Emilia smiled and sat between us. I didn't mind letting them get along since Isabella was a prominent insider. She was one of those with whom I felt more of a family dynamic than just an ally, all because of Mikhail.
“I think I've seen my better half brother.” He said during the reception of our wedding. “I guess I might be the next to marry after all.” I smiled. Isabella was indeed a naughty type of girl, and she fit Mikhail's nonchalance. Theirs is a bit of a toxic relationship. They were both possessive: both claiming to be the alpha. Although I watched them for years, I thought they were the perfect quintessence of romance. I, on the other hand, had been dead to romance for a very long time, and I thank my dear papa for it.
“I must say that Viktor hit a gold mine with you. If not for his power, he would've found it hard to get a hold of you.” Emilia stayed silent, and I looked at Isabella, who winked at me. It felt odd, but such courage dazzled me.
“Are you afraid of these people?” she asked her.
“Not really,” Emilia replied.
“Don't worry about them. You belong to Viktor now. Although all the men look tough on the outside, and I bet you they are twice as tough on the inside, they're all ravaging wolves, my dear. Even your dear husband himself.”
“We aren't wolves, Isabella, so tone it down,” I utter in a low growl, and she sighs. Emilia looked at me with a smile—a rarity I never thought I'd see in this gathering. But here I sat, attracted to it.
The once silent reception arose in little whispers I couldn't help but overhear.
“Our political rivals are enraged.”
“I think our letter got into the wrong hands.”
“Senator Romano started this war.”
“Yes, he did. If he had paid back what he owes, his daughter wouldn't have been associated with any of this.”
“They actually think they could use Emilia as leverage to get to Viktor.”
Emilia looked at me with concern. Her pupils dilated, and her shoulders relaxed, seeming defeated.
“Don't listen to them,” I said, and she sighed. “Stay with me, and hopefully we'll get through the evening in peace.”
“Can I talk to you for a moment?” Dimitri asked with his thumb pointing to the back.
I stood up and followed behind. Dmitri wasn't the type to talk much about anything, and for him to call my attention meant that whatever information he had was of high importance.
“What's the matter, Dimitri?”
“I overheard what they all said, boss, and from my perspective, things aren't good.”
“What do you mean?”
“One of our boys caught sight of Senator Romano yesterday.”
“Where?” I asked.
“Around Times Square. He said he overheard the senator on a phone call saying something about a raid in order to kidnap your wife.”
“You'll handle that, won't you?”
“I'm working on it. About a hundred of our best men are on guard. Twenty of them are at the main entrance, and thirty are behind. I assigned Marco to be in charge of your bride's bedroom. Marco and fifteen of his best.
“And the rest?”
“The rest are out here protecting you, boss. Anything can happen.”
“I see our political rivals have noticed that we aren't much of a joke anymore. Soon they'll know who's in power.” I stood, looking at Dmitri, who reached out for his lighter in his pocket.
“Anything else?” I asked, and he nodded.
Dmitri tucked his cigar between his ears. “There's something else.” He said. “I think we have problems with the Italian Mafia.”
