Crimson Bride

Anja Kovač is her father's youngest daughter and his least useful asset — until his boat is seized and the Vuković syndicate asks for her by name. Luka Vuković has been buying Belgrade's waterfront one quiet transaction at a time since 1942. He keeps his blood in labeled jars, apologizes before he kills, and has been protecting Anja from a worse buyer for three years. She marries him for the deed and stays for the ledgers. Then Luka's own sire calls in a debt, and the payment he wants is a bride. Anja doesn't wait to be fought over. She walks into Nenad's compound with a suitcase and a lighter, and trades herself for the waterfront. Some brides get rescued. This one gets a deed, a fire, and a wedding under a customs shed awning.