“Let me think!” Uncle Alexei snaps. From the anger darkening his gaze, I’m surprised he hasn’t pulled a gun on me. He takes a deep breath, shakes his head, then settles his eyes on Mariya and me. “You’ll remain married for six months.”
Thank fucking Christ.
Shocked, Mariya gasps, “But –”
Her father cuts her off with a stern look. “No buts. You’ll remain married to Luca for six months. You’ll live with him and try to make it work.”
She almost chokes, “Live together? Here?”
Knowing it’s time to stand my ground, I say, “We’ll live in my apartment.”
There’s no fucking way we’re living with her parents.
Mariya turns her wide gaze to me. “I have to move in with you?”
Without hesitation, I nod. “Yes.”
When she inhales sharply, turning a pleading gaze to her father, he shakes his head. “You’ve made this bed, you will sleep in it. At the very least, for six months. We can’t have an annulment a day after you got married. It will make us the laughing stock of the fucking world. Over my dead body, will I allow that to happen.”
Reaching for Mariya, I place my hand over hers. When she locks eyes with me, I say, “Six months won’t kill us.”
“That’s what you think,” she mutters, pulling her hand free from mine.
“It’s settled,” Uncle Alexei says. Getting up, he goes to pour himself a drink. After downing the vodka, he mutters, “Luca, join me in the study.”
“Put on the ring,” I order Mariya before I get up and follow her father.
When I walk into the study and shut the door, Uncle Alexei pours himself another vodka. I wait for him to down the alcohol.
He sets the tumbler down, then turns to face me with a look that will make a lesser man piss in his pants.
“Explain to me how you got drunk,” he demands.
“Cherry bomb shots and champagne. I’m not one to mix my drinks, but I wanted Mariya to enjoy the night, so I drank with her.”
“The only reason you’re still breathing is because you’re my godson and the head of the Italian mafia,” he states, a deadly edge to his tone. “You know that, right?”
“Yes, sir.” Not once do I break eye contact.
He takes a deep breath and seems to calm down a little. “I saw the way you looked at Mariya at the party.”
“I know.”
“You’ll make her happy,” he demands.
“I will.”
“If you harm a hair on my daughter’s head, I’ll kill you without hesitation.”
I suppress the urge to chuckle. “I know.”
Uncle Alexei pours another drink, this time sipping it slower instead of downing it. “Make it work, Luca. Mariya is stubborn, and she’ll give you hell. Somehow you have to make her love you.”
She already loves me.
“I don’t want an annulment,” I say. “I’ll do my best.”
Uncle Alexei nods, then the corner of his mouth lifts. “I would’ve killed any other fucker who tried to pull a stunt like that, but I’m glad it’s you. I know my daughter will be safe because anyone would be stupid to fuck with you.” He moves closer until we're eye to eye. “Treat my baby girl like the princess she is.”
“I’ll treat her like a queen,” I vow.
My queen.
Uncle Alexei nods, then pats me on the shoulder. “Let’s make the best of this situation.”
“Yes, sir.”
We leave the office, and the moment we return to the living room, Mariya darts to her feet. “When is all of this happening?”
Uncle Alexei raises an eyebrow. “It started the moment you said your vows, printsessa.”
Her voice climbs as she asks, “So I have to move in with Luca today?”
“You’ll be safe with me, Mariya,” I try to offer her some reassurance.
“It’s not my safety I’m worried about,” she snaps at me before she storms out of the living room, visibly unhappy that we will remain married.
Chapter 9
Mariya
Pulling my phone from my purse, I dial Violet’s number while I rush to my bedroom.
“How’s Vegas?” she answers the call.
“You won’t believe what happened,” I growl as I slam the bedroom door shut behind me.
I still can’t believe it.
“What?” my best friend asks.
I suck in a deep breath of air. “I got married to Luca.”
“What?!”
“We got drunk, and I woke up married to the man.”
“If you killed him, don’t tell me because then I can’t defend you.”
“He’s still alive,” I mutter. “We have to remain married for six months before I’m allowed to file for an annulment.”
“Holy shit, Mariya. I leave you alone in Vegas for one weekend, and you get married to Luca?”
“I know,” I groan as I slump down on my bed.
“How does Luca feel about this?” she asks. “I mean, if he loves you, then this is a good thing, right?”
“He doesn’t love me,” I mutter. “He thinks this is good for business.” I let out a disgruntled huff, hating that I have to uproot my life and leave the only home I’ve ever known. “I have to move in with him and play wife to him. I’ll probably smother him with a pillow tonight.”