status. He’s easily a rival to Mikhail. Does it please you to hear that?”

“It does, in fact.” If Damien is a man with status and wealth, then just maybe he’s a man worthy of me. The question is—howwill I go about talking to him? Mikhail made it clear I can’t make him angry, and I’m sure talking to his enemy will do just that.

If I’m being honest, though, I don’t give a damn what Mikhail thinks. He’s not my husband. He may own Sofiya, but he doesn’t own me.

No man does, and no man ever will, even after I’m married.

Aleksander steps closer to me, and I step back. “How dare you almost touch me,” I say

“I won’t touch you without your permission, Viktoriya. But there’s nothing keeping me from looking at you. You are beautiful.” He raises his hand and just barely touches my hair. It’s like I’m in a trance, unable to move.

Until he starts to drop his hand. I take the opportunity to smack his hand even farther away.

“Such a shame you have the personality you do,” he says.

“Such a shameyouhave the personality you do,” I snap back.

“You’re going to learn eventually, Viktoriya, that you are not the boss here. Someone is going to put you in your place.”

“Is that a threat?” I don’t even realize I’m standing so close to him until I smell his cologne.

“Do you want it to be? Because I love making women submit to me. Don’t tempt me.”

“I would never in a million years. A man like you”—I look him up and down, then turn my nose up to him— “who was born into poverty is not worthy of me. You will never be. So, you’re wasting my time talking to me. I have things to do.” I flip my hair over my shoulder.

“Things,” he says, drawing the word out slowly. “What kind of things?”

“Things like … talking to other men. I’m still on the hunt for a husband.”

“But you reject any man who tries talking to you. How does that work?”

I force myself to back away from him. “I don’t have to explain myself to you. Now, leave me alone. You answered my questions, so thank you for that. But now I have no need of you.”

His lips twitch in a way I don’t like. “I could make you dance before all these men again if I wanted to. Other than Mikhail, I’m the most powerful man in this room.”

I narrow my eyes. “You wouldn’t dare.” I hate to admit it, but my heart begins to beat faster. I remember when he tried humiliating me at the last party at Mikhail’s house. I remember how my ankle was even weaker than it is now, yet he made me dance for the entire room full of men. The only reason I got out of there was because of Sofiya.

“Don’t test me, Viktoriya. Learn some manners.” He starts to turn away, but I grab his arm, forcing him to look back at me. When he glances down at my hand, I immediately pull it away.

“You are not a good man, Aleksander,” I tell him. “You think you’re better than me because you’re a man and you’ve had to work harder than me when it comes to money. But I don’t take kindly to men bossing me around. That’s one thing you should know about me.”

“If I were your husband, I could put you in your place all day.”

“Then it’s a good thing you’re not my husband.” I turn away from him before he gets the chance to do it to me.

I run straight into Gleb’s chest. The impact almost knocks me back.

“Woah.” He grabs my arms, steadying me.

“Watch where you’re going,” I mutter.

“You seemed like you were enjoying talking to that man.”

I tense and glance behind me. Aleksander has moved on and is now speaking to another man in Russian. For just a second, I wish I could know what he was saying.

But only for a second.

“I was not,” I say hotly.

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