My heart was hammering in my chest. The prospect of a future with Marisha, of becoming the Bratva King when my father stepped down. Of having Marisha as my Queen… I swallowed and nodded.
“And father?” I asked, because he would be more than pissed, not just with my choice in woman, but with destroying whatever business connection he’d had going with Ivan. Because after this, there was no doubt that all ties would be severed. If not worse.
My mother’s frown disappeared and she smirked. “I’ll deal with him. Go to her. Protect her. And bring her home to us, Alexander.” She shooed me away and I started to leave before stopping to hand her my glass.
“Mother?”
“Yes?”
“What would you have done if I had said I didn’t love her? If it had just been about the sex. Would you have helped her still?” I asked.
Mother smiled. “I would have told your father and insisted that he go and rescue that poor woman. We don’t normally meddle in someone else's life like this—especially not someone whose parents were so traitorous. But she’s just a child herself and she’s been through enough without being married to that bastard. I see that now. I see her innocence and how it is archaic of us to hold her responsible for the sins of her parents.”
I nodded and left, rushing quickly back outside towards my car. Whatever else happened tonight, Marisha wasn’t spending another moment with Ivan, and if he’d harmed her, then I was going to make him pay fiercely.
*
Despite Ivan’s recent fall from grace with my family, he still had money. Old money that saw to it that his house was huge and his pockets lined.
As I approached the double gates to the property, I wound down my window and pressed the intercom button to get someone’s attention. I could see from here that the house was lit up, so I knew that someone was awake. Moments later a staticky voice came out of the intercom and I informed them who I was and watched as the gates opened immediately.
I drove up to the house, swinging around the fountain and parking behind Ivan’s car. Good, he was here. If he didn’t already know that Marisha and I were seeing each other, he would do very soon. I wasn’t hiding what, or who, I wanted for another minute, and Ivan would have to deal with it, or not.
I took my jacket and tie off, before unbuttoning the top of my shirt and rolling up my sleeves. If things got ugly tonight, which they no doubt would, I needed to be unencumbered to fight him. Another suit ruined. My tailor would get another nice paycheck soon.
But it didn’t matter.
I’d ruin a million suits, if it meant I could save her. If it meant I could bring her home and give her the life she deserved.
I opened my door and stepped out of my car, before leaning back in and grabbing my gun from the glove box. Ivan was unpredictable and enraged, who knew what he would be stupid enough to try tonight, but I would be ready for him in every capacity.
I closed my door and headed up the front steps quickly, trying the handle and finding it locked. I banged my fist on the door repeatedly until I saw the shadow of someone coming towards me, and when the door opened, one of Ivan’s security guards stared at me, his gun in hand and pointed at my chest.
“Mr. Zolotov isn’t in right now, Sir, but if you want to come back tomorrow, I’ll be sure to tell him you came round,” he said, a practiced speech.
“I suggest you lower that gun and get the fuck out of my way if you want to survive the night,” I replied, sounding calmer than I was expecting.
The guy at least had the sense to lower his weapon, but he shook his head apologetically. “I’m sorry, I can’t let anyone in while he’s not here.”
I took a step closer. “You know who I am.”
He nodded, his face paling. “I do, however…”
I took another step closer and tutted. “Then you know that there is nohoweverwhen it comes to my family. Now I suggest you get out of my way.”
He hesitated and that momentary pause was all it took for me to take the final step up and grab him by the throat. I reached for his gun, smacking it from his hand before he could raise it and then I began walking into the house, the poor security guard's throat still in my grip. He stumbled backwards, his hands trying to grab mine as his feet slipped underneath him.
I looked around, but saw no sign of either Ivan or Marisha and I threw the guard to the floor, before reaching into my waistband, pulling out my gun and aiming it at his chest.
“Where is he?” I ground out.
He held up his hands to shield himself, but his flesh and bones were no defense against my bullets, and he knew it. My gaze fell on the paneled wall by the stairs and the small dark spots that stained the floor beneath it. That could only be blood and I felt my temper rise.
“He’s not here, sir. He left to attend a business meeting.”
“And his wife?”
He swallowed, looking at me through his fingers, his face—if it was possible—paled further and I knew I had been right to trust my instincts. “Upstairs, in her room.”
