“You’re a fucking fool. But then again, you are just a boy.”
“I am not. I know what I want.”
“And what you want, does it supersede your father’s future? You will disappoint him. You will wreak all that he’s accomplished because of your selfishness? Have you thought of that? If you do not marry my daughter, I’ll ruin him.”
Levka slapped his lips shut. The dare was there, as big as a fucking rock, and Levka didn’t know what to do. It wasn’t a fair fight; Levka should have realized this before he even began it. Now he was stuck in the fact of how much he could destroy. It tore him in two. But there was no other answer. He couldn’t marry Luerna’s sister. Anyone else, he would have given in, but not this.
Yakov didn’t let him reply. “I’m going to give you another chance. I’ll talk with your father and see if he can’t beat some sense into you. If you fuck up again, I’ll know your decision. And then I’ll kindly assist you in your endeavor to never marry because, by the time I’m done with you and your family, no one would even dare dirty their hands with garbage. Sound like a deal?”
Levka didn’t respond. He got up and walked out.
Chapter four
Dinner
Luernashiftedthroughhersister’s closet. There were hundreds of outfits to choose from; thankfully, the staff organized them well. The dresses varied from club vibe to ballroom, and though she had picked out five outfits already, Kira decided that nothing she had currently in the closet was any good to wear to this ‘meet and greet’ dinner tonight.
With a last-ditch effort, Luerna grabbed the blackest dress and came out with it raised. Kira, wearing her ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ pajamas, fell back on the bed exasperated. “Levka won’t like that.”
Luerna knit her brows, glancing at it. “You have only talked to him twice. How do you know what he likes?” She sat down next to her. “And besides, this is you. Don’t you want to be you?”
Kira pressed her fingers into her eyes. “No. I don’t want to be me. The ‘me’ is a weirdo that no one likes, hence the reason I’m twenty-two, overweight, and still not married.”
Luerna pulled her arm away. “First, you aren’t overweight. You’re full-figured. And second, you just haven’t found anyone. You were the only one allowed to marry for love, and you wasted it.”
“You try falling in love with three brothers that won’t leave you alone.”
“Wish father would have been kind enough to let me choose.”
The comment went ignored, thankfully. Today wasn’t about her.
But what day ever was?
Oh god, even I can’t stand myself.
The postpartum was supposed to get better by now, wasn’t it? It’s been three months since she gave birth. The twins were finally sleeping more. And though she knew it was temporary, she basked in the last three days of perfect sleep. She felt rejuvenated, pieces of her shattered self gluing themselves back together again. And yet, the depression lingered like a fog, blocking the warmth from the rising sun.
Kira sat up. “Do you know what they say about him?”
“Who says?”
“The girls, the ‘working’ girls? The ones that walk around the parties like they’re family but are clearly not family.”
Luerna knew about the girls. Every wife did. Her husband was one of their main supporters. She never minded. If Rurik was getting his needs met by someone else, it meant he wasn’t coming to her.
“It doesn’t matter what they say.”
“They say he’s greedy.”
Luerna giggled, confused about what that could possibly mean. But she didn’t want to hear it. “He’s an eighteen-year-old boy; of course, he’s greedy.”
“He’s nineteen, and he’s a full-grown man. Have you seen his arms?”
Luerna suddenly felt very uncomfortable. She couldn’t think of a teenager’s muscles. It was wrong on every level. She got up and went back into the closet.
Levka was sticking into Luerna’s brain like a cancer. The way he stared at her, like there was nothing on earth he wanted to taste more than her lips. The way he stood over her, the broadness of his shoulders, his smell. All of it was playing havoc on her hormones, causing reactions she didn’t want to admit to. It was only because she hadn’t had sex in over a year. The moment she got pregnant, Rurik lost interest in her and picked up a beautiful Russian that he stayed with three nights out of the week. He paid for her living expenses and bought her a new car a few months ago. Luerna was free of his touch for at least six more months.
Unless of course, he wanted to try for more kids. Then he’ll be at her door whenever he gets drunk enough.
