Page 26 of The Brutal Arrangement

“I will never disappoint the family,” I confirmed as a farewell. It went without saying that I could be counted on, but it never hurt to reaffirm that fact.

I saw myself out of the office and headed toward the elevator. A workout would do me well. Afterward, Hugo would probably be here and I could get to work. Exercising would clear out some of this pent-up need for violence so I could pace myself torturing these three assholes who tried to damage our property.

“If you don’t want to disappoint the family…” Grandmother said as she hurried after me down the hall.

With my back to her, I rolled my eyes and stifled a groan. Slowing slightly, I gave her the chance to catch up to me before I got on the elevator. At the sealed doors, I waited to press the button to call the elevator up here. Facing her now, I sighed.

“If you don’t want to disappoint the family, then consider that this marriage might not end up being contract-only. That you might very well keep her as your wife and therefore, you will need to remember the expectation to have more heirs. Our future depends on it.”

I stabbed the button for the elevator. I’d heard enough. She wasn’t telling me anything new, and I was through with her nagging for now.

“I am aware,” I said through clenched teeth. “But I highly doubt it would come to that.”

It was strange to consider marrying someone in name only with an expiration date to look forward to. Maybe once this crap withthis agreement was over and we had our answers for why Anton was offering up his niece now, I could find someone else.

Yeah, right.Nothing would change in that department. Women would still fear me. My darkness would still be too much to handle. I’d never have that simple and natural happiness and love Maxim and Sloane shared.

All I could have was this forced agreement, a contract marriage.

Stepping into the elevator car, I met my grandmother’s gaze evenly. “Don’t get your hopes up,” I warned her.

As far as this arrangement went, I’d do my duty and that was it.

No romance would be happening.

No heirs would be coming.

The sooner we get this started, the sooner it can all be over.

11

LUCY

Katerina wasn’t giving me much time to process that my life was changing. She didn’t put a prolonged wait on this mandate that I leave the Kozlov house to marry some man she didn’t want.

Selling myself to an arranged Mafia marriage was so out there, so far-fetched of an idea that all night long, I was stuck in twisting dreams and nightmares that made no sense. I was surprised I’d slept at all, but in the aftermath of how shocked I was and the consequent adrenaline crash after she’d chased me, it seemed that my body had simply given up and I’d fallen asleep.

Early in the morning, I got up and dreaded the possibility that I might be making a mistake. I had no clue what to expect in this deal with Katerina, and it was a losing battle to assume I’d be “okay”.

Was anything ever “okay” in this world of criminals?

I wanted to believe that whatever happened, it would all be worth it for my mother’s care. Deep down, though, I wasterrified. Katerina hadn’t given me any details last night. After we shook hands, she said she’d hurry to get all the details ready.

The unknowns freaked me out, though, so as I got dressed in my uniform and left my room, I intended to find her and fill in some of the gaps. I refused to walk into this contract marriage completely blind. I needed to brace myself for what would come.

At the sound of Joann in the kitchen, I backed away down the hallway to avoid encountering her. She was too perceptive. Too sharp and observant. One look at me, and she’d know I was freaking out. Katerina hadn’t outright told me to keep this deal of swapping brides to myself, but I highly doubted she wanted another soul to know. If she did, she would’ve brought Joann in on it.

Avoiding my supervisor, I retreated all the way down the hallway until I could reroute toward another staircase that would take me up to Katerina’s room.

As soon as I neared her bedroom door, it opened and she stepped out. “Oh, good. It’s you.” She returned to her private room and waved for me to hurry and follow her inside.

“He’s gone.”

I blinked, lost already. I’d come here ready to demand information and she was starting off out of nowhere with it. “Who?”

“My uncle. I set it up so he’d be gone for most of the day and night.”

“Okay…” I was too restless to sit, but standing felt weird too. This whole situation was so awkward that I felt untethered and lost, adrift and unsure where I’d end up.

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