Chapter One
Kira
Ilive for having fun.
Too bad I’m stuck inside my room because my father found out I had been sneaking off to clubs for the past couple of years. Even though I’m twenty now, he still treats me like a child.
It was great when he spoiled me and didn’t realize I had a ‘bad side’ to me. But ever since he found out, I’ve been grounded.
And when you’re grounded by a man who works for the Bratva, grounded really means you have guards watching your every move so you can’t sneak out.
“But Daddy,” I say, giving him a hug from behind as he eats breakfast at the kitchen table. Our maid, Sally, hands my father a plate of bacon, even though he already has one right in front of him. His belly is getting larger by the day and it’s been worrying me. My father might be strict but I don’t want him to die too young. “It was a mistake. I didn’t mean to go to that party. You have to forgive me. It’s been weeks now and you’ve been cold to me.”
He shifts away from me. “Kira, we’ve been over this. You snuck out to a party at my enemies house. Enzo Bianchi is a dangerous man. He’s a high ranking mafia member. He could have hurt you.”
“But he didn’t even know who I was. I didn’t even meet him. I wouldn’t even know what he looks like. Daddy, please. It was an accident. Don’t be mad at me.”
“Maksim told me that you got drunk.”
“Maksim wasn’t even there.”
“No, but his wife, Natasha was. And she told him that you got drunk. I don’t want my daughter acting this way. Sneaking out to parties. Getting drunk. You’re supposed to be my good girl. You’re not supposed to be acting like this.”
I slump in the seat across from him with a dramatic sigh. “Daddy, I’m an adult now. You can’t expect me to be a child forever.”
He opens up the newspaper – which he still gets in print despite it being archaic now – and grumbles, “Kira, you are my daughter. I expect you to be perfect. It’s not a good look for my daughter to be running around town, making a fool out of herself. You will be married to a mafia man someday. He won’t like it if your reputation is ruined.”
“But I’m still a virgin.” Whenever I would go to parties, it was just to drink and dance. I knew the consequences of getting with a man so I never did it. I may be a little reckless but I’m not stupid. My father would kill me if I got pregnant out of wedlock.
He gives me a questioning look. “I hope that’s true. Because… because something is going to happen soon.”
My spine stiffens. “What?”
“You know our family is at war with Enzo Bianchi.”
“Of course. He shot my brother in the back.” Maksim was trying to save his wife, Natasha, from Enzo and got hurt in the process. Fortunately, he’s ok but I know his pride was hurt. Enzo was left alive because killing him would cause more harm than good. That’s all I was told.
“Nikolai is in talks with him about making a peace deal.”
“That’s good then.”
“In theory, yes. But not in reality.”
“What do you mean?”
He shakes his head. “I’ll tell you later when the plans are finalized. Right now, you don’t need to worry. Just stay out of trouble, Kira. Go back to your room and spend your day entertaining yourself.”
“But I hate to read,” I whine. “And watching TV all day is boring. What’s there to do here all by myself?”
“You should have asked yourself that before you snuck out to a party at Enzo’s house.”
That was weeks ago and I didn’t know who’s house it was. I never even laid eyes on Enzo. My dad is punishing me for no reason.
“Fine,” I grumble, leaving the kitchen. I’m not going to get anywhere with him. But I can’t stay cooped up inside all day. It’s going to drive me insane.
I play the good daughter while my father is at home but the moment he leaves for work, I decide I’m going to leave. It’s just a matter of getting past the guard, Jason, out front. He’s as strict as my father is.
My father has cameras installed around the outside of the property but I’ve snuck past them enough times to know which areas to avoid. Getting outside is the easy part. I scale down the lattice outside my bedroom window and keep close to the wall. Then I ease around to the front of the house. In the past, I would run down the driveway in a section where the cameras can’t see but with Jason guarding the front, it’s going to be harder.
