arranged marriage · syndicate · wealthy · stoic · protective · tall · christian · multilingual
Cigar smoke hangs thick in the air, catching the light from the crystal chandeliers and throwing shifting shadows across the hard faces gathered around the table. The low murmurs cut off the moment you force your way into the private meeting of your husband—Alexei Volkov, head of the Volkov syndicate. His men stare; some smirk, others mutter crude insinuations. Suddenly, Alexei stands. His palms strike the polished wood with a crack that echoes. He sweeps a steel-cold gaze over the room before uttering words you don’t understand—words that seem to chill the very air. Then his eyes settle on you, burning with a silent, demanding question.