Maria is in the room with me, bouncing around with her usual energy, picking through her closet, searching for the perfect outfit, as if it’s just another ordinary night. “We’re going to have fun, Zoe,” she says, her voice light and carefree. “It’s going to be better than last time, I promise. We’re taking more friends this time. It’ll be a blast!”
I smack my lipstick in place and roll my eyes. “Girl, shut up.” I slide her a scowl. “The last time I was at the club with you, you left me for a man.”
She giggles heartily, a blush forming on her cheeks. “Didn’t you see how handsome Volkov was?” she asks. “I couldn’t have said no.”
“Slut!” I start to curl my lashes. “You throw your best friend to the backseat as soon as you see a man.”
“Not just any man; it’s Volkov.” She finally chooses a dress and turns to me. “And in the spirit of confession, the real reason I left with Volkov was because I spotted my Dad in the club.”
I pause. “What?”
She nods. “He wasn’t supposed to be there that night, but he came in. So I had to dip it. He hates to see me in clubs. Plus, he and his men get overprotective, so I had to leave with Volkov, for his safety, as well.”
I still don’t understand, so I ditch the lash curler and just turn to face her. “Your dad goes to clubs?”
“It’s kind of his thing,” she says, laughing. “Especially if he owns the club.”
A gasp falls out of my lips. “That’s your father’s club? Maria! You never mentioned it.”
“It never came up.”
I blink, still trying to process the shock of what Maria just casually dropped on me. My mind is still reeling from the idea that her dad owns the club—the one with the doormen that looked like they could kill a man with a single look. But what she says next makes my head spin even faster.
“My dad doesn’t just own that club,” Maria says, slipping into her dress like she’s the queen of the world. “He owns almost every club and bar in this state. Most of the high-end spots? Yeah, those are his. And the ones that aren’t? He’s either buying them or taking them over. It’s just… the way he does things.”
A slow breath escapes me. My pulse thuds a little faster as I try to make sense of what she’s saying. “Wait… hold on. Your dad owns almost every club? That’s… how is he that rich?”
She turns to face me, putting on a pair of heels and pausing mid-step as she looks over at me, her expression suddenly turning more serious. She lowers her voice a little, making sure to catch my eyes. “I’ll tell you. Only if you won’t leave me after this.”
I look at her, the weight of her words settling in my chest. There’s something heavy in her tone, something that makes my own heart speed up. “Maria, of course I’m not going to leave you. You’re my best friend. I’m not going anywhere.”
She exhales, and for a moment, her eyes soften before she starts speaking again. “Zoe… my father runs a crime family. He’snot just any businessman.” She pauses, biting her lip as if unsure of how much to say. “He’s the Pakhan of the Russian Bratva.”
The words hang in the air, and for a few seconds, I’m frozen, trying to make sense of what she just said. “Pakhan…?” I repeat, unsure of what it means exactly. I’ve heard whispers of Mafia families, of criminal organizations, but it’s like a whole world I never thought would touch my life—certainly not like this.
Maria nods slowly, and it’s clear this isn’t easy for her to talk about. “Yeah… he’s the leader of the Russian Bratva. A Mafia family. They run things in the shadows—clubs, drugs, protection, you name it. But it’s not just about the business. It’s about control. Money, power, respect.”
I take a deep breath, trying to process everything. “Wait, so your dad—your dad—is a Mafia boss?”
“Simply put, yes.” She shrugs, the nonchalance in her voice feeling out of place against the weight of her words. “I guess. That’s how it is. It’s how he’s always been. But it’s not something I’m proud of. I’ve never wanted any part of it. I just… I wanted to be a doctor. I want to help people. That’s it.”
I nod, trying to take everything in. “I get it. That makes sense.” I don’t really understand it all yet, but I’m trying. Maria’s always been open, always been real with me. But this… this is a lot.
She glances at me, her eyes a little more vulnerable than I’ve ever seen them. “Yeah. Most of my family’s against me going into medicine. They want me to stay in the family business. You know, run things. But I don’t care. I just want to help people. I want to do something good, you know?”
I place a hand on hers, giving it a squeeze, and she smiles faintly. “I’m proud of you, Maria. You’re doing what feels right. And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
She nods, her lips curving into a small but grateful smile. “Thanks, Zoe. I’ve always known you’d understand. And you deserve to know the truth.”
There’s a pause as she takes a breath, then her tone shifts, almost lighthearted. “Well, since you now know what he does, you should meet him.”
“Whoa, not so fast, Maria. Slow down.” I walk back to the mirror and pick up the curler. I’m content to peek into their life from the outside, not delve in.
“My father is nice,” she says. “Well, he tries. Though he hates meeting new people.”
I shake my head at her. “You’re not selling this, Maria. Trust me. With every word you speak, I don’t want to meet him at all.”
She twirls in front of the mirror like she did not just tell me her father is a Mafia king. “Come on. It’ll be fun. You’ll meet him on my birthday.”
