Chapter one
Perfect
Kira wore a new, expensive ring on her finger, and her thumb kept fidgeting with it, trying to get used to the weight. She was now a married woman, and the idea was a boulder in her stomach. She barely ate dinner, and a drink sat in her hand for the last hour. There was no going back. She had said her vows to a man she barely knew. She dedicated her life and soul to someone who didn’t know her middle name. But it was too late to turn back.
Kira looked around for her new husband. Maxim was easy to spot as one of the few black men in the room. He was tall, unbelievably good-looking, and subtly muscled. Attraction on her part wasn’t going to be a problem. She had stared at his picture enough and fantasized about their wedding night for thelast three months. It motivated her to lose forty pounds to fit in a size that wasn’t embarrassing, and now it felt like the buffet table was mocking her. Her stomach growled, but she hardened herself against it. She wasn’t going to lose the progress she had made simply because she was married now. Kira was going to take care of herself. This was the best she’s ever looked. She had dyed her hair a strawberry blonde and did her makeup the way her sisters always did theirs. There was nothing wrong with her today, and yet, she still wasn’t able to look in the mirror without disgust.
Yakov approached. Her father was in his early fifties and losing his youth by the day. A cigar sat in hand and a bourbon in the next. Too many years of pleasures reduced him, but he saw nothing but success when he looked in the mirror. As much as she was annoyed by his confidence, she wished she had just a fraction of it.
“Polar bear,” he greeted, kissing her cheek. She leaned into him. Yakov always looked at her as if she were the most beautiful possession in the world. She grinned broadly, hoping he only saw her happiness and not any of her worry. “Do you remember why I call you Polar Bear?”
Kira adored this story. “No, I can’t quite remember,” she lied.
“When you were five years old, you wanted to go out in the snow so badly, but it was negative ten degrees outside. In order to make you happy, I had the servants dress you in every piece of clothing they could find. By the end of it, you were a hundred pounds of coats. The last one was the pelt of a polar bear I killed. You waddled out into the snow and could do nothing but lie in it and crawl on the ground.” He cackled. His blue eyes ignited with his adoration, and Kira melted into his embrace. “You make sure that you always get what you want, you hear me? If this man does not cater to your every whim, call me.”
“He is a good man, Papa. I have no worry.”
“Good. You deserve only the best because you are my daughter. A Morozov. And we obey no one.”
“Yes, sir.” She giggled, kissing his cheek.
He patted her on the back. “I cannot wait to see what beautiful children you create.”
As Kira watched him go, her smile drifted. All that love was to disguise a threat. She wasn’t new to it, and she thought she had defenses against it. But once more, Yakov Morozov proved why he was the leader of the Russian Mafia. His manipulation was on par to none.
If I’m not pregnant by the end of the month, what will he do?
Kira looked over to her sisters. The three of them sat at a table, quiet, watching, remembering their own arranged marriages. Each one of them was as miserable as their own mother. Kira refused to be like them. She refused to embark on this new journey in her life with anything but positive energy. She would not regret this. Kira firmly believed in the spiritual world. Negative emotions attracted negative spirits.
They won’t get me. Never.
With a high head, she took a step forward only to be cut off by two brothers. “You ready for your wedding night?” Gil nudged her with a knowing wink, replacing her white wine with a glass of vodka.
“What is wrong with you?” Her other brother, Alexei, took back the glass of vodka and replaced it with water.
“I’m just asking. It’s an important night. I want her to have a good time.”
Kira put the water on the table, searching for a way to escape this. A glance towards her sisters, and they were only giggling, knowing of Gil’s post-wedding speech. She nudged her head to bring someone over, but they only laughed harder.
“You got any questions?” Gil asked, snatching the glass of vodka from Alexei and drinking it.
Kira laughed at him. Gil, though adopted, never shied away or tried to be someone different. He was younger than her, but every bit the stereotypical protective brother. “Not for you.”
“I have plenty of practice.”
“I’m sure.” Gil’s time with the ladies was never hidden. In fact, most of what she knew about sex came from overhearing him brag.
Alexei was in no way amused. “I’ll see you at Christmas.” He kissed her cheek and walked away.
“Good, now that he’s gone.” Gil wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into his side. “If you ever need me, you call me. I will come in the middle of the night during a winter storm. You understand? He can be replaced. But not you.”
All three of her brothers were like this, overprotective, overbearing, and constantly in her space. It was aggravating for most of her teenage years, but now they could no longer intervene. “Yes. But I’ll be fine.” She pulled out of his arm, fixing her dress and hair. It was near the end of the night, and most of the crowd was drunk. She looked around for Maxim and found him talking to her youngest brother, Adrik. As the new heir to the family, Adrik was not as friendly as he should be, and Kira darted over, holding her white dress up for her heels. But as she approached, Adrik noticed her and excused himself before she got there. “What was he saying?”
Maxim glanced at her before looking around the room. “Something about stringing me up. It was boring, I assure you.”
“Don’t mind him.”
“I’m not afraid of your brother. He clearly has anger issues.”
