eyes are hard and fixed on me. He stinks of too much cologne, and I’m choking with it. “You know what’s at stake, Leila. Are you sure you’re willing to sacrifice the well-being of your entire family? I’m not so bad.” With a lascivious smirk he adds, “You’ll see, once you get to know me. I can be very…entertaining.”
I push past him, stifling a shudder of revulsion as I pass him, and set my purse on the kitchen counter. He’s right about the fact that marrying him is not my decision.
This only angers me all the more. “You’re a pig , Hassan. I’d rather spend eternity in hell than marry you. My father knows this, but he doesn’t listen. Just like you, all he cares about is himself and his business.”
“He loves you, Leila. He wants what’s best for you. He knows I can take care of you when he’s gone.” Hassan is picking lint from the sleeves of his suit jacket as he speaks. Always so concerned with his appearance. Vain as a peacock. “He’s aging, your father. He’s growing aware that the end of his life is near. He wants to ensure you are cared for. He knows I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted, and more.”
I huff out a laugh; as if I’d take anything from him. “There’s nothing you have that I want.” I whirl to face him, stabbing a finger at him. “Not from you or from my father. The only thing either of you care about is money and power. All my life, I’ve never wanted for anything. I grew up getting whatever I asked for and more, yet I left all that behind… on purpose . You think I’m living in this tiny apartment because I like it? I pay for this myself, with what I earn , something you know nothing about. You inherited your wealth. You’ve done nothing to earn it, except maybe kill people. I don’t want your dirty money, I don’t want your diamonds or cars or mansions. I don’t want you . All I want is to be left alone .”
Hassan isn’t the least bit fazed by my outburst. “No one is asking what you want, Princess.”
“I KNOW!” I shout. “No one has ever asked what I want! And don’t call me Princess . That’s not who I am anymore.”
But Hassan isn’t done. “No one is giving you a choice about marrying me. You know what’s at stake. If you won’t come willingly, I’ll drag you, and nothing and no one can stop me.”
Hassan’s lips curl up in a snarl, and he’s suddenly pressed close against me, gripping my arms in a painful vise-like grip. I didn’t even see him move. His eyes turn to flickering flames, orange and hungry and hot.
“You’re mine… Princess . There’s nothing you can do about it. You belong to me . I have purchased you, do you understand that? Your existence is mine , bought and paid for.” His breath is foul, putrid and sour. “So here’s what’s going to happen: you are coming with me to Chicago, and we are going to be married, whether you like it or not. The alliance will be sealed, and your family’s wealth will be mine, as will your body and your future. I own you. I own your father, your mother, your cousins. Everyone. Everything. Their lives depend on your actions. So either you go home on your own, or I drag you kicking and screaming back to Chicago. Perhaps I’ll tie you up and put you in the trunk of my car. Would you like that? Bound and gagged? Either way, in two weeks you’ll sign the fucking contract and you’ll speak the fucking words, do you hear me? I will do whatever I must to ensure this is done according to our laws.”
“And if I resist you?” I ask with a bravado I don’t feel.
Hassan’s eyes spark and flare, orange flames glinting with threat.
“I’ll make you regret it,” he hisses. “I won’t harm a hair on your head, oh no. You’re too valuable to me intact. But you will regret it, let’s just put it that way. You understand what I’m saying? No? Then let me spell it out for you—everyone you love, everyone you care about will pay the price for your
I push past him, stifling a shudder of revulsion as I pass him, and set my purse on the kitchen counter. He’s right about the fact that marrying him is not my decision.
This only angers me all the more. “You’re a pig , Hassan. I’d rather spend eternity in hell than marry you. My father knows this, but he doesn’t listen. Just like you, all he cares about is himself and his business.”
“He loves you, Leila. He wants what’s best for you. He knows I can take care of you when he’s gone.” Hassan is picking lint from the sleeves of his suit jacket as he speaks. Always so concerned with his appearance. Vain as a peacock. “He’s aging, your father. He’s growing aware that the end of his life is near. He wants to ensure you are cared for. He knows I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted, and more.”
I huff out a laugh; as if I’d take anything from him. “There’s nothing you have that I want.” I whirl to face him, stabbing a finger at him. “Not from you or from my father. The only thing either of you care about is money and power. All my life, I’ve never wanted for anything. I grew up getting whatever I asked for and more, yet I left all that behind… on purpose . You think I’m living in this tiny apartment because I like it? I pay for this myself, with what I earn , something you know nothing about. You inherited your wealth. You’ve done nothing to earn it, except maybe kill people. I don’t want your dirty money, I don’t want your diamonds or cars or mansions. I don’t want you . All I want is to be left alone .”
Hassan isn’t the least bit fazed by my outburst. “No one is asking what you want, Princess.”
“I KNOW!” I shout. “No one has ever asked what I want! And don’t call me Princess . That’s not who I am anymore.”
But Hassan isn’t done. “No one is giving you a choice about marrying me. You know what’s at stake. If you won’t come willingly, I’ll drag you, and nothing and no one can stop me.”
Hassan’s lips curl up in a snarl, and he’s suddenly pressed close against me, gripping my arms in a painful vise-like grip. I didn’t even see him move. His eyes turn to flickering flames, orange and hungry and hot.
“You’re mine… Princess . There’s nothing you can do about it. You belong to me . I have purchased you, do you understand that? Your existence is mine , bought and paid for.” His breath is foul, putrid and sour. “So here’s what’s going to happen: you are coming with me to Chicago, and we are going to be married, whether you like it or not. The alliance will be sealed, and your family’s wealth will be mine, as will your body and your future. I own you. I own your father, your mother, your cousins. Everyone. Everything. Their lives depend on your actions. So either you go home on your own, or I drag you kicking and screaming back to Chicago. Perhaps I’ll tie you up and put you in the trunk of my car. Would you like that? Bound and gagged? Either way, in two weeks you’ll sign the fucking contract and you’ll speak the fucking words, do you hear me? I will do whatever I must to ensure this is done according to our laws.”
“And if I resist you?” I ask with a bravado I don’t feel.
Hassan’s eyes spark and flare, orange flames glinting with threat.
“I’ll make you regret it,” he hisses. “I won’t harm a hair on your head, oh no. You’re too valuable to me intact. But you will regret it, let’s just put it that way. You understand what I’m saying? No? Then let me spell it out for you—everyone you love, everyone you care about will pay the price for your
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