Page 11 of The Brutal Arrangement

“Why now?” Maxim asked.

I shrugged. “Maybe because word is getting out that you’re engaged to Sloane. It could be that he knew about this all along and intended for you to marry Katerina.”

He cringed. “Fuck no.”

“He seems interested in forcing us to see this through.”

At the first thought of the stubborn brunette who was often too sassy for my liking, I knew she belonged with Nik. He was the one who seemed to speak with her the most at mutual gatherings when families came together. Just this year, at that wedding, he’d gone off to talk with her and even danced with her for half of a song.

“Tough shit if he wants to force anything,” Maxim said, glancing in the direction of Father, who suddenly snored loudly. He was out. It happened. It didn’t take much to tire him. On cue, a couple of medical staff members came to assist him onto the wheelchair to take him back to his bed.

“I don’t care if Anton wants to demand that we follow an old agreement like that,” Maxim continued. “We’re not exactly friends anymore.” With Thomas’s death, his brother, Anton took over. Under Anton’s rule, the Kozlov family were more enemies than allies.

“I’m skeptical about why he’d push this now,” Saul said.

“I am skeptical as well,” Grandmother admitted, “but I am trying to view this as an opportunity as well.”

“An opportunity for Anton to send a spy into our family?” Saul guessed with a scoff.

Maxim nodded. “Most likely. So maybe you’re right, Grandmother. After all, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

I stood, not liking the direction of what they seemed to be deciding. Arranged marriages were common. This sort of thing happened among many crime families. But?—

“Hold on.” I shook my head. “What are you suggesting?”

I felt trapped. Singled out. Turning toward Saul, I scowled as he stubbornly shook his head. “Hell no.”

“I can’t fulfill the contract,” Maxim said.

“Don’t look at me,” Saul said.

“Iamlooking at you,” I growled.

You can’t be thinking thatIwould marry Katerina.

“Damon, you can handle this,” Grandmother decided.

I gaped at her. “No. Fuck no.”

She nodded primly, as if her mind were made up. As if she didn’t even hear me. “Yes. It is your duty to support the family. You can contribute to securing more heirs for us and?—”

“No,” I repeated. Marriage hadn’t entered my mind at all. When Grandmother started her nagging a few months ago, before Maxim took Sloane from her lousy situation, I had zero thoughts about finding a woman or settling down. I ignored it all because Maxim, as the eldest, would go first. Then Nik.

“The only duty I’m focusing on—completely, one hundred percent investing in—is finding my brother. I’m dedicated tofinding Nik and helping him get home. So don’t look at me as a stand-in for this arrangement.”

“No worries there,” Saul said, butting in. “I’ll handle the search for Nik.” He patted my back once, and I was tempted to reach back and grab his arm so I could punch his smug face.

“I’m not marrying Katerina,” I vowed.

God, even just saying that felt wrong. I had no interest in her. None whatsoever. While I figured a woman would have to be paid or forced to put up with looking at me for the rest of her life, I couldn’t imagine it being Katerina. It just didn’t sound right. Didn’t feel right.

Maxim raised his brows at me, almost amused, if not contemplative. “We can discuss this further tomorrow,” he said.

Whatever.He could talk until he was blue in the face.

I wasn’t going along with this outdated marriage agreement.

Not when I had to put all my effort into finding Nik—who would be much more appropriate for this little game of spying that Anton seemed to want to play.

---