Page 1 of Savage Pakhan

PROLOGUE

MIA

An arranged marriage always has the ability to make someone’s heart stop when it’s mentioned as a way to secure a future. I always knew Ivan Bykov was the one for me, the son of the city’s most notorious Russian mafia boss, and the heir to take his father’s place in the business.

Our families have always been friendly. The Bykovs runs the west coast and the Roswells run the east. Every summer and winter, our families would meet at the same vacation home, talking about how to combine the families to be the powerhouse of the country. Before Ivan and I were born, our father’s drafted an arranged marriage proposal. I’ve been Ivan’s since the ink dried on paper.

Sounds horrible, but it’s not. Ivan is everything I’d want in a man. He’s tall, strong, handsome, funny, and has always treated me with respect. What more can a girl ask for?

Everything has been long distance. Every summer, every moment we could, we traveled to see one another. On weekends, day offs, falling in love with someone who was picked for me made accepting the arranged marriage that much easier.

Now, I’m standing near the floor to ceiling windows in my new home. Ivan wanted us to start fresh. He sold his penthouse apartment and bought this beautiful mansion that has the view of the Pacific Ocean. We have our own private beach too which means I can go down at any time and put my feet in the sand.

I should be unpacking the boxes, but I can’t stop staring at the ocean. The sky is cloudless and bright blue. The waves are subtle, crashing against the shoreline with ease. The winds are calm. The seagulls are flying overhead, cawing at everything and nothing at all.

The bang of the French doors opening hits my ears, and Ivan comes in with two boxes stacked on top of one another, blocking the view of his face.

“Ivan! I can help you. Let me grab a box. You’re going to trip over yourself.”

“No, nope. I don’t want you touching these. They are heavy.” He kicks the door shut with his foot and groans when he sets the boxes down, smiling wide when he sees me.

He has sandy brown hair and blue eyes paired with a square jaw that I love to touch when he has the slightest bit of stubble.

“The security team will be moving into the East Wing of the house by the end of the week.”

I pout, sticking out my bottom lip, then wrap my arms around his waist. “Do they have to? Don’t you think we’ll be okay? The entire property is gated.”

He pushes the hair out of my face and gives me a quick, soft peck. “I know,” he groans in agreement. “But you and I both know they have to be here. It won’t be long before the word is out that Ivan Bykov and Mia Roswell are living together. We need all the protection we can get. Actually, Papa’s coming over later tonight to celebrate, and he’s going to help me map out the weakest points of the house to install cameras.”

“Cameras too?” I sigh, looking down in disappointment.

I should be used to never having privacy. I didn’t when I lived with my parents on the East Coast. Why would now be any different? I had hoped and hope is a fickle thing to hold onto when you’re the daughter one of the wealthiest families on the East Coast. Dad works in imports and exports. That’s all I know.

And I don’t care to know more.

But I know it isn’t all legal. Just like the Bykov Mafia.

I don’t know exactly what life I’m signing up for, but I know no matter what, I’ll be protected. Ivan won’t let anything happen to me.

He cups my face with his palms and tilts my head up, so I’m forced to look at him. “Da. Cameras too.” His thumb swipes over my bottom lip. “I know it isn’t what we want, but you know my line of work, Mia. I have to make sure you’re protected from every angle.”

“Will we have any privacy? At least, in the bedroom?” I blush, heat flooding my cheeks when I think about us sharing a bed at last.

We haven’t had sex. It’s part of the contract that we wait until our wedding night, whenever that may be. I’m getting anxious and impatient.

He smirks, his hand sliding across my throat to cup the back of my neck. “Is that what you’re worried about? And do you think I’ll actually care about privacy at that point?” He backs me up against the wall and pins my hands above my head. His nose brushes against mine and my breath hitches, nerves taking over, and a feeling I’ve never had before twists my gut.

And not in a good way.

The look in Ivan’s eyes is dark, almost empty as he stares at me.

“The entire security team, the neighbors, I don’t care who sees or listens, I’m going to fuck you on every surface of this house,” he whispers in my ear.

That’s the last thing I want. This world. This business takes so much from him. We never have privacy. Why can’t this be the one thing we can keep to ourselves?

His hand slides down my sides and he grips my hips, his fingers digging into my skin. “I can’t wait to finally make you mine, but in order to do that, we need a wedding, don’t we?” He kisses my cheek. “And we can’t have a wedding without an engagement.”

I nod in agreement, hoping my instincts are wrong and I’m just nervous. This is the first time I’ve been out on my own and alone with Ivan. I’m not used to him being so close to me. That has to be it. He’s given me no reason to be fearful of him.