Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Irina
“Choose one,” Nikolai says. His tone is warm but the only thing I feel right now is an icy coldness seeping over my body.
“I really have to marry you?” I ask. “Don’t I get a say? Isn’t it illegal to force someone into a marriage?”
“Think of it more as an arranged marriage. Your father was going to make it happen anyway. If I had agreed to pay off his debts. And if any of those other men had gotten their hands on you, you wouldn’t be in such a good spot right now. I can assure you on that.”
“What do you mean?” My lips are numb.
“One of those men, Peter Samson, loves to rape and torture women. He buys them and then brings them back to his mansion where he tortures them for days, raping them bloody, and then eventually kills them.”
I go still. “How do you know this?”
“Because the fucker invited me to one of his parties. He invites other powerful men and invites them to rape the women along with him. I refused. I have no desire to rape women. So I left.”
“But you didn’t tell the police about him?”
“I’m the Bratva, Irina. I don’t like police involved in my business.
I don’t really care what Peter gets up to as long as it doesn’t interfere in my life.
And I knew I couldn’t stand to let him have you.
Or any of those other men. Trust me. They would have all raped you and either killed you or left you alive until you killed yourself. ”
“But you were there.”
For the first time that night, I see a passion rise up in Nikolai’s eyes. “Only to save you. I’ve never bought another human being before and I don’t plan on doing it ever again. It was just to get to you. That was it.”
“But if you marry me, isn’t that torture? Isn’t that rape?”
“A marriage contract will bind us together. But I will not touch you if you don’t want me to.
The marriage is just to keep your father in line.
And I want you. I won’t deny that. I will make you mine.
But I will not rape you. I will not torture you.
You will be offered freedom in this house.
Just don’t try to run. I won’t take too kindly to that. ”
So, he wants me to be a pretty bird in a cage. What will Nikolai do to me if I run? I’m too afraid to ask.
“What if I say no to marrying you?”
His lips twitch like he’s amused but he’s really not. “I am going to marry you, Irina. You don’t get a say in that, I’m afraid. But I am offering you a life of luxury. A life where you’re married to a powerful man. A lot of women would take it.”
“But I’m only eighteen. I don’t know what I want.”
“I know you’re young. But I will guide you into a woman. I will mold you into the perfect woman. We will get married. That is final. I have laid everything out. No secrets. Now, choose a dress. We’ll be married tomorrow. I’ll leave you be.”
My eyes widen.
He chuckles. “As I said: I won’t rape you. You can sleep in this room for tonight. I’m sure you’re tired.” He walks out of the room with an ease I wish I could possess.
The second Nikolai shuts the door behind him, I rush over to it. I don’t hear a lock click, which means I’m not a prisoner in here. But I know I can’t run. Where would I even run to?
To the father who gave me away to be sold for his own selfish reasons?
I want to ask him how he could do this to me but I know that’s not my home anymore.
I have no money of my own. No work experience.
My father kept me sheltered so I don’t have many friends.
Just two from school but we’re not that close seeing as my dad never let them come over.
I don’t have anyone… except Nikolai now.
And he’s claiming that he bought me to save me from those other men who would do worse things to me. To Nikolai’s credit, he hasn’t tried to rape me.
I stare at the wedding dresses. Was this my fate all along? To be married off in a power exchange between two Bratva men?
It dawns on me that I’m going to marry a man I just met tomorrow. There’s no way out of this. Nikolai is my only option.
I’m not sure if I should be relieved or absolutely terrified.
Nikolai comes into the room the following morning. I chose my dress last night, after agonizing over it for a long time. Behind him are two women, carrying bags.
“They’re going to get you dressed and ready for the wedding,” he explains. “I’ll see you at the church.”
“You’re not staying?” I’m not even sure why I ask.
“I want to be surprised at the church. I’ll see you there. You’re in good hands.” He walks away without another word.
“I’m Amanda,” one of the women says. Her arms are covered in tattoos. “I’ll be doing your makeup.”
“And I’m Sarah. I’ll be helping you into your dress.” Sarah is a tall woman, towering over me.
“You two work for Nikolai?”
“He hired us for the day to get you ready for your wedding,” Sarah explains.
I want to ask if they know he’s the Bratva but I hold my tongue. If these are innocent women, I don’t want to get them into trouble.
Amanda starts on my makeup and hair. Everything is happening so fast but I keep my composure. I have to. Breaking down into tears isn’t going to help anything.
Once she’s done, Sarah helps me into the dress. It’s all satin, no lace. The sleeves hang around my arms and the skirt flares out slightly. It’s a simple dress but elegant. Beautiful and sophisticated.
I’m not sure why I chose it. Maybe to feel more like a woman. If I were older, would I feel more confident? More brave?
I’m not sure but I have to try something.
Sarah and Amanda hold the back of my dress off the ground as we head outside. This is a real wedding that I’m agreeing to. Well, not agreeing. More like being forced into it.
But Nikolai is my only option and saying no to a man like him won’t end well. I just know it.
I’m driven to a large catholic church in the heart of the city. My eyes flick down the sidewalk. Numerous people pass by. I could ask any one of them for help.
And yet, I keep my mouth closed.
Sarah and Amanda help me into the church. The front entranceway is empty. I know behind the large doors in front of me is the main church where Nikolai is waiting for me.
“Are you excited?” Amanda asks.
I don’t respond.
The door behind me is ripped open and my dad surges on in. The sight of him is so shocking, it takes my breath away.
“Dad?”
“You’re coming with me,” he says, grabbing my arm and tugging me towards the exit.
“No,” I say, wrenching away from him. “What are you doing here? You have no right to my life anymore. You…” My eyes flick to Sarah and Amanda, who walk away to give us some space. “You sold me off,” I whisper.
“And that bastard Nikolai is the one who bought you. I didn’t want him getting his hands onto you.”
“But he bought me. Won’t you get the money? All your debts will paid off. You should be happy.” There’s a venom to my voice that has never been there before.
“You don’t get to talk to me like this. I am still your father.”
“You sold me,” I hiss. “You lost all of your rights. How could you do that to me?”
“Nikolai didn’t buy you. I never received the money owed to me. So I am taking you back. Come along.
“What do you mean? He paid six million dollars for me.”
His eyes widen. “What? I never got any of it. I called the theater this morning and they said that Nikolai took you. He never paid.”
Nikolai didn’t pay… So that means he never actually bought me. That makes my stomach feel funny in a way I can’t explain.
“That bastard was trying to marry you without paying off my debts. I will not allow that to stand. Now come along.”
“No,” I scream, backing away from him. “I don’t trust you anymore. You’re going to sell me off to another man the first chance you get. I know it. I won’t go with you.”
“So… what? You’re just going to marry Nikolai instead? He refuses to help me, Irina. Your own father. He wants me under his boot.”
“Maybe you should pay off your debts by yourself and not include me in that.”
“Are you disobeying me?” The incredulousness in his voice is obvious.
I hesitate. Is that what I am doing? I’ve never done it before in my entire life.
“You’re coming with me,” he snarls, grabbing my arms. On instinct, I rake my hands down his face. He lets out a shout and pushes me back so I land on the hard ground.
At that moment, the doors to the main church open up and Nikolai storms into the entranceway.
“What is going on here?” His eyes land on me before they turn to my father. A hard glint. His expression is made of stone. “Ivan. Feel free to join our wedding.”
“You owe me money. You bought my daughter. Pay up.”
Nikolai’s laugh is cold. “I will do no such thing. I am not going to pay for your daughter. What I will do is marry her and honor our original deal. You’ll work for me and pay off your debts.
Simple as that. Now, Irina and I are getting married.
” He offers me his hand and I only hesitate a moment before taking it.
Nikolai pulls me to my feet and gazes down at me with concern. “Are you all right?”
I can only nod. Does he truly care for me? He’s a confusing man to say the least.
“Now, Ivan, either come join the wedding or leave. But I am marrying Irina. If I were you, I would want to get on my good side.”
My father’s face contorts into something ugly. “Fuck you, Nikolai. I will come for my daughter.” He storms out of the church.
Nikolai sighs. “Your father is going to be a problem. But right now, all I want is to marry you. Come along.”
“Why didn’t you buy me? My father said you never actually paid the money.”
“I initially offered up the money to get you and then I took it back. That horrid organization won’t put up a fight when it comes to me. I wasn’t going to let your father get a dime from me.”
“But you didn’t buy me which means I’m not yours.”
He cups my face between his two strong hands. “You are mine, Irina. And you know you have no other prospects. I have shown I will do what is necessary to have you in my life. You can’t trust your father.”
“Can I trust you?”
He doesn’t answer my question as he steps back and looks me over. “You are beautiful. My perfect, innocent bride. I will walk you down the aisle. It’s not customary but it will have to do.”
He places my hand in the crook of his arm as he opens the church doors and leads me down the aisle. The church is filled with guests. That’s the power Nikolai has. He can get at least a hundred people here in the span of a day.
I walk side by side with Nikolai down the aisle towards the priest. Towards my future.
I just have to hope that it won’t be the end of me.