na'

rs. My sister, Isabella, stood a few feet away, her brows narrowed with an expression I couldn't quite understand; my mother, Viktoria, was standing with

sought a

ce, cutting through my fog. "Are you going to crea

elled, my voice tremb

. Words failed me in that instant as nothing

matter what-had betrayed me. My intended boyfriend had also betrayed m

her to find she was unconcerned by my wrath. Viktoria was always quiet and under control. "Thi

nfess. Built this empire by my father, the late Vetrova family patriarch

over her shoulders. "You have overlooked Dmitri. He is a man of enormous

ing seemed unbelievable. Are y

she wanted to remind me how insignificant I was in the lar

arning to "break free" from the family Were you truly sure you could have both? While Dmitr

chest constrict as I tried to come up with the correct words

he showed no interest in explanations, in j

is what this family finds ideal.

e was not merely referring to Dmitri, I realized. No; she was gettin

g about a friend rather than the mafia kingpin with the ability

elt the floor drop underfoot. "What?."

g like this? Our family just needs Marko perfectly. His fortune and po

Kuuznetsov. the strong, merciless mafia boss once acquainted with my sister. He was a man who never took no for an

n spite of the turmoil whirl-arou

er voice a lethal whisper.

u believe I cannot find it? You are not interested in me. You only give this family's reputatio

a said quickly. "You're ac

ve never given me any thought. Your only concern is who might grant y

silent, observing the interaction with a face that spoke it all-not

oice steady. "Already the plans have been de

. Now I was shivering, every syllable weig

ll have no options. Our name, your father's, denotes everything in this life. And you will

er sister. She was barely ten years old, a child, and I knew what would happen if I turn

pawn though. No

th rebellion. I'll be meeting him

igid gentleness. Elena, it never is with you. Still, you will

above the pounding in my

Elen

round her, I sto

e this. Try to; you won't only lose Marko

the weight of my mother's comments smothering me. Turning around,

oice cracked and icy, far-off. Are

omise-an underlying fact neit

ld respond. The conflict between us grew more pronounced

away from her. Mother, never use him a

ieve you have options here? You will wed Marko Kuznetsov and d

o be a pawn, and my voice broke. I am not g

voice sending chills down my spine. Elena,