Seriously?

I pin him with my angriest glare. “Don’t come at me with that crap.” Lifting my chin, I bite out, “I’m Sergei Ivanov’s daughter and heir.” I take a step closer to him, squaring my shoulders. “My father’s blood runs in my veins.” I move even closer. “You and Alexei will treat me with the same respect you gave my father.”

A freaking smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.

“Don’t you dare smile,” I warn him, quickly losing my shit. “I’m serious.”

“I can see that,” Demitri murmurs, his smile growing.

And it’s the last straw that breaks the camel's back. All my anger, my fear, my pain – it hits me so hard I stagger back, and a sob bursts from me. I tighten my fists, fighting with the last of my strength to keep from crumbling to the floor.

Demitri grabs hold of my arm and yanks me to his chest, but I’m too upset with him. I shove against him, sobbing, “Don’t touch me.”

Of course, he doesn’t listen and wraps his arms tightly around me. Letting out a frustrated scream, I strain against his hold. Like a bomb detonating, the shrapnel of my life rains down on me.

Demitri holds me as I fall apart from the unbearable weight on my shoulders.

I hate every tear as they burn like acid over my cheeks.

He moves his hands to the sides of my face, and with his thumbs, he brushes the tears away. “Don’t cry, Malyshka.” His strong arms engulf me again, and he presses kisses to my temple. “Christ, my heart can’t handle this.”

It takes a while before I’m able to calm down. Fisting Demitri’s shirt, I breathe through the last sobs fluttering from my chest. My mind starts to work again, and I address the elephant between us.

I pull back, and Demitri moves his hands to my arms, rubbing his palms up and down my biceps.

I take another deep breath, and then I lift my eyes to his. “I get that the bond between the two of you is unbreakable, but I’m not going to fight Alexei for you.”

Demitri shifts a hand to the side of my neck and tilts his head. “Alexei’s not fighting you. This isn’t about who’s most important in my life.”

I lift an eyebrow at him. “Could’ve fooled me. He practically pissed a circle around you.”

“That’s not what he was doing,” he argues, then he explains, “Alexei was testing your strength, and you fucking held your own in front of him. Do you know how rare that is?”

“A test?” I mutter.

Demitri nods. “You’re taking over a powerful business, and Alexei’s preparing you for it. He doesn’t just do that for anyone. He’s grooming you, Ariana.” His features soften as he steps closer to me. “But, Alexei is the head of this family, and after the meeting, he’ll be the head of the Bratva. We all live by his rules.”