Page 140 of Emerald Malice

Suddenly, his eyes go wide. Recognition flickers across his face.

“Natalia.” There’s a strange new silkiness in his voice. He runs a greasy hand through his even greasier hair. “It’s been too long.”

If you ask me, it hasn’t been nearly long enough.

His eyes slip down to my belly. There’s no denying my pregnancy anymore, but this is the first time I’ve felt so self-conscious about it. I feel vulnerable.

“You’re glowing,” he remarks.

If that hideous drawl is supposed to be charming, he ought to go back to the drawing board.

“Er, thanks.” I move to leave, but he’s blocking my path out of here. His blue eyes are clearer suddenly, brighter and full of intention.

“Going so soon?” Viktor asks. “Don’t break my heart. We’ve barely had a chance to catch up.”

My skin crawls. It’s amazing how violated I feel just standing here under his gaze. I take a miniscule step back. “Maybe another time. I’m a little tired.”

“We are family now, after all,” he says, plowing right over my protests. “I should get to know my future sister-in-law.”

“I’m not your future anything, Viktor. Andrey and I aren’t together.”

Viktor takes a step forward. “Then my brother is a fool. I would have made you mine in a heartbeat.” He lurches forward and plants his hands on either side of the table I’m standing in front of, trapping me between his arms.

“Viktor—”

“Hush.” His breath is vile and the erection pressing into my thigh is even more so. I cower against the table to keep some distance between our bodies.

“Please,” I whisper, afraid to scream the way I want to for fear of escalating things. “This is wrong.”

“‘Wrong’?” Viktor chuckles. His foul breath is making me lightheaded. “What’s wrong about this? You’re not with my brother. You just said it yourself.”

“I am carrying his child, though.”

“So what?” he scoffs. “Does that mean he owns you? Does he own your body, Natalia?”

His hands trail over my stomach, and I slap them away. “Get off of me!”

“It’s okay,” he croons, holding me tighter. His fingers dig into my hips. “My brother won’t mind. He lets my bride fuck whoever she wants. I’m sure Mila has told you all about it.”

I press a hand to his chest, trying to force his eyes to mine. Trying to make him see me as a human, not an object. “Viktor, I didn’t make that decision. None of that has anything to do with me.”

“I beg to differ, pretty girl. It has everything to do with you. If Andrey can do whatever the fuck he wants, I should be allowed the same right.”

Oh, God. This is really happening. If I don’t stop, Viktor is going to…

I squeeze my eyes closed as Viktor suckles his wet mouth to my neck.

I can’t fight him. I’m trapped with a predator who is more than capable of taking what he wants from me. I need help.

I want to scream.

I’m about to.

Then I notice movement in the doorway, and my stomach plummets.

Misha is staring at me, wide-eyed and horrified. He understands exactly what is happening, and somehow, that makes it all so much worse.

He takes one step forward, but I shake my head gently.

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