Page 32 of The Brutal Arrangement

Goddammit.

“You hear me?” he asked. “With Sloane in my life now, and a baby on the way, I want to be one step ahead of our enemies, not playing catch-up to know what the fuck is going on. If Katerina is here and she could be used for intel on Anton, then we use it.”

And it was up to me to useher.

“I hear you,” I replied. I didn’t bother with a glass this time. I picked up the vodka and drank from the bottle. It barely took theedge off, and even though I’d drunk throughout the day to help while away the time torturing those three men, I wasn’t fully wasted.

“Where is she?”

“In the foyer. She just got here.”

“Fine. The papers are set up, then?” I strode out of the room.

He matched my stride. “Yes. In the study.”

“Fine. I’ll see you there.” I headed toward the foyer, gritting my teeth at having to deal with her. From the little I knew and recalled of the brunette, she was bound to be opinionated. Sassy, even.

I wasn’t in the mood to put up with her protests. I was too far into this need to harm and kill to be patient.

But this is Katerina.

Knowing her at all was a hindrance. Being able to recall her from my childhood tinged it all.

Stop it. She’s just a fucking woman. She might be a spy. An enemy. She could be here to hurt us.

It didn’t matter who she was, what her name was, or what she looked like—now or then.

She’s just a pussy to fuck.

Whatever it took to view her as a thing instead of an individual.

Do your duty and get it over with.

Coming into the foyer, I raised my brows at the slender woman in a wedding gown.

What the fuck?

It wasn’t an impressive dress, more like a simple sheath, but it was white, like the symbolism of matrimony could matter. It had lace, like she was supposed to be viewed as a delicate bride.

And the veil?

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I growled under my breath.

Taking a rag out of my pocket, I continued to wipe the blood off my hands, taking in the stiffly still image of this woman. Not seeing her face helped. It aided my effort to see her as a thing, a pussy, a human to interrogate and not actually commit to.

“Thisis my bride?” I asked, almost in disbelief.

It seemed I was wrong. I had assumed Katerina would be sassy and stubborn, protesting this arrangement. The fact that she wasn’t—and was standing here meekly as if she were afraid—hinted that she was more likely going through with this for Anton. That she was here to fuck with us.

“Yes, Damon,” the guard at the door said with a nod.

Well, it’s your lucky day, then. It’s time for you to be fucked and know your place.

Beneath me and telling me everything she could.

“Fine. Let’s get this over with,Bride.”

I reached out to indicate for her to walk ahead of me into the study, but she cowered back as if I’d struck her.

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