Page 48 of Arranged Marriage to the Brutal Bratva King
“I can. I did. Shower, Janice. You’ll feel better.”
She wants to argue. I can see it in the set of her jaw, the flash of defiance in her eyes. But she’s also covered in blood and clearly desperate to be clean.
She disappears into the guest suite without another word.
I hear water running twenty minutes later and use the time to make coffee, pull together breakfast neither of us will eat, and prepare for a conversation that’s going to go badly no matter how I approach it.
When Janice finally emerges, she looks better. Calmer. The clothes I had brought up fit reasonably well—soft pants and a sweater that’s still too big but at least clean. Her hair is damp, face scrubbed bare of makeup. They’ll do until I can get something tailored.
She’s beautiful in a way that has nothing to do with polish and everything to do with the particular challenge she represents.
“Sit,” I say, gesturing to the couch.
“Just tell me what happens now. Are the Volkovs going to try again? Do I need to leave the city, change my name?”
I pour two cups of coffee, hand her one, even though she makes no move to take it. “The Volkovs targeted you because they think you matter to me. That attacking you would force me back into negotiations.”
“So tell them I don’t matter. Tell them it was a mistake, that you barely know me, that—”
“They won’t believe it. Not after I specifically requested you for meetings, not after surveillance showed me intervening when they made their move.” I set my own cup down untouched. “You’re marked now. A known weakness. They’ll keep coming until they either succeed in taking you or I give them what they want.”
“Which is?”
“Compliance. An alliance through marriage to Elena.”
She finally takes the coffee, wrapping both hands around the mug like she needs the warmth. “So do it. Marry her. Get them off my back.”
“No.”
“Why not? You said it yourself, I’m nobody. Why risk all this for me?”
“You’re not nobody.” The words come out sharper than intended. “You’re the woman who nearly destroyed everything I built. Who exposed operations that should have stayed buried. Who looked at me four years ago like I was worth knowing, and it hasn’t stopped haunting me since.”
Janice goes very still. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying the Volkovs are right. You do matter. More than you should. More than is strategic or smart or safe.” I move closer, watching her tense but not retreat. “I’m done pretending otherwise.”
“What?”
“I’m going to marry you.”
Janice stares at me, coffee forgotten. “You’re insane.”
“Probably.”
“I’m not marrying you. I’m not… this is ridiculous. We barely know each other. We hate each other. I published an exposé about your criminal empire, for God’s sake!”
“I am aware.”
“Then you understand why this is the worst idea you’ve ever had.”
I let myself smile. “It’s not about good ideas, Janice. It’s about protection. Marriage puts you under my name, my authority, my family’s umbrella. The Volkovs won’t touch you if you’re mine legally. No one will.”
“There has to be another way.”
“There isn’t.”
“Witness protection. I could disappear, start over somewhere new.”
