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“If this marriage is to continue, then you need to pledge absolute fealty to this family. I will not tolerate any missteps moving forward. This is your last chance, Nik. I hope you know what you’re doing,” Andrei said, voice steady yet laced with warning.
“Whatever you need me to do, I will do it,” I said, mustering up as much sincerity as I could find. “I want nothing to do with the Caprises or any of their associates. Anastasia is too important to me.”
Andrei nodded his acknowledgment. “That being said, you can’t go back to them. Not even to tie up loose ends. Moving forward, you will be considered to be on a probationary period to ensure you don’t act as a spy for the Capris family. You will be monitored and tracked until you’ve earned our trust. In exchange for your service and any information you might have on your old boss, we will offer you protection and the benefits of being in this family. You have my word on that.”
Without hesitating, I agreed. “You have my word as well. I know I caused more than enough harm to Anastasia and this family, and I will never be able to apologize enough for that. But I will do my best to make amends. I’m ready to put my previous associations behind me.”
“Well said,” Andrei commented, not giving away what he truly thought about my statement. “Some documents will be sent to you shortly, and I will need some things from you. A copy of the marriage license, records of any assets you have, among others.”
With a nod, I was at least glad my fate didn’t wasn't worse than being monitored and completely at the will of the Levovs.
“While I wish I could’ve said this under more positive circumstances, congratulations on the marriage,” Andrei added, lifting a brow of interest. “For Anastasia’s sake most of all, I hope you’ll be sticking around.”
It was a slight jab, but I knew I deserved it. I deserved a lot more than what I was being dealt, and I was well aware of it.
The meeting continued as Andrei went over more of our terms and moved into discussing the attack, how they were to up security at all warehouses and would be on alert for any future hits.
As they talked, it became increasingly clear how underpowered Erasmo was.
Whether he had been overestimating his numbers and strength or if he was simply deluded into thinking he could possibly win against the Levov forces, Erasmo was sorely mistaken.
It seemed that with Ari and his branch entering the scene, he was about to be given a run for his money.
While Anastasia didn’t have much of anything to contribute to the discussion, I felt her hand reach for mine under the table, and she gave me a reassuring squeeze.
As much as I felt out of my element and knew I was treading on thin ice moving forward, I was glad she was happy. I only ever wanted her trust back, and while I couldn’t help but feel like I had traded places with her, I was more than willing to shoulder it if it meant getting to keep her in my life.
Overall, everything was going well. Despite my slight apprehension, the future ahead of us seemed promising, and with Andrei’s word, I felt more secure than before.
“Now, Ari you wanted to discuss potential trade opportunities—”
A loud, ground-shaking blast cut Andrei off at once, and the force from it shoved me from my seat. I collided with something as it knocked the air from my lungs, and I struggled to regain that oxygen.
My brain seemed to rattle within my head, and everything immediately felt wrong.
Even when I opened my eyes again, I couldn’t completely see what was going on. There was too much smoke and debris in the air to look through, and I couldn’t fully adjust.
The ground was cold and hard beneath me, and as I went to pull myself up, I heard the crunch of glass beneath my hands and shoes.
Heavy boots ran into the conference room, and while I could make out vague figures moving through the cloud of smoke, I couldn’t see them completely.
There was shouting that echoed in my ears, but no gunfire. Only the building’s alarms blaring around us.
Why was there no gunfire?
Regardless of a lack of bullets, it was still chaos. There were more than enough people in that room who got rocked at once, all struggling to get up and establish what was going on.
Anastasia.
Blinking through the confusion and haze, I glanced around at the ground, checking the chairs that had been knocked over, only to come up empty-handed.
The windows had been blown in, and with the shattered table being caught in the blast, there was glass everywhere.
I found one of her cousins, Kir I believed, doubled over as he held a hand to his left shoulder while blood seeped into the fabric of his shirt. Before long, Vik was at his side, quick to put pressure on the wound. He shouted for help, but I couldn’t stop looking.
Soon enough, those heavy boots receded, and I couldn’t see any more of those figures.
Pushing through the room, everything was spinning, but I didn’t care. I had to find her. I had to know she was alright.
