Prologue

Natalia

“How can you expect this of me, father?”

I ask, tears stinging my eyes. My father is an asshole. I’ve always known it. He’s as cold as the Russian winters he seems intent on dooming me to.

“It’s done. I don’t know why you’re getting so upset.”

“You don’t know why I’m upset? You just arranged my marriage to a man from the Levkin family that I haven’t even met. The Levkin family, Father. You know what Ivan did and my would-be husband was right there with him! Don’t you care for me at all?”

“Of course I do. Samuel has agreed to all my terms. You’ll be treated well. Nothing has changed, Natalia. You just need to sign the agreement and say I do over the video conference call.”

“Video conference call?”

What the hell is he talking about now?

“Exactly. You don’t even have to meet him until you finish this foolish school degree that you insist on getting. The two of you will get married over the call. The appropriate paperwork will be signed electronically, and Samuel’s people will make sure everything is filed properly. Once you graduate or whatever, you will fly to Russia.”

I keep my face blank. He thinks me wanting a degree and my own life is ridiculous. To my father, I have one purpose. To broker an alliance and to produce heirs. “In one year, there will be no chance at a life of my own, Father. I’ll be married to a man I don’t know—a man that I don’t even want to know.”

“You will make a good life with him.”

“Are you even listening to me? I don’t want to be married to Samuel Levkin!”

“When did you mistakenly come to the conclusion that you had a choice?”

“Father—”

“Enough Natalia. You are a member of the Navarro family. Your life is not your own. You are doing this for the family. If you keep pushing, I’ll take away any record of your foolish schooling. Then move on to more substantial things. We both know I can do it. Now, I expect you back in my office in one hour. You’re dismissed.”

I stare at the monster I once called my father, then I walk away to prepare for my wedding.

***

Samuel

I walk out of the gym, invigorated after a rough workout. I’d gone extra this morning, needing to work out the frustration of being here. While I’m not fond of living in Russia, it’s necessary. After everything I’ve done, I deserve it. Hell, I kidnapped Angelina, trying to recapture feelings from our youth. I was tired of being alone. Sometimes I’m scared by the emptiness inside me. I believed Angelina would agree to be my bride. I do love her. I always have. Yet, when I saw her with Victorio, I knew our time had passed. She belongs with him. She was never meant to be mine. He has her heart.

Today my life resets. It starts with a marriage to a woman I’ve never met. It’s not the life I wanted, but my new alliance with the Navarro family will bring me more power. With the Navarro family backing me, our enemies will think twice before trying to revive the old war.

When my uncle killed my father, worms began crawling out of the woodwork, smelling weakness. It’s the nature of the game. Old enemies perceived an opportunity to take over the Levkin empire. My marriage with … fuck, what was her name? Nora? Nancy? Whatever her name is, in one year, she will come here. I gave myself a year of freedom before I have to play the dutiful husband. Apparently, my bride-to-be also needed time to finish some type of education. We’ve agreed to getting married over a video conference. Her father says she views this as a business deal. That’s good, but I hope we get along. It would make things easier. Our contract has laid everything out, right down to the fact that all affairs must be discreet and approved by one another. This is not what I wanted in a marriage. It is, however, what I will have. I will just have to make the most of it.