Page 1 of Vicious Angel


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Prologue

Eset

Six Weeks Ago

“Are you nervous?” Ruslan asks me out of the blue, and I almost laugh at his question. Of course, I’m nervous, but I’m not some feeble little girl. I know exactly what I’m walking into, and it’s something that we have to do. There aren’t any other options here. Not any good ones, anyway.

“I’m going to be fine, brother. All we’re doing is meeting with him. We aren’t agreeing to anything yet.” My words are a gentle reminder of what’s happening today.

Ruslan is my eldest brother, and he’s the leader of the Umarova crime family. He’s technically my half-brother, as is Lom, but I hate to refer to them as that. We all share the same mother, but we don’t share the same father. Ruslan and Lom’s father was killed many years ago, and the person behind it all was my own father, and man, was that a hard pill to swallow. I, of course, knew what he was capable of doing, but it didn’t make it any easier. When I found out he was the one behind their father’s death, I had to tell them. In doing it, I risked putting myself and my brother Nazyr in jeopardy, but our father’s sins don’t automatically mean they’re our burden to bear.

Ruslan shakes his head and sinks his hands into his pockets as we walk down the Parisian street. “Sometimes I don’t know what to think. You act so callous, like nothing affects you in the least bit… but I know how difficult agreeing to this meeting had to have been for you. Why not talk to me about it? Why not get your anger, or whatever you’re feeling, out of your system?”

I stop dead in my tracks and look right at him. “Feelings won’t help me right now. Being emotional will not positively impact us. So, why would I do it? I’m choosing to look at this situation like a business deal because it’s what it is. You and I know that. If you want me to scream at you and hit you, now is not that time. The fact is you could’ve blindly agreed for me to marry Julio’s son without my consent, but instead, you spoke to me. Sure, it didn’t go too well at first, but you’re letting me do it on my own terms.”

Ruslan swallows hard and inhales deeply, not saying a word at first. “I’ve never been able to force you to do anything, Eset. Even as a little girl, you were always so firm in your decisions. It was impossible to get you to do anything you didn’t want to, but we’d usually threaten you with telling our mother, then you’d fold.”

“It only worked for a short while, if you remember correctly.” When I was little, I used to be afraid of our mother, but as I grew into my teenage years, I began seeing the world for what it is—a power dynamic. If you have power, you have endless possibilities. That’s why I’m taking this meeting because there’s a potential of gaining more power… but I’m not sure of it yet. What I really want to discover by meeting Julio is what sort of angle he’s trying to play.

Julio Ramirez sent a request to my brother for me to marry his son, Santos. Julio’s a man who came out of the woodwork not too long ago, claiming to be the son of the most heinous cartel leader Mexico had ever known, Rafael Ramirez. Right now, Rafael’s brother Alejandro rules Mexico. He’s been doing a great job at it, and I don’t see a reason to cause a rift in the water unless it’s absolutely necessary. From what I’ve heard, Julio feels like he should be in power because it’s his birthright, but I think it’s a load of crap. Alejandro hasn’t done anything wrong, and my family appreciates the way Alejandro leads. He puts his people first, and he always has.

“Yeah, we were never really able to get a one-up on you.” Ruslan chuckles lowly and opens the door for me as we reach our destination. On the fifth floor of the building is a restaurant called Les Ombres, which has a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower.

Once we’re on the fifth floor, Ruslan and I approach the hostess station. The brunette standing behind the counter smiles brightly at the two of us. She’s dressed in a simple black dress and has a pair of low heels on. “Good evening. Would you like a table for two or a booth?”

“We actually have a reservation under Umarova,” my brother tells the woman, and she glances down at the tablet in her hand.

“Ah, I see. Follow me, please.” She grabs two menus, and we follow the woman through the restaurant until we walk out onto the terrace. She walks us over to the stone wall, and my brother pulls out a chair for me.

“I see there’s one other person in your party. Would you like to order some drinks while you wait?” she questions us, looking between my brother and me.

“Yes. Bring a bottle of your best white wine,” Ruslan tells her, and the woman nods before walking off, leaving us by ourselves.

The view here is indescribable. You can see the Eiffel Tower perfectly, and the ambiance is to die for. White linens line the tables, with tropical plants everywhere you look. I stick my purse on the side of my chair and quickly check the time, noting Julio should be here at any moment.

“I’m shocked he isn’t here yet,” I mutter to my brother.

“If he wants this as badly as he says he does, he should be here at any minute,” I comment, and as I take a quick glance around the restaurant, a waiter comes up with a bottle of wine. He opens it and pours it for us both. While he’s finishing off my glass, I spot a shadow from my peripheral coming up along the side. “My, my. You’re even more beautiful in person.”

“Flattery does little to appease me.” I go straight for the jugular because I don’t want this man to think he’s on my good side. He isn’t, and personally, I think he’d only depart for Mexico if he were to ever take over leadership.

“Julio, this is my sister, Eset, and Eset, this is Julio Ramirez.” Ruslan makes the formal introductions, and Julio takes a seat across the table from my brother and me. The man is older than I thought, and as he smiles, I notice gold teeth. He reminds me of a narco, and he’s trying to be a cartel kingpin. I bet he doesn’t even realize he’s not going to get very far.

“I’d say it’s a pleasure, but it’s not.” I speak first and keep my eyes pinned on the power-hungry older man.

He swallows hard, not sure how to take me, I assume. Not many people do, but one thing I will never be is a weak woman. I say what I mean and mean what I say.

The waiter pours a glass of wine for Julio before muttering about how he’ll be back in a few minutes after giving us some time to look over the menus.

“My brother tells me you think it’s a good idea for me to marry your son, Santos.” I pick up my glass of wine and take a sip, awaiting Julio’s response.

“Yes. I explained to your brother that matching the two of you up would only be good for both of our families. I’m certain of it. You both will make a very powerful couple.” The way Julio’s speaking gives me the impression he thinks this is already a done deal, so I need to look into that.

“Julio, tell me, what is it my brother said?” I narrow my eyes and watch the older man scramble for a moment.

“He told me we’d have this meeting. I assume you’ve thought over my proposition and have accepted since we’re all sitting here at the same table.” Ah, he’s making assumptions.

“I haven’t accepted the offer. We’re simply here to speak about it.”

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