Page 99 of Forced to Marry the Russian Pakhan
“I told them about Yuri and Irina,” I continue. “How you take care of your people, not just your family. How you remember names and children, how you build relationships that last decades.”
“She said we were fools to consider the Zakharovs over the Yuris,” Arman adds, a grudging respect in his voice. “That Anton Zakharov would use us and discard us the moment we stopped being useful.”
“Which is exactly what he tried to do today,” Ilya says. “When we refused his latest offer, he threatened to come after Yulia.”
Trifon goes rigid beside me, his jaw clenching. “He what?”
“He didn’t know she was with us,” Father says, his face hardening. “He thought she was still with you.”
“So when we got word from your brother that you were heading straight into a trap,” Damien continues, “we decided to believe what Yulia had told us about you.”
Valentin steps forward, nodding to Trifon. “I called them after you hung up on me. Figured we might need the extra guns.”
I turn to Trifon, my voice softening. “I told them that you were the only one who ever saw me as strong and capable.That you might have started this as a business arrangement, but you’ve protected me in ways they never did.”
My father shifts uncomfortably, but doesn’t contradict me.
He can’t.
Not after I laid out the truth so plainly this morning—how they kept me in the dark about their business, how they underestimated me, how they were ready to trade me away to cement an alliance.
“And what was their response?” Trifon asks, his thumb tracing circles on the back of my hand.
My father steps forward again, shoulders straight. “My daughter is... formidable when she chooses to be. She presented arguments we could not refute.”
“About?” Trifon presses.
“About your operation being more stable,” Father says. “About your family’s history of honoring alliances across generations. About the fact that the Zakharovs have betrayed every partner they’ve ever had.”
“She brought files,” Damien adds, almost grudgingly impressed. “Reports. Numbers. Things we didn’t even know she had access to.”
I feel Trifon’s surprised gaze on me. “You did research?”
“I’ve been paying attention,” I say simply. “The clinic gave me access to your men, their stories, and their loyalty. I listened. I learned.”
“And then there’s the matter of the child,” Father continues, his voice softening slightly as his eyes drop to my stomach. “My grandchild. The future of both our families.”
“She made us see that whatever happened between you two at the beginning,” Ilya says, “you’ve become something else to each other now.”
I feel heat rise in my cheeks. This part of the conversation had been... difficult. Explaining to my father and brothers that I’d fallen in love with the man who had forced me into marriage. That, despite everything, Trifon had shown me more true protection than they ever had.
“I also made it clear,” I add, my voice strengthening, “that I would never forgive them if they allied with the men who tried to kill you. That I would choose you and our child over them without hesitation.”
Trifon’s breath catches. I can see the question in his eyes, the disbelief, the hope. I nod slightly, confirming what he’s afraid to ask.
“So,” Father says, straightening his jacket, “it seems we have a common enemy in the Zakharovs. And a common interest in protecting my daughter and grandchild.”
“An alliance,” Trifon says slowly, eyes still on me.
“A formal one,” Father agrees. “Stronger than what the Zakharovs offered. Your family protects ours, ours protects yours. United against common threats.”
“And sealed by more than just paper,” Damien adds, nodding toward me and Trifon. “By blood. By family.”
The word hangs in the air between us all. Family. Something worth fighting for.
“We’ll need to move quickly,” Leonid says. “The Zakharovs won’t take today’s failure lightly.”
“We’ll coordinate security,” Valentin agrees.
