Page 34 of Cruel Bet

I can’t bear for her to pity me. I also don’t want to talk about it further. For her to try to comfort me. Something’s shifted between us and I don’t know how to handle it. I feel vulnerable and exposed. Something I hate.

I move away from her, getting out of bed. Thankfully, she seems to realize I need some space. I head toward the living area.

“Finally, you’re up!” Endo’s voice chimes out from where he’s sat, lazing on the sofa. “We thought we’d have to burst into your little love nest if you weren’t up soon. It’s gone midday.”

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I growl.

I’m so not in the mood for Endo’s bullshit today.

In the kitchen area, Kimiko is busy making lunch. “Did you forget? Today’s the big engagement party. And you’ve got to look your best for your potential brides,” she calls out.

Fuck.

This is the last thing I need. I don’t want to dress up and parade around pretending to like a bunch of pretentious pricks. And I definitely don’t want to choose a wife.

There’s only one woman I want. And I can’t have her.

Chapter 20

Nikolai

Endo and Kimiko are less than happy with my decision to bring Arianna to the party. But I pulled the pakhan card and told them to shut up. If I want to bring her I can. I can do what the fuck I want. The thought of leaving Arianna at home while we went to the party was out of the question. I want her near me.

I’m starting to regret my choice now. She looks fucking incredible. She’s wearing a red corseted dress that clings to her hourglass shape like a glove. Her breasts are tantalizingly plump and look like two ripe melons that I want to bite. The dress plunges to the floor and has a split in it, something I’m starting to see as a trademark look on her. Her dark hair is swept up with loose tendrils hanging down, framing her face and slender neck. The vibrant red against her pale skin and dark hair is striking.

She’s easily the most beautiful woman in the room. I can’t take my eyes off her. Much to my irritation, it seems that neither can anyone else. It’s driving me mad that I can’t be by her side. But since I have to network and I’m technically meant to be here meeting a bride it was agreed as a compromise that Arianna would come, but I had to keep my distance. She’s being escorted by Dimitri. He’s the only man I’d let touch her without breaking their hand.

I watch as she tilts her head back and laughs as she chats with Dimitri and some business partners of ours who seem thoroughly charmed by her. Their table appears far more enjoyable than mine. She’s in her element. Her smile is radiant.My eyes are fixated on her mouth, she’s wearing the same red lipstick that she wore when she sucked my cock in the back of the car. The memory has me stirring in my pants and I fight back the urge to go over and drag her away like a caveman.

I know she’s pissed at me for bringing her here and then ignoring her, she’s resolutely avoided looking over at me all night. That only makes me want her more. To show her how fucking crazy she’s driving me.

I’m pulled from my thoughts of Arianna by the woman next to me. The Russian bimbo that I’m supposed to marry.

At least Endo seems smitten with the Yakuza girl. They couldn’t take their eyes off each other from the moment we were all introduced. Which means I’m lumbered with… what was her name again? Svetlana?

“Don’t you think Niki?” she simpers, placing a hand on mine.

It takes all of my willpower not to remove her hand. I tense, forcing myself to tear my gaze away from Arianna and look at my potential future wife. She’s not unattractive, all things considered. She’s supermodel tall with blond hair, bright blue eyes, and a slim figure most women would kill for. One that I’m confident she works hard to maintain if the way she’s pushing her food around on her plate is any indication of her eating habits. But she’s also unbelievably vapid and dull. So far, the conversation has been decidedly one-sided between us with me nodding or giving one-word answers to her. When she’s not talking, her father has been constantly singing her praises and listing the many attributes that he thinks will make her a good wife.

Before, I’d have had no issues with the arrangement. She’s the kind of woman I’d have happily fucked, and she’s well aware of what being a Bratva Pakhan’s wife entails and that she can’t expect fidelity. But the thought of having sex with her leaves me cold. It’s also incredibly irritating that she is already giving me a pet name and thinks she has any sort of claim over me.

At my blank expression, she barrels on.

“Kimiko and Juan make a gorgeous couple, they will have such beautiful babies, don’t you agree?”

Kimiko and Juan look decidedly uncomfortable, Juan’s father saves me from having to respond by answering Svetlana’s question himself.

“Of course, they will make handsome sons. My boy is a virile and strong young man, no doubt he and his beautiful bride will have many children.”

Kimiko and Juan simultaneously wince at his words. Either the man is deluded or in denial. Even though the pair are amicable, it’s clear that their relationship is platonic to anyone who cares to look. And Juan is hardly the kind of man that you’d think of as strong. He’s a slim, effeminate man, too shy to look you in the eye. Not the kind of guy you’d bet on in a fight. Nor the kind of man you’d want to run a Cartel. Garcia must be relieved to have other male heirs. I’m glad that Kimiko will at least be married to someone who will be kind and gentle. Not that she can’t take care of herself. She’d be able to kick her husband-to-be’s ass in a fight.

“Svetlana will provide many children for you, Pakhan Kuzmin. Her mother birthed six strong sons and three beautifuldaughters. You can have your pick of my daughters if Svetlana is not to your liking,” Petrov informs me proudly.

“That is most generous of you, Pakhan Petrov,” I reply calmly.

Right now, I have no intention of marrying any of his daughters unless I have no other choice. Svetlana pouts, seemingly disappointed by my answer. I imagine she would rather I acted more like Endo toward his potential bride. He’s been flirting and charming her like his life depended on it all night. She seems equally taken by him. I’m glad for him. It will make things a lot easier if at least one of us is happy with their arranged marriage. Hopefully, it also buys me some time before I have to agree to shackle myself to Svetlana.

Petrov launches into another long anecdote that everyone is forced to listen to, giving me the chance to glance over at Arianna again. Svetlana notices my gaze and I see a flicker of annoyance in her eyes, she places a hand on my thigh, attempting to be seductive. I calmly but firmly remove it. I can practically feel the irritation radiating off her, but like the well-trained Bratva princess she is, she says nothing. Good. She needs to learn now that I will never be capable of loving her or being faithful. Any marriage would be one of convenience to strengthen the Kuzmin Bratva.

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