Page 24 of His Disobedient Bride

“That security fail won’t happen again,” he said abruptly. “That I swear to you.”

I thought that all the security in the world was useless if he tied himself to goddamn dangerous pillars to teach me a lesson, but I said nothing, just scooted my ass back on the motorcycle until I was surrounded and encircled by his arms, the arms that protected and punished me, and I sighed with happiness.

16

FREDERIK

Ever since the attack I’ve been too restless to focus on any of my studies or research. My brother Grigoriy is a stubborn man, and he will not admit defeat by moving houses. Instead, we interview and question everyone in the Bratva against the loud noises of construction and repair where the house was hit by a mortar. Luckily, any of the fire damage is very limited. For once I don’t avoid what’s happening in favor of escaping to my study. I go through files, research family members, and help Grigoriy search for anyone else in the organization who might have taken money to betray us.

My brother and I were in the dining room going through financial records about each employee when I saw a black car, beat-up and mangled, but unmistakably one of ours, tear in at the front gate, going so fast the front bumper clipped the concrete barrier. I felt my heart thump in my chest. The car had passed through our even stricter security in front of the gate. So this must be Andrei bringing back Dmitri and Cerise.

I felt overjoyed when my son jumped out of the back of the car. He looked around in all directions, then opened the door wider and a woman I didn’t recognize got out. She looked utterly unremarkable, but as soon as I saw her my stomach dropped. I sensed something was wrong.

Where were Cerise and Andrei? My brother and I looked warily at each other.

It didn’t take long for Dmitri and the woman to come find us.

“Father,” he said, his dark eyes on me, nodding his respect.

“Dmitri,” I said, trying not to show my relief. “It is good to see you.”

He nodded in the stoic way he had. I knew he would not appreciate an open display of emotion, so I clapped a hand on my son’s back. He was a good man. He was hard, but good.

The unknown woman came in behind him. She was quite tall, only a few inches shorter than I was, with auburn red hair, a thin body, and a pale, anxious, freckled face.

“Who is this?” the Pakhan asked.

Dmitri’s breathing was a bit heavy. “This is Mary MacDonald,” he said. “She is an American tourist Cerise rescued when we were on the way to the safe house.”

The revelation landed like a thunderclap in front of my brother and I.

The Pakhan narrowed his eyes speculatively. “I see. And where are Cerise and Andrei now?”

Dmitri coughed. “I left them at the safe house. Andrei did not believe us when we said Mary was no threat. He was going to kill her out of fear that she’s a spy.”

Not a muscle moved in Grigoriy’s face. He knew what his son was like. “How did you get her away?” he asked curiously.

Dmitri cleared his throat again, searching for the words. “Cerise provided a . . .distraction that allowed me to get Mary away, and I am hoping you will put your protection on her so Andrei won’t kill her.”

When the Pakhan didn’t immediately say anything, Dmitri added, “Cerise requests her protection and will take charge of her.”

This was a different matter. Crossing his daughter-in-law was not necessarily something that Grigoriy wanted to do. It wouldn’t be done lightly, and it wouldn’t be over one American tourist.

My brother nodded his head sharply. “I will put my protection over her for now,” he said.

“Welcome to our home. Would you like anything to drink?” he asked Mary, switching to English.

Mary had been standing there nervously. She looked unexpectedly young and very innocent. I felt sorry for her. The Pakhan could put his protection over her, but the only thing that would really keep her safe was if the Pakhan decided to marry her, and I didn’t think that would happen. Grigoriy had never wanted a wife. His mistresses were generally women in their early 20s, mostly beautiful models and actresses, and there was nothing special about Mary. She looked very ordinary.

17

MARY

My knees knocking together, I took a seat at the big dining room table next to the man Dmitri had told me would control my fate. He was a powerful, bull-like man in his 50s, with a salt and pepper beard and powerful arms. I noticed even in my panic that the other men deferred to him. He seemed powerful, but there was something a little bit comforting about him too.

Maybe he could keep me safe.

There were a lot of men in black who came in and out of the room, giving reports and taking orders in Russian from the man in charge. Dmitri introduced him to me as Grigoriy. Grigoriy would decide if I lived or died. Dmitri had said I would be safe for now.

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