Page 3 of Owned By her Enemy
Yeah. I’d kill him in a heartbeat. And as his wife, I’d have the access I’d need to do it. A wedding night. I still have my V-card, but if I’m tarnishing my soul, what’s giving up my innocence?
I look at Nikolai afresh. Will he fall for it? Might he want to slake his lust on his sheltered little virgin wife?
He licks his fingers clean as he finishes his last oyster, and something springs in my tummy as our eyes meet. Yeah. I think he could be tempted. He’s a man. They’re all beasts at their core, right? I’ll wear white, act sweet, and he won’t be able to resist rutting me.
And then I’ll stab him in that gorgeous neck of his. Lethimbleed virgin blood all over the bed covers.
Revenge and freedom.
It isn’t what I’d imagined, but I’m thrilled. It’s better.
“Father.” I cast my eyes demurely down. Ha. What a lie. “I know you’re hesitating because you believe you can’t ask this of me.”
“Charlotte—”
“It’s okay. I understand my duty as your daughter. My loyalty is to Tottenham, but if you think this is best, I will submit.”
Nikolai has wry amusement and proud satisfaction playing around his mouth when I flick my eyes up to his face.
“Your honour is besmirched by this bad deal,” my father growls out, but I note he doesn’t say no. He’s talking about it as though it’s already done.
“I’ll take her today.”
My father splutters.
“Now,” Nikolai clarifies. This man loves to be in charge, in authority. I’m amazed he managed under the old kingpin and then his brother for so long. Except, I suppose he didn’t. His brother was kingpin for only a month.
“You disgusting heathen, you think I’ll let my daughter go with you immediately?”
A swell of surprised comfort rises in my chest. He cares about me, after all?
“If we’re having an arranged marriage to cement the peace deal between our families, it will be in public, with a big wedding. Not in this grubby backroom.”
The warmth recedes. Yeah, back to being a precious vase. He wants to ensure this fully benefits him.
The urge to check notifications on my phone nearly overwhelms me. I want to talk to ListeningToHer. I probably would if I had any pockets for said phone in this slinky red silk dress.
Whenever I’m lonely I sing. And in the last year, I open social media, record myself singing with the sea or a mountain trail in the background, and upload it to an account no one knows about. Then I’m just Rapunzel, the girl with a soulful voice and fans who love it when I sing about finding love.
It’s fiction. A dream far from my reality. But when I see dots bouncing and the name ListeningToHer, I get this weird sense of peace. They were my first follower and always write the first comment, praising my voice, how brave I am, my song choice, my smile. And when we go back and forth with messages, I’m both less alone and more free.
Which, for a girl trapped in a tower by a mafia war, is a pretty big deal.
“Three weeks.” Nikolai taps his fingers on the table. “Organise the biggest wedding London has seen in two lifetimes. Make the Royal wedding look modest. My fiancée will plan it all, but nothing is done at Tottenham Towers. She goes to every bridal shop, every caterer, every venue. With me.”
“Absolutely not.” My father sounds outraged. “I haven’t protected her all these years to allow you to steal her before the deal is done under the guise of wedding tasks.”
“And I will pay.”
“So generous,” my father sneers. “You just don’t want to admit the only way you can get a bride is by extortion.”
“Indeed.” Nikolai smiles bitterly. “Your daughter is the only one for me.”
I seriously doubt that. A man as beautiful—and powerful—as Nikolai Edmonton could have any woman in London. He’s picked me because… Why? He’s close to destroying the Tottenham mafia altogether. But then, there has been a lot of blood split recently. He’ll know that Tottenham won’t go down without taking a chunk of his Bratva flesh with it. And he’s right. The only thing of value Tottenham has now is me.
“Notwith you.” My father’s lips are in a line thin enough to be the legal veneer of Tottenham’s businesses.
Nikolai shrugs. “Three of my men and whatever lap dogs you employ accompany her, but my fiancée goes in person to make every arrangement.”
