Page 11 of The Mistake

“No. I’m not going to lock you up. You’re my wife, and I’m going to expect you to act accordingly.”

“I’ve never been a wife before. What does that mean?”

“You now live as part of the Volkov Bratva. There’s no getting away from it. You will follow my rules and Ivan’s rules. To survive, you’ll have to swear your loyalty to Ivan Volkov and to me.”

“I don’t evenknow what that means.”

“Rage,the MC, if it ever came down to it … you will protect all of those in the Volkov Bratva. No one else. Me, Ivan, and everyone connected to him.”

“But Rage—”

“Did a deal that gave you to me. That’s the kind of man you’re dealing with.”

“I know he wouldn’t want todo this.”

“But he did.You need to realize he doesn’t have your back anymore. None of the MC ever did.”

“What about my sister?”

“Cassie is dead to you.Accept it, or end up living with a fate worse than death.”

“How can there be anything worse than death?” she asked.

“Praying for death, begging for it, and never getting it. Trust me, I’ve seen it, and that is not the future you want.”

Charlotte looked down. I don’t know if she was staring at my chest, or looking at a spot and not really seeing it.

“And swearing my loyalty tothe Volkov Bratva, you’ll allow me to live?”

“Yes.”

“Will it be a … a good life?”

“Yes.”

“You won’t beat me?”

“No.”

“You won’t lock me up?”

“No.”

“You won’t … hate me?”

“I don’t hate you, Charlotte.”

Tears filled her eyes. Her father really did a number on her.

I wanted to reach out, touch her, try and convince her if she took the right path, her life would be better. She was my wife and no one would mess with her, not anymore. They would have to come through me.

“You don’t even know me,” she said.

“I don’t have to know you.” I’d known a lot of people in my time. Charlotte wasn’t the kind of person you hated. Her scars told a unique story. One that wouldn’t go away. I wanted to touch her, but I held myself back. I’d done everything in my power to avoid touching her when we were alone. Dancing with her, kissing her at the altar were the only times I had.

“Go to sleep and if I find you on the floor, I’ll smack your ass.”

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