Chapter One
Maksim
Going to Chicago to make an arranged marriage deal is not the highlight of my day. In fact, it’s my worst nightmare.
Because I’m the one who’s a part of this arranged marriage deal and if it pans out, that means I’ll have to marry a woman I’ve never met. Hell, one I’ve never even seen before.
“Do I really have to do this?” I grumble to Nikolai, one of my best friends and high ranking Bratva official. I’m almost as high as he is in the Bratva but not quite. Not when my father is still alive and knowing my dad, he’ll never step down from his position as long as he’s alive.
Honestly, it’s fine by me. I’m the type of person who likes to party and have fun. I don’t love too much responsibility as itgives me more freedom. I know how much Nikolai is tied to his job. It’s a miracle he has such a good relationship with his wife, Irina, given how much he works.
“Yes,” Nik responds as we approach the beautiful mansion in the Chicago suburb. “We do. We’re going to speak with Lev Sokolov about marrying you to his daughter to prevent a war from happening. If he agrees, it will save many lives. And I need you here, Maksim. He needs to see the man his daughter will marry, otherwise he’ll be more inclined to say no. So do this. It’s your job. And I’m not giving you a way out.”
I glance over at my father, Gregor, on the other side of Nik. Gregor only nods, silently telling me to make him proud. At thirty, I’ve worked most of my life to make him proud of me but it’s never quite worked. He’s always seen me as too much of a fuck-up. This will change things.
I have to agree to this since I don’t want a war either.
A few weeks ago, Nikolai killed a man, Alexei Smirnov, an enemy who tried killing him. Alexei has contacts around the country that weren’t too happy to find out he had gone missing and it wasn’t hard to figure out who had done it. Lev was one of Alexei’s contacts – the most powerful one. Even though he works out of Chicago and we work in New York, he has power that extends far. Getting Lev on our side would be the best outcome.
It just requires a sacrifice.
Me.
I keep my mouth closed as we reach the front door. Nik set this meeting in motion and I can’t do anything to fuck it up, even though marrying someone I’ve never met sounds horrible. What if I can’t stand her? What if she’s ugly? What if she’s boring or mean or just plain awful?
I guess I’m going to find out.
A maid opens the door and motions us inside. “Mr. Sokolov is in the living room, waiting for you. It’s this way.” She leads us tothe living room where a stern looking man is seated in a high-back chair. The wrinkles in his forehead are permanently set.
“Lev Sokolov,” Nik says, extending his hand. “I’m Nikolai Volkov. This is Maksim Petrov and his father, Gregor.”
“So which one of you is going to marry my daughter?”
Nik blinks before clearing his throat. “This one.” He nods at me. “Maksim. He’s high ranking within the Bratva. Holds a lot of power in New York. It would be a good business opportunity for you to be sided with us. I know you once worked with Alexei but he wasn’t going to offer you any expansion opportunities but with us, you’ll be the most powerful man in all of Chicago if we work together.”
“I’m already powerful.”
“With all due respect,” I cut in, “why were you working with Alexei then? He was an idiot. Put himself in danger when he didn’t need to. Started a war when he didn’t need to. Is that what you wanted?”
Nik and my father give me a surprised look. They never expected I would help in this situation but I’m more mature than they give me credit for. I may not want this marriage but I will not let any man talk down to my best friend. I will not be responsible for a war.
Lev doesn’t reply but he looks like he’s considering my words.
“We have more power than Alexei ever did in New York,” my father explains. “By combining our forces, we’d all benefit. This is why we propose a deal. My son marries your daughter to ensure peace. It would keep all of us in line.”
“Give my daughter over to the enemy?”
“We’re not the enemy,” Nik says.
“But you killed Alexei, who was my business partner.”
Nik sighs. “Alexei was impulsive. He came after me and I had to do what I had to do to save my wife’s life. Wouldn’t you do anything to save your daughter’s life? If you attack us for Alexei’sdeath, your daughter will only get hurt in the process. Do you want that? But if we marry her to Maksim, who I can assure you will never hurt her, then you’ll gain more power you’ve never even dreamed of.”
Lev looks me straight in the eye. “You won’t hurt her?”
“I won’t,” I promise. “I have no desire to hurt women.” Only fuck them and have fun with them but Lev doesn’t need to know that. I’m guessing once I’m married, my womanizing ways will have to be done.
“You know this is a good deal,” Gregor says. “We’ve come to your home, unarmed. You could have hurt us if you wanted to but you didn’t because you know we’re right. Let’s make this happen.”
