Russian Mobster's Forbidden Mistress by Bella Rose Read Free Book Online Page A

“When did you become such a woman? He’s a man staring at a pretty girl. How else would you have him look? Should he be repulsed by her?”
    Josef clamped his mouth shut. It was apparent that there would be no help from that quarter. There was no choice then but to deal with the situation as best he could and hope that no matter how it played out, he could find some way to do damage control.
    “Ah!” Mikhail said heartily. “It is so good to see you here, my friends! Let us sit down.”
    The Rusnaks waved them over. Josef tried to keep his expression pleasant, but he was failing if the facial expressions of the two Rusnak enforcers were anything to go by. They seemed tense. Both men were large with ruddy faces, broad shoulders, barrel chests, and were obviously packing weapons beneath their suit coats.
    “It’s good to see you, Mikhail. You know my younger brother, Ivan.” Igor Rusnak gestured to the slightly less smarmy version of himself to his left. Igor’s bushy black eyebrows seemed to have a life of their own. At the moment, they were bouncing up and down as he ogled Dani. “And could you introduce me to your lovely sister?”
    “Ah yes, of course!” Mikhail reached back and took Dani’s wrist. The fact that she didn’t resist suggested that she understood the precariousness of her situation. Mikhail dragged her forward. “This is Daniella.” Then Mikhail turned to Dani. “Daniella, this is Igor. Why don’t you take the seat next to his so the two of you can get to know one another?”
    Josef willed Dani to be cooperative. Whether it was the force of his desperation or her own savvy mind, she pasted a warm smile on her face. Holding out her hand, she allowed Igor to lean over her arm and give the back of her hand a kiss.
    “Igor, it’s so nice to meet a business associate of my brother’s,” Dani said, her tone cordial at best.
    Josef smothered a grin at the confusion on Igor’s face. It was obvious that the man was beginning to realize that Mikhail hadn’t been forthcoming about this whole marriage suggestion.
    Igor moved to pull out Dani’s seat, but Josef was already there. He seated her carefully and then took his own place on her other side. Mikhail’s gaze was shooting daggers at him, but Josef didn’t care. This farce wasn’t right. And the right or wrong of the matter had nothing to do with Josef’s interest in Dani.
    “So let’s talk details,” Igor said eagerly. His gaze raked Dani as she made a point of studying the menu. “You suggested uniting our families by marriage. You sister would become my wife, and in return we give you certain privileges regarding your ships waiting in port.”
    Dani looked up from the menu. She made a very deliberate show of looking at every single person sitting at the table and making eye contact. “I’m sorry, did someone just suggest that I was getting married?”
    “Your brother said you were amicable to the idea, yes.” Igor placed his hands in front of him on the table as if he were trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. “Is this not true?”
    “I actually hadn’t thought about getting married.” Dani’s tone was that of any young woman who had been surprised by a suggestion. It didn’t quite match the fire in her eyes, but Josef was hopeful that the Rusnaks wouldn’t see that rebellion for what it really was.
    “Really?” Igor looked askance at Mikhail. “You never told me that your sister was not aware of this plan.”
    “My father has sanctioned it,” Mikhail said, as if that settled the matter.
    Dani pursed her lips. “Surely Papa doesn’t want me to quit school, Mikhail.” Then she beamed at Igor. “Perhaps after I finish with school I might consider marriage. I still have two years yet to finish my degree.”
    Josef nearly laughed out loud when he saw how absolutely bedazzled Igor was by Dani’s smile. Nobody could ever accuse her of not being able to turn on the charm when she wanted to.
    “You know,