Chapter 13 - Rhiannon
Rhiannon wasn't going to dwell on last night. Sure, the near-kidnapping had been terrifying, but the memory of Adrian's face—all furious intensity and then that unexpected tenderness—was way more pressing. And the way she'd woken up cuddled against him, his warmth a comforting weight… She shuddered, pushing the thoughts aside. Last night was over, done. Today was about family and the looming dinner at her father's place. She wasn't letting anything get her off track.
She'd spent hours getting ready, picking a dress that hugged her curves without being too tight, and doing her makeup in an edgy but not over-the-top way. Her heels were killer, the kind that could be used on her brothers' feet if they got too cocky. They'd be there, of course. Dad made sure of it. His precious sons were always eager to soak up the attention and learn the ropes of running the family business.
A wave of bitterness washed over her. The carefully crafted calm she'd built up threatened to crack.
This whole charade—the near-kidnapping, the forced marriage—felt like one giant, messy betrayal, and for the first time, she actually had the chance to breathe through the echo of that sharp pain in her chest.
Rhiannon's fingers touched and rubbed at the area. No matter how today went, she couldn't forgive him. Her father had used her, plain and simple. She'd spent years craving his approval, trying to prove herself worthy, and he'd tossed her into this alliance like a piece of meat. The anxiety gnawed at her, but she wouldn't let it show. Not today. They wanted a mafia wife, and She took a deep breath and headed downstairs.
Adrian was in the living room, looking sharp as hell in one of his expensive suits. One hand was pressed to his chest, the other fiddling with his watch. Her breath hitched. Damn. This was the guy she'd sparred with, shared a bed with—hell, she'd even walked in on him jacking off—and here he was, all polished and proper in a three-piece suit. A giddy wave of something—was it excitement?—washed over her. She knew what was hidden beneath that suit: the tattoos, the muscles, the raw, untamed passion. Her legs instinctively pressed together. She was annoyed with herself, annoyed that the sight of him still had this effect.
"Wow," he said, his gaze sweeping over her, a cocky grin playing on his lips. "You clean up nicely."
"Thanks," she mumbled, heat rising in her cheeks. She hated admitting it, but damn, he cleaned up nicely too.
Adrian's grin widened, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Why do I get the feeling you're looking for an excuse to stay home?" he teased.
The casual way he called his place "home" sent a jolt through her. It was starting to feel like home, even though the reasons behind that feeling were definitely not what he thought. She wasn't ready to admit it, not yet.
"I'm not," she said, a small smile playing on her lips. It was a lie, but he didn't need to know that. "Thank you for the compliment, though. I was worried this dress might be a bit much."
His eyes lingered on her, hungry. "Never," he murmured, leaning in to press a soft, lingering kiss behind her ear. The unexpected touch sent a jolt of heat through her, a surprising jolt of something undeniably sensual. "You'd look good in anything, Baby girl."
She shivered. What the hell was happening? Their dynamic had shifted inexplicably. One minute, they were sparring rivals; the next… this. The seductive intensity of his touch, the undeniable shift in their energy… Could this possibly be… feelings ?
He offered her his arm, a small smile playing on his lips. "Come on, let's get this show on the road."
As they walked to the car, her mind raced, thoughts swirling. The impending dinner, the alliance announcement… It was all so much, so overwhelming. But as she felt Adrian's arm around her waist, a strange sense of anticipation replaced the fear. She was standing next to Adrian Nikolai. His ring was on her finger. She was married to the Bratva. And she had never felt more satisfaction than having the knowledge that she'd married a trained killer.
***
The lavish dining room buzzed with the low hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses a counterpoint to the nervous energy that thrummed beneath the surface. Adrian's hand settled on Rhiannon's thigh, the familiar touch sending a shiver down her spine as she smiled at all the congratulatory murmurs. Everyone had been surprised to see him there with her, his arm around her, but they'd taken one look at the ring on her finger, and the rumors had started to spread.
It was exactly what her father wanted, Rhiannon mused to herself. A show of power, subtle but forceful. No fucking way would anyone question him now.
On Adrian's other side, her father stood up from his chair in preparation for the speech Rhiannon already knew was coming. Her family was carefully seated all around her—another show for her father, and even though she'd already been anticipating it, Rhiannon felt the familiar dread settle in her gut as she wrapped her hand around the round globe of her wine glass. Adrian, though, seemed to have a different plan. He smoothly cut her father off before he could even start his speech.
"Lucien," Adrian began, his tone low and chilling, the ice she'd witnessed in him before suddenly presenting itself in the gleam of his eyes. The look on his face was deadly, and he got a few questioning stares, although they kept their conversation quiet.
"I don't think now's the time for an announcement."
Lucien—her father—gave him a bland look, his own voice low and dangerous. "And why's that?"
Adrian didn't flinch. "I really thought we'd have a chance to discuss things first. The attack on your daughter, for one."
"Rhiannon," her father boomed, his voice ringing with authority, "Do you have any concerns I need to address?"
He didn't really care if she did, Rhiannon thought with a grimace. "Of course not, Dad," Rhiannon replied, her voice perfectly calm, even though her insides were screaming. The words felt hollow, like a lie, but she'd play the part. She'd play it flawlessly, unable to fight back now that she'd seen what her father really thought of her.
Adrian gave her a reassuring look, and she returned it with a fleeting smile that only made him frown further. "I think it's too soon for an announcement," Adrian said, his voice firm, his gaze unwavering. "Given the circumstances, we should perhaps reconsider the timing. It might send the wrong message."
Lucien's brow furrowed, his irritation clear. "This is about power and unity. You shouldn't let emotions cloud your judgment."
"I never said emotions are part of this," Adrian countered, his voice steady. "However, Rhiannon's safety comes first. This isn't just a business deal; it's her life."
"Family legacy matters too," her father insisted, crossing his arms. "You both need to think bigger."
Her brothers supported their father, nodding in agreement, but Rhiannon took note of Adrian's unwavering stance.
"Respectfully, it's not just about legacy; it's about ensuring that we're on solid ground before making such a public declaration," Adrian stated, his defense of Rhiannon firm and unwavering.
"I don't want to hear this again!" Lucien snapped, his frustration building. "The whole point of this dinner was to announce the alliance. The strength of this union will be a political benefit I'm not willing to ignore. That means announcing the alliance, not hiding in fear."
"Rhiannon's safety is my priority, and that should matter here," Adrian continued, his tone resolute.
"Enough! We'll discuss this later," her father barked, effectively shutting down the argument.
"We definitely will," Adrian replied, his voice cutting through the relaxed atmosphere.
Her father waved it off with a dismissive flick of his hand, the movement casual. Rhiannon knew better; he hated being interrupted, hated being challenged. Before either of them could press the issue, Lucien turned to the waiting guests.
"As I'm sure you're all aware," he announced, his voice booming, "we've recently formed an alliance with the Nikolai Bratva." He paused for dramatic effect, his gaze sweeping across the room, and Rhiannon turned to Adrian, noting how calm he was. She wasn't sure if that made her more worried for him or for what he'd do.
Her husband shifted to give her a smile, dropping a soft kiss on her lips that left Rhiannon blinking as her father continued with his speech. "And while that happened without much fanfare, the next bit might come as a surprise. Most of you would've probably guessed what the agreement entailed, so please allow me the pleasure of introducing my daughter and her new husband, Adrian and Rhiannon Nikolai."
A wave of polite applause washed over the room, but Rhiannon felt anything but polite. It was like a dagger to her heart, the way her father had so casually announced her marriage, reducing it to a mere business deal. And she knew it was one, she really did, but it didn't stop the insult from piercing her like a shard of glass.
Adrian shot her a quick, concerned glance, but she didn't react. She'd play this game, play it perfectly. A thin smile danced on her lips.
***
Later that evening, Rhiannon found herself lingering in a hallway just to get a break from all the questions and welcoming hugs. No one really meant what they were saying; they were just using this for the chance it was to get information. The families weren't happy with her father's scheming—neither was she, but Rhiannon knew better than to think there wouldn't be some form of retribution for this "political move", as her father called it.
He'd gotten so arrogant in his dealings that he'd forgotten the biggest thing, which was that power brought enemies closer, especially those you might've considered allies. And yes, they might've been wary about the new alliance her father had forged, but that didn't mean anything if her husband wasn't as easy to control as her father attempted to show. And he wasn't. Adrian Nikolai wasn't a man who could be controlled by men like her father; even his own brothers had a healthy respect for the reputation he'd built. Then again, they seemed to have a healthy respect for each other all around, nothing like her father's fucking social games.
Rhiannon leaned against the wall, lost in her thoughts until the slow drawl of her brothers' voices left her steeling herself.
"Little sister," Ash purred, striding down the hallway toward her and sure enough, just as she predicted, they launched into their tirade. "It's been so long… how's life with a brute been?"
"Good, why?" Her eyebrow rose elegantly. "Jealous?"
Irritation flickered across the twins' gazes, and Cian smirked, "I'd rather not get fucked by someone who might have some form of new STD."
"Regardless," Ash replied in a low voice. "I'm surprised he hasn't knocked you up. You've always been good at spreading your legs. What's one more brute to add to your bedpost?"
Her teeth gritted. The things they said… It was easier for her to just ignore it all, and normally she did, but something inside her flared with irritation at their blatant dismissal of Adrian. He was three times the man any of them were, but before she could even respond, Adrian's presence filled the hallway, and he stepped in front of her, shielding her from her brothers.
"If you have something to say to either me or my wife, then feel free to say it to my face," he growled, his tone fierce and protective. "Otherwise, back the fuck off, I'm sure your father wouldn't want to know you're upsetting his precious alliance."
The change in his demeanor left Rhiannon utterly shell-shocked. Hot and bothered by the sheer intensity of his defense, she felt her cheeks flush. There was something undeniably thrilling about being defended so vigorously, but she also knew that this was his duty—to protect her image and stand up for her.
Identical sneers flickered over her brothers' faces. "Do you really think you have any power in this arrangement?" Ash scoffed. "You don't know our family."
"I don't need to know your family to know how to treat a woman right," Adrian shot back, glaring at him. "Rhiannon is my wife, and she deserves better than your cheap shots. Now scram before I get your handler to pull on your leash."
"Don't get so uptight," Cian replied, crossing his arms defiantly. "We were just teasing her. Weren't we, Rhi-rhi?"
Rhiannon bit back a retort as Adrian settled his arm around her waist. She'd let him handle it; he seemed to get on their nerves more than she normally did.
"Everyone can handle some teasing, but there's a line," Adrian replied, unwavering. "And you crossed it miles ago."
"Lighten up," Ash snorted. "It was a joke."
"And I'll be sure to explain that when my bullets are in your head," her husband drawled, and for the first time, Rhiannon noticed the gun he was holding in a relaxed grip by her waist. Her whole body shivered, heat flickering low in her belly as his thumb caressed her hip casually.
Rhiannon felt a warm rush of warmth flood through her. Adrian had stood up for her, something she had been yearning for someone to do but had stopped expecting long ago, having learned the hard way that no one gave a shit unless you had something they wanted. Hearing him defend her so fiercely erased a bit of the helplessness that came with her family's treatment.
"Can we just—" her older brother began, but Adrian cut him off.
"You'll treat my wife with the respect she deserves, or you'll deal with me," he finished, the finality in his voice leaving no room for negotiation.
Rhiannon's heart swelled. The way Adrian defended her was nothing short of intoxicating. This was a man who would not only fight for her but also beside her.
As her brothers retreated, begrudgingly accepting his stance, Rhiannon assessed the situation with renewed clarity. She stepped closer to Adrian, her expression one of gratitude and admiration. She owed him a kiss. Hell, she owed him a blowjob after all that.
"That was… incredible," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Adrian turned to her, the corners of his mouth lifting in a slight smile. "I meant every word, Rhiannon. You deserve better than them. Always."
Oh, she definitely owed him a blowjob when they got back to the apartment. Desire fizzled in her blood, growing more and more as the evening continued, to the point where Rhiannon felt herself squirming as she listened to Adrian defend her over and over again.
When they finally left and returned to the apartment, she watched him remove his suit jacket and throw it onto the couch, a disgusted look on his face as he said, "Shit, and I thought my family was insane."
And Rhiannon couldn't help herself. So, with a body flush with arousal, she pounced on Adrian, wrapping her legs around his waist as she pulled his head toward hers for a kiss.