Page 8 of The Pakhan's Forced Bride
“I’m not taking any chances,” he says, then pushes me towards the office door. We step out into the corridor and walkto the elevator. He looks angry. I get the feeling that he wants me to be scared. Maybe that’s why he tied my hands now. It’s annoying, but it’s not scary.
Maybe I should give him what he wants in order to make this easier for both of us.
In the elevator, I scrunch my nose and bite at my lower lip, something I normally do when I’m anxious. His eyes are on me, watching, studying.
I let out a sharp breath and fidget with my hands, clasped in front of me.
The elevator doors slide open, and he grabs my arm and tugs me from the foyer, out into the street, and back into the car.
“What now?” I ask, keeping my voice small.
“Now you belong to me, little bunny,” he snarls, his eyes flaring.
Well, that doesn’t answer anything. But he just called me little bunny. No one has ever had a cute nickname for me before. I like it.
A giggle threatens to fall from my lips, and I pull my mouth tighter and swallow hard to push it away.
Benedikt used to call me a brat when I was younger. I was a brat, though—I would follow him around and try to be as annoying as possible. He had endless patience, though, and most of the time I failed. But he still called me a brat. That’s the closest I’ve ever come to having a nickname.
It’s not like I had a ton of friends, and it’s not like I was ever allowed to date anyone. It’s part of being the sister of a very powerful mafia lord.
You live a very protected, sheltered, and restricted life.
A very boring life.
This is probably the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me. “My brother will find me.Anywherein this city, hewillfind me,” I say, sounding as scared as I can.
Ardalion smirks, a dark and dangerous smile. “That’s why we are flying out tonight. Right now, in fact. Your brother knows this city, but I own Los Angeles, and he will never find you there. And he’ll pay for underestimating me.”
Jeez, this guy is so angry. Ben must have really pissed him off.
It seems like this monster of a man only has one emotion. Maybe two. Anger and annoyance. What a boring lifehelives.
Los Angeles. I’ve never been to LA before. Ben never wanted me to go.
But of course, he’ll find me anyway. He knows everyone everywhere.
“Los Angeles?” I say in shock. My reaction sets a glimmer of satisfaction across his face. He definitelywantsme to be scared.
I’m really excited to see LA.
I’m happy to escape my mother’s relentless plans to find me a husband, and I’m happy to explore a new city without my brother breathing down my neck and sending guards to follow me everywhere.
I wonder what cool places I should visit while I’m there.
On the drive towards the private airstrip, I’m trying to figure out what I know about LA, but embarrassingly, it’s very little.
I’ve been to a number of other places, traveling with Ben and my mom, but because I was never allowed to go to LA, I guess I never bothered looking into it.
Ardalion’s private plane is waiting for us on the landing strip. His driver gets out and pulls the door open for us.
“I’ll see you back in our home city tomorrow,” he says to Ardalion.
“Good. Let me know what happens, make sure you have guys tracking everything,” Ardalion replies, then wraps his arm tightly around my shoulders and drags me towards the plane.
I tense and hesitate, pulling back, playing as though I’m reluctant and unwilling to leave Vegas.
I expect him to reprimand me and tell me to behave, but to my horror, he just bends down and throws me over his shoulder again.
