6. Carina #2
But I will forever be a Garcia in spirit and blood, and I will do our family’s legacy justice even if you can’t.
Glaring at my brother would be too telling of how I felt about his decision to practically get rid of me.
But I could let my anger simmer. I’d stew and rehearse how I could let him know how dumb this decision was when I found the first opportunity to fill him in on anything that could constitute as intel.
Without a real farewell since Arturo stepped aside to take a call, I was dismissed.
I was sent away, engaged to this tall man with dark energy as he strode toward the cars that would take us to his plane.
Although Maksim glanced at me here and there, he paid attention to Viktor as they carried on conversations with the guards who’d accompanied them.
I knew some Russian to pick up on how they decided the transportation of my things.
It was then that I realized they hadn’t come here with any intention of leaving with a bride.
They were just as surprised and caught off guard about this arrangement as I was.
Yet, as I sat in the backseat of the car and refused to make eye contact, choosing to watch the scenery blur by outside instead, I wondered why they’d agreed.
Why did Arturo agree?
I picked through possible explanations for why he’d wanted me to go through this arrangement.
To get me out of the way.
That came to mind first and foremost.
But that couldn’t be it.
What if he’s actually being smart about these other partners, whoever they are? And he wants me to get intel about the Volkovs to use against them?
I held in the urge to huff at that idea. Arturo was never that practical, that forward thinking or strategic. He was more of a reactive sort of person than proactive, and that was a huge reason I was so nervous about what he could be plotting to change up.
We arrived at the airstrip and the car stopped. Only that event forced me to have to face my fiancé or his brother. Never mind the entire ride where I rode the adrenaline rush of being near him at all. And never mind my apprehension of knowing he was watching me, too.
Viktor exited and Maksim followed. And damn, did I hate myself for checking out his ass as he turned.
Heat filled me, but I cleared my throat and fought to clear my mind of any images of the fine, built, tatted up, and muscular?—
Argh! Enough!
Attraction was a base, primitive thing any animal could feel. Nothing mandated that I let these observations of Maksim Volkov matter or linger.
I stood, surprised when he held his hand out. As if I needed his assistance to place my feet on the pavement. Perhaps I’d shifted on my weight a little. I wasn’t falling over.
“Would you like some assistance?”
I gave his hand a pointed look then raised my brows at him.
“You do speak, correct?”
I shrugged, just to goad him. “I wasn’t aware I was supposed to.”
He rolled his eyes.
He actually rolled his eyes in irritation.
I was plenty used to pissing off my brother, and this little reaction wasn’t going to get a rise out of me. I didn’t particularly care what he thought of me, either.
Play along.
Deal with it.
Try to get some intel.
And do whatever it takes to get back home.
“Does that mean you’re waiting for me to give you orders and list instructions?” He lowered his hand and walked toward the plane, leaving me no choice but to follow him.
“Don’t you dare,” I muttered, sure he wouldn’t hear.
But he did. Oh, he did, all right. Stopping short and twisting so he wasn’t giving me his back, he narrowed his eyes at me. “Excuse me?”
I collided with him, crashing into his rock-hard chest. His hand came up to cup my elbow, once more steadying me, and I loathed the warmth and security of such a simple touch.
“I’m not waiting for any orders or instructions from you,” I clarified, unafraid whether he heard the bite in my tone.
Because it was the truth. He could beat me, rape me, torture me, but he would never own me, dammit.
He’d never tame my spirit. I wasn’t born to be a passive woman like any wife he probably imagined having.
For a long moment, we stared each other down.
It was crystal clear as the tension ratcheted up between us how little we trusted each other.
Yet the longer I refused to look away or show a sign of weakness, the more I hated how aware I was of him.
How much taller he was in such a way that it made me feel petite.
How much bigger he was so that I’d wonder if all of him was as proportionally large.
How good he smelled, how warm his body was, how badly I wanted to test his boundaries and see what he’d do if I tried to taste his lips, purely out of curiosity.
At last, when I started to feel slightly naked under his scrutiny as he searched my face, he cleared his throat. “If orders and instructions bother you at the moment…”
At the moment? Try all the time, dammit.
“Then perhaps you can consider heeding my suggestion that you should prepare for our wedding tomorrow.” He released my elbow, and I hated how I’d only just realized that he’d never let go.
I pressed my lips shut and exhaled a harsh breath through my nose.
Tomorrow?
So soon?
It would’ve been nice to get to the Volkov territory and get used to it. Just enough to bet my bearings. This was already rushed as it was, yet, I supposed it didn’t matter.
The sooner we marry, the sooner I can figure out a way to end this marriage and go home again.
He turned, giving me his back again as he continued onto the plane. I followed, keeping my gaze down as I climbed the stairs as I hated the fact that yet another man would replace the authority that my brother had always wielded over me.