Page 4 of Bred To Be Owned

Irini was a beautiful bride, like a broken doll. The more I watched my sister, the more my heart ached for her. I wanted nothing to do with this, but there was nothing I could do to stop it. Irini caught my gaze right before we walked out of the bridal suite, her eyes pleading for something I could never give her. I took her hand, squeezing it gently,hoping my silence conveyed what my words never could. I apologized for this cruelty even though it wasn’t my fault.

The wedding was three hours long, but it gave me time to think behind the mask I wore. I could grab Irini and run, but where would we go? My father would send out his henchman, and then we would face punishment if caught. Even if we made it out of state, I wasn’t sure I could make enough at seventeen to support us. Irini had retreated into herself, not speaking and barely functioning. She wouldn’t be able to add to our limited income. I could beg one of the other families to take us, but I didn’t know anyone that I could trust to not immediately ransom us back to my father. I went through a few more plans, making sure that my face was blank, but nothing seemed viable.

I was still at a loss when I walked into the reception hall. My father was in his element, working the room as if this was the greatest event he had ever attended. My mother fluttered between doing the same thing and making sure that Irini didn’t sob too loudly. It was a deterrent to everyone else’s good time.

There were rumors swirling around the ballroom that Junior was into sexual sadism. I had heard more than once that he had gone too far a few times and had had to be bailed out by the Italian clean-up crew.

I excused myself from the ballroom. I made my way down the hallway, where I could see a pair of French doors that led out to a patio. My bodyguard would follow, but if no one else was out there, he’d keep his distance. We had a system like that. Angelo left me alone in peace, and I didn’t cause him any grief. I’d also threatened him, and he was afraid I would follow through with my lies.

There was a little outdoor table and chairs set up on the patio. I closed the French door and sat in the chair that I knew would be visible through the glass. I needed a break. This was a mess, and no one wouldspeak up. My father didn’t care. He was now a silent partner in the Italians’ new casino. Record profits and alternative places to launder money were more exciting than his eldest daughter’s happiness. My mother would never go against my father. She had survived such a fate, so in her eyes, Irini could, too. They either didn’t want to see how delicate Irini was, or they simply didn’t care. It could have gone either way.

Taking off my heels, I rested my head on the back of the chair and closed my eyes, sticking my feet directly out in front of me.

“You should know better than to be by yourself, malenkaya lisichka.”

My eyes shot open, and I blurted, “I have a guard.” Sitting up quickly, I stuck my feet back into my shoes and ran my hand down my skirts, smoothing any imaginary creases. My eyes darted around, searching for the source of the voice, my heart pounding. There was no one in sight. I wasn’t supposed to be outside by myself.

“No, you had a guard. He’s indisposed,” a man replied as he sat in the chair across the table from me. He was obviously a wedding guest, in a custom, high-end suit. I pegged him for mid to late twenties. Brown hair and brown eyes weren’t a lot to go on, but the black X’s tattooed on his knuckles were a dead giveaway. Russian.

I wasn’t sure what to do. Did I run? It would be worse if he told my father that I had been rude to him. Did I make polite conversation and then excuse myself? I didn’t know. I had never been in this position before.

“You’re the safest you’ve ever been, and I won’t hurt you. There’s no need to run.” His voice was like smooth honey.

I let it wash over me as I watched him, more questions firing off in the back of my mind. Was I easy to read? I’d been working on my pokerface for the last three years, and within seconds, this man seemed to understand my inner thoughts. I didn’t like it.

“There’s no reason I should believe you. We’ve never met. Did you incapacitate my guard?” I wanted to take it back as soon as the words slipped off of my tongue. I had to remember my place in this world, and there was no way of knowing his intentions.

“He’ll be alright.” He smirked. “Slight headache in the morning, but nothing a drink won’t cure.” He chuckled, crossing his ankle over his leg and shifting in the chair to watch me.

Shit! Angelo was going to be pissed when he woke up. I knew he wouldn’t tell my father that someone had gotten the jump on him, so I was relatively safe there.

“Why?” I asked, turning in my chair to stare back at him.

“Why not?” he responded with another smirk.

“Yet they wonder why I want to be an undesirable,” I groaned under my breath and sat back in my chair. I couldn’t deal with men and their blatant stupidity. I had watched my father rule as a king when he was actually a tyrant, and my new brother-in-law wasn’t much better.

This time, he tilted his head back and laughed. “Malenkaya lisichka, you’re the fire to your sister’s ice. Far from undesirable. Trust me, I would know. You hide from the rest of the world, but your eyes betray you. You thought no one was paying attention, but you spoke to me in the silence. It was very entertaining.”

“What do you want?” I asked. I was in a tough spot. If I went back inside, and Angelo wasn’t with me, my father would make him disappear. If I found him and he was helpless, he’d disappear. Angelo was easily controllable, but the only man I wanted to make disappear was currently sitting at this little table, staring intently at me. I didn’t want to think to think about anything else he had said.

“You.” He laid his hands on his thigh, shifting his posture in the chair.

I looked at him as if he had suddenly sprouted two heads. Was this man clinically insane? “You don’t even know me.” This sounded more ridiculous by the second.

“I know you’ll be mine.” He smirked. “That’s not a threat. It’s definitely a promise.”

“I’m seventeen.” I pointed towards myself. “Not eligible,” I reminded him. “Russian,” I said, pointing at his knuckles. “You’d have to speak to my father, and he’s not interested in restaurants.”

“He’s not. You’re right. However, I had plenty of time on my hands this afternoon. He either partners on or owns several clubs, and you’re heading to business school once you graduate. I’d bet everything that he’s going to build you your own club, eventually. Clubs need food.” He said it so simply, like it was already a fact. I didn’t have any experience with men, but I knew this man was dangerous. He wore it like a cloak wrapped around his shoulders. Top hat and all.

“What does any of that have to do with me? My father has the final say, so it’s all speculative,” I said. This was getting old. If my father caught me speaking to this man, it would ruin my undesirable status. I had worked too hard to let it go over a handsome man who spoke in riddles.

“You. I want you.” He leaned forward in his chair, placing his elbows on his knees. “What would you do to save your sister, malenkaya lisichka?”

“What are you talking about?” I needed to wrap this up. I was afraid that I’d been gone too long and someone would come looking. However, he’d dangled the carrot that would get my attention, and like an idiot, I’d reached for the forbidden vegetable. If I could get Irini to safety, I owed it to her to take the chance.

“You know what we’re talking about. Coyness doesn’t suit you. You’re too smart for that.” He shifted again in the chair as he tapped his fingers against his leg. His foot bounced to a rhythm only he heard.

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