Page 24 of Bound By Hate (Born in Blood)

“I think you need discipline. I think you’d thrive with it.”

She scoffs. “No. What I want is to make my own choices. I don’t want you here. So, go.” She waves a dismissive hand toward the door.

“You never answered my question. Why did you see Damien Petrov? What could you possibly be planning?”

“I’ll have you know he’s interested in me. He’d make a fine husband, would he not?” She smirks while staring me down.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Viktoriya.”

“No. I’m doing what I want. I’m acting like a man would. And that clearly bothers you, which only makes me happier. Have a nice day, Aleksander.” She spins on her heel and walks away.

I leave before I do something I’ll regret. Viktoriya will realize I’m the right fit for her in time. I’m not a man who gives up.

VIKTORIYA

My head is spinning after my conversation with Aleksander. He had the audacity to tell me I need him. Cocky much?

I shake my head as I walk up the stairs and bump into Gleb on the landing.

“Who were you talking with?” he asks.

“Aleksander. He showed up.”

Gleb’s eyebrows comically reach into his hairline. “Viktoriya, you have to be careful with a man like that. He’ll hurt you.”

“And what do you want? You said you didn’t want to marry me, and now you do. So, which is it?”

“I changed my mind. I realized there’s no one better to care for you than me. I would encourage you to consider it. You’ll regret ending up with that man. I can provide you with comfort. We can live in New York. You can dance.”

I look at him more closely. “I can dance?”

“I won’t stop you from doing it. But if you choose Aleksander, you’ll be forced to live here in Moscow, and I doubt he’d let you dance. A man like that is controlling. I just want to see you taken care of. I have no desire to control you.”

For the first time, I notice Gleb.Reallynotice him. He’s handsome; I’ll give him that. While I found him creepy when he insisted on living with Mila and me, I’m starting to realize maybe he wouldn’t be such a bad option. He has money and a high status in New York. If he says he doesn’t want to control me and I can still live the life I want, then maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

Unlike Aleksander, who insists I be “disciplined,” whatever that means.

“Consider it,” Gleb says. “I would be honored to be married to you, Viktoriya.” He smiles at me before walking down the stairs and leaving me feeling even more confused.

I weigh my options. Aleksander or Gleb.

Gleb is handsome and wealthy and wants to give me the life I’ve always dreamed of.

Aleksander is insufferable and cocky and grew up poor. Eww, no, thank you. He can take what he thinks is his handsome face and shove it right through the window.

But there is one other choice—I don’t have to choose either man. I don’t have to wait for Mikhail to kick me out.

I can leave on my own terms.

I refuse to be forced into a marriage.

With that in mind, I wait until it's dark again and sneak out. As I pass the guard outside the penthouse, I know he’s going to tell Mikhail, but at least I’ll have a head start. Besides, Mikhail should be happy I’m leaving. I’m giving him what he wants—me out of his hair.

I get a cab and tell the driver to take me to the finest hotel in the city. There’s no way I’m staying in some trash heap. Only the nicest places for me.

He drops me off at the Ritz-Carlton Moscow. Perfect.

I get a room for the next week, spending a couple of grand like it’s nothing. And to me, it isn’t. Money has never been an issue. Why would I marry a man who grew up poor? I doubt Aleksander knows anything about money. He’s not in the same class as me and never will be, no matter where he is in life now.

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