by Raven Rivers
Bethany could tell the old man was about to blow a gasket. Once that happened, she would get mauled for sure. She gave him a second to compose himself. Saying anything except yes would only exacerbate the situation. The silence hung thick in the air.
His piecing black eyes were assessing and appraising her as if he were trying to figure her out. He was not the only one trying to reason the situation out. Bethany mused out loud, “Is this some kind of marriage for a green card-type situation?” She might go for something like that. They would definitely need to have separate bedrooms and lives until the paperwork went through.
Timur’s eyes narrowed on her. Bethany could tell he was pushing down his irritation. She was thoroughly off base with the green card question. That much was clear. Why couldn’t he just meet her halfway? She had the distinct feeling a little information from him might go a long way toward resolving this conflict. When finally he spoke again, his voice was poised and in control.
“You know, you’re wasting a lot of my time tonight. Let me break it down for you…”
“That’s enough, boss. She gets it.” Valisy was apparently smart enough to know what was coming next. He snaked his arm around Bethany’s waist and pulled her back a step. The irritated older man was on a roll by this point. There was no stopping him.
“You will accompany us to see the priest, say your vows, and take Valisy back to your home. You will cook for him, wash his clothing, fetch his drinks, and care for him in every way. You will spread your legs for him and do anything else he asks of you. In all ways, you will be a dutiful wife to him. Furthermore, you will shut your arrogant little mouth about it.”
Of all the vile, contemptible behavior Bethany had ever witnessed, this was the worst. The man was an egotistical, misogynistic old fool. She could feel Valisy’s arm tighten around her slightly. He was telling her to button it up.
She didn’t like being treated like a whore. It really rubbed her the wrong way.
“I think I figured out what the problem is here. You are used to dealing with women who spread their legs on demand. I’m pretty sure those kinds of women are accustomed to doing what they’re told. You’ve misjudged my character if you think I will open myself in such a way merely because you demand it.”
“No one refuses me.”
“I can do whatever I want. If you don’t like it, you can hurt me. You can even kill me. How ugly are you willing to get to force a woman on your friend? Will he hate you for it? How about the rest of your men? If you can force personal decisions, like marriage, on one, they must all fear the same may happen to them. Do they even have the illusion of free choice anymore? If you control who they marry, it makes me wonder what other aspects of their life you control. If they fall in love with someone you don’t approve of, do you force them to divorce?”
Timur ignored her little tirade. He stated curtly, “I almost forgot: you will sign a pre-nup. I don’t want my friend taken advantage of by you.”
That last comment pushed Bethany right over the edge. She couldn’t manage to keep the smile from tugging up her lips slightly. The situation was rife with irony. She tilted her head slightly, pointing out the obvious. “So, if I understand correctly, you want me to get taken for a ride, but not your friend?”
The tension of the moment dissipated, leaving the men trying not to smile. Timur’s mouth twitched up on one side. Bethany thought to herself that humor was apparently the key to dealing these men. It seemed to defuse the tension of the moment.
The old man asked, “What am I going to do with you, Miss Bethany?”
“Guess I’m not like the women you’re used to dealing with.”
“You are a smart woman, Bethany. I always liked that about you. It’s time you settled down. You could do much worse than my Valisy. You are drawn to him. This much I see. You could not get to him fast enough when you thought him injured. It is good match. This will be for the best. You will see.”
Valisy’s arms tightened slightly around her and something deep inside began to fracture. It was her resistance. For a brief moment, the older man looked almost fatherly. “You’re a complex man, Timur. You’re a villain one moment, and almost paternal the next. I honestly don’t know what to make of you.”
The old man’s eyes softened. “It is all part of my rough mobster image. It is intended to frighten people into doing my bidding.”
His thick accent seemed less threatening. He seemed more like a man caught between two opposing cultures and a couple of decades out of his time. Bethany realized he was kind of old-school and trying to arrange a marriage for someone he obviously cared about. She tried not to take his behavior personally.
He looked at her kindly. “I should not have been forceful with you. You require a gentler approach. Valisy may prefer pretty blonde whores, but what he needs is a respectable woman, someone to love him and take care of him. I think you have a lot of love to give, and no one to bestow it upon. I am old and wise in the ways of love. It is difficult to watch two young people suffer as you both do. Come, little one. Give it a try for one year. Live among us, make friends, and enjoy our company. Give yourself a chance to find happiness with Valisy. He is no beast to force himself upon you. If our ways are not to your liking, you can walk away after the year is up.”
Bethany glanced behind her at Valisy. Though his expression gave no indication of his feelings on the matter, she could feel his thumb gently caressing her hip. She squeezed her eyes shut.
Timur’s sharp eyes missed nothing as they looked between her and his man. He wasn’t stupid. The old fool smiled when he saw the surrender written all over her face. He cooed, “Very good girl. Valisy is an honorable man. You will not regret taking him to you.”
Brittany couldn’t believe she had agreed to test drive a husband. One year wasn’t so long. Most of her relationships, even the bad ones, had lasted longer than that. Her eyes flashed up to the older man. So, underneath all the theatrics, Timur believed himself to be a matchmaker after all. That was just wonderful. She had probably just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now she was fitted with a husband.
Bethany was exhausted, both physically and mentally. There was something about arguing with the old man that thoroughly drained her energy. Defeated, she melted back into Valisy’s warm embrace. His rock-hard body radiated warmth. It felt like he was transferring strength straight to her core. Bethany found she was far too comfortable in the large man’s arms. If she were being totally honest, she would admit that something about the whole situation really tripped her switches. She realized, with no small measure of self-loathing, she was thoroughly soaked from the thought of being with the sexy mobster she hardly knew. It felt forbidden and sinful, like she always imaged stranger sex would feel. God, what was wrong with her? She was going straight to hell on the fast train; that much was clear.
Valisy guided her out the door, into a dark-colored SUV. He squeezed his large frame in beside her. As soon as he closed the door, he muttered, “I do not prefer whores.”
Bethany’s head snapped up. “That’s your takeaway from a situation like this?”
Valisy appeared confused, so she clarified. “Out of this entire absurd situation, that is the one and only thing you want to complain about?”
He shrugged. “It is the only part I object to.”
She huffed. “Somehow, I always imagined I would end up married. I just never thought my husband would be assigned to me by a Russian mobster.”
“You talk too much…say things others should not hear. Please remember, I can now be held responsible for the words that come out of your mouth,” Valisy said.
“I’m sorry for you. You seem to be getting the short end of the stick in several regards.”
His brow furrowed. “I would not be the first man to find himself wed to a woman who despised him.”
“Despise? Where did you get that? No one is despising anyone here. We’re both just people. This will either work out or it won’t. Tossing around inflammatory rhetoric w
on’t help.”
“Still, it’s clear you do not want me.”
“I never once said that. The only thing I don’t like is not having a choice. Given one, I might have even chosen to get to know you.” Although she started her tirade out strongly, by the time she finished, her voice was breathy, even to her own ears.
His head snapped up, and his eyes blazed the furry he had kept carefully hidden up until that point.
“Sending mixed messages to a man such as me would be extremely poor judgment on your part. I thought you were smarter than that.”
Bethany felt both chastised and rejected by her new fiancé. It was, however, courteous of him to set good boundaries right from the beginning. She caught his message loud and clear—he was the one who did not want to be married to her. That was fine by her. She had a big place. It would be all too easy to just ignore him until he went away. As frosty cold as he was, he probably wouldn’t even notice.
Bethany turned to look out the window. As she watched large snowflakes drift to the ground, she began to feel cold, isolated, and alone. The thought occurred to her that she should just get used to the feeling, since it would be her constant companion for the next year. She wrapped her arms around her stomach, and hugged herself tightly. She managed to stifle the sob that welled up in her throat. Though she tried to prevent it, her body shivered slightly.
The enormous man beside her muttered a soft curse under his breath. She felt him shift in the seat. His warm jacket came down around her shoulders. He gently pulled it up and held it with his arms draped loosely around her. She instantaneously felt warm and safe. Damn, protecting her heart from this one was going to be a challenge. He was too nice for his own good.
Chapter 5
Praying for Love
~ Valisy ~
Valisy watched her face reflected in the window glass. A grateful smile slipped onto her beautiful face when he put his coat around her shoulders. She didn’t even object when he kept his arms around her. It gave him cause to hope. What a lovely smile his new woman possessed. He had noticed that a long time ago. All the men who worked for Timur had noticed as well. Bethany was a real sweetheart. Now, for a whole year, she was his sweetheart. It was like a wonderful dream come true.
His boss had made the match. He didn’t mind that Timur had to bully her a bit - that was to be expected. No beautiful woman would relish the idea of being with one such as him. The fact that she had stuck up for herself, and even managed to turn the tables on someone as old and experienced as Timur, was a great source of pride for Valisy. It meant she was a strong, smart, independent woman. Were he so fortunate, winning the heart of such a woman would be a great honor.
Regardless of what Timur had demanded about her servicing him, everyone recognized this situation for what it was. Timur’s goal had been to secure him an opportunity with her. It was a one in million shot that she would come to care for him, but just having a chance to earn the love of a lady was a blessing. A year was a long time. Valisy would bide his time, be respectful, and give her a chance to get to know him. Though they were mismatched in every conceivable way, there was a small chance the pretty little thing might grow a genuine liking for him. That was enough for Valisy.
It was also a great honor that his boss had made the match for him. It would have been all too easy to find him a wife from amongst the loose women they normally associated with. The kind of money he earned would ensure she was extremely well provided for. The fact that Timur had chosen a lady for him was a real mark of respect. It communicated that he felt Valisy was a man of worth. Therefore, only an educated woman of good character was appropriate for him.
The old man’s sharp eyes missed nothing that went on around him. Valisy briefly wondered if Timur had noticed him mooning over Bethany. He had been unable to guard his eyes around her for months now. If so, that would explain Timur’s persistence in gaining her cooperation. Valisy honestly thought the man had overreached a bit on this one, but he was thrilled to be given such a rare opportunity.
Now that they were away from so many prying eyes, Valisy almost couldn’t take his eyes off her. He liked everything he saw of this one. She was beautiful, smart, and sassy. All the things he liked in a woman. The way she flew to his side when he was injured had touched his heart. Her hands were soft and her expression so worried as she tended his wound. He didn’t have the heart to tell her it really was a minor flesh wound. He just let her fuss over him. It was nice to have her undivided attention.
Valisy liked her quirky sense of humor and her personal style. She didn’t cake her face with makeup like so many women. Her style was sophisticated and understated. He particularly liked the way she wore her hair. Most of the women he knew had big, sexy hairstyles…what the men referred to as “fuck me” hair. Bethany’s hair was pulled back in a style that was more fun and playful. It seemed like she might be making fun of those sexier hairstyles. It made him smile as he wondered how many people actually understood her. She was different, and in his humble opinion, better than all the rest.
Even her choice in clothing was different. Tonight, she was wearing cream-colored dress pants and a matching angora sweater with something lacy peeking out the top. The soft, fuzzy sweater seemed to have gobbled up her precious body, making her seem small and delicate. As his eyes slid down her body, he wondered about her choice in lingerie. Valisy was surprised at how badly he wanted to see her soft curves. Good common sense told him that wouldn’t be happening for a nice long while. He could wait. Patience was his strong suit, and she was well worth waiting for.
Their driver turned the corner, and he knew they were approaching St. Paul’s. As soon as the large Gothic style church came into view, Bethany startled in his arms. She jumped back in the seat and bumped into him in a panic. Valisy tightened his arms around her and whispered in her ear, “Easy, little one. Just walk in and say the vows. No harm will come to you while you are under my hand.”
Her voice was a taut whisper. “Don’t patronize me. I know what’s going to happen to me the moment we’re alone. I’m not stupid. Your boss just arranged for you to have a new chew toy for a year. Is that the shelf life of a wife in your world? I suppose after a year, there isn’t much left to chew on.”
Valisy hadn’t been expecting the insult. Therefore, he took the full brunt of it right on the chin. It felt like being doused with cold water. His hope of earning her positive regard went flying right out the window.
“I think you are angry about the situation and you are taking it out on me. If I were as ruthless as you imply, I doubt you would be so quick to risk antagonizing me. Just remember we are both in the same situation. You would think me a swine if I spoke in such an insulting manner to you.”
She immediately turned her face into his chest. He could feel her body shake as she curled up close. Her voice was a gentle whisper when she spoke. “I’m sorry. I just feel trapped, like there’s nowhere to turn.”
“Yet you did turn to someone just now. In fact, you have sheltered in my arms twice since becoming my intended. I think that means you trust me more than you realize, and perhaps more than you think you should.”
Bethany fisted his shirt in her hand. Pulling her close, Valisy rested his chin gently on the top of her head. He continued holding her as she seemed to have no inclination to leave his warm embrace. After a few moments, he became aware that she was weeping. It felt very much like giving solace to a woman who had lost her husband, rather than one who was about to gain a husband. It tore at his heart to think she was mourning…regretting her decision so soon after making it. How did his life get to be so convoluted?
Valisy guessed that when young, attractive, articulate males met beautiful women, they enjoyed the luxury of falling in love, like in the movies. For scared-up, battle-worn men such as him, traditional romance was a near impossibility. Ladies normally avoided men such as him.
He wasn’t the type of man a beautiful woman would normally look at twice. Yet here she was,
cuddled close in his arms, like she belonged there. It was a small miracle. He planned to get on his knees the moment he walked into the church and give thanks.
The driver exited the vehicle and shared a cigarette with several of Timur’s men. They could see Bethany was distraught…that she needed him. His comrades were far too polite and respectful to intrude upon an intimate moment between him and his new woman. After a few minutes, her grip loosened. Gently turning her face up, he searched her eyes for some sign that she was okay with what was about to happen. Her large brown eyes were filled with tears. He gently rubbed them away with his thumbs.
“If you place your trust in me, I will never let you down.”
Valisy could see her lower lip quivering as she nodded. He placed a large finger against her lips and spoke softly. “Come, pray at my side. God will surely protect such a delicate angel as you.”
Valisy knocked on the window twice, and the driver pulled the door open.
***
~ Bethany ~
Bethany held fast to the big Russian’s hand as he led her through the huge double doors of the church. Her head was spinning with a thousand different thoughts. One seemed to rise above the rest. She actually liked the man she had been forced into accepting. Though she feared him and the life he led, she also liked him. Swallowing down her anxiety, she forced her feet to keep moving, each step taking her closer to the murky underworld her new husband inhabited. Unfortunately, each step was also taking her further away from the life of safety and predictability she had known before. She honestly didn’t know how she felt about that. Her one overriding wish, if she were being honest, was for this to all somehow work out without anyone getting killed, especially the good-looking Russian destined to be her temporary husband.
Valisy seemed harmless enough, compared to the other men in Chensnokov’s employ. She suspected he was just following orders, and up for a year of free sex. She prayed everything would be okay. If wishing could make it so, everything would golden.
