Chapter Two
Silas
I sat in the lavish living room of a man who shouldn’t need the money, but from the look in his eyes, he craved it.
It didn’t matter to me because what he was offering had been something I’d been looking for over the past six months—or rather, someone.
Yelena Topova. If I had her name that night, it wouldn’t have taken so long to claim my bride.
“Here are the documents. I’m sorry that we had to cancel dinner last week, but I had unexpected business matters that required my attention.”
“I understand.” There were rumors that I’d been introduced to several ladies while I was away. He had to believe she wasn’t the only prize available, even if she was. “You were busy assessing your options.”
“Yes, and I’ve decided that Ms. Topova is the most favorable choice. I appreciate you sending me the additional information.” He tried to keep my interest, which made me laugh. Nothing could take my interest away from Yelena.
“As I said she would.”
“Good. I’d like to get everything done today. You can see from the papers that my offer is acceptable.”
“It’s very generous. I’d still like to discuss the dock situation with you.”
“At present, I’m only interested in this matter.” I might not be a mafioso or thug, but I destroyed lives easily. Topov would be a cakewalk, but I refused to allow Yelena to be caught up in any wars it might lead to with the Bratva.
“Understood.” I nodded and sat on the sofa with tension building in my chest. She was taking too long to appear.
“Where is she?” I said, staring at the staircase, my hands rubbing my thighs. I wasn’t an impatient man. We had already missed six months together. Another day couldn’t go by where she wasn’t mine.
“She’ll be down in a moment. Women and their nerves,” he answered, but the shifty look in his eyes told me he was more nervous that she wouldn’t show up. He offered me a drink, but I raised my hand to stop him.
“I’m not interested in sharing a drink. I’m here for business.
” The light sound of footsteps came from behind me instead of the stairs.
Instinct sent my head on a swivel. I turned, and my heart stuttered.
In front of me was the woman from six months ago.
Her eyes were a bit hollow, sunken in by what appeared to be starvation.
“Business?” she asked.
My eyes darkened. I stood up and took her hand in mine.
It was soft, just like the gasp that left her.
The warmth from her touch burned into my soul.
The night we met was nothing compared to today.
“Business between your father and me, but you and I, it will be very personal,” I answered, my stare intent and hungry.
Her eyelashes fluttered, her chest rose fast, and the pulse under my fingers raced.
“Yelena, this is Silas Harrison.” The sudden shift in his tone reminded me of the duplicitous bastards I’d met over the years. I didn’t take my eyes nor my hand off her, enjoying her beauty and the feel of her pulse against my fingers.
“Sit down, Yelena,” her father commanded. She immediately pulled her hand away and took a seat on the sofa. I sat beside her, eager to get this over with.
“Yelena, you and Mr. Harrison are going to get married.” She gasped lightly, but her reaction wasn’t as intense as I had expected. Her father was selling her to me, and she barely appeared fazed. The touch of my hand caused more of a reaction. Not that I was complaining, but I had questions.
“Um…when?” Her question was just above a whisper.
“You need to sign here, and it’s done,” he answered before I could process her reaction. Did she remember me? Our encounter had been fleeting, almost unforgettable to anyone else, but I couldn’t forget the look in her eyes as she clung to me in the hallway.
“Okay.” She took the pen, and I grabbed her left hand, stopping her. I didn’t understand why, when it was exactly what I desired. Her head turned upward, and those gorgeous caramel eyes looked into mine. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No. No.” I released her wrist, noticing the tiniest flinch from her. The banded bracelet didn’t cover the tinge of yellow that peeked from the edge. She had bruises that would be answered for when the time was right.
“I just wanted to make sure you read what you are signing,” I said.
“Oh, okay.” I sat straight and grabbed the papers and handed them to her. She quickly perused the document, pausing only twice. The first time she gave a slight grimace. I wondered what part she didn’t find acceptable.
“Is there a problem?” I asked. Her eyes didn’t meet mine, but rather her father’s, as if he had authority over this.
“Um…no…it’s fine.” Something upset her about the contract.
“Good.” His greed couldn’t be hidden in his twisted smile or the way his hands stretched across the table reaching for the papers.
I focused on her hand movements as she swiped the pen across the documents.
At first there was hesitation in her movements, but by the time she signed her last name on the first page, she steadied up.
Three pages, and she was officially my wife.
I released a heavy sigh of relief. It was done; Yelena was my wife.
This wasn’t the way it should be done, but I knew the prick in front of me operated differently.
He had old-school ideas, and heaven helped anyone who came in between them.
I could have gone to war and taken her as my prize, but I refused for her to be harmed in any way.
Although he was nothing to me, he still had power.
In the end I’d crush him, but for now, I wanted the easy way to claim her.
Six months of searching and waiting, and now she was mine.
“Now that everything is signed, all we need is the money transferred, and she’s yours.” I wanted to tell him that she was always mine, but I didn’t trust him with the truth. He had a lot of nerve to be so indifferent about the situation.
“Yelena, are you packed?” I asked, ignoring his statement.
She blushed, ducking her head. “Not yet.”
“Why the hell not?” her father roared.
“Watch your tone. Father or not, she’s my wife,” I said. My hand moved in front of her body as if he’d reach over the table and touch her.
“My apologies. She was supposed to be ready to go.”
“I only need a few minutes,” she said, pressing her hand to my forearm. Even through my custom suit, the heat of her fingers warmed me up.
I placed my hand over hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Take all the time you need.”
She nodded and went upstairs without looking back.
As soon as she was out of sight, I turned my head toward her father and scowled. “If you ever disrespect my wife again, I’ll bury you.”
“Whoa, calm down. You didn’t even hold up your end.”
“Your money is right here.” I handed him the briefcase with five hundred thousand dollars.
I would have paid a lot more for her, but the fool didn’t know that.
We had a signed document because I didn’t trust the son of a bitch.
It might be semi-illegal, but that was nothing new for me.
Going to war was more costly, and living without her was impossible.
“Woah, I hope this doesn’t end our business together.”
“The only business we had was your daughter’s hand. I have no reason to use your firm, but thank you for the suggestion.” I sat across from the older man and continued to assess him. What kind of man sells his daughter? What kind of man buys his wife? A desperate one.
A moment later, the sound of her footsteps was followed by a much louder, heavy step. A man in a suit approached, carrying her suitcase. He was listed as personal security for the family, but I didn’t appreciate the way he stood too close to my wife.
She just took my hand and allowed me to lead her outside. “Give me one more minute with my daughter.” I looked down to check her expression, but she didn’t seem concerned.
“Okay.” They disappeared into the hallway while I waited outside. I hadn’t missed the dark tone of his expression, and I had a million questions, but I wasn’t going to say anything just yet.
A moment later she stepped out, and I took her hand again.
“Come on, Mrs. Harrison. It’s time to take you home.
” She bit down on her bottom lip, keeping her head down.
The tension in her body amplified with tiny shivers running through her.
As soon as we were in the back of the vehicle, she anxiously kept her distance.
Her thighs pressed together, eyes focused on the house that once held her captive.
“Drive, Daniel,” I said with a tap on his seat.
“Yes, Boss.” He pulled out, and then I returned my attention to Yelena. Her shoulders were raised, back stiff as she created as much distance between us as the back seat allowed.
“You don’t have to be afraid of me,” I said.
She turned her head slightly and said, “Isn’t that what they all say?”
“They all?” There shouldn’t be another man even speaking to her. I had dug into her father’s schemes and deterred all potential suitors, but there were visits before I could deter the bastards. Did they cross any lines with her? “What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, I mean like on the crime shows. He promises to love and protect her. The show ends with the husband guilty of some heinous murder of his wife.” I smirked, wondering if all women loved crime shows. My life was almost as dark, but she still sat a foot away from me.
“I believe there are several shows featuring women killers who promise forever.”
“You watch crime shows?” Her mouth flew open, and her hand pressed onto my sleeve. I swallowed hard. She touched me by choice. I ached to lower my gaze and stare at where the connection was made, but I didn’t want her to pull away. I cracked a subtle smile.
“Not really. My sister does, and sometimes I’m dragged into them.” She smiled at me and squeezed my arm a little tighter. Fuck, I needed air before I pinned her to the seat and let her know what her simple gesture did to me.
Swallowing the lust, I asked, “So, was that all you brought with you?”
“Yes. Is that a bad thing?”
“No. I just wondered if we had to make another trip for the rest.” She shook her head.
“The only things that matter to me.” I hated how pathetically sad her words sounded. There were things in the reports that weren’t shared. I had a feeling I knew exactly what they were.
“We’ll have to go shopping.”
She blushed and dropped her head. “I suppose you’re right; I can’t be seen dressed like this.” Her hands went to the edge of her dress.
I pressed my hand to hers, stopping her from drawing attention to her luscious legs. “Baby, it’s not that. I want you to have as many clothes as you want.” I’d rather see her in nothing, but she still had to leave our bedroom. Damn, I had to stop thinking with my dick.
“Thank you.”
I released my hand and then lifted it to her face, lightly caressing her cheek.
“You don’t ever have to thank me for treating you right.
You’re my wife, and I will make sure you have everything you need and want.
I have to ask, though. Are there other bruises I can’t see?
” She tucked herself inward again, so I decided to back off.
“You don’t have to answer right now, but I’m sure I’ll see them eventually. ”
“There are a few others.” Her eyes quickly became glassy and red-rimmed. She was a moment from crying. The anger building in my chest throbbed painfully.
“Did he do this to you?” I asked. I already wanted to cut off his head for putting her up for sale.
“Yes.” Her response was low yet strong.
“Thank you for telling me the truth.”
“Well, you’re my husband, and I don’t think it would do me any good to lie, would it?”
“No, it’s not in your best interest to lie to me, but I will say this, sweetheart.” I cradled her face, my thumb brushing her chin and bottom lip. “I’ll never lay a hand on you in anger.”
“So, then I shouldn’t believe the rumors?” Her voice was breathy as she stared at me.
“Oh, you can believe the rumors, but not when they come to you. I’m the ruthless son of a bitch everyone describes, but it won’t be anything compared to the monster I’ll become if someone hurts you.
” Her cheeks brightened to a pretty pink shade before she returned to staring out the window.
I watched as she swallowed hard, trying to read every part of her and to understand my beautiful wife.
She knowingly signed a marriage contract with a man she knew to be dangerous.
What the fuck was she going through in that house?
“It seems you’re always saving me.”
“So you do remember me,” I replied, chest tightening. I didn’t ask why she was running that day, but that wouldn’t happen again.
“How could I not remember? It was the only pleasant part of my day.”
“So being in my arms is pleasant.”
“Well, I only have that one experience.” The bold confession went straight south along with my thoughts.
“I can rectify that for you.” I extended my hand, and she took it.
Slowly, I pulled her close to me until we hugged tightly.
A soft moan escaped her as I rubbed her back.
“You’re mine, Yelena, and I’ll hold you whenever you want.
” My lips lightly kissed her shoulder, and the beast in me hungered for more.
Just then my phone decided to interrupt us. I readjusted my body and sat back in my seat, pulling her to lay her head on my shoulder. My right arm remained around her. “I do need to take this call, but you can stay like this.”
A light kiss brushed my shoulder. I looked down at my wife and groaned. “Harrison,” I answered the phone.
“Sir, we have a problem at the office,” my assistant exclaimed. There was nothing that required my attention that I was aware of. There were no client meetings for the week. Unless the place was burning down, I had no interest in dealing with it.
“I’m on my way home. Send me a detailed message about the problem.” I didn’t want interruptions today.
“Yes, Sir,” she replied. I ended the call with a newfound frustration. It had better not be big enough for me to go into the office. The only thing I cared about was my marriage.
“Sorry about that. Work problems.”
“Are they serious?”
“I have no idea. All you need to be concerned about is enjoying your first day as Mrs. Harrison.”
“That sounds great.” She snuggled deeper into my embrace, and I finally could ease the tension in my body.