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What I don’t count on is that my chosen husband is a ghost from my past. Kyle Hunter.
The truth isn’t what you see. It’s what you make of it. There’s no such thing as a wholesome truth or a perfect reality. There are people and agendas. There is peace and war. There is losing and winning.
Anastasia, my great-cousin,
We instantly became best friends—or more like I became her protector, as she’s too fragile to be out there in the world.
Dedushka left me the black book that contains names of influential people the Vory deals with. He said whoever has that book is meant to rule. Needless to say, everyone in the brotherhood would’ve killed me before allowing a woman to reign over them. It’s not that I wanted to, but Dedushka entrusted me with the family name.
My mission in life is to protect my family’s honor. Just because I was born a woman, doesn’t mean I’ll let anyone stomp all over me.
Sergei Sokolov became the current Pakhan. The boss.
Anastasia and I will either be coerced to marry into their families or killed in the case of disobedience.
He started this legacy, and I will continue to uphold it.
“Don’t take a husband to rule for you. Take a puppet you can rule through.”
He betrayed me first. Now, it’s my turn.
Behind every member of the elite stands their best boyevik, which is basically their senior soldier/bodyguard whom they trust with their lives.
Igor’s son, the husband I just willingly chose, is none other than the one who stabbed my heart then walked all over it. Kyle fucking Hunter.
“Ah, that. I lost my memories from childhood and was adopted by my assassin friends.”
When the hurricane hits him out of nowhere, he’ll understand why storms are named after women.
I used to go with Dedushka to watch the underground fights and always kept an eye on ‘The Machine’, as they called him.
opted for red lipstick, because the devil needs to look pretty to lure in her prey.
Kyle abandoned me. Again. Only this time, he’s done it at the altar and in front of the world.
Rai was born to conquer and crush anyone who defies her or poses a threat to her family. She never once stopped or hesitated, her gender be damned.
Who knew someone who looks so much like an angel could harbor a devil inside? And I’m very glad to make its acquaintance. After all, I’ve been raised among devils since I was five.
trained to never lose. Either they win or they destroy.
She tastes like addiction and bad decisions, and yet I would still come back for a hit every day.
Kyle is the one who taught me to count my bullets,
We might all be killers, but the difference between Kyle and me is that I only kill when I absolutely have to,
“Either your sniper missed, or perhaps…you asked him to do it on purpose? What is your message, Miss Sokolov? Do you think you can threaten me?”
“The Irish,” I say confidently. “They’re after the Italians and us. Lazlo and Sergei were their targets. Either you were caught in the crossfire by pure accident or they’re also bringing you in because you’re our ally.”
“You can’t get yourself out of death. The moment the bullet is in, it’s in—do you understand?”
“What are you doing?” “Consummating our marriage, Princess. It’s long overdue.”
He smirks. “You remember. Were you that obsessed with me?” I huff, turning away from him, but his hold on my neck keeps me pinned in place. “Don’t flatter yourself. I only remember things that will be of use.” “You remember my teachings, too.” “I do not,” I snap, chest going back to its heavy rise and fall. “That’s not the point.”
“Our life together started with blood,” he says in a calm tone. “How do you expect it to end?”
Drunk Rai stares at me with sadness so deep its sharp edge points at my chest.
I’m seeing a glimpse of the carefree girl she was when Nikolai was alive, the girl who couldn’t care less about the traditional binds or what the world thinks of her.
“You think I forgot just because I left?”
Everything that’s hers will be mine now, whether it’s her tears or her anger, or even her hotheaded stubbornness.
Rai has always been something I can never erase from my head, no matter how much I try to.
Why the fuck wasn’t I kissing this woman before?
and maybe she’s right because I’m salivating for the danger that is Kyle Hunter, despite how much I hate him.
The killer whose origins are unknown to all, along with the identity of who taught him to be a perfect killing machine.
The last thing I want right now is to get caught in Kyle’s orbit after I’ve hardly left it. But did I really leave if he keeps dragging me back in? If he effortlessly provokes parts of me I didn’t even realize existed?
“You’ll wear any toy I want you to wear in exchange for information about where the Irish are going to strike next.”
Remember your recent plan about luring in the Italians to take the fall?”
“I’m not Mrs. Hunter. I told you I won’t be changing my last name.” I’m a Sokolov and I will remain a Sokolov until the end of my days.
“I hate you.” Kyle stands up abruptly, startling me when he steals a brief kiss. “But you’ll love my games, Princess.”
“Don’t think you’re something because Igor somehow decided to make you his son. You’ll always be the stray dog Dedushka took in and turned into somebody.”
Dedushka used to tell me there’s nothing more frightening than a man who has nothing to lose. And now, I’m staring right at the soul of one.
This is not rainbows and fucking unicorns. This is the Bratva.”
“Show me that abandonment face. Your real freedom.”
That time only meant something to me in the past. Now, it’s nothing.
“Beg me. Beg this filthy stray dog to relieve you of your misery.”
Kyle thought he could subdue me with this, but obviously he doesn’t know the Rai he left behind while he disappeared to God knows where.
