Page 510 of Hate Mates

I stopped dead in my tracks, turning to face him. “What did you just say?” My voice was trembling with anger.

He straightened up, his eyes gleaming with something cold and challenging. “You wanted to play the game, Nádia. But now the rules have changed. No more childish games, no more pretending you can get away with anything. You’re going to be a woman now, whether you like it or not.”

My fists clenched at my sides. “I don’t need you to tell me what I’m going to be,” I shot back, stepping closer to him. “And don’t think for a second I’ve forgotten who you are. You’re just as much a part of this family’s dirty game as I am.”

He chuckled, but it was all sharp edges. “I’m not playing, Nádia. You are.” His eyes narrowed, locking onto mine with a sense of dominance that made my pulse quicken.

I couldn’t escape the feeling of being trapped. No matter how fast I tried to run, no matter how loud I screamed, the walls were closing in. And there he was, standing just a few feet away, looking at me with that smug, infuriating smirk plastered on his face.

“You think you’ve won, don’t you?” I snapped, unable to stop the words from spilling out, my voice sharp and venomous. “You think you’re somehow better than me, don’t you, Romy?”

He chuckled, the sound low and mocking, and I could feel my blood boil. “Better than you? Please, Nádia. I’m not the one who’s been playinggamesmy entire life. You think you canmanipulate your way out of this, out of your responsibilities, but guess what? That ship has sailed.”

I took a step closer, glaring at him, my jaw clenched tight with anger. “You think you know everything about me, don’t you? You think you can control everything—everyone—but let me make something very clear, Romy. Ihateyou. And you’re not going to get away with any of this.”

He straightened up, his eyes cold and hard as he met my gaze. “Me? I haven’t done a damn thing to put you in this position. You think I care about your hate? You’ve never been more predictable, Nádia. You’ve always played the spoiled little princess, always thinking you could do whatever you wanted. But that’s over now. You can’t hide behind your pretty face and charm anymore.”

“I never needed to hide behind anything, you arrogant prick,” I hissed, my fists balled up at my sides. “I didn’t ask for this life, and I sure as hell didn’t ask for your opinion.”

“You’ve had every privilege handed to you on a silver platter,” Romy sneered, stepping closer to me, forcing me to look up at him. “And now,finally,you’re going to learn what it means to actually work for something. To earn your place, instead of being handed everything.”

I could feel the anger rising inside me, a boiling rage that threatened to explode. “I don’t need anyone to teach me that,” I shot back, my voice trembling with fury. “And I don’t need anything fromyou, Romy. I don’t need your lectures, your orders, or your damned advice. You’re nothing but a glorified thug to me.”

Before he could respond, the door to the study opened with a slow, deliberate creak, and my father stepped out into the hallway. His face was set in that unreadable mask of authority, his eyes scanning the two of us with cold calculation.

I froze, heart hammering in my chest, wondering if he overheard my last sentence and if his swift punishment would somehow prevent me from going through with this marriage.

“Painho,” I said, my voice shaking despite myself. I didn’t want him to see me like this—unhinged and partially feral, probably the reason why he thought I needed to be tamed—not after what had just happened inside. But it didn’t matter anymore. The damage was done.

“Romy,” my father said, his tone steady, his gaze flicking between the two of us with a knowing look. “I’ve made some adjustments. Effective immediately.”

Romy didn’t flinch. He didn’t even look surprised. But my heart dropped as my father continued.

“You will berelinquishedfrom your position once the marriage is complete,” my father said. His voice was cold, and I couldn’t tell if it was disappointment or something else. “You’ll no longer be in charge of the men. Your new responsibility is to be Nádia’spersonal bodyguard.”

For a moment, all I could do was stare at my father, slack-jawed. Within the next second, a feeling of sick satisfaction curled in my stomach. I didn’t need to say anything—my eyes did the talking for me. I hadwonthis, even if only a small victory. Romy, once the powerful capo of my father’s empire, would bestuckwith me. My bodyguard. Myslave.

This overshadowed my father’s betrayal for the moment.

I could see the realization in Romy’s eyes—he wasdowngraded. No more power, no more authority. His entire life had been about climbing higher, and now, he’d been dragged down into the dirt. And the worst part? He knew it was all because of me.

“Bodyguard?” Romy’s voice was tight with anger, his jaw clenched. For a second it seemed as if there was a strangeiridescent sheen over his eyes. “That’s what you think I’m worth now? After everything I’ve done for this family?”

My father didn’t respond, his gaze flicking toward me before settling back on Romy. “This is what’s best for the family. This is your duty. Do not question it.”

The words were final, and I knew it was useless to argue. I felt a strange sense of victory, watching Romy’s face twist with frustration and humiliation. He could do nothing now.

He looked at me, his expression darkening, the words dripping with venom as he stepped closer. “Youthinkyou’ve won, don’t you?” he sneered. “You’ll regret this, Nádia. I’m going to make your life hell. You’ll wish you’d never been born into this family. You’ll wish you hadn’t pushed me into this position.”

I smirked, the satisfaction of seeing him brought low lingering on my tongue. “Oh, I don’t think I’ll regret it at all,” I said, my voice dripping with malice. “You think you’re in control? You think you can intimidate me? Not anymore, Romy. You’re mine now. Every step you take, every breath you make—it’s all becauseIlet you.”

I turned my back on him, walking away without another word, feeling his eyes burn into my back.

Chapter Four

NADIA

Idon’t remember much about the wedding. The entire day felt like a dream—a dream I couldn’t wake up from, no matter how hard I tried. The ceremony was lavish, extravagant in every way, as expected. My father, always so careful about appearances, made sure the world knew this was no ordinary union. The grand catholic cathedral, the diamond-studded decorations, the endless array of guests from every corner of the criminal underworld, all gathered to witness the marriage of two powerful families.

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