Page 13 of Darkest Game
Fair enough. “I don’t want to be married to a Russian. The enemy. I don’t like you, Irina. Understand that.”
“Why are you being cruel?”
“Why would you think I’d be anything else? I’m being forced into this marriage just like you are and I’m not happy about it.”
“I don’t want to marry you,” she sobs, falling to her knees. It’s a pathetic sight. It also makes me want to scoop her up in my arms and hug her. I have no idea where that second feeling came from.
“Like Jack said, you’re lucky. I won’t rape you, so you don’t have to worry about that. But I do plan on being with otherwomen even after we’re married. Don’t expect me to be loyal when this is not what I want.”
“Do I get to be with whoever I want?”
The question startles me. So far, Irina has been shy and quiet that this bold question is a shock.
“What?” I ask.
She raises her head and wipes her tears away. “If you get to be with whoever you want, then do I get to be with whoever I want after we’re married?”
“Do you have someone you want to be with?” For some reason, that thought makes me want to go punch someone. Preferably punch the guy who Irina likes. I’m never a jealous man. Fuck. What is happening to me?
“No,” she says so sadly it makes my fucking heart squeeze. “It was just a question.”
“I mean… no. I’ll expect you to not fuck any other man after we’re married. I don’t want you getting pregnant with another man’s baby. It would piss me off.”
“But you can be with other women? How is that fair?”
“It’s not.” I’m not going to sugarcoat it for her. “I don’t want this marriage. But Jack, my boss, is going to make me. And he’s a hard man to go against. So this is just the way it’s going to be.”
“I don’t want this marriage either. I just want to go home. You can’t make me do this.”
I point to the kennel she’s in. “You belong to Jack now. If he wants this, this is happening.”
In a burst of energy, she runs at the bars and grips them in her small hands. “Then let me go. You don’t want this marriage either. Just let me go. You can take me back to Mikhail’s house. I wasn’t the one you wanted anyway.”
“You’re not seriously suggesting you’ll give up one of your sisters in exchange for you, will you?’
She recoils like I asked her the most offensive question on the planet. “I would never give any of my sisters up to be in my place. Just let me go. Please.”
“Sorry, baby. The only way I would let you go is if one of your sisters took your place. So unless they’re offering…”
“They’re not here to offer. And I would never give them up without their consent.”
“Then we’re at a standstill. Trust me, I don’t want this any more than you do. But what I do want is revenge on Nico for killing Cillian. And on Mikhail for being a fucking pain in my ass. And marrying you will hurt their pride. That’s enough for me.”
I pat the bar and she grabs my hand, startling me. “Please,” she begs. “Please.”
Her pretty face is so sad and pathetic. I do feel bad for her. But I need to keep my job more than any small ounce of guilt I might feel. And my desire to hurt Mikhail and Nico outweighs anything else.
I pull my hand away and I see the moment all hope leaves her eyes. “Sorry, baby. We’re going to be married. It is what it is.”
“You’re really going to let your boss…takeme on our wedding night?” She whispers the word ‘take’ like it’s a naughty word. God, so innocent.
“It’s what he wants I’m afraid.” I act blasé but I have to admit, I fucking hate the idea of Jack putting his hands on Irina on our wedding night. It’s another ‘fuck you’ to me. Another punishment. I won’t even get to be the first one to claim Irina.
Jack is trying to keep me in my place but I don’t know how long I’ll be able to put up with it before I explode. Though, I do know it won’t be over some girl, even if she will be my wife.
I have no love for her. And everything will be easier if I just keep that in mind.
Irina
