We’re at a party.
Well, not exactly, but it’s something similar to one. Sergei is throwing a banquet to celebrate the unification of the Bratva and the Luciano families.
As in, my family.
I’m still unable to wrap my head around that idea, but I guess it’s too soon.
It’s been a week since I nearly lost Adrian. A week since I met my father for the first time and asked him to help me.
My husband, who’s currently placing a firm hand at the small of my back, is wearing his tux that might be responsible for making me fall further in love with him. He just looks so delectable in formal wear, as if he was born for this type of appearance. Add his sharp features and his untouchable aura, and he’s a sight to behold.
I’m wearing on a knee-length satin gown with a somewhat deep neckline that reveals a hint of my cleavage. Its dark blue color compliments my skin tone and makes me look elegant. When I was getting dressed, Adrian kept glaring at the neckline and asked me to change. But we were already late, so I put on a scarf, then removed it as soon as we were in the car.
That’s one reason for his sour mood, but the main reason is that I insisted on coming to this celebration.
He was against it, saying that Sergei will only be angrier if he sees me and that Lazlo won’t leave me alone. While both of those are true, I’m done hiding away like a porcelain doll.
If there’s anything I learned from temporarily losing my identity and everything that followed, it’s that I can’t keep watching my life like a spectator. I have to take action, even if it ends up being wrong. At least I will have tried, not sat around, waiting for someone else to make the decisions.
Besides, a marriage is for two. I need to stand tall beside Adrian and help him as Rai does with her husband, Kyle.
So what if Adrian always had the last word before? That won’t be happening anymore and I proved that by insisting on coming here. I had to pay for it when he turned my ass red with his belt last night—to the point where I can barely sit today—but it was worth it.
We stop in front of the lounge area where Sergei is sitting with Igor and Mikhail. He lets Adrian kiss his hand, but when it’s my turn, he pulls it away and glares at me. “Why, isn’t this the reason Adrian is losing his logic?”
A muscle works in Adrian’s jaw. “Pakhan. I told you—”
He lifts a hand, shushing my husband without saying it and fixes me with a harsh stare. “Do you have an explanation about your implication in this situation, Lia? An apology?”
I take a deep breath. “I was a victim, and I will not apologize for that. Adrian did what he had to.”
“Are you talking back to me?”
“I’m only answering your question.” I square my shoulders even though my hand trembles around my clutch bag. “We took vows, Pakhan, to care for and protect each other, and those vows are as precious to me as the brotherhood’s codes of honor. I’m not asking you to like me, since I know that won’t be possible, but please try to understand our situation.”
He narrows his eyes on me as if he’s contemplating whether or not to punish me for the insolence. Adrian tightens his hold on my waist until it hurts. I’m not sure if it’s in anticipation of Sergei’s next words or because of how I spoke.
Maybe both.
A few seconds pass before Sergei waves me away. I nod, congratulating him on the deal with the Lucianos and step back.
At first, Adrian doesn’t release me, but then he whispers in my ear, “Stay close and don’t cause any trouble.”
“You, too,” I whisper back and get on my tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek.
His expression falters for a bit as he’s taken aback. Since he makes it his mission to keep his distance from me in front of his precious Bratva, I’ve done the same and have never shown any PDA before.
However, now is different. Now, I intend for the world to learn that he belongs to me as much as I belong to him.
I slip from his hold and head back to the party.
The place buzzes with a lot of invitees in formal attire. There’s soft piano music playing, but it’s somewhat drowned out by the constant chatter.
As per Sergei’s other gatherings, this one is heavily guarded and has an open bar and scattered tables where guests can sit and chat.
I used to dislike such events with a passion. Partly because Adrian treated me like a stranger at them and partly because it always felt like I was an outsider, a fraud.
That I’d taken another woman’s man.
But I think I’m able to rise above that now. As screwed up as it is, I believe Adrian and I were always meant to be together.
He wouldn’t have been as compatible with Kristina. Just like I wouldn’t be with any other man.
I’m about to get something to drink when Rai waves at me from across the hall. I wave back, meeting her and her husband halfway.
She’s cradling her growing belly while Kyle holds her arm to help her balance as she hurries toward me.
He’s tall and muscled in a lean kind of way. He has brown hair and deep cobalt eyes that seem bottomless sometimes, almost like there are no emotions behind them. He used to scare me, because even though he has an outgoing personality, it always felt like he used it as a façade to hide his darker, more twisted side.
A side that Rai embraced without attempting to change him.
“Easy, Princess.” Kyle scolds in a loveable kind of way. “You can’t keep walking in the fast pace you’re used to.”
“Whose fault is it that I’m bloated?” She pokes him.
“Mine?”
“Exactly. So stop nagging.”
His eyes gleam with mischievousness. “No.”
She glares at him playfully, then shakes her head. “You’re hopeless.”
“For you? Fuck right, I am, Princess.” He stares at her with a mysterious look that she obviously understands, because red rises from her neck to her cheeks.
Wow. This is the first time I’ve seen her blush. I thought she was stronger than the world and incapable of feeling embarrassment or anything similar.
Seems she only feels that way around her husband. She looks impossibly feminine right now, unlike the tough, take-no-nonsense Rai I’m used to.
She clears her throat, elbowing Kyle. “I’m thirsty.”
“I’ll be right back.” He winks at her, then nods at me. “Mrs. Volkov.”
As soon as he disappears, Rai takes my hands in hers. “How have you been? Are you okay?”
“I’m supposed to ask you that. How far along are you?”
“Second trimester and it’s kicking my ass, I swear.” She smiles. “Kyle is making it more tolerable.”
“I’m glad you have him by your side.”
“Me, too. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without him. Did Adrian help you during your pregnancy?”
“Tremendously. He took care of everything.”
“He seems disinterested, but I’m starting to think it was all a façade. No one would’ve thought he would go against Granduncle for you, but he refused to divorce you, even if it meant saving his life.”
My lips part. “He did?”
“Yeah. Everyone called him stupid, including Kirill, who’s his ally. Me, however? I was impressed. Even Sergei is.”
“Sergei?”
“Yes.”
“The same Sergei who seems to want my head?”
“It’s all an act. If there’s anything my granduncle appreciates more than the brotherhood, it’s loyalty. Adrian showed loyalty to you and was ready to pay for his actions with his life and Sergei didn’t miss that. Give him time and he’ll come around.”
“You think?”
“I’m sure.” She pauses. “Now, tell me, how do I stop myself from wanting to pee all the time?”
I laugh as she intertwines her arm with mine. I always loved Rai’s company and I feel she’s the ally I need the most in the brotherhood.
After talking about her pregnancy for some time and giving her tips from when I was expecting Jeremy, I clear my throat. “Can I ask you something personal, Rai?”
“I’m interested to see what you think is personal. Shoot.”
“I know you and Kyle had an arranged marriage, but it seems that you’ve always been equal in your relationship. Is it because of your personality? Or did you do something to get there?”
She runs her gaze over me as if only just now figuring out something. “I know what this is about.”
“You…do?”
“You want to be Adrian’s equal.”
“Am I that obvious?”
“Sort of. But hey, Kyle and I go way back, so the dynamics have been different from the get-go and can’t be compared to you and Adrian.”
“But he always makes the decisions and he’s so closed off about it, it hurts sometimes.” My chin trembles. “I know he cares and he proves it with his actions, but whenever I ask something that goes against his agenda, it’s like I’m dealing with a completely different man.”
“That’s because he’s used to having his orders followed and reacts badly to the opposite. He’s a man of power and has been for as long as I’ve known him.”
“Does that mean I have to keep my mouth shut?”
“Hell no.” She frowns as if what I just said is blasphemy. “However, you might have to use unconventional methods.”
“Like…tempt him?”
She smirks. “That would work, too. But think about why Adrian is so smitten with you.”
“He’s smitten with me?”
“He is.”
“Which part?”
“Your softness, Lia. Your finesse, your elegance. He sometimes watches you as if he wants to stab the air for making you cold.”
Flames explode in my cheeks. “No, he doesn’t.”
“Yes, he does. At first, I chalked it up to something insignificant, but ever since I started looking closely, it’s so obvious.”
“Really?”
“Definitely. So you don’t have to resort to any methods to win him over. Just be yourself.” She rubs my arm. “Did I mention how proud I am of you for speaking up lately?”
“Thanks.”
“If Kirill or Damien cause you any trouble, I’ll stab them for you.”
“I’m sure Adrian would beat you to it.”
“He would! Also, I’m sorry about Vlad. He only has the brotherhood’s best interests in mind, but he can be such a mule sometimes.”
Yes, he can. And the only reason Rai would apologize on his behalf is because he’s her lifelong protector and ally. Now that I know he’s been hunting Adrian down with the intent to remove him and even kill him, I’ll never trust him again.
My husband’s enemy is my enemy.
I spend some more time with Rai, but soon after, Kyle comes to fetch her so she can sit down. I wave at them as I head to the buffet for some food, and I nod at some of the members of the Luciano family, like Lazlo’s wife, Sofia, and two of his brothers.
Not sure if he told them about me, but they don’t show a reaction, considering who I am to them.
I find myself searching for the man himself; I haven’t seen him since Adrian and I got here. He wouldn’t possibly miss this gathering since it is basically in his honor.
Even though it’s been a week, I still don’t know how to deal with the knowledge that my father is a Don. That this is some sort of a screwed-up version of The Godfather.
Adrian was furious when he learned that I promised to have a father-daughter relationship with Lazlo in exchange for saving him. But it was bound to happen sooner or later. No secret can be buried forever, and that includes my ties with the Luciano family.
Though, I have no clue how to deal with such ties. If Adrian hadn’t been disapproving of everything I’ve done since I left Russia, he would’ve been the one to help me brainstorm.
“Carina.”
I swallow my piece of lobster at Lazlo’s distinctive voice as I turn around to face him.
He smiles at me, the wrinkles around his eyes hinting at the many years he’s spent on Earth, probably ruining the lives of people like my own husband.
My father takes my hand and kisses the back of it with clear affection that paints a smile on my lips.
“Hi,” I greet. “How are you?”
“Not good. I learn that I have a daughter and yet she doesn’t seem to want to talk to me.”
“That’s not true. It’s just…” I lower my voice, getting closer to him so no one else hears us. “Sergei doesn’t know about you and me, and if he finds out, he won’t forgive Adrian.”
He releases a disapproving sound. “That makes two of us.”
“You promised not to reproach him about that.”
“Of course I will. He’ll answer for hiding you from me.”
“But you promised.”
“This has nothing to do with my promise. I need his explanation of why he married my daughter.”
“I thought you wanted a relationship with me.”
“I do, and that’s why I’m being patient and haven’t made a move.” He takes my hand in his and pats it, the scar on his face not as hideous as I thought, even under so much light. “But I will, Carina. You’re a Luciano and you need to meet your family.”
“What if I’m not ready?”
“Are those your words or Adrian’s?”
“Mine.”
“Then I will wait for you to be ready. And if Adrian gets in the way, I won’t stand still.”
“You’ll really wait?”
“I waited all this time for a child of my own blood. You think I can’t wait some more?”
I smile, genuinely this time. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you for existing, Carina. You made this old man’s life worthwhile. Now, come, let me introduce you to your family.”
“But I thought you’d wait.”
“I am waiting. What does meeting your family have to do with it?” Lazlo leads me forward and introduces me to his wife, brothers, and even their women, as Adrian’s wife. For now, as he whispered in my ear. Unlike what I expected, it’s not awkward and they don’t seem malicious. They’re more curious than anything else.
Nicolo, Lazlo’s brother and the Lucianos’ underboss, observes me intently as I talk about the weather and make small talk. Does he already know?
Lazlo only leaves me when Sergei calls him over. I expect them to go upstairs for their usual meeting, but they don’t. Soon after, Adrian appears from among the other leaders of the brotherhood and strides in my direction.
At first, I think he’s heading to Kolya and Yan, who’ve been watching from the shadows the entire night, but he comes straight to me.
I blink up at him when he stops in front of me. This is one of the few times he’s ever paid attention to me in the midst of the brotherhood’s gatherings. Usually, we walk inside and then he ignores me all night until we have to leave.
Are we going home?
Though I miss Jer and Winter since we spend most of our time together now, we can’t leave. Sergei would consider it an insolence.
Adrian stares at me and remains silent as his darkening gaze wreaks havoc inside me. Everything he does to me is sexual in its delivery. Whether it’s the way he looks at me or how he follows my every more. Even his voice has a special range that he only uses when talking to me. He doesn’t have to touch me to please me. Just being there is enough.
I expect him to usher me out, but he offers me his hand. “Dance with me.”
I’m speechless for a second, my gaze flitting from his hand to his face. “W-what?”
“May I have this dance, Mrs. Volkov?”
I stare at the floor and realize Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto is playing. A few couples are dancing, including Rai and Kyle.
“You really want to dance?” I whisper so no one hears.
“Why else would I ask you?”
“But everyone is here.”
“Exactly.” He smiles, motioning at his hand.
I take it with a huge grin on my face. I’ve always watched everyone who dances with envy, wishing Adrian and I were among them, but I’ve never had the guts to ask, not even when we were on good terms.
My husband wraps a possessive arm around my waist and I place a palm on his strong shoulder as we slowly sway to the music.
“I didn’t know you danced, Adrian.”
“I don’t.”
“You are right now.”
“Because you look beautiful.”
“You’re dancing because I look beautiful?”
“It’s a perfectly good reason.”
“Is that really all?”
“No. I need to stake my claim so that no fucker looks at you.”
“You haven’t done that before.”
“I thought I was protecting you before, but fuck that. If you’re going to be in the limelight anyway, I’ll be by your side every step of the way.”
“And…you won’t try to hide me away again?”
“Believe me, I would if I could. If it were up to me, I would’ve worshipped you away from onlookers, where you’re safe, but you’re not happy with only that anymore, and I would never drive you to the edge of a cliff again, Lenochka.”
Moisture gathers in my eyes and I hug him, resting my head against his chest. Because I know, I just know that something different just blossomed between us.
Trust.
