I was in love with him.

Chapter 14 - Vlad

“What do you think about Vincent’s daughter?” Sergey asked. I wasn’t looking at him, but I could see him staring at me from the corner of my eyes.

He’d ordered me to come to his mansion first thing this morning. I’d expected him to be pissed that I left the casino earlier, but instead, he was questioning me about Sophia and what I thought about her.

My brother had no idea that I absolutely loathed the woman I was now betrothed to.

Betrothed.

The word left a sour taste in my stomach just thinking of it. Honestly, I’d give my life to any deity he wanted me to. Forget about fucking others—not that they mattered ever since I met Mariana—but I’d even become a priest to escape this engagement.

I only gave in to it because of my family. Speaking of love and vulnerability, I would even give my life for them if I had to. So as much as it was in the tip of my tongue to argue thisengagement,and knowing my brother would take my side and start a war if he needed to, I didn’t want my brothers to go through all of that for my sake.

“Wouldn’t it have been more reasonable to ask my opinion of her before agreeing to the ludicrous engagement?”

Sergey’s brows knitted disapprovingly. “Mind your words, Vlad. I may be your brother, but I’m also your boss and you will speak to me with respect.”

I twisted my head to look at him for the first time since I entered his study ten minutes ago. My lips quirked into a smirk.“Would you like me to get on my knees and tremble with fear while we have this discussion?”

“I know a better option,” Sergey replied, his smirk even darker than mine. “How about we play Russian roulette while we’re at it?”

The air tensed around us for a moment. If we fought right now—not that I stood a chance at beating Sergey in a fight, but it would be a bloody mess if we did.

Sergey was putting on an indifferent mask to the engagement, but I knew he hated Vincent and despised the idea of Vincent’s daughter becoming my wife. It kind of reminded me of Giulia and how she was supposed to be his wife before he met Lilianna.

I held back a groan. It was more than worth celebrating that I didn’t end up with that as a sister-in-law. But I was about to end up with an even more annoying version of Giulia as a wife.

Dammit.

“Russian roulette is not a bad idea, but I think I’ll go with a whiskey.” I broke eye contact with Sergey and walked to the minibar next to a secret door where he hid his collection of guns. I grabbed a bottle of my favorite brand of whiskey and two shot glasses then walked a glass to Sergey’s desk and filled it for him. “What do you think about her?”

Sergey palmed his forehead. “It doesn’t matter what I think. What matters is what you think and how we can protect this family.”

“You have your answer.” I returned to the couch across his desk and plopped on it, setting the bottle of whiskey and my shot glass on a coffee table in front of me. “I’m fine as long as the family is.”

My brother didn’t take his eyes off me, not even when I poured myself a drink and drowned it down my throat. His gaze made me uneasy, as if he would see through me and read my mind if I allowed him to look at me any longer.

He wouldn’t hesitate to break the engagement if he got the slightest hint that I hated it. I couldn’t let that happen. I poured myself another drink and finished it, then I pushed up to my feet. “Is that all? I have somewhere I need to be.”

His finger circled his shot glass. “That will be all for today.”

I smirked and headed for the door.

I met Lilianna just as I reached the foyer and she had the brightest smile on her face.

“Vlad!” Excitement filled her tone as she called my name.

“Sister-in-law!”I kissed her cheeks. “How are you?”

She shrugged, a sigh leaving her lips. “I’m always good as you know. Your brother will end the world before he allows me to get hurt.”

I smiled, but I didn’t say a word.

“I heard you’re getting married to the Italian girl.” She tapped her jaw as she tried to remember Sophia’s name. “What was her name again?”

“Sophia.”