Chapter Four

Natalia

“Want me to stick around until Navarro’s men show up, Doc?”

I grin up at Claw. He really is cute. Too bad my asshole father couldn’t have married me off to someone like him. I know that would never work, though. My father wouldn’t allow someone like Claw to get close to me. Maybe that’s why I find him so appealing.

“Do you like me so much that you can’t stand to see me walk away?”

I reply, grinning.

“You’re damn easy on the eyes,”

he replies, making my smile deepen.

“Are you flirting with me?”

“What if I were, Doc?”

I can’t deny the tingling feeling that zips through me at the idea of this sexy biker being interested in me. My gaze rakes over his blond hair, wavy and wild, like some eighties rock god. His tight jeans, thermal top, and leather vest barely contain his massive, well-defined body. He has ink anywhere you look. I’ve never been a big tattoo girl, but something about Claw’s makes me want to lick him from head to toe. Sadly, I can’t let myself go there—yet. “I’d tell you I’m not free, but I’m hoping I will be soon. If you’re still interested once that happens, you’ll know where to find me.”

“I’m not seeing a ring on your finger, Doc.”

“Nope, and you won’t. I’m kind of married in name only. Only met the jerk once and let’s just say, neither one of us was impressed with the other.”

“Then, he’s a fool.”

“I agree with you,”

I murmur, placing my hand flat on his chest while leaning up to kiss his cheek. I pat my hand against him, keeping my fingers over his heart. “Here’s hoping we meet again, Claw.”

I turn to walk away, stuttering to a stop when I feel his hand swat my ass. “Take care, Doc,”

he chuckles with naughty smirk.

I shake my head, as I walk into the familiar chaos of the hospital. I call out some hellos when people spot me. In thirty minutes, I have a meeting with my supervisor and Phillip Pope, who is the Director of Emergency Medicine. I’m hoping I won’t catch flack for being MIA. Honestly, I’m not sure you can call what I’ve been through kidnapping. They fed us takeout, and other than being locked in a bedroom for the last five days, we were fine. They were trying to get my brother to agree to let them into his territory.

Daniel is a good man, very different from my father. He is, however, a Navarro—and you don’t fuck with him. I’m not sure why he called my would-be husband in. I’m not thrilled about that. When he saw me, I was afraid that he’d try to claim me. I didn’t want that. My residency still has a couple months remaining. I was hoping I could talk him into letting me remain in the US. I refuse to live in Russia.

I shouldn’t have worried. The asshole has no idea who I am. I knew him immediately. It became clear that he didn’t bother to discover what I looked like since our marriage. For some inexplicable reason, it pissed me off watching the way he practically slobbered when looking at Natalie, while dismissing me. I mean, I know men fawn over Natalie. Still, I’m not exactly chopped liver. I’m fairly confident about who I am. Maybe that’s why Claw flirting with me felt so good. Watching my so-called husband eye-fucking another woman was a blow to my ego. Even if I don’t want him, I dreamed he’d one day get down on his knees and beg me to be his once he got a look at me.

I have friends who have been a part of arranged marriages. It’s not that uncommon in my family and among our allies. Still, not a one of them has gotten married over a damn phone. In each case, the man at least tried to get to know the woman they were marrying. Some made the marriage work, others shared an open marriage—but in each case, energy was put forth to make the union work. I know myself enough to realize, I couldn’t handle an open marriage. Yet, I would have given my all to make the marriage work if the man in question was worth it. Tonight made it clear that Samuel wasn’t.

The truly surprising thing was that I liked Ivan Levkin. I’ve heard the horror stories about the man. I’ve no doubt they’re true. He was a lot different in person, however. He reminded me of my brother, and I can appreciate the fact that he’s probably one person with those he cares about and another with his enemies. My world is not black and white. I live in a world of morally gray.

As I make it to the locker room, I undress, slipping on the spare scrubs in my locker. I don’t know if Phillip will let me work, but I’m hoping he will. After being away from the hospital, I’m itching to get back to it. Medicine is like a drug for me. I’m addicted to the adrenaline and the high I get when I save someone’s life. That’s why I chose emergency trauma and medicine.

As I quickly brush my hair, then push it back up in a messy bun, my thoughts return to Samuel. I enjoyed toying with him—taking stabs at his obviously huge ego. I thought about staying longer, but I didn’t want to risk him getting a clue and putting two and two together. Before I left, I had a conversation with Natalie. I know she’ll keep my secret. She’s an opportunist. We’re work friends. The two of us are nothing alike. She knows how powerful Samuel is. If Natalie thinks she can get his attention, she’ll do whatever it takes. The only reason she wanted to be friends to begin with was to get to my brother.

Samuel’s probably in bed with Natalie right now. It shouldn’t bother me, but it does. It’s probably because of our fake marriage. It can’t be anything else. He clearly didn’t like me and if I didn’t know who he was, I sure as hell wouldn’t think twice about him.

I push all thoughts of him out of my head. Let him get lost in Natalie’s charms. He’ll be contacting Daniel soon demanding an annulment, and I’ll grant it while giggling like a little kid.

Samuel doesn’t want me, and the feeling is freaking mutual.