He blows a puff of smoke out. ‘If I was a betting man I’d have to put my money on him,’ he says quietly.

I turn to look at him.

He meets me in the eye. ‘Simply because Nikita is hindered by neither fair play nor honor. While you are still pondering the ethics of killing the father of the woman you want, he will bury you.’

I frown. Zane is right. I’ve thought about it and I can’t inflict any kind of hurt on her.

‘What you did today was reckless. If you truly want this woman, don’t let your dick think for you again.’

‘I’m not letting my dick think for me. I shook the tree. I wanted to see what fell out.’

‘Nothing good can fall out of this tree. What’s your plan?’

‘Stay out of this, Zane. This is my affair. You’re out of this cesspit. Stay out. Take care of your family.’

Sixteen

Tasha Evanoff

Oliver curls my hair around his index finger. ‘Why do you think that Russian gangster wanted your earrings so much?’ His voice is soft, but hostile.

I look at him with surprise. ‘I don’t know, but why do you care? I thought you didn’t mind what I did as long as I was discreet.’

In his eyes something ugly rears its head. ‘To start with, it doesn’t look like you have been too … discreet. It doesn’t take too many brain cells to figure out what was going on tonight.’

He smiles nastily.

‘Secondly, I might have been a bit hasty. I didn’t care then, but since then I have become rather … fond of you, and I certainly don’t appreciate another man throwing it in my face that he has got into your pants.’

My skin crawls, but I resist the intense urge to edge away from him. ‘What are you saying?’

‘I suppose I’m saying the rules have changed. From now on I expect my wife to be faithful to me.’

I look at him coldly. ‘And this rule is obviously only applicable to me, since you are obviously not faithful, nor do you plan to be anytime in the future.’

‘Play your cards right and that could be arranged,’ he lies, his lips grazing my neck.

I close my eyes. I’ve got to do something fast about this situation I’m in. I can’t go on like this. I know now that I could never have sex with Oliver. Maybe before, but not anymore. Not when I am in … love with Noah.

‘You don’t love me and I don’t love you,’ I say softly.

‘What’s your point?’

‘Should we really be getting married, Oliver?’ I coax. If I could just get him to call off the engagement there won’t be a thing Papa can do.

He looks at me strangely and then bursts out laughing. ‘Are you getting cold feet? Let me tell you, sweetheart, it’s much too late for all that.’

‘No, it’s not.’

‘Aww … you really thought you could persuade me to break off the engagement. Sorry, no can do.’

‘But you don’t really want me.’

He smiles strangely. ‘On the contrary, sweet Tasha, I very much want you.’

I stare at him in horror. ‘No, you don’t. You have other women.’

‘They are bodies. Bitches and prostitutes. I can barely remember their names. No, Tasha Evanoff, you are the prize.’ His lips twist. ‘I choose you to be my wife and the mother of my children.’ He takes my wrist and suddenly crushes it.

‘Owww, you’re hurting me.’

He squeezes harder and I grit my teeth. ‘Did you imagine ours will be a marriage in name only?’ he taunts.

I stare up at him defiantly.

‘I will fuck you hard and often. As of today I expect to be the only cock going into your tight little cunt.’

I gasp in shock.

‘You can tell that Russian dickhead that his little performance has just made your life that much more complicated. Tell him to bang good and proper now, because I expect purity from my wife. So if you are getting any smart ideas of taking on lovers, I should warn you now that I’ll put a fist through your lusty hole before I allow that.’ He makes a fist with his hand. The gesture is violent and lewd.

I become rigid with shock. This is a side of Oliver I never suspected.

‘Have I made myself clear, or do you need a demonstration of what to expect?’

I stare at him in disbelief and he grabs my hip and pulls me towards him, his erection pressing into my belly as his hand goes up my skirt. Suddenly, I wake up from my daze.

‘Yes, yes, I understand,’ I whisper urgently, my voice shaking with fear.

He tightens his hold on my hipbone until I cry out in pain. With a taunting little laugh he lets go and I close my eyes, swallow hard, and try to calm myself. I open my eyes and he is watching.

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