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Chapter One
Ilya
Unceremoniously storming into his office, I toss the invitation onto my father’s desk. It’s the one addressed directly to me that I’d been holding on to for over two weeks, trying to decide how to react or even respond. My father had already told them we’d all be in attendance, answering for all of us as the head of the house—and the family.
“Well, good morning, Ilya,” he greets me with a smirk, assessing me as I stand before him. He points to the chair in front of his desk. “Sit, my son.” There is no anger in his tone, but I understand that it’s not a request.
I take the seat like I’m instructed because I don’t defy my father, and I came for his counsel and support even though I stormed in here so disrespectfully.
“Father, must we attend this event?” I growl, running my hand over my face after taking a seat in front of his desk, sounding more like a petulant child than the man of power I was becoming. The more I consider my behavior, the more the shame sets in. Still, it doesn’t change my sentiment on the matter.
The entire situation is totally unacceptable to me. At twenty-three, I have plans that don’t involve traveling to America to sit around like an old man and watch a spoiled princess in her bikini, tits bouncing, around the pool all day for every cock in the place to see.
Fuck. I try to block the mental image from my brain, but here it comes, involuntarily. Natalya’s lush curves on her slenderframe invade my mind again. She’s growing up too fast, too soon, and it’s sinful where my mind always goes when it comes to her. I’ve been fighting these twisted emotions for a while now, and it’s futile.
“Yes, Ilya. You may be a grown man, but Drago will see it as an insult if you don’t attend his daughter’s birthday celebration.” After all, Drago Romanov is my godfather, and Rosalyn is my godmother. They’re wonderful, and I’ve learned so much from him personally. He’s taught me to be ruthless, more so than my father. “Besides, Rosalyn put a great deal of work into the event and expects us to attend since we will be in town.” Damn them. I bet my mother set this trip up on purpose to coincide with their party.
“It’s not a special birthday, Father. She’s not turning eighteen, or even the special sixteen they celebrate in the States. Which, I may remind you, we attended last year,” I insist, trying to find an excuse as to why it doesn’t matter if I find a reason to bail. Although instantly, the idea of not seeing her up close sends a pang shooting through my chest. I could always see her another day when she’s not dressed to garner attention.
“Da, but we must remember that they are our friends. He risked his life for us. Drago is your godfather.” I had not forgotten the story, and I hadn’t forgotten how much their family means to us. He leans forward with his hands pressed on his blotter, eyes questioning my motives. “Why are you so resistant to going?”
I stare at this man in front of me, seeing an older version of myself and wondering if he can see right through me, but I steel my backbone and remember that as the future head of this family, it’s my job to maintain control of my emotions and answer without giving anything away.
“It’s the middle of the summer with a bunch of bratty children running around. I have no interest in dealing with that nonsense.” Natalya’s friends are certainly ones I could do with never seeing again. “They need lessons in manners and a bunch of sedatives. They’re constantly giggling when I’m around. It’s annoying.”
“Understandable. At least Drago’s boys will be there, and you are of the same age, so it won’t be too terrible, no?” He tosses me a half smile, but I’m unable to read him. My nerves are frayed worse than when I went on my first mission. If it wasn’t eight in the morning and I didn’t have meetings to attend this afternoon, I’d pour a glass of vodka.
“I suppose you have a point there, although we don’t quite see eye to eye.”
“No, that’s because Drago respects you too much. His eldest son is a bit jealous, but that will pass in time. His son is growing up to prove just as admirable and ruthless as you, my boy.” My father smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. As much as he respected and admired his friend, he’d hoped to outgrow the Bratva. However, our hands will always remain filthy, and I don’t mind.
“Thank you.” I’m proud of the man I’ve become. My father hadn’t been the kind to get his hands dirty until the death of his parents and my uncle, whom he named me after. Then he ruled the light and the dark with power and agility, even if he preferred to remain out of the mess.
A light rap on the wooden door brings in a flurry of light fabric and a giggle. I stand up and greet her. “Good morning, Mother.” She brushes her lips on my cheek and strolls over to my father before I retake my seat.
“Good morning, my handsome men.” She smiles brightly, taking a seat on my father’s lap that has suddenly moved from under the desk. “What is this?” She picks up the invite, turning the envelope to read my name.
“Ilya doesn’t want to go.” Damn, there are no secrets between them. Well, at least not the ones that are safe. My father does whatever he can to protect her, both mentally and physically. He’d never intentionally hurt my mother, who he worships. Between my father and godfather, I learned long ago that loving the right woman can bring you peace in all the brutality that encompasses our world.
She gasps, looking at me like I stole her favorite dishes and smashed them on the floor. “You have to go. Rosalyn will be disappointed if you don’t. She misses her godson.”
“Of course I’m going, Mother. I just won’t be pleased about it.” I suppose there is no actual way of getting out of it anyway.
“You will act like the handsome gentleman you are, understand?” she says, giving me a scolding expression like she has done since I was a little boy, but it’s not her face that bothers me. It’s the one behind her that tells me to behave. My father has my mother’s back to the ends of the earth. What she says is golden, so I better do it.
I stand and adjust my suit coat. “Completely understood. I’m going to my estate. I have some business to deal with this afternoon. I’ll see you for dinner tonight.”
“Be careful,” she calls out, always worried for my safety like the wonderful mother she is. I wave them off before twisting the lock on the office door and closing it. God knows they will be fucking in a matter of minutes, and no one wants to getmurdered for walking in on them, or for any of the kids to be scarred for life after catching them fucking.
“Thank you, son,” I hear my father call out through the door.
“Saving everyone else.” He chuckles and then a growl comes, so I hurry before I hear anything else. There’s no doubt that it was about to get hot and heavy because my parents are obsessed with each other and can’t get enough of their love.
The thought of having that passion is one of the reasons I’ve waited for a relationship. I could have found a lover or two over the years, but in my position, I didn’t want to risk screwing the wrong woman with connections to another family. A war or a wedding could be challenged just because I wanted to get laid, and that wasn’t something I planned on doing. Until last year’s trip to America.
Fuck. My mind goes back to where it shouldn’t be—Natalya.
She’s grown up so fast. Too fast. Long, dark brown hair mixed with her mother’s soft features and her father’s temper. She is a natural beauty that nearly caused me to choke on my drink that night—something that hadn’t gone unnoticed by my godfather.
