Always so superficial towards me. I just smiled, answered succinctly, and nodded a lot. While Papa was loving, he was still the head of the family and to him I was still a child and a female, even though I was twenty-four and successfully running the restaurant.
After our dinner was cleared, tea and coffee were brought out along with a variety of the pastries and pies I’d prepared the last two days.
Of course we had tea, it was a Russian restaurant. But having lived in America my whole life, I took a liking to coffee. And the few times we’d visited the old country, there was a coffee shop around every turn. Although there, they’re not coffee shops, but cafes. And our coffee was still much richer than most you found here. So, you could order a proper tea at the restaurant, but we served more coffee.
Once Papa dug his spoon into a slice of cheesecake, I reached for a crème brûlée. It was one of my favorite desserts to prepare and I enjoyed the delicate but not overly sweet taste. And it paired well with coffee.
“My littleKatushka, I need to speak with you,” Papa said after he swallowed his bite.
Tapping my spoon on the hard crust of my dessert, I smiled. “Yes, Papa?”
Niko put his cup and his spoon down.
My own spoon was standing in my custard while I held it in place as I looked between them. Papa didn’t often announce he was about to speak, he just did. And Niko didn’t often look nervous, but even though his face was stoic, the vein in his forehead was prominent and the artery in his neck was pulsing wildly.
Papa took another bite of cheesecake, then sipped his coffee to wash it down. This happened in a matter of seconds but it felt like hours as I held my spoon in place. My own heart beat so fast I knew my own artery was about to burst from my neck.
“Darling, the time has come. You are to be wed.” He took another bite of his cheesecake.
Nodding gently even though my heart skipped a beat then continued at rapid pace, I said, “I wondered when this day would come.” Trying to seem calm and agreeable, I finally scooped a bite of custard and said, “I’m excited to hear who you have chosen for me, Papa,” before finally tasting the dessert I prepared. Honestly, I was surprised it had taken this long. If you asked the right circle, I was an old maid.
“You’ll marry Hawk Jones. He’s an honorable man.”
Custard didn’t seem like a food you could choke on, but indeed it’s quite possible, especially with a sugary crust.Coughing and putting my spoon down, I picked up my coffee and took slow sips because of the heat.
“You alright, myKatushka?” Papa asked.
Finally clearing my throat, I said, “I’m sorry. Forgive me, Papa. I thought you said I was to wed one of the bikers that comes to visit you. You shouldn’t jest while we dine.” I’d never actually met any of them, but I’d overheard names enough times.
“I’m quite serious. He’ll be visiting soon. We’ll arrange for a proper reception at a later time but for now we will have a private ceremony with a small gathering after. You should make arrangements for your things to be packed and tie up any affairs here.”
My head was spinning.Pack? “Wait. They live far away, somewhere south. And they’reoutlaws.”
Niko said, “Now Katya, Hawk is a friend. He’s a good man.”
“Et tu, Brute?” I couldn’t believe he was encouraging this outlandish idea. Unshed tears blurred my vision and I stood. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“Katarina,” Papa declared, but I didn’t stop.
Instead I rushed down to the kitchen and grabbed my driver. “We’re leaving. Now.”
I wouldn’t run away. Everyone worked for my father anyway so nobody would help me and everyone in the area would quickly have me returned to him. But if he thought I was going to finish my dessert quietly and smile after he shared hisplan he was sorely mistaken.
Instead, I’d go get my frustration out in the training room before I cried myself to sleep in my bedroom,while it was still mine. Rushing outside, my driver was right behind me and I practically flew into the car once he opened the door. Looking in the rearview I finally let a tear roll down my cheek as I watched us pull away from the restaurant, and neither of them even ran after me.
Chapter 6
Hawk
The ride to Jersey was always long, but this time it dragged on. Ma and I still weren’t on the best terms and neither of us could decide who was in the right. She’d known all along this was the plan and never told me, even after Pops died and Petrov sent that letter to her.He handed it to me to pass to her.Unbelievable. It was in my hands that day I rode up to ensure he knew business would not be affected by the loss of Raven.
I contacted Petrov, Sr. the day Ma showed me the letter. He apologized but said it was Pops who had instructed him to share that with Ma first if something happened to him. We couldn’t speak about much on the call. Even with Keys and theguys that worked for him, we could never trust a call wasn’t monitored. Every hacker had their unicorn was what Keys explained. Someone who was just out of reach. So the call was quick and he said we’d speak more once I got there.
Senior told me to get my affairs in order, whatever that meant, and arrangements would be made soon. The following day, Junior called and invited us up. When he suggested I bring Ma, I asked if I needed a tux.
“We’ll take care of that here. I spoke to Shiv and she had all the measurements still from Lacy’s wedding. We’ll handle everything. And we’d love for you to stay with us,” Petrov, Jr. had told me on the phone.
Once I realized this was happening, at least the Petrovs thought so, I told Ma and Penny to get their bags ready and plan to follow us. I wanted to chat with Senior first, but ultimately expected to be coming home with a wife. I wasn’t about to make it easy on them, though.
