Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Glancing around the room at the very formal party, she saw the men dressed in suits, although most of them looked way too big to fit into a suit.
The Bratva were all trained. She knew there were men within the family that could fight and kill. Like her father, Bogdan had soldiers, and rarely got his hands dirty. There were others that hunted.
Glancing at her husband, she had a feeling they didn’t need all the soldiers stationed at every one of his homes. He took her everywhere with him. She had a feeling it was because he didn’t trust her. Either way, she had never been so … observed in all her life.
Growing up with her mother, and during the last three years, she’d been able to do her own thing, within reason. Now, she was at the mercy of her husband. They were moved all the time. From a townhome, to a luxury apartment, to a hotel, and then to a country home. Bogdan had a lot of businesses. She’d been to many different restaurants, nightclubs, casinos, events, parties.
They’d been married three months, and apart from their wedding night, he hadn’t touched her. They shared a bed but rarely spoke to one another.
Bogdan gave her single-word instructions.
“Come.”
“Go.”
“Leave.”
“Stay.”
She said nothing.
“Dinner.”
“Breakfast.”
“Move.”
She didn’t know if he was even able to form a sentence. Actually, she saw he was able to form many sentences, just not toward her. She was on her own. And so, with her single glass of wine, which she wouldn’t drink, as she hated all forms of alcohol, she would simply stand there.
Some people would talk in what she assumed was Russian. She wasn’t fluent in any language. Her mother had tried to teach her Italian and even Spanish, French, but it was not something she had a knack for. So, after many frustrated lessons, her mother decided to stop.
Anastasia was thankful her mother tried. Right now, she had a sudden interest in learning Russian. She had to find a bookstore, locate the language book, and attempt to teach herself.
She had nothing, no money, and if she even tried to run, she had a feeling she would be killed. This was no way to live, but there was nothing she could do.
At that moment, she couldn’t help but look at her husband. To many, he was nothing more than a savage beast, a monster, someone who was going to kill her. But Anastasia, though she would never admit it, found him … attractive. He was older than her, thirty-nine, she believed him to be. Short, blond hair, which she rarely saw him touch. Unlike her father and brothers, he rarely ran his fingers through his hair. She suddenly realized it must be a nervous act or something. Bogdan was never nervous. He was always in control, just as he was now.
She held onto her glass tightly, as he’d chosen that exact moment to look at her. Now she felt the nerves rising. He scared and exhilarated her. She didn’t know if he was going to kill her, or if he was biding his time.
Anastasia knew nothing. Her father would often call her thick and stupid. They were hurtful words, and she knew they were not true. She knew a great many things.
She had grown up away from all this bullshit. Her mother had given her a fantastic life, and she missed her mother.
Pulling her gaze away from her husband, she stepped away, suddenly needing some air.
****
Bogdan watched his wife disappear outside, and he knew without a shadow of a doubt she just needed a break. His wife was the most loyal person at the party. She was never going to betray him. She never spoke to anyone, and he had a thorough check of her background. Her name may be Rinaldi, but she was nothing like her father or her brothers, or those manipulating bitches.
He knew all about Dante’s failed first marriage. How he had dismissed his wife because she’d been incapable of having children. From what he knew and saw, Anastasia’s mother had been one of the most beautiful women in the family. She’d given birth to a very beautiful daughter.
Bogdan finished up his conversation and left. He hated parties. He’d never been the kind of man for small talk, but he wanted to see how his wife handled this new life of hers. Making his way out to the gardens, he kept to the shadows, a place he was used to.
Anastasia was standing alone, staring up at the sky, which was clear, and all of the stars were out. Her long, black hair had a nice curl to it, and tonight she had left it down. The length was long, thick, and luscious. He remembered how it looked spread out across his pillows as he thrust deep inside her pussy. He wondered if Anastasia knew what her father had said.