Page 47 of Torn Souls

“Mr. Chambers,” Kirill’s voice is sharp and dangerous, “I don’t care if you are my future father-in-law, you will respect me and knock on a closed door in the future. Do I make myself clear?”

Chambers pauses, his face becoming a neutral mask, before he gives a curt nod. “Of course, Mr. Volkov. I apologize.” Something sly slithers into his voice, “I had expected to be escorted in by your receptionist, but no one is at the desk.”

Kirill makes a humming sound and shares a look with Huck who gives a nod in understanding. That issue will be dealt with. Betty not being at her post can’t be a good thing and I’ll use the cameras later to track her movements. She’s probably in a bathroom somewhere licking her wounds.

“Please have a seat,” Kirill magnanimously motions toward a chair on the opposite side of his desk.

Chambers clears his throat, his voice wary, “Oaklynn came to see you?”

“Yes,” Kirill clips. He tilts his head to the side. “How are you unaware of where your daughter is? Where she has been?”

Chambers flicks his hand as if dismissing the notion. “My daughter is a grown woman. I can’t monitor her all the time. Normally she knows her place, I’m surprised that she came to see you.” He adds on, his eyebrow raised in question and challenge, “Or that you let her in.”

“My men intervened and made sure that she was able to meet with me,” Kirill’s response is smooth, and he lets go the nonanswer to his direct question.

“She shouldn’t have overstepped,” Chambers practically seethes. “She should have let us come to an agreement and gone from there. I apologize for her boldness and stepping out of line.”

Kirill grins, but it’s not a nice sight. It’s a predatory threat of violence. Chambers doesn’t seem to notice.

“A strong woman advocating for herself is not stepping out of line,” Kirill fires back.

“Strong,” Chambers scoffs. “My daughter is a lot of things, but she isn’t strong.”

“And here I was thinking you wanted me to marry your daughter,” Kirill mocks. He leans over his desk slightly. “You don’t see the value in a strong woman?”

Chambers scoffs but is smart enough to stay silent. The two stare at each other for a long minute. Only when Chambers shifts uncomfortably does Kirill sit back in his chair and put on a relaxed air again.

“It seems you don’t have control of your daughter the way you should,” Kirill muses.

My arms tighten around our woman and whisper against the shell of her ear, “He doesn’t truly believe that. He knows your worth, but it works in our favor if your father continues to underestimate you. And us.”

“I know,” she whimpers.

“It kills us for you to pretend to be less than the queen you are, but that’s what you’ll have to do when it’s time for us to go in there.”

“I know,” her voice is stronger this time.

“When this is all said and done, when your father is taken care of, you’ll rise from the ashes of his expectations. You will never have to hide your strength again.”

She turns and looks into my eyes, and I can see the fire deep in her soul. I can also see her anger and her hatred for her father.

The man has oppressed her for her entire life. She’s ready to fight back.

“I think we should talk about terms if you’re going to marry my daughter,” her father’s voice pulls our attention back to the monitor.

Oaklynn’s jaw clenches and I gently grip her hips to lift her off my lap. I stand with her and lead her silently out of my office and down the hall. Betty is making a racket at the reception desk by banging things around, but I only roll my eyes at her antics.

Our woman’s lips twitch into an almost smile and she shakes her head, but I can tell she’s not ready to deal with any of Betty’s bullshit. I don’t blame her.

I can feel her emotions right under her skin. If she’s pressed much more, I think she’s likely to snap. Hopefully, she can play the role we need in front of her father.

My hand slides around her waist and I give her hip a firm squeeze. Her eyes snap to mine and she gives a nod.

“I know what I need to do, Baker,” she whispers. “I can do it.”

When I kiss her forehead, I murmur, “I know you can, but I hate it.”

“It’s just a show to throw him off his game. Knowing my men don’t see me the way he does is enough.”

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