I rolled my eyes, though a faint smile tugged at my lips. Elif had a habit of wearing either white, black, or red to meetings, she claimed those colors expressed power and authority, and above all, suited her. And that idiot Roman always tried to buy her something afterward to match what she had worn. Last time, it had been a pair of black heels from a brand-new collection. The large doors finally opened and the women began to file out, some chatting quietly in groups, others alone. I quickly replied to my brother’s message. My gaze suddenly met that of the woman stepping through the doorway, Ksenia Kosnetzov. She was in her forties but looked older; life had not been kind to her. Being married to Vassili was trial enough, but losing heronly son thirteen years earlier had destroyed her. I held her gaze, filled with hatred and bitterness, my fists tightening in my pockets as I straightened to my full height. She clenched her jaw, then looked away and left, nodding briefly to the others.
Was Ksenia aware of this trafficking business? Did she turn a blind eye to her husband’s actions? It was possible. Whatever sense of honor she might once have had had died long ago, ever since Vassili had brought his pregnant mistress into their home. A mistress who had later died in a so-called accidental fall down the stairs, taking the baby with her.
My attention returned to the doorway as Elif’s voice rang out. She appeared moments later, wearing a red dress that highlighted her complexion and dark eyes. She walked arm in arm with Maria Vasilkova, the two were inseparable, Maria was a little older, but that had never stopped their closeness. When Elif first arrived, Maria had been her strongest support at the table, defending and guiding her until she found her footing. Since then, they had always watched each other’s backs.
“I’ll send you the guest list for the gala tomorrow. Get some rest,moya sestra, you look exhausted,” (my sister) Maria said, hugging my sister-in-law. “Don’t worry about me,” Elif replied warmly. Maria stepped back, gave me a gentle tap on the arm as she passed, and left the building. I nodded in return. I was about to join Elif when Ekaterina Yelsky approached. Her pale blue eyes, lighter even than mine, met my gaze briefly before shifting to my sister-in-law. She was an intelligent woman, keenly aware of where danger lay and whom to distrust. She was the eldest daughter of Pavel Yelsky, who had taken over the family after his father’s death more than a year ago, a succession we hadn’t welcomed. Ekaterina was tall, nearly my height, with striking features and long, straight, almost white-blond hair. Elif and Maria often joked that women envied her hair, assuming it wasdyed, but according to Elif, it was natural, and if Elif said so, it was true.
Ekaterina embodied the ideal of Russian feminine beauty, not only physically but in her composure. I had never seen a woman so controlled, so measured in emotion, gesture, and speech. She was as eloquent as Elif, if not more. Elif often said she could have gone far if she hadn’t been born to Pavel Yelsky, a first-class misogynist. Unfortunately, we didn’t choose our parents. Elif lifted her head and smiled as Ekaterina spoke quietly to her. I couldn’t hear their words, but Ekaterina’s expression never shifted. She finally handed Elif an envelope and walked away without sparing me another glance. Elif watched her go, lips pressed tight, concern flickering in her eyes before she masked it. I joined her, having just replied to my brother’s message. She slipped her arm through mine, and we walked toward the exit without speaking, only resuming once we were safely inside the car, away from prying ears.
Samy opened her door and she thanked him before climbing in, I followed, and Marcus started the engine, pulling away from the manor. I leaned toward her to look at the invitation card she pulled from the envelope. “It’s for her little sister Ludmila’s birthday. They get along well with Ivan, so I think I’ll bring him. That poor child needs a change of scenery, living with that monster,” she said with a grimace. “And it’ll let me see the environment Ekaterina lives in.”
“You know she’s almost the same age as me,” I said, typing a message to Sally asking, again, about the merger documents. The merger was with a petroleum branch of a large Canadian corporation. On paper, it would allow us to supply fuel to our ships in exchange for a generous percentage of profits. We used a dredging business to launder much of our income, and this deal would open a new route into Canada, bypassing Yelsky, Vassili’s new lapdog. The merger had to happen. Without it, wewere in serious trouble. “I don’t feel it, Sasha,” Elif murmured suddenly. I froze and looked at her profile, when she said things like that, it was never good. She sensed trouble before it arrived so I put my phone away. “What do you mean?” “I don’t know… something about Ekaterina feels wrong. When she took her mother’s place seven years ago, I worried, she was so young, barely seventeen but she managed brilliantly. She was sociable, bright, full of ideas” she said a smile on her lips. “Then, after the first year, she changed. She withdrew, spoke less, only when spoken to. Now she’s cold, distant, completely closed off” she sighed, rubbing her forehead, and I clenched my jaw. “I should have acted sooner. I should’ve noticed sooner, but I was pregnant with Ivan…” I shook my head and took her hand. That was Elif, always trying to save everyone, forgetting herself “Elif…” “I can feel it, Sasha. Something’s wrong with her,” she whispered, resting her head against the headrest, fingers tightening around mine. I didn’t answer. If Elif sensed something, then something was wrong, “I’ll go with you to the birthday,” I said finally. “I’m better than that idiot at reading people”. She shot me a sharp look. “Don’t call your brother that!” I smirked. Roman really was her baby.
I looked away, shaking my head, and returned my attention to my phone, still no reply from Sienna. She had left the villa early again that morning, at least not sneaking out this time. Kenji had come to pick her up, and I’d watched them leave, powerless, bound by the promise I’d made to Nikolai months ago: not to pressure her, not to scare her away and risk Selina following her. Now I knew Selina wouldn’t leave, but I didn’t want Sienna to go either. And it wasn’t as though she truly could. I wouldn’t let her. But I didn’t want this house to become her prison. I needed a solution. Tracking her phone was risky, our technicians might talk, and Niko would find out. But then an idea began to form.
“What do you have planned this afternoon?” I asked Elif as we neared the villa, a plan taking shape in my mind. “A little introductory session for Selina and Sienna, if she’s home,” she replied with a small smile. “An introduction?” I repeated as the gates opened and Yuri waved us through. “Yes. I want to explain how the meetings work, how voting goes. Introduce them the members, so they won’t be lost if they ever have to replace me…” “Replace you ?” I repeated, as a feeling I didn't like at all crept into my veins. Elif smiled at me and placed her hand on my arm, the hand that had wiped away my tears when I was a kid, the hand that had patted my back to help me fall asleep after a nightmare, the hand that had defended me.
“I’m human too, Sasha. We never know what the future holds. Better that the girls be ready, just in case. Even if Sienna isn’t an Ivanov… yet ” she smiled, eyes bright and tried to pull her hand away, but I grabbed it quickly and held it against my forearm. Her smile gradually faded when she saw my expression. "Don't ever talk like that again," I said, my jaw clenching as I felt my heartbeat quicken. “Oh, Sasha,” she whispered gently, covering my hand with hers, “I’m not going anywhere. Not before I see you become a father and struggle the way you made my husband.” Iclosed my eyes, trying to calm my racing heart. I had to control myself; my emotions must never take over. Emotions were the greatest weakness; they led to mistakes, sometimes even death. Memories came flooding back, memories of screams, the sound of weapons, and the smell of blood. But I pushed them away, burying them deep within myself. I swallowed the cry of rage that rose in my throat and clung to the coldness that gently enveloped me. I plunged into this feeling of indifference and ignorance, ignoring the claws of guilt that tried to grab me.
I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing, a life without Elif, just the thought was unbearable. “Don’t say that everagain,” I repeated, forcing myself upright, she studied me with concern. “You have to stop doing this Sasha” she said. “If you keep bottling everything up, it’ll explode, and you won’t be the only one hurt.”
“Don’t worry about me,” I said finally, she sighed, unconvinced, and stepped out of the car. I followed, just in time to hear the roar of an engine. A bright green sports car pulled into the driveway and stopped behind us. Roman jumped out, grinning, clearly pleased with himself. He’d bought another car, probably for racing. We often lent cars to our drivers to give them a better chance of winning as many bets as possible. Roman opened the trunk and pulled out a massive bouquet of red roses. “Oh my God!” Elif exclaimed, throwing her bag at me, which I caught in mid-air as she headed toward my brother, her high heels clicking on the cobblestones. “Beautiful roses for the most beautiful woman,”said my brother, handing the bouquet to Elif, who took it with a big smile, almost jumping up and down on the spot, which made me smile and my brother laugh. "They're gorgeous, thank you, Romy," she said, hugging him close, and he winked at me over her head. I just gave him the finger as I approached his new car, which was pretty nice."White seats and dashboard?" I asked after glancing inside. "White? But it'll get dirty," added Elif, stepping away from my brother as she leaned in to look inside the cabin. "No, it won't! I'll be careful," he said, smiling broadly and gently tapping the roof of the car, the idiot.
"Tell me, my dear Romy, what is your job again?" Elif teased, nudging him with her shoulder. "Your driver, your bodyguard, your delivery man, your actor, your first baby and your favorite," he listed. Elif looked at him, pouting without answering. That idiot always knew how to talk to her, or how to talk in general. Elif called him a smooth talker, which was undoubtedly the case. Nikolai and Roman were the most sociable among us. When itcame to negotiating, we sent in the holy trinity of Elif, Roman, and Nikolai, and everything was magically settled.
"I was thinking more about your job as an enforcer for the Bratva," our sister finally grumbled. "You know, your job that risks leaving some very difficult-to-remove red stains on your beautiful leather."
Indeed, Roman held a very particular role within our organization. His job of managing deliveries and races were merely secondary; his true function within the Bratva was that of the executioner. He was the one sent to collect debts, the one who punished, the one who avenged. His role was essential to the structure, without him and his men, there would be no order, no respect for hierarchy, no Bratva. Everyone knew that the slightest sign of disrespect toward the family would be answered by Roman, waiting around the corner, ready to greet it with blood. At first glance, people took him for an overexcited kid who treated everything like a joke, but the few times I had seen him in action had been more than enough to reveal the truth hidden behind that mask. They called him theKaratel, the Punisher.
“I’d never let a single drop of blood touch this leather. You’d have to go through me first,” my brother muttered darkly as he wiped an imaginary stain from the hood, him and his precious cars.
“Don’t say stupid things,” Elif sighed, hitting his chest lightly, Roman smiled at her and winked before kissing her cheek. “Well, that’s enough for now. I promised the guys I’d go see them and introduce them to my new baby,” he said, climbing back into his car after smacking my shoulder on the way past. By the guys, he meant those idiots he could never stay away from, Anton, Sergei, and Vadim. They had trained together in Detroit, carried out missions together in the Middle East, and now worked together under the Karatel’s command. Inseparable.
“Say hello to everyone for me, and tell them I’ll invite them over for dinner soon. I’m thinking börek,” Elif called after him, waving as she headed back inside, her face buried in her bouquet, smiling from ear to ear. “Any news on the merger?” my brother asked as he fastened his seatbelt, once Elif had disappeared inside. He could see her exhaustion too, we were all trying to give her as much space as possible. She already carried enough on her shoulders. Normally Roman couldn’t care less about the business side of things; paperwork bored him to death. But this time, he understood how serious it was. I shook my head, running a hand through my hair. Sally still hadn’t heard anything, I would have to call tonight. I didn’t want us to look desperate, but we had no choice anymore, this damn merger had to go through.
“Don’t worry,moybrat. If they drag their feet, I’ll pay them a little visit,” Roman said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. They were dark, reflecting the equally dark thoughts behind them. “I’m afraid force won’t work this time. These aren’t small-time merchants, but a powerful, wealthy organization in Canada. Beating them up won’t be enough,” I replied with a sigh as he started the engine, which roared loudly. “Yeah, but it’ll help us blow off some steam,” he laughed, then floored the accelerator, tires screeching on the gravel as he sped away, leaving me in a cloud of dust. I coughed, squinting.Bastard. Muttering curses, I headed toward the entrance, brushing dust from my custom-made suit jacket that I’d had tailored barely a week ago. I was going to strangle that idiot. I had just shut the door behind me, still grumbling, when laughter drifted in from the garden, followed by excited shouts from the boys. “What’s going on?” I asked Velma, who was carrying a basket of laundry toward the utility room. “It’s the boys, Mr. Sasha. They wanted to play blind man’s bluff with Mrs. Selina, but she was too tired,” she explained, shifting the basket on her hip. “The baby hasn’tstopped moving all day, so she went to lie down. Miss Sienna took her place instead.”
And before I could even process her words, I found myself standing in front of the glass doors leading outside. Yes, just hearing Sienna’s name was enough to send my body into autopilot.Damn it.
“Over here, Auntie Sienna!” Andrei shouted. “No, over here!” Dimitri laughed. Their voices overlapped as they ran around in circles, laughing, and there she was, moving carefully across the grass, barefoot, arms stretched out in front of her, her almost blond hair in the sunlight fluttered down her back. She wore beige linen trousers and a matching T-shirt that lifted slightly every time she raised her arms, revealing flashes of skin at her waist. My jaw tightened as the urge to touch her hit me hard. My fingers ached for her warmth, but she no longer wanted me to touch her. She no longer wanted me near her. And if she thought I would give up that easily, then she hadn’t truly known me during this past year we’d spent together. I had tried to resist at first. From the very first glance, I had known that if I let her see what lay behind my mask of indifference, I would never let her go. I had also known from that same instant that Sienna was anything but docile or controllable. Far from it. But it was too late, far too late. She was under my skin now, behind my walls, in the place where she saw me as I truly was, and where she herself became real. I wasn’t going to let it go. I would find out what had caused this sudden change, what made her push me away and I would destroy it until nothing remained. Until then, I would have to learn something new:self-control.
A self-control I had begun to discover after giving her that injection the other night. A self-control that had stopped me from going further than a simple kiss. A self-control that was already pushing me to my limits, already driving me mad. But I would not touch her again, not until she allowed it. If she didn’twant it, I had no right to force anything. I would wait, until I uncovered the source of the problem.
“I’m going to get you, my little rabbits,” she laughed, flashing her beautiful teeth as she moved dangerously close to Rafael near the dining table. He dodged her hands with a quick movement and escaped, knocking over one of the chairs as he ran. Sienna stumbled over it, gasping as she pitched forward but I caught her before she could fall, my arms wrapping around her waist and pulling her firmly against me. Her quick breath brushed my neck as her hands clutched my arms. “Auntie caught Uncle!” Andrei laughed, making the others burst out laughing. Sienna pulled off the blindfold and lifted her gaze to mine, those damn eyes that were going to kill me. Those damn green eyes.
“I’m the one who caught you,” I murmured, lowering my face toward hers. “Looks like I hit the jackpot.”
Her gaze betrayed her, sliding to my lips despite herself, and I felt a surge of triumph. Eyes never lied, no matter what the mouth claimed. “Jackpothuh?” she asked, arching a brow, her usual deflection, humor as a shield. A crooked smile tugged at my lips as I raised my hand to touch her flushed cheek but it stopped midair, so close and yet impossibly far. She watched me, waiting. Wanting.
I clenched my fist and lowered my hand, stepping back, slipping my arm from around her waist, my fingers brushing her skin as they withdrew despite myself.
“Never, malen’kaya gadyuka. Never,” I said, wearing what was probably one of the fakest smiles I had ever given. “You’re aunt looks tired, how about a football match?” I called to the boys as I took off my jacket, draped it over the back of a chair, loosened my tie, and rolled up my sleeves. I ignored Sienna with great effort, even though I could feel her gaze burning into me.
Damn self-control.
It was hard as hell.
Chapter 5
