“Not like him,” she says, her tone frigid. “I’ve met many of you. You live by a code of conduct. And yes, some of you do wicked things.” She sighs, looking out the window. “The truth is, most of you do. I know this.” Shaking her head, she crosses her arms on her chest and pulls inward. “But I’ve never met a man with soulless eyes until I met him.”
He hurt her. The wounds he inflicted may be hidden, but she bears the scars of something terrible and cruel.
I’ll find out what he did if it kills me. I start with the most obvious question, though I know before I ask her that she won’t tell me.
“What did he do to you?”
Predictably, she pinches her lips together, rubbing her hands up and down her arms as if she’s freezing cold. She won’t say, and I suspect it’s because she doesn’t trust me. Not yet. She’s just seen me beat a man and threaten to end his life. Why would she?
I’ll find out what he did to her, if it takes me a year to earn her trust and respect. Even if I have to hire someone to investigate. I’ll find out what he did, and he will pay.
“Caroline.”
Though I know she won’t tell me more, it’s still unacceptable not to answer me when I speak to her. She looks to me, her eyes still shuttered after speaking of Andros.
“When I ask you a question, I expect an answer,” I chide. “It’s imperative that you obey me and respond when I speak to you. This time, I won’t insist, but in the future I will.”
At my challenge, her gaze narrows on me and her lips pinch tighter together. I’ll have her answer me.
“Are you a virgin?”
A beat passes before she responds. I watch as she swallows hard. “You didn’t want to know that before you took me? Didn’t you want someone pure and untainted?”
“Answer the question.” She will learn to obey me and answer my questions.
“No,” she says, and at first, I think she’s defying me. But no, she’s answering my question.
“You’re not a virgin?”
She snorts derisively. “Do you find it surprising that a woman who looks like me isn’t a virgin? That someone would actually want to put his—”
“Enough.” I can’t wait to get home to my own room where my tools lie at my disposal. One good round with a rattan cane ought to curb that tongue of hers. I wait until she’s closed her mouth and sits silently before I continue. “Now that I have your undivided attention, this is as good a time as any to talk about your duties to me as my wife.”
“Oh? Do go on,” she says, her voice dripping in sarcasm. “When you’re through, can we discuss your duties to me as my husband?”
Yes, she will definitely be giving me reason to punish her. I can’t help but smile at her when I squeeze her knee. “I’m well aware of my duties to you as your husband.”
A faint color creeps up her neck and tints her cheeks, and she swallows hard. I love making her flush like that.
“To begin, you’ll stay in my bedroom,” I tell her, and when her brow draws together, confused, I explain, “In the past, some pakhans have given their wives permission to wander freely, but for me that will be imperative.”
“Right. So… always? I’m not allowed to leave the room?”
“You will,” I tell her. “I’ll give you freedom if you earn it. But what I mean is you will not have a room apart from me.”
“Fair,” she says, but I imagine she looks a little relieved. “In fact, I’d prefer that.” I don’t ask her why, but it pleases me she acquiesces to this readily. Some of my other demands will be harder for her to swallow.
“You’ll be expected to obey me. I’ll demand obedience, respect, and honesty from you.”
“Of course.” Though she verbally agrees, her body language gives me a different response, her rigid spine and fiery eyes promising me that earning her obedience and respect will be a difficult task.
“You’ll accompany me to social obligations, both within our brotherhood and with extended brotherhoods.”
Her lips part and her eyes widen a little, but she swallows and nods. I’m a little surprised by her response. “Do you… do you have many social obligations?” she asks.
“As pakhan, I do.” I continue to list her duties. “I’ll expect you to bear my children—”
“No.”
I didn’t expect such a defiant and immediate response. She explains herself promptly. “I will not bring children into Bratva life,” she says. “Never.”
Though I dislike the defiance in her voice, I can’t help but admire her tenacity. The woman’s will is made of iron.
“Caroline, married couples within the Bratva bear children,” I explain to her. “We will need an heir to take on my role when it’s time.”