Prologue
Katarina
“Do we have a deal?” The dark, soulless eyes of my fiancé bore into mine as he stands in front of me, feet spread wide. I’m tall for a woman, but he towers over me.
Not that I’m intimidated. I’ve known men like him my entire life.
Animals. Criminals. Beasts of carnage and opportunity.
Hell. I was raised by the worst of the worst. My father, head of one of the largest Bratva families in Russia, would slit my throat if he thought it would be advantageous.
Instead, he just sold me to this asshole.
I look around at the conference room we’re meeting in on the floor below my apartment. It’s technically an apartment too, but instead of having living room furniture, there is a large conference table with office chairs in the room.
We’re in the kitchen around the streamline island that fills the space.
“Go over the terms again,” I say, studying the cuticles on my left hand where his ring glitters back at me.
It makes me snort in disgust every time I look at it. But I ignore the urge, focusing on his words instead.
It’s not that I didn’t hear them, understand them the first time he said them. I’m testing him. During repetition, people will frequently give you additional information, as they elaborate, explain.
And they’ll expose more of their motivation.
He lets out a long breath through his nose, his nostrils flaring. Ryker Smith isn’t classically handsome like some of his brothers.
He appears more like the predator he actually is. “It’s like I told you. You sell me your casino for a million even—”
“You’re certain I own one?” Leave it to my father to put the casino he uses to wash his dirty money in my name. He gets all the benefits, I get the consequences, should the government catch on.
“I’m certain.”
“And in return, I don’t have to marry you?” I cock my head, listening intently.
“That’s right.” He leans back, giving off the appearance of casual, but the tension rolls off him in waves.
For me, this is a win/win kind of situation. I get out of the arranged marriage that was another cage of my father’s making, and I get the money that would allow me to start a new life.
I know the casino is worth a lot more than a million. I’m not stupid. But I don’t care. I didn’t even know it existed until five minutes ago. It’s like found money on the ground.
And, in selling this property to Ryker, I will fuck my father over. Which is my sole goal in life. And this sale will be just the beginning.
“But what about your deal with my brother? The one where you were sold a separate casino in exchange for protecting me from my father?”
He winces. It’s subtle but it’s there, and I sing with a bit of victory to have elicited the reaction. He just gave something away…
“Well?” I press, knowing that I’m about to receive some vital information.
“The deal will transfer—” He stops, his lips pressing into a grimace.
“To?” But my heart rate ticks up a few notches. Because I already know.
“Your sister, Sasha,” he answers looking away.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I straighten, my hands clenching into fists as two feelings battle for dominance.
The first is the knowledge that nearly every person on the planet finds Sasha to be the preferable sister. Intelligent to the point of brilliance, obedient, more docile.
Our father beat me at least twice as much for my impertinence alone.
But the other half understands, Sasha is more fragile for all the same reasons, and I’d be leaving her in the hands of this savage.
His eyes meet mine. “You think I want to be married to her for life? This is a short-term proposition that benefits both me and her. She gets my protection, and I get a casino. Then she can go wherever she wants, do whatever she wishes.”
His words make sense, and my shoulders relax but my heart rate doesn’t slow. Likely because I know Ryker’s kind and he’ll say whatever suits him to get his way.
“Do I have your word that you’ll let Sasha leave the marriage if she chooses?” My hand with the ring clenches.
“You have it, with one caveat.” His gaze doesn’t waver from mine. “She stays with me until your father is neutralized or dead. For as long as he is a threat, she’s mine to protect.”
I jerk my chin because this is actually perfect. I have every intention of ending my father’s life in one way or another. If I can be certain that Sasha is cared for while I am free to act, we’ll both win. “I accept.”
“Excellent.” He gives me a rare smile that does little to soften his harsh features. “Tomorrow, make certain you get into the second car, alone.”
My mouth twitches down. This is where I’m taking a big risk. Alone, I’ll have no protection. Ryker could drive me into the woods and kill me without a single person ever knowing. “Where is the car taking me?”
“Airport.”
My brow furrows. I have two passports with aliases, thanks to my father. But using one will certainly be traceable to him, the one person I really need to hide from. “To go where?”
“England,” he shrugs. “From there, I’d recommend travelling as quietly as possible. But someone I know has a private jet and will be leaving Vegas tomorrow at noon. I’ve arranged for one of the staff to help you hide on the flight.”
“Am I going to be in a part of the plane that is not temperature-controlled?”
“You are thorough, I’ll give you that,” Ryker says as he quirks one of his shaggy eyebrows. “But no. You’ll be in an unused bedroom.”
“Bedroom?” Not even my father has that kind of money.
He shrugs. “Successful businessman.”
“And when do I get my money?”
He points at the duffle behind him on the kitchen counter, next to the coffee pot. “Now.” Then he pulls out a manilla folder from underneath the bag. “Or at least, right after you sign the contracts.”
I hold out my hand, the ring catching the light as I take the folder from him and open it, reviewing the documents.
I’m no lawyer, but they’re reasonably straightforward.
One side of my mouth twitches down into a frown as I consider for a moment. I don’t feel great about any of this.
Then again, if I’m going to accomplish the impossible, the first thing I need is freedom. It’s that simple.
Drawing in a deep breath of air, I pick up the pen he’s slid across the counter and sign my name next to the X.
Silently, he hands me the duffle. “Sasha will need your dress. Make sure it’s in the other car.”
The words make my stomach queasy. The dress I bought for myself was never meant for my sister.
She’s petite in every metric and it will hang off her. “She ought to wear a dress of her own choosing.”
“No time for that,” he answers with a shake of his head. But I hear the tightening of his voice, and I know this isn’t about time.
“Does anyone know about your switch besides me?” I ask, knowing that there are parts to his plan that are not as well intentioned as he made them seem.
First, I know for certain that he isn’t making this change for my benefit. And I’d like to believe he just saw an opportunity for cheap Las Vegas real estate, but why aren’t any of his brothers here?
“Not your concern,” he answers, sliding the contract from in front of me, back across the counter where he tucks it away. “I’ll keep my word concerning the safety of your sister. Your father won’t touch her.”
“And who is going to keep her safe from you?” I ask, crossing my arms.
“I’m not the kind of man who hurts women,” he says, his lip curling in distaste.
My brows lift. “You just take advantage of them when they’re in precarious situations?” I slowly lower my eyes to stare at the contract, then look back up at him.
I see the way his face tightens and I know I’ve landed a blow. To his credit, my father would have backhanded me for those kinds of words, but he only tucks the folder under his arm, then hands me the duffle. “I’ll see you back up to your apartment.”
By that he means, he’ll make sure I get past all the layers of security. They say all the guards and locks are for keeping my father out.
But Sasha and I agree, they are just as much for keeping us in.
Only, I just found a way out. And Sasha…
My chest tightens. My sister is trapped. Then again, she’s more fragile, like I said. Maybe this is exactly where she needs to be.
Or maybe, I’m just trying to make myself feel better.
I haven’t been the best sister to her, if I’m honest. But of all the people in my life, she’s the one person who has never tried to fuck me over.
Which means, if I make it out tomorrow, I owe her…
And I’m going to pay up, by securing both our futures when I turn our father to rubble and ash.
Revenge is a dish I’d like to serve red-hot.