Page 18 of The Hermit

I force myself to calm down and nod. “Okay. Let’s talk.”

His eyes flick to the mark he must’ve left on my cheek, joining the other bruises, and the regret deepens in his eyes. “I’m sorry I hit you, Grace.”

I just stare at him because there’s no way I’m saying it’s okay.

He lets out a heavy sigh and glances at Ciara before explaining, “The marriage will mostly be in name, love. You’ll still stay here with Grace and me. Dominik is a very private person and isn’t interested in having a wife.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I ask, “What do you get out of this arrangement?”

Dad sighs again before his eyes come back to my face. “Dominik wants fifty percent of my business for saving you. Theonly way I can keep the business in the family is by arranging a marriage between Ciara and him.”

What the hell?

A frown quickly forms on my forehead. “Why give in to his demand? There has to be another way you can repay him for helping out.”

Dad turns away from me and begins to stalk up and down as he says, “Dominik made it clear that he wants fifty percent of the business. He won’t settle for anything less.”

“Tell him no,” I mutter.

Dad lets out a bark of laughter before saying, “Dominik Varga isn’t the kind of man you say no to.”

I suck in a tired breath before exhaling slowly. “Then kill him.”

Dad stops dead in his tracks, and when he looks at me, I see fear in his eyes.

“Many have tried and failed. Why do you think the bratva attacked me by taking you? They don’t stand a chance against Varga, and I was the easier target.” He shakes his head, his tone dead serious. “Varga is fucking powerful, Grace, and if by some miracle you manage to wound him, you’ll be marked for life. His second-in-charge will hunt you to the ends of the earth. Evinka Fico is just as dangerous as Varga. She’s killed more men than I care to remember.” He shakes his head again. “In short, there’s no going against Dominik. What he wants, he gets. I’m fucking lucky he agreed to marry Ciara.”

As Dad’s words sink in, apprehension tightens my muscles, and fear slithers around my heart, gripping it like a tight fist.

I can see how scared Dad is, and remembering how easily Dominik saved me from a situation that was entirely out of my control, tells me the man is highly trained.

I’ll never stand a chance against him.

My head whips to the side, and my eyes lock on Ciara’s terrified ones.

She begins to shake her head, and her voice is tense with horror as she sobs, “Please, don’t make me marry him. He sounds horrible.”

Jesus, what am I going to do?

I quickly close the distance between us and wrap my arm around Ciara’s shoulders. Even though I’ll be damning myself, I say, “I’ll marry Dominik.”

“No, Grace!” Ciara exclaims, her eyes wide on me. “I won’t let you do that.”

Dad’s eyebrows draw together, and then I see the overwhelming guilt of what he forced me to undergo during my first marriage in his blue eyes.

His voice is hoarse as he says, “No. Ciara will be fine. Dominik made it clear he’s not interested in her.”

“What if he changes his mind?” I ask. “Braden wasn’t interested in me either. Then we said our vows, and I became his property to do with as he pleased. I won’t take that chance with Ciara.”

“Is there no other way, Daddy?” Ciara asks. “Can’t you just give him the fifty percent?”

“We’re talking millions of Euros, Ciara. It’s not an option.”

She steps back as if Dad struck her, and my heart breaks when I see disappointment creep into her gaze.

“So you’d rather sacrifice me than part with the money?” she asks, her tone filled with unbelief.

He quickly shakes his head and hurries closer to us. Taking Ciara’s hand in his, he gives her an urgent look. “The wedding will mostly be in name, love. You won’t have to live with him.”

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