DISGRACED

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Russian Sinners Book 3

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EVA WINNERS

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 CONTENTS

Prologue
1. Sergei
2. Sergei
3. Scarlett
4. Sergei
5. Scarlett
6. Sergei
7. Scarlett
8. Sergei
9. Scarlett
10. Sergei
11. Scarlett
12. Sergei
13. Scarlett
14. Sergei
15. Scarlett
16. Sergei
17. Scarlett
18. Sergei
19. Sergei
20. Sergei
21. Scarlett
22. Sergei
23. Scarlett
24. Sergei
25. Scarlett
26. Sergei
27. Scarlett
28. Sergei
29. Scarlett
30. Sergei
31. Scarlett
32. Sergei
33. Scarlett
34. Sergei
35. Scarlett
36. Sergei
37. Scarlett
38. Sergei
39. Scarlett
40. Sergei
41. Scarlett
Epilogue

Author’s Note
Acknowledgments

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 Copyright © 2021 by Eva Winners

All rights reserved. The people, places and situations contained in this book are figments of the
author’s imagination and in no way reflect real or true events.

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 PROLOGUE

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 Sergei

Twelve years ago

“A re you sure this is smart?” Michail asked me for the hundredth

time.
I was absolutely certain this was not smart. But who in the
fuck was going for smart here? I still couldn’t believe Irina was marrying
that damn bastard. It had only been two weeks since she ditched me.
Stabbed me in my heart and my back. She must have been toying with me,
stringing me along till she lined up a richer motherfucker.
“I’m doing it with or without you,” I answered him.
He has been with me for the past two years. Dimitry and Nikolai were
chasing fortunes in the States, and traveled back and forth to Russia. I
stayed behind for my woman. Who was now marrying the head of the
Polish mafia. Nothing stroked my ego like being dumped for someone
almost three times my age and many times richer than me.
Goddamn it! I was going to make her my queen. Remembering those
last words she told me sent burning rage through me, making me see red.
The anger seethed inside me, making my ears ring with fury.
I sped down the highway, at twice the legal limit. We left Kaliningrad,
the Russian town close to the Polish border and had another two hours of
driving. The wedding was taking place in Gdańsk, Poland.
“I’m sorry, Sergei.” Irina didn’t sound sorry at all for tearing me in
half, taking my heart and basically smashing it with a hammer. “I need
someone with stability. Someone that can offer me a real last name, a
legacy to carry.”
“You’re acting like my whole life has passed me by. I’m still young,” I
couldn’t believe I justified myself to her. It was almost begging. “My
brothers and I are working hard to make our own money.”
“I can’t plan my life on ‘ifs’.” Fuck, was she always this cruel? “I want
my life to be a memorable event.”
I stared at her blue eyes and noticed for the first time how cold they
were. No compassion, no honor… just greed. She didn’t care about anyone
but herself.
“No woman wants to tie herself down to a man without any family,” her
words echoed in my brain. “No real last name.” She actually laughed,
fucking laughed when she said that!
She left me without a backward glance, her new mink coat coming down
to her ankles, keeping her warm. All I felt was the cold and kept thinking
how one of these days, the cold would kill me.
That damn mink coat should have been my clue she found someone to
replace me. She couldn’t afford it and I didn’t buy it for her. I thought she
loved me, not the material things. Obviously, I was fucking wrong.
“Sergei, slow the fuck down,” Michail pulled me back from the voices
in my head. “I signed up to help you, not get killed by your reckless
driving. Besides, if we die, I want to take some of those motherfuckers with
us.”
He had a point there. I slowed the Maserati down. My body was itching
to get there and crash the entire damn wedding. I’ll give Irina a memorable
event she’ll never forget. Lying, manipulative disgrace of a woman.
I sped up again and heard Michail mutter something under his breath.
“What?” I glared at him.
“Don’t look at my pretty face,” he retorted dryly. “Watch where you are
driving. I’m in the mood for beating some Polish mafia ass so I’d like to get
there.”
I smiled coldly. Yes, I was in the mood for beating some Polish mafia
ass too. Smuggling, dirty bastards. Irina had no idea what she got herself
into.
When we got to the venue, just outside the city, I slowed down. I
approached the large venue parking lot, the valet men already waiting for
me to stop my vehicle for him to park it and show my invitation.
 No invitation here, motherfuckers.
I waited till the last second and rammed the gas pedal to the floor, the
Maserati spinning once, twice, and then it flew over the curb, crashing
through the fancy white arched entrance that has been decorated in blue and
pink bows and kept on going. People were running to the left and right of
me, while I shifted my gears to ensure I made it all the way to the makeshift
altar.
Michail sat next to me unfazed, loading his guns.
“You should have done that during our two-hour drive,” I told him. My
heart beat didn’t race, my mind clear at what I wanted to do.
“I like to leave things to the last minute,” he replied calmly. “Kind of
like your way of planning.”
One of these days I’d beat his ass. Not today though.
From the corner of my eye, I caught one of the men pointing the gun at
Michail through the window. I grabbed his head and pushed it down. The
bullet shattered the window but missed both of us.
“This is going to be fun,” Michail muttered under his breath.
Grabbing my own gun, we both started shooting at the men. They were
scum of the earth anyhow. They participated in the human trafficking of
women, children, and anyone they could get their hands on.
The Maserati stopped violently against the makeshift altar. Both Michail
and I wore a seatbelt so no damage was done to us. The car on the other
hand…. Yeah, we would not be going back home in a Maserati. If we made
it back at all.
This was probably a one-way road.
Michail and I fought men, our backs almost pressed against each other
so we could cover ourselves from all angles. Some we just shot, others we
muscled through.
“Are you fucking mad?” I recognized Irina’s voice screeching from a
distance. “Stop this now, Sergei.”
No can do!
“Don’t shoot!” The order came from Bartek, the old, wrinkly head of
Polish mob. “I want them alive.”
I certainly hoped she enjoyed that wrinkly, old, rich fucker with a real
last name as he fucked her every night, his round body pressing her into the
mattress.
 I snapped another man’s neck and pushed him away from me. Another
came forward and I shot him dead. There were bodies piling around us
when someone shot Michail and he flew backwards. I quickly reached out
to catch him.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
I held him up, my eyes scanning the situation. He was hit in the
shoulder.
Yeah, this is not good!
I shot another man that dared to take a step towards us but without
Michail at my back, I didn’t see the threat from behind me. The hit on my
head turned the world dark.

“Sergei, you damn sleeping beauty,” I could hear Michail’s voice through
the fog in my head. “Wake up.”
I went to shift but couldn’t move my arms nor my hands. What the hell
was going on?
“Sergei,” another hiss from Michail.
I peeled my eyes open, but I couldn’t see much.
“Finally, sleeping beauty.”
“You call me sleeping beauty one more time,” I groaned through a
headache, “and I’ll cut your balls off.” I glanced around me but couldn’t see
anything and the whole room seemed to be upside down.
He chuckled, although it sounded weak. “I’d like to see you try.” I tried
again to focus my eyes. Why couldn’t I see him? And why was my head
hurting like I drank for a week straight?
“What time is it?” I muttered, still feeling disoriented. “And why does it
seem the entire room is upside down?”
“Because it is,” Michail laughed, his voice hoarse. “We are tied up and
hanging upside down off the ceiling.”
“Why?”
“Because the Polish mobsters are fucking idiots,” he spat.
“Where in the hell are you?” I glanced to my left and right but couldn’t
see him.
 “I’m staring at your ass,” he mumbled. “And what a fine ass it is. Of
course, I requested a female ass to stare at but they refused me.”
“My ass is better than any female’s,” I sneered. “Women are a fucking
pain in my ass. And yours.”
The metal door slamming echoed in the distance. There were footsteps
approaching but it made it impossible to see.
“I have to tell you something,” Michail whispered under his breath.
“I don’t think now is the right time for confessions,” I muttered back.
“I texted Dimitry and Nikolai on the way here.”
If we survived the Polish by some miracle, I wasn’t sure that we would
survive Dimitry and Nikolai. They’d beat our ass and we couldn’t fight
those two. First, because they were my brothers and second… well, because
those two were the ones that taught me all my fighting skills.
“Shit.” I added a few more curses.
“Are you enjoying the party?” Some fucker that stunk like a distillery
stood in front of me. I couldn’t see his face, but his huge belly was way too
close to me. I might get blinded by it. His English was bad, his accent even
worse. “I’m Bartek, the head of the Polish mob.”
What? Was he serious? Before I could even process anything else, I
started laughing like the mad sinner they called me.
“You?” I barely got the words out.
A punch followed, although not by that stinky fellow who became
Irina’s husband. I still couldn’t stop laughing. “I bet Irina enjoys her
wedding night,” I spat out.
A rain of punches came down on me but I refused to stop grinning. Oh,
the vengeance was sweet. I tasted blood in my mouth and trickling down
my face but I didn’t give a shit.
“No wonder they call you Mad Russian Sinner,” Bartek snickered.
“Put me down and I’ll show you why they call me that.”
He wouldn’t do that. Of course, he wouldn’t! He was a coward, through
and through.
“Beat the other one too,” he commanded his minion. It was hard to tell
how many of them were in the room. “After all, we believe in equality.
Poland is a democracy.”
Moron didn’t know what democracy meant.
I heard grunting behind me but Michail wouldn’t give them the
satisfaction. It was the reason I liked him as my backup man. He always
had my back, and I always had his back.
“You are a coward,” I growled. “You should untie us and then let’s see
how tough your tongue is… Before I cut it off.”
There was a kick to my head. The guy was too stupid. He neared his
head to mine to check out what damage he had done. I took advantage and
headbutted him. A yelp left him, and he backed out like I burned him.
“Where are you going?” I raged. “Come back. I was barely getting
started.” I felt the blade cut my flesh but the adrenaline was raging through
my veins, making me oblivious to the pain. “Come here, fucker! I’ll show
you how I can beat your ass with my hands tied and hanging upside down.
You miserable, piece of shit.”
Another rain of punches fell over me, but I held my mouth shut, the
only sounds in the room, Michail’s and my grunting, and fists hitting our
bodies.
Commotion and yelling sounded outside. I didn’t give a shit. My only
goal was giving another punch to these motherfucking assholes before I
died.
The door slammed open with a loud thud, sounds of guns blasting in the
distance echoed through the room. Or was it above us?
“Now, now, Bartek,” Dimitry’s voice reached me. “You aren’t trying to
hurt my little brother, are you now?” My oldest brother’s voice dripped with
rage and simmering hate. Dimitry terrified people whether he tried to or
not. But when he tried, they shit themselves.
I grinned and was sure my teeth were bloody and gruesome.
“They crashed my wedding.” Okay, as far as the excuses went, Bartek’s
wasn’t that bad.
“Should have sent them on their way,” Nikolai said. I would bet Bartek
was pissing himself looking at Nikolai right now. “Now you have extra
dead guests upstairs. All your associates from drug trafficking.” He let the
silence linger. “Oh, and your guards are dead too. You are just left with
those two here that are torturing my brother and his friend.”
“What do you want?” Bartek wasn’t very bright.
“You will untie my brother and his friend,” Dimitry barked the order.
“And they better not get another scratch. Otherwise, I will give you one in
return. That will mark you for life.”
Bartek issued the order to his men in Polish. I knew enough just to
understand he told them to ensure we didn’t get hurt. Not so brave anymore,
are you?
The moment we were lowered, Dimitry was by my side while Nikolai
was by Michail’s.
Dimitry had me leaning on him, while with his other hand pointed the
gun at Bartek.
“Now, you and your men walk in front of us,” he ordered him.
He obeyed without a word. Dimitry was tense and furious. I didn’t
blame him. He was a much better man than I was. I heard a few of
Michail’s grunts behind me.
“You got that right,” Nikolai muttered under his breath to Michail. “You
two together are idiots,” he spoke low so nobody else would hear.
When we got to the top, Irina waited for her husband. She didn’t run to
him, her eyes didn’t even glance his way to ensure he was alright. Yeah,
that was going to be a great marriage right there. She didn’t look that great.
Her hair was disheveled, her wedding dress had smudges of dirt or blood on
it, and her runny makeup made her look like a prostitute.
“You lunatic,” she screamed at me. “You ruined my wedding. Nobody
would ever want to be with a mad, crazy nobody like you.”
“You watch yourself, Irina,” Dimitry gritted. “If you weren’t sleeping
around while stringing my brother along, this would have never happened.”
Irina immediately shut up. That was what usually happened when
Dimitry talked.
“Enjoy having that stench of a husband fucking you tonight,” I
snickered, never sparing her another glance as Dimitry headed us to his
vehicle. Once we were in his car, he dismissed Bartek’s guards by shooting
them each in the foot.
“Insurance you won’t come after us,” Dimitry announced and drove off.
Michail and I sat bruised up in the backseat. Now that we were safe and
the adrenaline wore off, I could feel the aches but kept my mouth shut. I
fully expected Dimitry to start berating me any second now. It was coming.
He was simmering, the steam practically coming off of him in waves.
Actually, there might have been some steam coming out of his ears and
nose too.
Nikolai, on the other hand, sat relaxed like he just had another great,
relaxing day. Sometimes I wondered how the three of us succeeded in not
killing ourselves. Probably because Nikolai always kept his cool.
 “Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Dimitry’s voice bellowed in the
car. I knew he couldn’t internalize his rage very long. With everyone else,
yes. But with me, he usually lost his cool. “Because if that is your goal, let
me know, and a bullet in your skull is an easier way to go.”
His grey eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. I pressed my lips
together, refusing to get into an argument with him.
“If Michail wouldn’t have sent us a message of your plans,” he
continued his rage, “you two would have been dead.” Another heartbeat of
silence. “We didn’t survive into our adulthood to throw it all away, Sergei.
Now, we make everything we ever wanted happen. Not throw it away for a
damn woman that doesn’t even know how to keep her legs closed.”
“Okay, let’s all calm down,” Nikolai chimed in, his head leaned against
the headrest of his seat. “Sergei and Michail got enough beating for one
day. Probably for a whole damn month.”
Dimitry grunted something under his breath but Nikolai didn’t let it
deter his cool demeanor. He turned his head back to Michail and me, and
then continued. “Sergei, my brother. Next time you get an urge to crash an
event and kill ninety percent of the country's mafia population… call
Dimitry and I beforehand. So we can do it properly and with
reinforcements.”
Michail and I shared a look. It wasn’t exactly what I expected but I’d
take it.
“Hmmm?” Nikolai waited for my response.
“I’ll try.” And I would, but sometimes the rage cursed through me,
making me impulsive and mad like my own father. Neither Dimitry nor
Nikolai knew that I learned the true identity of my parentage.
Fuck, I didn’t want to be like him. If I turned into him, it would not
bode well for my future.

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 SERGEI

Four Years Later

D imitry, Nikolai, and I sat at a blackjack table of the casino in

New York state, right outside Rochester. It was one of the only
seven allowed casinos in the state. I owned two, the other five
belonged to the O'Brady family. Patrick O’Brady was head of the Boston
mob organization. Unfortunately for him, he was slowly losing footing over
his territory and businesses.
He used to own all seven casinos, he lost two in a matter of six months.
He was getting ready to lose another one, unless he could come up with a
substantial amount of money to settle his debts. He stacked up a substantial
amount fighting the Colombians. He won the fight but unless he could save
his main source of income, he would lose the war.
“It would be a good investment,” I told Dimitry and Nikolai in our
native tongue.
“Agreed, brother,” Dimitry answered, sticking to Russian. “But I have
no interest in becoming O’Brady’s enemy. He runs his territory fairly and is
a good man.”
“I bought out his other two casinos.”
“It’s probably the reason why he wanted to talk to us,” Nikolai
commented. “He wants to make sure we are not coming after his territory.”
“It’s just business,” I claimed. It was true. I saw an opportunity and
seized it. We have been relentless in growing our wealth. We have
accumulated a small empire; not only in the States, but also in Russia,
Europe, and all over the world.
“Gentlemen, thank you for agreeing to meet me.”
I raised my head and met Patrick O’Brady. He was in his early sixties,
tall, grey hair and dark eyes and in good shape for someone his age. He
really didn’t look like a head of the Boston mafia. He gave more the
appearance of a legal business man and a family man. I knew for a fact he
was the latter. He had a devoted wife and children he kept close. Everyone
knew he protected his family fiercely and ruthlessly.
“What did you want to discuss?” Dimitry went straight to business. He
hated wasting time. Nikolai and I were similar to him in that regard,
although maybe not quite as blunt.
“I want you to back off,” Patrick O’Brady went into attack. “You got
two of my casinos. That’s enough. This is my territory, and I don’t want you
meddling in my business.”
“You are getting ready to lose your business,” I chimed in, leaning back,
observing him.
I had to give it to him. He didn’t even flinch. “I got it under control.”
If I didn’t know for sure how bad his finances were, his sure demeanor
could have convinced me. But I bought his bank notes and knew exactly
how much shit he was in.
“You sure about that?” I challenged him.
He went to open his mouth when his phone rang. He glanced at it and
the calm mask that I usually saw on him, cracked. He took a deep breath
and muttered something under his breath.
He sent whoever was calling to his voicemail. But no sooner than he did
that, his phone rang again. He glanced at his phone again but this time he
answered.
“Don’t tell me she is in trouble again.” He almost sounded exasperated.
I shared a glance with Nikolai and Dimitry. Those two didn’t seem too
interested but for some odd reason, my interest piqued.
“How is it that my three sons combined never gave me so much trouble
as my one daughter?” He pushed his hand through his hair and suddenly the
cold, gathered businessman was a frazzled father. “It’s barely been six
months. How in the hell could she already be on the verge of getting
expelled?”
 I had to admit, I would have given a pretty penny to hear the other side
of the conversation. Whatever was being said, he didn’t like it and was
getting more agitated by the second. I knew Patrick had a daughter. She was
the youngest of his children but honestly, I couldn’t remember anything else
besides that.
“What boys, wife?” he pretty much shouted into the phone. “It is an all-
girls school.”
I had to hide my grin. It would seem O’Brady’s daughter was giving her
father a run for his money.
“I swear, Charlotte. I don’t know how three girls can cause so much
trouble…. Yes, I heard many times now she is going through a rebellious
teenage stage but what I want to know is when will it end.”
My lip quirked at his tone. A head of underworld crime and he was
ready to pull his hair out by a rebellious young teenager daughter.
“One more incident and tell Scarlett I’m bringing her home,” he
growled into the phone. “Love you too. Message me when you land.”
He pressed the end call button and flagged a waiter.
“Bring me a strong drink. For our guests too,” he ordered and sat
himself on the other side of the table. I guess he didn’t notice the three of us
still had untouched drinks. As a rule of thumb, we never drank alcohol if
there was ever a potential for conflict. “You three better pray you don’t have
a daughter,” he muttered, giving us a tired look. “I swear she ages me more
than any of my sons.”
Nikolai smiled. “Girls can be quite stubborn.”
“Aye, you don’t say,” he muttered sarcastically. The waiter came back
with the drinks and placed them on the table. Patrick took his glass and
downed it in one swift gulp. “I should marry her off. Maybe that will settle
her down.”
He was joking; I could hear it in his tone but the moment he said that an
incredible thought struck me. It came out of nowhere but it was brilliant. At
least I thought it was.
The background check on O’Brady showed him as a good father, a
family man. Arranged marriages were often customary in our world.
Dimitry, Nikolai, and I were never interested; the knowledge of where we
came from and all we went through made it hard for us to relate to anyone.
We joined this world to survive.
 But what if I offered O'Brady a monetary fund to secure his business
and his territory in exchange for an arranged marriage? Of course, I
wouldn’t marry the girl now. She was a teenager, although how old exactly
I wasn’t sure. I’d give them plenty of time, years. She can outgrow her
rebellious stage under her father’s supervision. I liked it the more I thought
about it.
It was a perfect win-win situation.

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 SERGEI

Eight Years Later in Russia

I was in a foul mood, and my right-hand man knew it. Michail

was avoiding me like a plague. And he was right to avoid me,
because I was ripping into everyone for even the slightest
mistakes, or even breathing out of turn.
You don’t get to the top of the food chain by being a softy, although I
usually didn’t allow my mood to dictate my behavior. Vlad came to visit me
and that man always sours my mood. I hated seeing the bastard. Dimitry
and Nikolai felt the same. The only reason Vlad was on the payroll was
because he helped us put Boris away. And Dimitry always kept his word. I
loved my brother but, in this case, I wished he’d say to hell with his word.
He should get rid of the man. Vlad was a snake in the grass. I knew it, we
all did. Just couldn’t prove it.
His whining and grinding about going legal was irking me, like the
sound of nails against a chalkboard. I had bigger things to figure out than
his fucking bullshit. My source indicated Scarlett O’Brady was scheduled to
arrive in St. Petersburg today. It was the only reason I came to check on the
business here. I would figure out how to accidentally bump into her.
I paid a visit to O’Brady a few months ago. It was supposed to be a
short visit, just between him and I. But his daughter, my soon to be wife,
came home earlier than expected. The conversation I overheard between
daughter and father was still fresh in my mind. I could still hear the anger in
her voice when she objected to the marriage. What did a man have to do to
get married for fuck’s sake? The rejection hurt although I knew it had
nothing to do with me personally. Who could blame her for wanting to
marry a guy she would fall in love with?
Unfortunately for Scarlett, I decided eight years ago I’d make the whole
marriage ordeal a business arrangement. Scarlett’s father needed a big favor
and I helped him out in return for his daughter. The old man agreed
reluctantly. I knew he’d end up accepting it because he needed money and
the timing was right after his daughter pulled a stunt at her school.
I should have insisted from her father to keep the marriage arrangement
between us only. He refused to keep a secret from his wife and his daughter.
His wife stood by him begrudgingly while his daughter right out rebelled
even more at the thought of being married off. To say Scarlett didn’t take
the news well was putting it mildly.
I should have visited and gotten to know her. But I had no interest till
she was old enough. As the agreed upon date of marriage was approaching,
I inquired about meeting her but by that time, Scarlett was barely seeing her
parents and avoided spending time at home. Of course, her father blamed
me. Over the years, he had offered to pay me back the money again and
again, with a hefty interest. But I wasn’t willing to let go.
Her coming home at the time I was visiting her father was a mere
coincidence. And good fucking thing because one thing O’Brady failed to
mention was that his daughter was a knockout. The only picture I’ve seen
of Scarlett was her high school picture. To say her high school picture did
her no justice was an understatement.
When she opened the door to her father’s office, it was like a goddess
standing in the doorway. She didn’t realize I could see her reflection in the
mirror her father had in his office. Her eyes lingered on me, hesitance in
that dark gaze that gradually turned into curiosity. There was something
about her that intrigued me.
I knew from O’Brady himself; mother and daughter never interrupted
the old man’s meetings. But hell was I glad she did.
Holy fucking shit!
My cock hardened the moment I saw her. Her petite, slim body was in a
short pink dress and she had curves exactly where it counted. Her glorious
dark hair fell down her slim shoulders. I couldn’t wait to wrap my hands
through her hair as I fucked her. I had to ball my hands into fists, tempted to
stride to her at that very moment and try it.
I’m sure her father would love to see that, I thought wryly to myself. He
might have been in his late sixties but he had no qualms about protecting
his family. It made me respect him even more.
As I listened to their conversation, her father trying to prove to me his
point of letting his daughter off the marriage hook, I realized my huge
mistake of not meeting her earlier. Even if she experienced a fraction of the
attraction I felt, she would fight it. Because she was cornered. I couldn’t
blame her father for attempting to regain her freedom. But a deal was a deal
and now that I saw her, I wouldn’t let go.
Of course, it had nothing to do with love. But lust and attraction were a
pleasant surprise.
As I exited my St. Petersburg casino by taking the hotel lobby way out,
and I cut through the marble hallway, I ran straight into a woman almost
knocking her down.
“Fuck,” I spit out reaching my hand to prevent her from falling, and
steadying her on her feet.
“My apologies,” I muttered in Russian, cursing myself for dreaming
about a woman and not paying attention. Things like that could cost you a
life. I have spent too much time thinking about Scarlett O’Brady since I laid
eyes on her.
“Oh, crap,” she muttered in English, not even looking up as we both
kneeled down to gather the contents of her purse that spread all over the
floor. She was rushing, trying to grab her lipstick, and some other little
things spread all over the floor. I didn’t look at her but just tried to help
since I plowed into her. I grabbed her phone and something that looked like
a small notepad. I looked up to her and felt like I was struck by lightning.
Scarlett O’Brady was in front of me, in the flesh. I forced myself to
blink to ensure it wasn’t my brain playing tricks on me. Maybe the damage
to my brain from outbursts and few of the beatings I endured finally caught
up.
No, that was certainly her. I couldn’t believe my luck. Somebody was
certainly smiling down on me. She was still fumbling with her items and
shoving them back into her little purse, not paying attention to me at all.
“I’m sorry about that,” I switched to English as I handed her things back
to her.
 “No worries. I should have paid attention to where I was going.” She
didn’t even look up as she continued trying to fit her things back into her
purse.
“Visiting for the first time?” Look at me, making chitchat. If only
Michail could see me now!
She finally looked up smiling as she took her phone out of my hands.
Her dark eyes flashed and barely audible gasp escaped her lips. Her cheeks
blushed light pink and I wondered if she recognized me. Although I didn’t
think so. She couldn’t have seen my face back at her father’s home nor
when I was in the car. After her heated argument, she quickly packed her
things and left her parents’ home. Michail and I left her father’s house with
her right behind us. She didn’t even spare me a glance when she zoomed
past me on the highway. Good thing too, since she was going way past a
sane speed limit.
“Yes,” her smile was genuine and I wondered what she was saying yes
to. Then I remembered I asked her a question. “Visiting with friends. Russia
is our last destination this summer.”
I felt like a hungry man watching his prey. She was even more beautiful
up close. Her dark eyes shone with excitement. There was mischief in her
eyes and just pure happiness. Even if I didn’t know about her rebellious
tendencies from conversations with her father, I’d know it now. She had
very expressive eyes.
Her father told me she took a summer to travel Europe with her friends.
He refused to share her itinerary but what he didn’t know was that I already
knew it. I’ve had a guy hack into all her social media accounts and tracked
her travel plans.
Was it overboard? Yes, a tad bit. But I was in the habit of protecting
what was mine. And she was mine. She just didn’t know it yet.
“Scarlett, let’s go.” A woman’s voice had both of us raising our heads.
They were her friends, I recognized. The redhead that called her was
watching her with a raised eyebrow while the other young woman never
even looked up, focused on a little travel guide in her hand.
They definitely stood out as tourists, I smiled inwardly.
“I got it,” the other woman exclaimed victoriously. “It is five blocks
away, south of here.”
She raised her head, a beaming smile on her face. She was beautiful too,
with her green eyes and dark hair. All three of them were beautiful women
but Scarlett was the only one that mattered to me.
“C’mon, Scarlett,” the redheaded woman rolled her eyes, “stop
swooning. Let’s go.”
I had to stifle my satisfied smile. Or was it smug? Either way, I was glad
her friend thought she was swooning over me. Today had turned so much
brighter and better. I had run into my fiancé, and didn’t even have to stalk
her. Although she didn’t know I was her intended. But no matter, I’d sweep
her into my arms.
Scarlett groaned next to me.
“Those two are going to kill me with all the sightseeing,” she muttered
under her breath.
I chuckled, and her lightly flushed face turned back facing me.
“Sorry for crashing into you,” she added apologetically. “Gotta go.
Another torturous sightseeing day on the agenda.”
Without thinking twice, I spoke, “You could take a raincheck and have
dinner with me.”
Her dark eyes flashed with surprise and excitement. Yes, this young
woman was adventurous for sure. She’d keep me on my toes once we were
married.
She curved her full lips into a smile, then answered in a soft, teasing
voice, “Maybe on dinner.”
I liked her playfulness. There was something alluring within her. In a
weird way, her easygoing, soft voice calmed me.
I wasn’t willing to give up. If I was anything, it was relentless when it
came to what I wanted. And I wanted Scarlett O’Brady. Her father and I had
a deal, but suddenly, it was important to me that she liked me and wanted
me. Damn it, it was like I reverted back to being a damn teenager.
“I’ll wait for you down here at seven p.m.,” I told her.
Her soft chuckle was like music to my ears.
She briskly walked to her friends’ side, my eyes glued to her back. She
glanced over her shoulder and caught me staring after her, instantly
blushing harder. I smiled wider, and I’d be a liar if I would pretend I wasn’t
ecstatic about the turn of events today.
“C’mon ladies,” a guy joined their group. From the information I got, he
was their security protection. All the information I got was solely focused
on Scarlett so I didn’t know much of anything else about her travel group.
“Let’s try not to get in trouble today.”
 “Brian,” Scarlett beamed at him, and I hated the guy already. “We never
get in trouble.”
Scarlett joined her friends and their bodyguard. I wondered if that was
the bodyguard provided by her father, although he didn’t quite seem the
type that O’Brady would assign. All three women started chatting, one of
them pointing to her guide book, then all three of their heads came together.
I wondered what they were studying there to need all three of their
attention.
I forced my eyes away from Scarlett to her friends. Each one of the
women were pretty in their own way. But to me, Scarlett was the gem
among the three. My eyes gravitated back to her, noting she was again
wearing a light, peach colored summer dress. When I saw her back at her
father’s house, she wore a dress too. Although this one was longer than the
one she wore last time I saw her.
I headed for the exit of the lobby. I still had work to handle although I
intended to be back here at seven p.m. Would Scarlett meet me?
At the lobby door, I looked back one more time to my future wife, and
caught her curious eyes on me. Realizing she was caught, she blushed again
and quickly averted her gaze.
Yes, she would meet me.
That meant, I better handle business fast today because I had no
intention of being late. I stepped outside where my driver waited and
entered my car. As I waited for the driver to go around the car, Scarlett and
her friends came out through the same door I just had.
All three of them were laughing, and speaking vividly, ignoring
everyone around them. Neither one of them noticed me, nor anyone else
that was looking at them. Whatever her redhead friend said had Scarlett
throwing her head back and laughing out loud. They seemed close; they
must have been to spend the entire summer together. But sometimes
appearances could be deceiving.
A possession hit me unexpectedly, seeing her wrap her arms around
both her friends and laugh. I wanted her hands on me and her laughter only
for myself.

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 SCARLETT

A s I exited the lobby with Anastasia and Olivia, I looked around

quickly but didn't see the stranger I ran into anywhere. I felt
disappointment, which was totally ridiculous. He didn’t waste any
time disappearing, but his words lingered in my mind. Was he serious when
he asked me to meet him tonight?
Only one way to find out, I thought to myself.
And damn if he wasn’t hot. His broad shoulders filled that custom suit
screaming strength and power. He was tall, much taller than me. There was
no mistaking that man was accustomed to getting his way. His chiseled jaw,
handsome, clean shaved face was beautiful. I could almost call it the face of
a playboy, till you look into his brown eyes. There was determination,
harshness there, and something else that I couldn’t quite distinguish.
Something vulnerable. He gave vibes of a dangerous version of Casanova.
But gosh, when he smiled, I swore my heart melted. Olivia was right; I was
swooning. Luckily, I didn’t drool.
It was right there and then I decided to meet him for dinner, assuming
he showed up.
I deserved a summer fling with a smoking hot guy. Right? When we got
back to the States, my whole world would change. I’d belong to a man I had
never met. I didn’t know why it shocked me to hear my father arranged my
marriage. When I was seventeen at that! It was what families like mine did.
I guess I just thought we would be different, that I was different. But
clearly, I wasn’t.
 I shifted my thoughts to a much more pleasant topic. The man I just ran
into. I regretted not asking for a name. But truthfully, I was so stunned
when my eyes met his gaze, I forgot to breathe not to mention all my reason
left too. I really hoped he was serious when he said he'd wait for me at
seven tonight because I fully intended to be there.
I haven’t as much as flirted with any boys this entire summer. Actually,
I haven’t looked at another man since my ex-boyfriend dumped me for
refusing to sleep with him. And damn, if that didn’t hurt and feel
demeaning. Ever since my father told me that I would marry some man he
chose through arrangement, I had hoped for someone to sweep me off my
feet and run off with me. I had to scoff at myself for dreaming of a knight in
shining armor. Those were way far and few in between.
Unless I actually went out with a man, I was certain not to find a knight
in shining armor. So yes, I intended to meet this gorgeous stranger. To hell
with everything.
“Should we grab something to eat first?” Anastasia returned my focus to
my friends.
“Scarlett is always hungry,” Olivia replied with a teasing smile. “For
food and swoony men. So I’d say let’s grab some food.”
“And swoony men will follow,” Anastasia teased, then poked me
laughing. “Our first day and you are already enticing men.”
“But did you see him?” I asked.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t,” Anastasia replied dryly. “But Olivia said you
were swooning.”
We all burst out laughing. Ok, maybe I wasn’t too discreet when I
checked him out. The man was stunningly handsome.
“Ok, let’s grab some food,” I announced, then added in a supposed
exasperated tone, “and then sightseeing.”
I linked my arms with both of theirs and pulled them along.
“It won't be that bad, Scarlett,” Anastasia announced happily. That girl
loved to sightsee. “Let’s go! Welcome to St. Petersburg!”
All three of us grabbed a quick lunch and then walked for hours. I had
no idea what we had seen but it was boring as hell. I couldn’t wait to get
back to the hotel. I kept glancing at the time, worried I’d miss my possible
seven p.m. meeting.
When we were finally back at the hotel, Anastasia and Olivia made
dinner plans. Anastasia loved planned days. She was queen of planning and
organization. Olivia was more laid back while I was a catastrophe on two
legs. I could decide on something and change my mind in the next hour. But
all three of us together, we worked well and got along great.
It was rare that I held back information from them but I decided not to
tell them about the potential seven o’clock date with a stranger. I trusted
them both with my life but if that guy was just flirting and didn’t show up,
I’d feel like the biggest idiot.
So I went along with dinner plans, and if it turned out I had a date after
all, I’d shoot them a quick message.

With barely a minute to spare, I came down into the lobby of our hotel. I
was so nervous, more nervous than I’ve ever been. It felt like a first real
date ever. Up until now, I dated boys. This man was something entirely
different.
Seriously, Scarlett. And you could tell that from all of the sixty seconds
we spoke?
I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I wore a light pink summer
dress with matching sandals. I had my dark hair up in a high ponytail, my
cheekbones accenting my face. I opted for no makeup, but now, seeing my
face, I wondered if maybe it didn’t make me appear too young.
Too late.
I didn’t have time to change, put on makeup, or change my hair. With
my heart in my throat, my eyes traveled around the lobby searching for a
familiar handsome stranger and slowly my heart sank.
I mean really, what did I expect? He was probably just doing some light
flirting. I was just so desperate for a savior from my predicament that in my
head, I already imagined going down the aisle. Now, how pathetic was that!
“Thanks for not standing me up,” a deep voice with a Russian accent
spoke right behind me. I whipped around to face my stranger.
He wore a dark suit, although a different one from this morning. It, too,
appeared custom tailored to him, accenting his broad shoulders. He didn’t
have a tie with the crisp, white shirt underneath his suit jacket. In a way he
looked dark, dangerous, and beautiful. Although why dark came to mind, I
had no idea. His hair was blonde and cut short. My fingers itched to push
through it, to feel him.
I’d have to stand on my tiptoes to be able to reach his scalp. I was so
short compared to him, my eyes were level with his chin. And what a chin it
was. I got the strangest urge to lean into him and nibble on it.
Yeah, not on a first date.
Tilting my head, I met those deep brown eyes, and it was as if he was
peering all the way down to my soul. His cologne invaded all my senses in
the best way possible and a delightful shiver ran down my body. This
attraction I felt towards him was something different, exciting.
“Hi.” I couldn’t think of anything better to say. Seriously?
He didn’t seem to mind at all as he smiled with those sinful lips. “Hi.”
We stood there watching each other, and I swore I felt attraction sizzling
within me. My body never responded like this before. Olivia and Anastasia
assumed I held onto my virginity because I had been promised to someone
since I was seventeen. That was only a small part of the reason, the other
part was that I never felt a true attraction to a man before.
The silence lingered and I cleared my throat, slightly uncomfortable,
which was a novelty for me.
“Um, I usually don’t do this,” I muttered, caring he didn’t think I was
flighty and jumping into dates with strangers.
“What exactly?” God, his voice was so damn sexy.
“Meet strangers,” I responded, fidgeting with my hands. “Or boys I
don’t know the name of.”
He chuckled softly. I stared at his throat and found even that part of him
sexy. I had never considered a throat sexy, but oh my, I wanted to trace my
lips over his and lick it. This guy made my toes curl.
“That’s good to know,” he replied in his accent and even that was sexy
as fuck. “Although I’d like to think I don’t fall into the category of boys.”
He certainly did not. He was not a boy at all.
“I’m Sergei,” he added. Even his name sounded sexy. Foreign and
exotic. Ok, I was definitely swooning; there might even be some drooling
going on.
“Hi Sergei,” I tested his name on my lips. Yes, I loved it. “I’m Scarlett
O’Brady.”
“Irish?” he raised his eyebrow.
 “Not really.” My family is Irish, but with the exception of this summer
vacation, I never set foot in Ireland. I was American through and through.
“Or only in the last name. I’m guessing you are Russian?”
It was an obvious question but you never knew.
“Yes.”
I smiled. “You don’t want to give me your last name?” I teased him.
A shadow crossed his face and I wondered what it was. Did I offend by
asking for a last name?
“Volkovsky,” he replied. “Sergei Volkovsky.”
“Yes, definitely sounds Russian,” I retorted with a smile.
He smiled back but it didn’t quite reach his brown eyes, and I wondered
if somehow, I said something wrong without realizing it.
“Are you ready for dinner, or would you like me to show you some of
the city?”
I groaned. “God, please don’t tell me you want to take me sightseeing.”
Now he laughed and the sound was warm, transforming his face.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he claimed. “I’m trying to impress you on our
first date, not chase you away.”
I could feel my cheeks heat up at his comment. At this rate, he wouldn’t
have to work really hard at it.
“In that case, I could wait a bit before eating,” I told him, wondering
what he had in mind when he offered to show me some of the city.
“Ready then?” He offered me his hand and my eyes lowered to it. Such
a simple gesture and darn so sweet. I took it without thinking too much into
it, and we walked out of the hotel lobby hand in hand.

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 SERGEI

T he moment her small hand landed in mine, my chest swelled

with pride. This was a woman who would be my wife soon.
Her eyes were focused on me, as if every breath she took was
for me. And I fucking loved it. I wanted to be everything she wanted and
needed. Maybe there could be one thing in my life that I do right. She didn’t
know I was her intended husband, but if she grew to like me before she
found out, we could have a good marriage.
As soon as we stepped outside the hotel, my Bugatti waited for me.
“This is me,” I told her as I opened the door of the car for her.
Throwing a side glance at me, she commented, “You like cars, huh?”
“What makes you say that?” She was right, I did like cars.
“This is not exactly a car you just buy at the dealership.” She eyed the
car appreciatively as she sat herself into the seat.
I shut the door behind her and went around to the driver seat.
“Do you not like it?” I asked her; although I could see she did.
“I like it,” she replied smiling. “I would never get a car like this but I
like it.”
“What kind of car do you drive?” I wanted to hear her talk, her voice
smooth and soft. I knew what kind of car she drove; saw her speeding
firsthand. But I’d have to pretend for a bit. No big deal; she’d never find
out.
“Jeep,” she turned her head, her dark eyes on me. “Drives my dad crazy
but I do like my baby.”
 “It’s your baby?” I asked in surprise. Women usually weren’t attached
to their vehicles. “Why does it drive your dad crazy?”
“Yes, my baby,” she smiled, her eyes shining. “It is the first thing I
bought all on my own, with my own money. Not my dad or mom’s. Just
mine. And it drives my dad crazy because I usually drive it top down. He
objects to the safety of it.”
I could understand that. Nothing quite beats the feeling of something
you got all on your own. Dimitry and Nikolai have always ensured they
provided for me first, before they took care of themselves. They gave me a
cut of profits, even when I didn’t participate in the transaction. It took years
of convincing that it wasn’t necessary. The feeling I had when my first
business deal went through was priceless. Giving them a cut of my profits
was even better because they fought accepting it. They didn't quite
understand my objections till that very moment.
I appreciated them both and loved them as if they were my true blood
brothers, but they got it ingrained into them to care for me. From that point
on, if I participated in the transactions, we shared profits. If I decided not to
pursue a deal with them, they finally agreed not to send money my way.
God knew we had more than plenty.
“Top down like this?” I teased as I pushed a button and my top lowered.
A wide smile spread across her face and she tilted her head up to the
sun, wind blowing through her ponytail.
“Yes, just like that,” she beamed, tilting her face to the sky.
She was really beautiful. She looked younger than her twenty-five
years. While I knew life had hardened me, there was nothing harsh about
her. Her parents did a good job of protecting her. Although she was the
daughter of the Boston head, you would never guess that from looking at
Scarlett. Usually, mobsters kept their daughters tucked away from the
world, but not Scarlett. She attended a somewhat normal high school, got in
trouble quite a bit for partying hard, then went off to college. I was
surprised to hear that her father let her live away from home. It seemed so
uncharacteristic, but he said he wanted his daughter to enjoy her life. All in
all, Scarlett led a somewhat normal life with her friends.
I drove through downtown St. Petersburg, down Nevsky Prospekt street.
Scarlett’s eyes darted left and right, soaking it all in. My goal was to park
by the Winter Palace and stroll down Neva River with her before we
grabbed something to eat at my favorite restaurant.
 “Not too much sightseeing?” I teased her and she playfully hit my arm.
“Very funny,” she chided back. “Actually, it is the perfect amount of
sightseeing.”
She returned her attention to the surroundings. Her eyes soaked it all in.
Every so often, her gaze would return to me and she’d smile. I liked it, her
easy and unreserved grin just for me.
“Anastasia is right though,” she muttered as if she was talking to
herself. “This place really is beautiful.”
“Who is Anastasia?” I asked her.
“Nobody,” she replied back, never glancing my way. “Is that the Winter
Palace?”
“It sure is,” I told her. “We could walk down the river and then grab
something to eat. How does that sound?”
“Perfect,” she admitted. Her eyes shone and I had to tear my gaze away
from her or risk crashing my Bugatti.
Once I parked my car, the two of us walked down the river like
longtime lovers, her hand in mine. It was mind blowing how at ease I felt
with her. I only met her this morning, although I had known about her for
eight years now. As a light breeze swept through, it made her dress cling to
her body, displaying all her curves to me. And although I loved her body, it
was her personality I enjoyed even more.
She chatted about the places she visited this summer, like we’ve known
each other for years. While she went into details about things they’ve done,
she kept mentioning her friends at a minimum. I thought it odd but didn’t
want to question her, maybe she wasn’t that close to them after all. Women
were weird when it came to their friends. One day they couldn’t live
without each other, and the next they were scratching each other’s eyes out.
She proceeded to tell me she studied child development and was a
kindergarten teacher. Again, I knew both already, but I still acted surprised.
What I didn’t know was what drove her to study that specific subject.
“What do you love about teaching kindergartners?” I inquired. It was
about time I learned everything about my soon-to-be wife that wasn’t on
paper. Her favorite color, her favorite movie… everything. I was way
overdue.
Scarlett didn’t think twice before responding.
“Their honesty.” I wondered if that meant people in her life weren’t
honest with her. Then I reminded myself, I wasn’t exactly honest with her
either. “They just tell you how things are, you know. They are still too
innocent to have hidden motives.”
Her last words didn’t sit well with me. For a fraction of a second, I
debated whether I should tell her who I really was but just as quickly
decided against it. It would seem I had hidden motives too.
She was right about children’s honesty though. I didn’t have much
exposure to small children. Nikolai’s niece was the only small child I have
been around in years. And honestly, I didn’t quite get the kid. She lost her
mother too young, and I was better in the department of helping Nikolai
avenge his sister than help him babysit.
“You want kids?” I asked her curiously.
She stiffened for the briefest fraction. I would have missed it if I didn’t
watch her so closely. Everything about her fascinated me. It wasn’t the best
idea to be so wrapped up in her so easily. I experienced twelve years ago
what happened when you went all in and had no interest in repeating it.
She shrugged her one shoulder, finally answering in a nonchalant tone.
“Yes, maybe one day. I’m not opposed to it but not exactly on my agenda
for the immediate future.”
Fair enough. She was still young, almost ten years younger than me. It
was quite a significant age gap. Oftentimes, I felt even older than my thirty-
four years.
“How about you?” she turned her gaze and watched me curiously.
“I wouldn’t mind it,” I told her honestly. It was one thing that Dimitry,
Nikolai, and I always craved. A family of our own. “I’m quite a bit older
than you so I probably don’t have as much time to waste.”
Her laughter carried through the breeze, as she threw her head back.
The sound was light and unrestrained. “You make it sound like you are an
old man,” she cackled.
“Probably compared to you, I am,” I replied with a smile.
“Okay, I’ll bite,” she continued with a smile. “How old are you?”
“Thirty-four.” I watched her to see for her reaction, but if she thought I
was too old, she didn’t react at all. “You?”
“Twenty-five,” she replied. “You are not that old. Although I admit, I
have never gone out with anyone who was older than me.”
“Ouch,” I commented.
She tilted her head, her lips curved in a smile. “It could play in your
favor, you know.”
 Now it was my turn to laugh. “Good. It would seem I would need all the
favors I could get.”
Suddenly, she stopped, and I wondered what I said wrong when she
spat. “Shit.”
“What?” What could have possibly happened?
She pulled her hand out of mine and started digging through her purse.
“Shit, shit, shit,” she muttered.
“What’s wrong, Scarlett?”
She raised her eyes briefly. “I forgot to text my girlfriends that I’m not
meeting them for dinner.”
I had to hide my smile. If that was the height of her worry, we were
doing good.
“I’m sure they’ll understand,” I assured her.
“It’s not that,” she mumbled as her fingers flew across the screen of her
iPhone. “This bodyguard is with us and he’ll-” she stopped herself as she
took a deep breath. “He takes his job quite seriously. I wouldn’t put it past
him to call the police if one of us is not where we are supposed to be.” She
rolled her eyes with an exasperated look. “Yeah, he takes his job way too
seriously.”
She pressed a quick send and no sooner she did, her phone rang. Her
eyes met my gaze, as she chewed her lip with an uncertain look in her eyes.
“Go ahead and answer it,” I told her. “We have plenty of time.”
Smiling gratefully, she answered.
“Hey,” she greeted whoever was calling.
“Yes, yes, I’m fine.” Whoever was on the other line of the phone must
have said something that annoyed her.
“He really should stop worrying so much,” she muttered. “Yes, I’ll be
back later. Just go to dinner without me. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
I heard a chuckle over the phone and Scarlett blushed at whatever was
said. “Okay, this is over. Bye.”
She hung up the phone and put it away.
“Sorry about that,” she looked at me apologetically.
“No worries.” Although I was curious what was said that made her
blush so hard. “Are you ready to eat?”
She nodded and I took her hand again into mine. It fit just right in mine.
I didn’t want to question why I enjoyed her touch so much. She didn’t
object to it, which pleased me enormously.
 “There is a restaurant called Palkin,” I told her. “It is one of the oldest
restaurants in the city and they serve exclusively Russian food.”
“Sounds great,” she beamed. “I love all kinds of food.”
I eyed her slim body and she laughed. “Hey,” she objected, “don’t judge
a book by its cover. I can totally eat. And there better be a dessert too.”
Fuck, I knew exactly what I would love for dessert. There must have
been something Scarlett saw on my face because she blushed beet red.
I cleared my throat. “There’ll be a dessert,” I intended to say it lightly
but ended up sounding way too suggestive as it came out on a groan.
Two hours later, we were still at the restaurant, seated by the window
watching nightfall and St. Petersburg under the bright light of the full moon.
We were sharing a dessert. Scarlett opted for Chantilly Mint Mousse. She
wasn’t joking when she said she could eat. She had a healthy appetite, and it
was refreshing to see a woman enjoy her meal rather than pretend she
wasn’t hungry. I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I enjoyed myself
so much.
“Okay, you are looking at me weird,” she announced with a big smile.
“It’s starting to freak me out.”
She might have had a glass of wine, or two, that relaxed her. I really
liked her relaxed, with a light blush on her cheeks. From the moment we
met, there was no pretense in her character but relaxed like this, she was
adorable.
“I like watching you eat,” I told her, chuckling. I really loved watching
her… period. “It is a nice change.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, I bet. But not to worry, I’m done devouring food.”
“Would you like another glass of wine?”
“You kidding me? Another glass and I might start taking your clothes
off. Or mine,” she blurted out. Then as she realized what she said, she
added, “That would be no more alcohol for me. Thank you.”
I certainly hoped that meant she found me somewhat attractive. Because
I thought her very attractive and couldn’t wait to make her mine.
I signaled the waiter for the bill. He scurried over, and I left him with
extra so we could get out of there. As we stood up, I placed my hand on the
small of her back.
The playful side of me that hasn’t been as evident lately kicked in. I
couldn’t resist bending my head, then I whispered against her ear, “I’m
totally okay with you taking my clothes off.”
 She gasped, her face turning to me in shock. She was beautiful like that,
her lips slightly open, her eyes wide. Her reactions were natural, not an
ounce of pretense in it. I could see desire reflecting mine in them and my
cock approved. Scarlett O’Brady was everything I needed in my future.
The second we exited the restaurant, the cool air of the night hit us and
Scarlett shivered. Days in late August were still hot but nights were slowly
getting cooler. I pulled her closer to me and she leaned her body against
mine.
“Wow, you are hot,” she murmured. “I mean, warm. Temperature wise.”
Inwardly, I chuckled. Damn, she was sexy and she wasn’t even trying.
I’d hate to think what would happen if she tried to be sexy. She could play
me any way she wanted, wrapping me around her little finger.
“Thanks,” I grinned like an idiot. “Should I take you home?”
Her eyes widened, her breathing slightly hitched.
“I usually don’t even kiss on the first date,” she admitted in a soft voice.
“But sure, why not?”
I realized immediately my mistake but fuck. How could I say no to that?
The question was whether I should take her back to her hotel, not to my
house. It was a simple language miscommunication but the devil on my
shoulder applauded me while my feeble angel scolded me.
I wasn’t called a Russian Sinner for nothing, though usually it had
nothing to do with charming women into my bed. Regardless, the devil won
as we walked towards my car and I helped her in. Truthfully, it wasn’t a big
deal. We are practically engaged. She just didn’t know it. Right?
As I roared my car to life, I pondered her words.
I usually don’t kiss on the first date.
I really liked that. And going forward, she would only be kissing me.
She was already waking up possessive instincts within me. It had nothing to
do with love, and I knew from her words to her father that she wanted love.
I didn’t think I was capable of loving a woman anymore. But I could make
her happy, make us both happy.
It took all of ten minutes and we were gliding up in the lift, taking us to
my penthouse. As we entered, she kicked off her sandals, and it was quite a
sight to see her roaming my place barefoot. As if she’d been here a
thousand times. Her eyes traveled the place slowly taking it all in.
The floorplan was open. A large kitchen in the far-right corner, from
which you could see the entire dining room and living room, as well as
enjoy the view of St. Petersburg and River Neva. In the dark of the night,
the whole city was lit up and shimmered in the darkness.
Walking over to the large ceiling to floor window stretching through the
whole living room, she glanced over her shoulder.
“Nice place,” she commented softly.
“Thank you.” I wondered what went through her head. It was almost as
the place displeased her.
“What business are you in exactly?” she asked, never wavering from the
window.
If her eyes were on me, I was sure she’d notice me wince at that
question. I decided the best thing was to keep as close as possible to the
truth in this case.
“I own a few casinos across Europe.” Truth was, I owned several in the
States too but left that minor detail out. If she asked for the name, she might
connect me to her father. After all, it was how I came to own them; her
father needed a bailout.
“Hmmm,” was all she replied.
I strode over to her and stopped two feet from her, her back still facing
me. It interested me to know what she was thinking, what went through her
mind. I didn’t want secrets between us but couldn’t afford to lose her before
she gave us a chance.
“Is that bad?” I asked her and she whipped around.
“I didn’t hear you,” she replied, in a slightly hitched voice. Raising her
eyes to meet my gaze, I noticed her pulse racing. I wished her thoughts
were an open book to me. I wanted to know if she was excited, nervous or
worried. “No, I guess it is not bad,” she answered my question.
She was so small compared to me but definitely not timid. Her open
personality made her seem taller, bigger.
“Are you nervous?” I wanted to reach out and touch her but didn’t want
to push it. Self-admittedly, she didn’t usually do this so it was smart to take
it slow.
She gave me a small smile. “Yes,” she answered. “I think so. Maybe a
little bit.”
“Don’t be nervous.” I wanted to assure her there was nothing to be
worried about. She would never have to fear me. “We can just hang out,
watch a movie; whatever you want.”
 She took a deep breath and then nodded. I guess she was trying to calm
her nerves. She was unlike any woman that I usually had.
“Would you like a glass of wine?” I didn’t want her drunk but maybe it
would help settle her nerves.
“Maybe just a half a glass, please.”
She stared out the window, as I went into the kitchen and prepared her
glass of wine. Even as I moved around the kitchen, I noticed her every
move, her every glance my way. Her eyes roamed across my penthouse,
absorbing it all. It almost seemed she was trying to learn something about
me by studying every object, every picture.
The nagging feeling inside my fucked up brain kept telling me to be
honest with her, to tell her I was the man that her father arranged her
marriage to.
But the fear of rejection was hard to overcome. After all, it had been
ingrained into me since I was that little boy in the orphanage. My parents
rejected me. It was obvious they wanted nothing to do with me. The final
nail in the coffin was Irina. She abandoned me for an old, stinking, and
disgusting man. Her hunger and lust for power and money overrode
everything I found important… family, love, and being faithful.
No, I couldn’t tell her I was her intended husband. It would send her
running away from me. I would spend time with her, woo her so when she
learned who I was, she’d stay with me. I didn’t want to lose her. I couldn’t
lose another person.
I strode to her, her eyes on me. She was still nervous. I handed her the
glass and went over to the couch.
“What movie are you in the mood for?”
Tonight, we’d watch a movie. I wanted to spend time with her and get
her used to me. After all, we’d spend the rest of our lives together. I wanted
to learn her likes and dislikes, what movies she enjoyed and which she
didn’t. We’d have the rest of our lives to explore our bodies and this
attraction between us.
“Hmmm, maybe a light comedy,” she contemplated. “Or an action
movie. Which do you prefer?”
“I prefer action but I’m up for either.”
She smiled softly and came over, taking a seat next to me on the couch.
“Why am I not surprised you are an action movie type?”
“Probably because you are smart,” I teased her.
 I had my arm resting against the top of the couch and when she sat
down, her hair brushed against my knuckles. I couldn’t resist wrapping
strands of her hair around my fingers. Her hair was silky soft, a light floral
scent drifting up, invading my senses in the best way possible.
“Are you in the mood for any particular action movie?” she questioned.
I liked how she didn’t assume but wanted to make sure it was something we
could both enjoy.
“There is a pretty good one with Bruce Willis,” I told her. “It has some
comedy to it, Red. You might like it.”
She gave me a big smile. “Perfect. We both get what we want then.”
In all the years Irina and I spent together, she never troubled herself
with what I wanted. Scarlett has known me for less than a day and she
already gave me more consideration. This made me hopeful for our
marriage.

OceanofPDF.com
 SCARLETT

T he following morning, I met Anja and Olivia for breakfast.

Brian was taking a call so I gave them a quick update on last
night. But for some reason I withheld his name. I wasn’t sure
why but I kept his name safely tucked away.
“It’s not smart to hook up with strangers,” Olivia scolded me.
“I didn’t hook up with him,” I corrected her. “We walked along the river
for a bit. Then we had dinner and we went to his place.” Olivia and Anja
both raised their eyebrows. “We watched a movie and nothing happened.
After the movie, he brought me back, gave me a kiss on the cheek and we
said good night.” I took a deep breath, remembering his lips on my skin. “I
wish he’d at least kissed me on the lips.”
Anastasia laughed. “I’m surprised you didn’t demand it.”
“Well, if he doesn’t kiss me tonight on the lips, I will demand it.”
“Tonight?” Olivia sounded a bit alarmed.
“He is taking me out tonight.”
“Ditching us again?” Anastasia was teasing me goodheartedly.
“He’s coming at five,” I justified myself. “So I’ll spend most of the day
with you two and then the evening with him.”
They both smiled, but there was a concerned frown on Olivia’s face. I
could understand her hesitance. Some days I was fairly certain she’d written
off men for good and wished her fiancé would die a long and agonizing
death. I had never been very keen on torture and murder, but I was seriously
tempted to ask a favor of my family to kill Malcome Schmidt. I even said it
once in a rage. I was so angry at Olivia’s family for allowing that piece of
shit man around my best friend, but Olivia made me promise I would never
do such a thing. So here I was, keeping my promise.
“You’ll be careful, right?” Olivia’s voice brought me back to my two
best friends.
“Of course.”
I knew they were both happy for me. I couldn’t help but feel good about
today. Something about Sergei made me hopeful for the future. It was
bizarre and it made no sense since my future was already determined.
Refusing to let that small fact ruin my day, I focused exclusively on good
thoughts and Sergei. I’d woken up in such a good mood. Watching a movie
with him had been a blast. When he asked me to see me today again, I just
about squealed from happiness. But I kept it together.
I grinned thinking about last night. “Stop daydreaming and grinning like
that, Scarlett,” Anastasia teased. “Brian is coming. He might get
suspicious.”
I immediately wiped the grin off my face.
“Good morning Scarlett.”
“Hey, Brian.”
“Manciatti said your father called him. Did you not touch base with
your parents yesterday?”
“Shit,” I muttered. With my obsession over Sergei, I completely forgot.
And just like that the sense of guilt hit me. It wasn’t right to be going out
with Sergei and enjoying my time with him, when at the end of it all, I was
promised to someone else. Yes, I didn’t agree with it. I detested the idea of
marrying a stranger, but my family could be jeopardized if I violated my
father’s agreement. But the guilt wasn’t strong enough to make me change
my mind about meeting Sergei tonight.
Instead, I pulled out my phone and typed up a quick message to my
parents, letting them know I was alright.

“How was your day?” I asked Sergei.

We were seated outside of the restaurant, with the magnificent view of
the river and St. Petersburg. Just as he promised, Sergei came to pick me up
at five and we strolled through downtown St. Petersburg window shopping.
He kept urging me to go in and see what I liked but I refused. Window
shopping with my hand in his was so much better. I wasn’t interested in
new stuff.
He frowned, and for a second, I thought he wouldn’t answer. “It was
good. Something came up that required me to change my schedule around
but it is all taken care of now.”
I smiled. “Did someone lose too much money in your casino?”
He grinned. “I’m sure someone has, but it wasn't casino related
business.”
I took a sip of my wine then leaned back. “My dad is in the casino
business too.”
I wasn’t sure what made me say that. It just came out. He raised an
eyebrow but said nothing else. He kept waiting for me to continue, and
truthfully, I wasn’t sure what the point of bringing it up was.
“Sometimes he has weird hours,” I muttered.
He leaned back in his chair, observing me. “Whenever I can help it, I
keep regular working hours,” he spoke, locking eyes with me.
I could imagine having dinner with him, decompressing together after a
long day at work. He struck me as a man that would be home for dinner.
My father always tried too but couldn’t succeed all the time. His other
business activities kept him away sometimes.
“That’s good,” I mumbled.
It bothered me to think of Sergei having dinner on a daily basis with
another woman. So stupid! I was due home in less than two weeks and then
serious preparation would commence for my wedding. Yes, I hoped to ditch
it somehow but honestly the odds were slim to none. “So did you grow up
in St. Petersburg?”
It was better that we stick to more neutral subjects and stop dreaming of
the impossible. But even as I told myself that, I still couldn’t shake the
feeling how much it bothered me to think of Sergei with someone else. I’ve
known him for two days and already wanted more with him.
“No. I grew up in Moscow.” Sergei’s hard voice had me give him a
double take.
“Oh!” Silence lingered so I continued. “Any recommendations on what
to do there?” I tilted my head, watching him. The flirty, easy mannered man
was switched off with a tense version of Sergei. “That’s where we are going
next and then we fly back home.”
 “People usually flock to Red Square.” I didn’t think Sergei liked
Moscow too much. “Tsaritsyno Palace is pretty good. But if you don’t care
for sightseeing, you won’t enjoy it very much. I prefer St. Petersburg but
there are some good theater shows, restaurants, and bars in Moscow.”
“You don’t seem to like Moscow at all.”
He shrugged his one shoulder. “Like I said, I prefer St. Petersburg.
However, I would like to take you out on a date in Moscow too.” He
transitioned back to his charmer playboy grin. “If you’d let me.”
And just like that, his playboy charm shattered all my observation skills
and my insides melted at his offer.
I will see Sergei next week too.
When I was with Sergei, time just flew. It was almost midnight when he
pulled up in front of the hotel. I felt disappointment that he didn’t take me
to his apartment and ravish me. Now, talk about reversed roles. For years,
my boyfriends tried desperately to get between my legs. And now, I
couldn’t stop thinking about Sergei devouring me between my legs. Or me
devouring him. My body literally quivered with need for him.
“Spend the whole day with me tomorrow,” Sergei startled me, pulling
me away from my fantasies of him. There was nothing I wanted more than
to spend a whole day with him but there was guilt associated with ditching
my girlfriends too.
“I want to; I really do,” I told him. “But my friends would throw a fit.”
“I’m sure they’d understand. We can have breakfast together.
Afterwards, I can take you on a boat ride and we can go swimming.”
I frowned. “Here in the city?” Swimming in the river here didn’t sound
very appealing to me.
“No, in Peterhof,” he explained. “It is on the southern side of the Gulf
of Finland. About an hour away. You’d love it.”
“It sounds so tempting.”
“Then do it, solnce.”
Shit, I really wanted to. Spending all day and night with him sounded
like a perfect day. And maybe I could learn a bit more about him.
“What does that mean?” I asked him instead. “Solnce?”
“It means sun,” he answered. The way he watched me reminded me of a
little boy who hoped for something good but knew he wouldn’t get it. “Star
of my days. It’s just an old Russian endearment.”
 Sergei might have had a playboy side to him but there was also a soft
side to him. I had nothing to base that on but something deep down told me
he could be hard and ruthless, but also soft and sensitive.
He exited the car and came around to open the door for me. Extending
his hand, I took it and he helped me out of his sports car.
“Okay, take me boating tomorrow,” I told him with a smile, his body
flushed with mine. His happy grin was the best reward I had received in a
long time. He was so close, I wished he’d pulled me into a tight embrace. I
wanted to feel his hands on me. “What time should we meet?”
“About seven-ish?”
“Okay, I’ll send a text to my friends in the morning so they don’t
worry.”
“Thank you.” His arms wrapped around me and my stomach did
somersaults while my body melted into his. He felt warm and hard, his
muscles pressing against me. My hands closed around his neck, needing
him closer. God, I wanted him so much. It was on the tip of my tongue to
beg him to come up to the hotel room with me.
Before I could say anything, he bent his head and pressed his mouth
softly against my lips. It was so gentle, it stole my breath and a sigh escaped
me. My body pressed harder against his, needing him. A shiver ran through
me, making me feel weak in the knees.
He pulled away, his eyes dark with desire. His breathing was labored,
reflecting the beat of my heart. It was the most sensual kiss I had ever
experienced, it made my toes curl and I wanted more of his kisses. A lot
more.
His thumb lightly traced across my lower lip. “Amazing,” he muttered. I
wasn’t sure what he was referring to but if he was talking about the kiss…
holy smokes! I wholeheartedly agreed. Our first kiss was amazing. And I
had my share of kisses.
“I want another kiss,” I blurted out. His chuckle followed.
“My restraint goes only so far, Scarlett,” he commented, leaning his
head closer to mine. “Another kiss and I won’t be able to tear myself away
from you tonight.”
I wanted to tell him that was fine by me. He pressed his lips on my
cheek. Another shiver ran down my body and all my thoughts fled.
“Can I have your cell phone number?” I blinked in confusion at his
question. We were going for a kiss, not a cell phone number. Although, he
could have both.
I nodded in a daze, hoping he’d give me another kiss. I was acting like a
teenager kissed for the very first time. Totally not cool. I kissed many times
before, but damn… who knew those kisses were nothing compared to
Sergei’s mouth.
We were in front of the hotel, Sergei leaned against his sports car,
holding me against him. There was nobody around, although even if there
was, I was so focused on this man, I wouldn’t have noticed it. He had a way
about him that made me forget everything and everyone.
He chuckled softly, nuzzling his face into my hair. “Can I have your
number?” He reminded me again.
I grinned. “This feels like high school.”
“If I asked you for your number in high school,” he joked, “I’m pretty
sure I would have been arrested.”
“Old man,” I teased him. “Okay, give me your phone number and I’ll
text you. That way I have your number too. Is that okay?”
He recited his number, along with the country code and I shot him a
quick message. No sooner than I pressed the send button, his cell phone
buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket and smiled. While he still held me in
his arms with his one hand, his other held the phone. I peeked at what he
was doing but his letters were all Cyrillic so I couldn’t read any of it.
“I’m saving you in my phone book,” he explained and I blushed at
being caught.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be nosy.”
“Nothing to apologize for.” His lips pressed against my forehead and
my heart swelled. Shit, if only these little things were making my heart
react, I was doomed.

“Do you think it is smart to spend so much time with him?” Olivia
questioned me.
Both she and Anastasia were in my room as I scrambled through my
wardrobe to find something to wear. I should have known they would have
showed up at my door the moment I sent that message, although it was
barely past six in the morning.
 “I really like him.” I turned around to face them. “Really, really like
him.”
“But Scarlett, you’ve just met him.” Anastasia stated the obvious. Yes, I
just met him but it still didn’t diminish the fact that I liked Sergei a lot. And
he made me feel like nobody before. “Have you slept with him?”
I rolled my eyes. “No. But he kissed me on the lips last night.” The
memory of that kiss still made me weak in my knees. God, I hoped he’d
kiss me again. “Once. It was-” I searched for words to try and explain. “I
can’t even describe it. It literally made me weak in my knees.”
Anastasia smiled but Olivia still had a look on her face that told me, I
shouldn’t be doing this. She was probably right. The problem was it scared
me not to feel this ever again. Everything with Sergei felt right.
“Olivia, don’t give me that look,” I mumbled, guilt growing within me.
“I know you are probably right and I shouldn’t start trouble with a man that
is so far out of my reach. But something about him just speaks to me on the
most basic level. I don’t want to go through the rest of my life wondering
what this thing with Sergei could have been.”
Olivia exhaled deeply. “Just be careful. Okay?”
I took three steps and wrapped them both into a hug. “I promise. These
summer months have been the best of my entire life.”
Anja and Olivia mumbled their agreements, and we stood together in a
tight embrace.
Forty-five minutes later, I exited the hotel lobby with a large beach bag
that had a little bit of everything, from change of clothes to sunscreen. I
wore a bathing suit underneath my summer dress and was ready for a beach
day with my Sergei.
My Sergei. Darn, where did that come from? I shoved the thought away
and glanced around.
I was slightly early so I readied myself to just wait for Sergei but was
pleasantly surprised to see him already waiting for me, leaning against his
Range Rover, his hands casually in his pockets. He wore white bermuda
shorts and a polo shirt with sunglasses, looking like a million bucks.
As soon as he saw me, he gave me a wide smile.
“Hi there,” I greeted him, eyeing him greedily behind my sunglasses.
“You are early.”
“I couldn’t wait to see you again,” he murmured softly, then pulled me
into an embrace. Our bodies flushed together; he nuzzled my neck and
placed a soft kiss. I liked his affection and openness very much. It reminded
me of my parents. “Ready?”
“Yes.” He opened the door for me, and I eyed the car, as I climbed in.
“New car?”
He chuckled. “No, not exactly. But safer for longer distance drives.”
I raised my eyebrow. I didn’t realize there would be rough terrain where
we were going.
“Do I need to grab my tennis shoes?”
“No, you are perfect.” He took my hand and kissed my knuckles. It sent
a delightful shiver up my body.
“Sergei, if you keep doing this,” I told him in a husky voice, “we won’t
make it to the beach.”
“Oh no, we’ll make it to the beach and have plenty of alone time on my
boat,” he murmured softly. He reluctantly let go of my hand and shut the
door. I was so smitten with this man.

Two hours later, we were both laid out on his boat. Yeah, it wasn’t a boat. It
was a damn luxury yacht. According to him, we were on the most southern
side of the Gulf of Finland. The weather was beautiful, the sun rays
reflecting against the surface of the sea. The beach looked a bit crowded but
swimming off the yacht was perfect. It was like our own private beach.
“C’mon, let’s jump into the sea and cool off.” I grabbed Sergei by his
hand, pulling him along as I stood up. He smiled, happy and carefree. I
freaking loved everything about this man so far. We jumped off the back of
the yacht’s deck several times. I felt light and happy, the worries about the
future wiped out of my mind. The only one that mattered to me right now
was Sergei.
“You better watch out, Sergei,” I shouted off the deck. I couldn’t spot
his form in the water from this spot. “Otherwise, I might land on top of you
and dunk you.”
His baritone laugh sounded around me, and I took several steps back so
I could have a longer runway for my jump. I ran fast and once in the air,
pulled my knees to my chest and I splashed into the sea.
 I came up to the surface for air, his laugh still around me. I chuckled too
as I scrambled with my top bathing suit piece. Unfortunately, I had the
wrong kind of bathing suit for cannon balls. Two-piece bathing suit was not
safe when jumping into the water. I almost lost my top piece… for the third
time today.
“Just take your top piece off,” Sergei suggested, laughing.
I gave him a wide look. “No freaking chance. Someone might see me.”
“I told the crew to go to the front of the boat,” he spoke through
laughter as his hands reached for my waist and pulled me against him. I
wrapped my hands around his nape, loving his hard body pressed against
mine. I just loved having him close.
“Someone might have binoculars on the beach, watching us jump in,” I
justified myself. He threw his head back and laughed hard. During our
summer trip, Anastasia, Olivia, and I ran into several beaches where women
casually took their tops off. It just wasn’t for me.
I felt his hands roamed my body, his fingers hooking under my top
piece. My nerves vibrated deep down, in anticipation of his mouth and
touch.
“Sergei,” I warned him but my body pressed harder against him. My
mouth and my body didn’t work in sync here.
“I won’t let anyone see you naked,” he murmured against my lips.
“Wrap your legs around my waist.”
Before I could even ponder on it, my body did as told. Not that I would
resist it. I wanted to feel him against me, inside me, all over me. His palms
ran up my legs, his rough hands felt right against my soft skin. My
breathing was erratic, every fiber of me anticipating his next move.
“You are so hot,” he growled in my ear.
My core opened to his heat, and I rubbed myself shamelessly against
him. He took my lips in a hard kiss, his tongue invading my mouth. I
returned the kiss, holding on tight against him.
“If someone catches us,” I broke the kiss, and my voice was
unrecognizable to my own ears, “I’ll have to kill you. And them.”
“Don’t worry, solnce,” his own voice was breathless, “I’ll kill them
myself if they so much as peek at you.”
“Awww, you’re so sweet,” I teased him. His hand pushed my bathing
suit to the side, his finger brushing against my clit and a moan escaped me.
His finger rubbed my clit in lazy circles, and I thrust my hips into his touch.
I was so hot everywhere, needing more of him as my body reached for
heights he promised with his touch. With Sergei, I knew my body would
reach the peaks I never reached before. And not only because I was still a
virgin.
“Only for you,” he murmured softly, nibbling my neck. Something
touched me in the chest hearing the reverence in his voice.
My hands hungrily touched him everywhere, wanting to feel all of him.
I leaned my forehead against his shoulder, closing my eyes, this intense
feeling rising inside me was the only thing I focused on. My breathing
hitched, the pleasure just within my grasp.
“Oh, God. Yes,” my voice was raspy and needy. “Please, Sergei. I need
more.”
His finger slid inside me and a loud moan left my lips. My legs
tightened the grip around him, as I held on to him for dear life, rubbing
myself against him, his finger sliding in and out of me.
“Look at me, solnce,” he groaned against my neck, nibbling at my
sensitive skin. I was lost to him, to his expert touch. Nobody and nothing
mattered but him.
In a daze, I lifted my head and our gazes met. There was such dark
desire in his eyes, it was invigorating. His mouth took mine into a
possessive kiss, and I gave it all. I wanted to give him everything I had. He
pushed a second finger, powering into me, and I clenched at his fingers
inside me. I never knew a pleasure so intense was possible.
“Oh, fuck. Yes, Sergei,” the words escaped me on a scream. He took my
mouth, swallowing my screams.
He honed in on that sweet spot with persistence, while his finger inside
of me pressed upward. Pleasure ignited, embers burning through my
bloodstream.
“God. Yes.” My fingers gripped his thick hair, my body coiled so
tightly. He worked me like an instrument, every fiber of me in tune with
him.
I tensed, strained, and then I snapped. My back arched and my hips
bucked into his touch as the intense pleasure rolled down my body. A cry
tore through me. The intense feelings shook me to my core. The pleasure
was too much and not enough. As I shuddered in his arms and before I had
a chance to come down from my heights, he thrusted inside me, driving
hard and deep.
 His cock thrusted through my hymen and his mouth caught my gasp. He
instantly stilled, confusion in his brown eyes. I held his gaze and the
realization hit him. The confusion was replaced by wonderment and
something else… reverence?
A shaky breath escaped me, he was all the way inside me and nothing
felt so right. I held on tight to him and I knew he had me. He would always
have me.
I liked that he didn’t make a fuss but he remained still. “You okay?” He
bit my lip, and followed up brushing his tongue over the sting.
“Yes,” I rasped. “Don’t stop now.”
Even with the pain, I wanted him. I was throbbing for him to bring me
new pleasures. He started moving, his movements hard and powerful.
“Fuuuuck.” I wasn’t sure if he said it or I did. All my senses were muted
with the exception of this extreme pleasure he was giving me.
I bit my lip and hung tight onto his shoulders as he glided in and out,
my inner muscles clenching onto him. My eyes fluttered shut. He was the
only one that mattered. He was the center of all my senses. Our bodies slick
from the sea, we both reached for the heights. With each hard thrust, he
brought me closer and closer to another peak. His hands dug into my thighs
as he pounded into me, bringing me intense pleasure with each thrust. It felt
right having him inside me. He owned my body, knew what I needed better
than me.
The orgasm burst through me, and I saw stars behind my eyelids as it
flooded all my other senses, and my pussy clenched around his cock,
milking him for all he would give me. Sergei followed me over the edge
and he grunted his release, both of us shuddering.
His grip lessened but his arms still held me tightly to him. He made me
feel so cherished and realization hit me that he was the one for me. He was
the one I had been waiting for, the reason I held on to my virginity till now.
His mouth took my lips into a gentle kiss and my heart shattered with the
knowledge I’d have to lose him. Sergei was my other half I had been
searching for. All those words my mother spoke, they finally made sense.
It was fast and hard falling in love.

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 SERGEI

I expected anything and everything but not this. Scarlett O’Brady

was a virgin. How in the fucking hell was that possible? I read
her background file. She had boyfriends, a few steady ones too.
Instead, she surprised me by giving me something so valuable. Actually,
scratch that. It was priceless.
She was laid out on the deck of my yacht, right next to me. I couldn’t
help but to keep my eyes roaming over her. She was beautiful, sweet, funny,
and kind. The nagging feeling that I should tell her who I was to her kept
growing, but I decidedly ignored it. It was too soon. I needed more time. I
couldn’t risk losing her.
Her dark abundance of hair was shifted to the side, leaving the view of
her beautiful slim back. Laying on her stomach, she let me unhook her top
piece as I applied sunscreen onto her back. It didn’t take her long till she
dozed off with a small smile on her face as I rubbed the lotion into her. Her
body was lax and she belonged here. She belonged with me. Yes, her father
promised her to me as a payment, but I couldn’t be more pleased with her.
I want her to love me. The thought struck and remained although I knew
it wasn’t a right thing to ask if I wasn’t willing to give her my heart. But I
never claimed to be selfless. I wanted her all.
The yacht drifted back towards our port where my car waited for us. We
had an hour at least till we got there. I grabbed my phone and started
working, while letting her sleep next to me, soaking up the sun. We had
gone out for the past two nights and stayed out late so I was sure she was
tired. In my whole life, I had never just sat and watched a movie with a
woman. Such a simple and pleasant way to spend time together. I was
certain Scarlett was the reason I loved it. It felt natural with her, a quiet
evening at home after dinner.
I sent a message to my brothers, Dimitry and Nikolai, letting them know
of my plan to intercept Bartek’s shipment of humans. I didn’t even have to
wonder whether they’d agree, but wanted to be prepared if shit went down.
Not that I expected it to.
I heard a cute little snore, and I chuckled softly, glancing at my future
wife. She was sound asleep, her form peaceful and serene. In less than
forty-eight hours, I found more tranquility than in the last thirty years. I
loved how there was nothing fake about Scarlett. Her smiles were genuine
and her happiness contagious. And the pleasure she gave and took was
priceless.
She was nothing like Irina. Scarlett was a true diamond while Irina was
a greedy and cruel woman that cared about nobody but herself. Her actions
over the last decade proved she didn’t care how she accumulated her
wealth… whether it was by selling dry goods or innocent women and
children, it was all the same to Irina. I just wondered how I was ever blind
to not see it before today.
Maybe it was Scarlett that finally set me free and opened my eyes?
Ten minutes into the boat ride, I had one of my crew bring over an
umbrella to put a shade over Scarlett so she wouldn’t burn. She never
stirred. I was a light sleeper, it was a force of habit, but Scarlett seemed
completely out. An hour later, we were docked and Scarlett was still sound
asleep. My soon-to-be wife certainly liked to sleep.
I lightly nudged her to wake her. She smacked my hand away.
“Scarlett,” I whispered into her ear. “You can’t sleep the day away.”
“Go away,” her voice was a mutter.
I chuckled. “Should I call you sleepy or grumpy?” I asked her, teasing.
She peeked through her eyelids. “Aren’t you tired?” she muttered.
“No,” I told her, smiling. “Although you obviously are.”
She stifled her yawn. “We stayed up way past my bedtime.”
I raised my eyebrow. “You have a bedtime?”
“Sergei, if you had twenty kindergartners you had to deal with,” she
murmured, “you’d have a bedtime too. The kids are like fully energized
batteries, till about three p.m.”
 “Maybe we should find you a different profession?” I suggested,
although by the tone of her voice I could tell she loved her kindergartners.
“No way. I love my job.”
I could totally see her teaching and playing with the kids. She had an
easy and playful manner about her. She’d be a patient mother. Probably
very much like her own mother. I met her mother briefly but her calmness
and easy manner reminded me of home. Scarlett had that same demeanor,
although there was a rebel in her too.
“How about we go back to my place, take a shower, and go out to
dinner?”
Her dark eyes shone and she smiled. “I have a better idea.”
“Oh, yeah?” There was little mischief in her eyes and I couldn’t wait to
hear her idea.
“How about we take a shower, order pizza, and stay in,” she suggested.
“We could maybe watch a movie again and then see where the night takes
us.”
I liked that a lot, especially since it hinted to her staying the night. “I
love your idea.”
Her big smile made my day. “I hoped you would,” she murmured softly.
“Can you hook my top piece back on please?”

Both of us took a shower when we got back from our beach trip and she
changed into another blue summer dress. She looked beautiful in anything
she wore, but I preferred her naked. I forced my mind out of the gutter;
otherwise, I’d ravish her before we had a chance to eat.
Scarlett and I were cutting up veggies for a salad. Pizza should be here
any moment and my wife-to-be insisted we needed something healthy along
with it.
“It balances your whole diet,” she claimed, giving me a big smile. She
took a sip of the wine and placed her glass back, returning to cutting. “My
mom always said it’s okay to eat unhealthy stuff as long as you add
something healthy to the mix.”
The logic made no sense to me but I couldn’t resist indulging her. She
seemed happy and relaxed, at home in my penthouse. I wanted to convince
her to stay with me for the rest of her trip. Each minute I spent with her,
allowing me to soak up her sunshine, my fear grew of her rejection. She
was at ease with me, free with her smiles and touches but my life rejection
experiences made it hard to open the door to her. I should tell her who I was
to her. I knew it was the right thing to do, but I needed more time. She had
to love me first.
The buzz of the outside door had me checking my security screen. It
was the pizza guy.
“It’s the pizza,” I told Scarlett. “You got the salad under control?”
She raised her eyes and her eyes twinkled. “You are just trying to get
out of cutting the salad,” she teased. She was partially right. It was a
monotonous task but I loved doing it with her.
“How about this? You finish the salad,” I murmured low, pushing my
body gently into her from behind and pressing my lips to the curve of her
neck. “And later, I will reward you.”
She tilted her head, giving me better access. Her butt pushed back,
against my groin and I groaned, instantly hard for her.
“You better not forget,” she murmured, turning her head sideways. Her
mouth was slightly parted, her eyes soft - watching me. This need for her
was almost terrifying. I hadn’t wanted anyone or anything as much as I
wanted her before. And she had evoked this need within me in a matter of
days.
“I will never forget any of my promises to you.” I meant it too. I would
make her happy and proud. This woman was amazing and I’d spend the rest
of my life proving that I deserved her.
Two hours later, we were cleaning out our dishes in the kitchen. She
refused the dessert and I only wanted to eat her for dessert. Luckily, I was
smart enough not to say that. She didn’t act like a sheltered virgin but I
didn’t want to have her running from me either.
Scarlett playfully splashed water my way.
“What?” She eyed me innocently. “I was just air drying my hands. I
can’t find a dish towel.”
I strode her way. “Right behind you,” I murmured against her lips, then
took her lower lip between my teeth.
I watched her, waiting for her lead. There would be plenty of times in
the future when I would lead. This time, I wanted her to tell me what she
wanted, and I would give it to her.
 She stood on tiptoes, pressing her lips against mine and blood rushed to
my head. I thrusted my tongue into her mouth, claiming her. She moaned. I
fucking loved the noises she made when we kissed. She was mine for the
taking. So much for letting her lead.
I pulled her hard against me, her body fitting perfectly against mine.
She felt amazing. Hauling her up, I sat her on the marble counter and her
legs wrapped around my waist. Thank fucking God there was nothing on
the counter.
Her mouth was hungry on me, and I was just as eager with her lips, our
tongues dancing together in the battle of desire. I grabbed the hem of her
dress and pulled it over her head, leaving her in only her pink bra and
matching panties.
Trailing my lips over her neck, I licked and nibbled, her taste engraving
into me. She was definitely a dessert, the best dessert ever. Reaching behind
her, I unclipped her bra and tossed it carelessly aside.
I couldn’t resist bending my head, taking her perky nipple into my
mouth. Her back arched into me and her moan echoed through the
penthouse. It was the fucking best music ever. The way she responded to
my touch was amazing.
Next, I grabbed her panties, and she lifted her hips, helping me lower
them down. Discarding them, I admired her body. She was a perfect sight,
naked on my counter. My goddess. Her breathing was heavy, her cheeks
flushed, and her dark eyes hazed with desire. This was where she belonged.
“Tell me what you like,” I whispered.
“I-I, please don’t stop touching me,” she begged. “It feels so good.”
I dropped over her and fluttered my tongue along her clit. She moaned
loud, her hand grabbing onto my hair, pulling me closer. I flicked the tip of
her clit back and forth.
She rocked into me, and cried out, “Oh my God!” Her hand shoved me
harder against her, riding my face and her taste was the best dessert on my
tongue.
I pushed a finger into her pussy, finger fucking her fast and hard. Her
cries turned into screams and her body shivered in an orgasm. There was no
better feeling than this. Watching her fly high because of me.
“Fucking beautiful,” I muttered, kissing her inner thigh. “And mine.”

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 SCARLETT

H earing Sergei lay claim almost shattered me. I had known him
only three days, and damn it, I wanted to be his. He swept
through me like a hurricane.
Should I warn him that I couldn’t be his? Or maybe I could just send it
all to hell and be his. But just as quickly as the thought came, I dismissed it.
I couldn’t do that to my parents. Despite our disagreements, I loved them
and they loved me.
The last few days had not gone the way I expected at all. I didn’t lie
when I told Sergei I didn’t kiss on the first date but I also never moved so
fast with a boy before. Usually I took it slow. There had been nobody that
made me want to kiss on the first date. Nobody ever swept me off my feet
before. It usually took me a while to get comfortable with boys.
I scoffed inwardly. Sergei was right, they were boys. He was a man, and
fuck, the things he could do with his mouth and his tongue. The last thing I
expected today was for him to eat me out. In less than a week that I’ve
known him!
I sat naked on his kitchen counter while he was still fully dressed. The
feeling was erotic, empowering. He watched me like I was the most
gorgeous woman on this planet, and I knew that wasn’t true. With his looks,
he must have women throwing themselves at him.
He began to trace his finger around my clit again and my body instantly
ignited under his expert touch. I was still tender, and a whimper left my
mouth. I wanted him to bring me to new heights and I just came back down.
The strange thing was that I had a feeling he’d do it too. He wanted to make
sure I gained all the pleasure out of this.
He dipped his chin and kissed me, my mouth eagerly opened for him. I
could taste myself on his tongue. It felt sexy, forbidden but right. He felt so
right. My hands slipped through his hair, holding him close to me. Sergei
was a beautiful man and he knew exactly what he was doing. He dominated
and led the way to my pleasure. I wanted to make him feel as good as he
made me feel.
I pushed his suit jacket off his shoulders, letting it fall carelessly onto
the kitchen floor. My fingers fumbled with his shirt, as he kissed me
hungrily, his tongue thrusting into my mouth, flicking against mine. This
man knew how to kiss and the jealous side of me wanted to claim all his
kisses. The sex earlier today was thrilling, fast. But now, he took his time
and the sensations he brought within me promised new heights.
His shirt gone, I traced my fingers all over his skin, his ripped abs. He
had a tattoo of a sacred heart wrapped in roses over his left chest and
another tattoo with writing in Cyrillic I couldn’t read over his upper right
chest. I shuddered in his arms, clasped my legs around his waist. The ache
between my thighs intensified with each second. I wanted him so bad.
“I want you,” I whispered breathlessly. My body and brain were focused
entirely on Sergei. Nothing mattered to me right now but this man in front
of me. “I need you now.”
“Fuck,” he growled.
He hauled me up into the air as I held on to him, my legs still wrapped
around him. His lips never left my skin, like he wanted to taste every inch
of me. Each kiss and touch of his made my body shudder in need for him.
Through the haze, I realized he took us into the bedroom when he
placed me on top of the bed. Once I was laid onto his bed, he pulled back,
then quickly got rid of his shoes and the rest of his clothes.
Taking a sharp breath in, I bit my lip, admiring his naked body. He was
beautiful, not an ounce of fat on him. His entire body screamed strength and
power. His body was pure muscle and I couldn’t wait to have him inside me
again. I rubbed my thighs together, hoping to alleviate the ache for him but
all it did was intensify it.
My eyes roamed down his gorgeous body and stopped on his cock. He
was hard and big. So big, and I felt empty, needing him desperately. I
couldn’t tear my gaze away from it. Yes, he was the first man I slept with,
but it didn’t mean I was a saint. It just meant I never went all the way. But
with certainty I knew there wasn’t a hotter specimen than this man in front
of me. At least as far as I was concerned.
“I could jerk off with just your eyes on me, solnce,” he murmured in his
deep voice, his accent thick, “and I wouldn’t last long. You are beautiful.”
I felt my arousal trickle down my inner thigh. I opened my legs wider,
his eyes soaking me in.
“You’re wet for me,” he growled. I swore, his accent got thicker and
thicker with each second.
“Yes.” My hand reached for his cock, and when I faltered, he leaned
over and took my hand. Placing it over his cock, he showed me how to hold
him.
His hips thrust forward into my touch, and I squeezed harder. His body
was made for the most delicious sins.
“Fuck.” His head tipped back slightly, a look of bliss on his face and
there wasn’t a better, more erotic sight. My pussy clenched in need for him.
He slowly climbed over me, his weight shifting the bed. He leaned over his
elbow, his hand reaching between our bodies, his fingers slowly tracing my
pussy.
“So fucking wet,” his voice was hoarse. “Mine.”
He placed himself between my thighs and feeling the tip of his cock
against my entrance made me hot. His thick heat was inching his way
through my wet pussy. His mouth caught mine and he pushed his hips in a
powerful surge. I wanted to make him feel just as good. My nails dug into
his butt, urging him on. He pulled out, slowly and my body shivered at the
loss.
He pushed back in, and I moaned into his mouth. I needed more. As if
he was in sync with my needs, he began to move harder. Faster. His hips
burrowed down, claiming every inch of me and a sharp gasp escaped me.
It was amazing. He was amazing. His tongue slipped into my mouth
possessively, his hips thrusting into me, pounding into me. Pain and
pleasure mixing. The sensation was overwhelming but not enough, as we
both reached for more. I thrust my tongue against his and tightened around
his cock, his pounding hard and relentless.
A scream left my lips and he swallowed it with his mouth. Sparks began
to explode behind my closed eyes, every fiber of me on fire as I chased the
mind-blowing orgasm only he could give me.
 “Sergei,” my voice was muffled, and I clenched tightly around his cock
inside me. My body shuddered with intense release, as he continued rutting
me. Another hard thrust and he followed right behind me with a roar. Both
of us shuddered following our release, his body on mine. I didn’t want to let
go of him and tears pricked in my eyes at the intensity of feelings. He was
nothing but a stranger but had made me feel more alive than I had ever felt.
I nuzzled my face into his neck, absorbing his scent and memorizing it
for the future I could never have with him.

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 SERGEI

S carlett’s content sigh was the best sound. Today, she had given me
the best release ever, the most precious gift. I was still inside her,
spent, and damn if I couldn’t go at it again.
“I wasn’t too rough?” I nuzzled her neck, inhaling deeply.
My woman.
“No, not at all.” Her reply was soft, that of a well satisfied woman. And
it made me feel smug. “I should get dressed though and get back to my
hotel. I’ve been gone all day.”
“No, you shouldn’t,” I told her. She belonged here, in my penthouse.
Except she didn’t know who I really was so I couldn’t demand that of her.
Not yet. “I can take you back to the hotel early in the morning before
anyone wakes up.”
She yawned, covering her mouth. She looked tired. After all, I have
kept her up late every night since she arrived in Russia. I still couldn't
believe my luck running into her. I felt like stars were finally aligning and
the two of us were meant to be together.
“Okay,” she murmured, never opening her eyes. “But we can’t
oversleep.”
I pulled out of her and tucked her into my side. I smiled, satisfied with
the turn of events this week. It has been the best few days of my entire life.
I would ensure for the duration of her stay in Russia to spend as much time
with her as we both can. I wanted her to get to know me and be comfortable
with me. Once she found out I was her intended husband, she wouldn't
mind it. I couldn’t wait to marry her.
 Abruptly she lifted up. “Oh my God!”
“What?”
Her eyes were full of fear and worry. “We didn’t use protection.” Her
eyes darted to me. “We didn’t do it earlier today nor now.”
I frowned but then realization dawned on me. “That’s okay.”
“No, it’s not,” she murmured. “I’m not on a pill and you didn’t use a
condom.”
“It’s okay,” I assured her.
“No, Sergei,” her lower lip trembled. “It’s not okay. I have to get a
morning after pill.”
Fuck, I never thought lying to her would be this difficult.
So naturally, I lied some more. “I'll get you a morning after pill,” I
grunted. “Go to sleep and when we get up, I’ll have it for you.”
She eyed me dubiously. “What doctor will give you a prescription for
the morning after pill without seeing the patient?”
I chuckled. “This is Russia. You shall have it tomorrow before I take
you back to the hotel.”
Pulling her back into me, I tucked her back into my side.
“Now let’s go to sleep. We cannot oversleep,” I murmured against her
hair.
“Thank you, Sergei,” she whispered softly and guilt spread through me.
I decidedly ignored it. She was practically my wife, promised to me for the
past eight years. I was well within my right here.
Yeah, right. She won’t like it.
This damn angel on my shoulder was annoying the shit out of me.
I pulled her even tighter to me and buried my head in the back of her
hair. I listened to her breathing slow down and knew the moment she fell
asleep. No sooner was she out, I followed her into slumber, and for the first
time ever, I slept with my mind at ease. My woman was next to me.

The sun wasn’t even up when I nudged Scarlett out of her sleep. It took me
several attempts before she’d even stirred. I had already had my shower and
made coffee for both of us.
 “Stop,” she murmured sleepily, shoving me away then turning her slim
back to me. She definitely wasn’t a morning person. Wrapping my arms
around her, her back against my chest, I went for a different approach.
I showered her neck with light kisses, nibbling her ear. My hands played
with her breast, her nipples between my fingers. I pushed my hard cock
against her butt and a soft moan left her, followed by her pushing her ass
harder against me.
Shit, this was backfiring.
“If you don’t get up, I’m going to fuck you again,” I warned on a groan.
Her response was grinding her butt harder against my cock. My hands
lowered to her inner thigh to find her soaking wet, her heat waiting for me. I
rubbed her clit and another moan sounded in the dark of the room.
“Sergei,” her voice was sleepy, needy. She wanted me. “I need you to
fuck me.”
Definitely backfiring.
I flipped her onto her stomach.
“Push your butt up,” I ordered her. She obeyed without a question, so
trusting. I slid my cock into her slick pussy from behind. “Fuck, so perfect,”
I groaned as I started moving. She was ready for me. My woman needed
this as much as I did. Her moans became louder as I pounded harder. I was
a bastard, I knew. She just lost her virginity yesterday. I should be taking it
slow with her, instead I was taking her like a beast.
“More,” she demanded in a raspy voice.
My reason and control lost, I obeyed and gave her more. My hand
wrapped around that lush hair of hers forcing her to turn her head and take
my kiss, while I pounded into her.
“Nobody touches you,” I gritted through my teeth, kissing her hard,
possessive. “You hear me?”
“O-oh, I’m-” she screamed and I stilled my movements, denying her
pleasure. “No!” her eyes snapped open, outrage in them. “I was so close.”
I tightened my grip on her hair and gently bit into her lip. “Nobody
touches you,” I demanded again. Her pussy was mine. She was mine and
mine alone. Forever. “Tell me.”
I pushed hard into her, filling her to the hilt and stilled again. Her eyes
fluttered shut, an expression of ecstasy on her face.
“Tell me,” I repeated.
 “Nobody touches me,” she muttered, grinding herself against me.
“Please, Sergei. I need more.”
Pulling out and then thrusting again hard into her, I started rutting her
like a beast.
“Mine,” I growled. This possessiveness didn’t make any sense. I hadn’t
felt it so intense before. I would give her everything. She would get all her
pleasure and all her needs from me alone.
“Yes. Oh God, yes!” Her screams of pleasure echoed throughout my
penthouse as I thrusted in and out, hard. I loved that she didn’t hold back.
As she reached her peak, her tight pussy around my cock, she took me over
the edge right with her.
I collapsed on top of her, both of our heavy breathing enveloping the
early morning silence.
“Are you okay?” I nuzzled my face into the back of her neck.
“Hmmmm,” she sounded sleepy. “Never better. That was magnificent.”
I chuckled softly. “You are stroking my ego.”
“Well, if the shoe fits,” she cackled softly. Turning over to face me, she
wrapped her arms around me. “I want to wake up like this every day,” she
murmured. Her eyes fluttered shut, a small dreamy smile playing around
her lips.
A pang of guilt hit me for not being completely honest with her. She
snuggled tighter to me, her small body fit perfectly against mine.
“Spend the day with me again,” I asked. I didn’t want to take her back
to her hotel. I wanted to keep her here with me. I wanted to hear her
laughter, her little moans as I kissed her and satisfied sighs after I pleasured
her utterly and completely.
Her dark eyes opened. Her gaze told me she really wanted to but she
wouldn’t. “I ditched my friends yesterday. It wouldn’t be fair to do it again
today. And I need a change of clothes.”
“I’ll buy you new clothes.”
She smiled. “Ohh, shopping? I’d go shopping any day over
sightseeing.”
“We can shop till you drop,” I suggested hopefully. I would make it
more compelling for her to spend the day with me. I wanted to get to know
her and for her to get to know me. That way when she found out I was her
intended, she’d already be head over heels for me. “We can have lunch
together at a little restaurant by the river so you can have an easy day.”
 Her smile was soft. “It sounds tempting.”
“Then do it. I want to hear more about you.”
“Didn’t I talk about myself too much yesterday?” she tried to tease.
“And the day before.”
“No, not nearly enough,” I told her firmly.
She took a deep breath, and I readied for rejection. It always seemed
when I desperately wanted something, I got rejected. No matter how young
or old I was, it still sucked. Irina rejected me to marry an old Polish
mobster. And he was an old fucker. I could still remember her justification.
“He has more money, a real last name,” she seemed sad but not sad
enough to slice my heart in two. “You don’t even know who your parents are
and you are not exactly rich.”
After that, I focused on accumulating my wealth so I could see her
regret the day she rejected me.
Scarlett placed her soft palm against my cheek, bringing my thoughts
back to now.
“How about this? You take me back to the hotel. I’ll shower and change,
have a quick breakfast with my friends and then we meet. Forget the
shopping though. We can just hang out and you tell me some things about
yourself. I feel like I don’t know much about you at all.”
I looked at her in surprise. It wasn’t what I expected. “What time?”
I seemed like a pussy stricken fool, but for some reason, I didn’t give a
crap. I’d be a tough and scary motherfucker with others, but not with her.
With Scarlett, I wanted her to know me. She would be my wife and we’d
always have each other’s back.
She thought for a second. “About ten-ish?”
I pressed my mouth on her soft lips. She didn’t realize but she just
offered me the best gift ever. In the few days I’ve known her, she has given
me more than I had ever been given from any other woman, including my
own mother.
“I’ll be there.”
She chuckled at my enthusiasm. “You don’t have to work?”
“I have one thing to take care of this morning. The rest I’ve got all
covered.”
“Alrighty then,” she nipped my chin. My chest swelled at her granting
me this wish. “If something changes, just text me. Don’t call, otherwise
you’ll incur international charges. It's cheaper if you text.”
 She watched me worriedly, chewing on her lower lip, and I smudged
my thumb across it. I didn’t want her to worry about that kind of stuff.
“Don’t worry about international charges,” I told her, smiling. “Text me
to let me know you were able to arrange to spend the day with me.”
I couldn't help but chuckle. I owned businesses all over Europe, Russia,
and the States and she worried about me getting international charges.
I haven’t even dropped her at her hotel and already hated the idea of not
seeing her for a few hours. I couldn’t wait to be back for her after my
meeting.

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 SCARLETT

S ergei and I rushed to get dressed eager to get our day started. I
was being a horrible friend to Olivia and Anastasia but I really
wanted to spend the day with him. I wanted to spend every
second of the day and night with him. I was falling for him, I knew it.
Besides, as he waited for my rejection, there was a fleeting sad emotion
that crossed his face. I couldn’t quite describe it but it was gut wrenching.
As if he had experienced so much rejection and abandonment in his life that
he expected it. That notion in itself didn’t make sense since he was so
handsome that I was sure women flocked to him. Maybe spending a day
with him would give me an opportunity to learn more about him. For the
past few days, he kept asking questions about me but we never got around
to talking about him.
And sex. Oh my gosh, it was freaking amazing. My V-card was forever
gone, although I had to wonder if having used a vibrator maybe I
technically wasn’t a virgin.
Who cares, either way it was freaking amazing! I want more.
“What are you smiling about?” Sergei’s voice startled me. We were in
the car and he was driving me back to the hotel.
“Nothing,” I answered quickly.
No way in hell would I be answering that question. Talk about
embarrassment. Now that I knew how Sergei felt, that vibrator would
forever be lacking.
“It must have been something,” he retorted, “if you were smiling all
dreamy.”
 “I was thinking about all the things we’ll do today.” It was the closest
I’d get to the truth.
Taking my hand, he brought it to his lips. “Thanks for spending another
day with me.”
I knew there was a stupid, giddy smile on my face, but I couldn’t help it.
These feelings floating within me were amazing, making me happy. Like
the best adrenaline. I wished I could bottle it up and keep doses of it with
me forever.
My mother always said it took her exactly five minutes to realize there
would never be anyone else for her but my father. I couldn’t comprehend it,
till now. Seeing my parents happy and devoted to each other growing up set
some expectations. Sometimes, it seemed unattainable to me, to find the
love those two had. It was a rarity, I came to learn. Olivia’s parents didn’t
have it. I wasn’t sure about Anastasia’s parents since she rarely talked about
her mom. She lost her so young and under tragic circumstances.
“We’ll swing by and get that morning after pill,” Sergei’s voice had me
focusing back on him. ”Unless you don’t want it?” He almost sounded
hopeful.
I stared at him dumbfounded. I forgot about the morning after pill and
we had sex again this morning. Unprotected! Was I really losing my head so
fast for this man that protection wasn’t even a question in my mind? And
why was he uncaring whether we use protection?
“Aren’t you worried about getting me pregnant?” I asked, frowning.
“After all, we are just strangers to each other and we live in different
countries.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Not really. And if you get pregnant, we’ll
get married and have the baby.”
“But you don’t even know me,” I commented while a horribly
wonderful idea started forming in my mind. It wasn’t smart; it could cause a
war, bloodshed, between my family and whatever the family was that my
father promised me to. It wasn’t right. I loved my parents and would never
want them hurt or put them in that position.
Then why was it still in my head? Did my father care when he put me in
that position?
Stop it, Scarlett! I scolded myself.
If I did something so stupid as allow myself to get pregnant with
another man, it could hurt my brothers, my mother. I couldn’t possibly be so
selfish. And talk about being immature.
“True,” he responded to my comment. “We just met but sometimes you
just know. Some people just resonate with you.”
Maybe he had a point. Isn’t that what my mother said, when you know,
you just know.
“Yes, we better stop and get that pill,” I finally said. Being adventurous
was one thing, being reckless with another human life was quite another.
Ten minutes later, I was in front of my hotel. Like a real gentleman that
he was, he came around and opened the door for me.
I felt slightly uncomfortable debating the proper way to say goodbye
after spending a night with him. Was there a proper way? This wasn’t a
situation I was familiar with, sneaking back to my room in the morning.
Resolving me of all my thoughts, he took the nape of my head gently
and pulled me closer. “See you in a few hours, solnce.”
Pressing his lips on mine, the kiss was soft and yearning. It ended too
quickly.
“See you soon,” I murmured against his lips.

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 SERGEI

I leaned against my car, tucking my hands into the pockets and

watched her walk into her hotel. There was just something
about her that appealed to me… her warmth, easygoing ways,
playfulness. I couldn’t quite pinpoint it.
She glanced over her shoulder, and her eyes flashed in surprise. As if
she expected me to be gone already. Truthfully, I wanted to walk her all the
way to her room but I knew she wouldn’t appreciate it. She gave me a big
smile and disappeared through the door.
I couldn’t wait to marry her and start our life together. I wanted to tie
the knot so there was no risk of this arrangement going awry. After so many
betrayals, abandonment by the woman I loved and parents I yearned for, I
had become hardened. Irina’s betrayal sealed the bleeding cracks that
started with my parents' abandonment.
My fucking parents. Eventually I did learn who they were, but I never
shared it with anyone. Not even Dimitry and Nikolai. I was better off not
knowing.
I stood there for another minute and then got behind the wheel. As I
went to put the car into first gear, my eyes landed on Scarlett’s package that
contained a morning after pill. I eyed it, all the while debating to call her.
She forgot it. I knew she forgot all about it when I mentioned it to her this
morning too. This must mean something, right?
Yeah, it means I’m a jackass, I scolded myself for entertaining the
notion of chucking the package out the window. Instead, I shoved it into the
glovebox and put the car into gear.
 When I got to my office, ten minutes later, Michail was already there.
“Are you ready to meet with the Polish?” he eyed me, like he thought
otherwise.
I went to my desk and pulled out my holster and a gun.
“I was born ready,” I told him and he promptly rolled his eyes. One of
these days, I’d have to kick his ass. Today, I was in too good of a mood.
Besides, I liked Michail. “After this meeting, I’m leaving. You’ll be in
charge till I get back. Call me if anything urgent comes up.”
“What the hell are you doing?” he asked in a surprised tone. “What is
more important than running your business?”
“None of your business,” I retorted dryly and he rolled his eyes again.
“Okay, whatever, keep your secrets. Let’s get this damn meeting with
the Polish done. I can’t stand that dude,” he grumbled. “I want to beat the
shit out of him. And his wife is no better.”
I agreed with that sentiment exactly. Bartek was head of the Polish mob,
and the old guy Irina married. Memories of that fateful day swam to the
forefront of my mind. The feel of the Maserati crashing through the venue,
the sound of bullets whizzing through the air around us, the sound of men
shouting in pain, the sight of the dead bodies that piled up around us, the
pain from the beating his men gave Michail and me before Dimitry and
Nikolai showed up to save our asses.
So a dozen or so men down, multiple broken bones, bruises, black eyes
and a smashed Maserati later, I’d say Irina got herself an unforgettable and
unique dream wedding. I sure hoped she was having a good time with that
old, wrinkled body humping her at night. Although right now, none of it
mattered. All I cared about was my woman, her soft body pressed against
mine.
“Are our men ready?” I asked him.
“Yes, taking ten men.”
I nodded as we headed to our meeting spot, the warehouse on the
outskirts of St. Petersburg. We pulled at the front of it, our men already
surrounding us. I saw a few of the Polish standing in the front of the
warehouse.
“Tell your boss we’ll meet out here,” I told one of them. “Such a
beautiful day. Great weather.”
For a moment, I thought the idiot was going to object but then he
decided against it. Smart. They reached out to me and wanted to do
business with me, so it would be on my terms. As we stood there, both
Michail and I unbuttoned our jackets to ensure we could reach our weapons
quickly. Our men already had their guns pointed.
Neither Michail nor I trusted these assholes. We haven’t had any direct
interactions over the last twelve years but they have been on our radar. We
seized a few… okay, maybe a bit more than a few of their shipments. But
only when we had credible evidence that they were transporting women.
These Polish were part of a human trafficking ring, although we couldn’t
find direct evidence to point to them. There was never a linkage between
Polish and the ships to connect them. They have been careful to cover all
their tracks. If I found hard evidence against them, I’d be the first one to
leak it accidentally to Interpol.
The warehouse door opened and I spotted him immediately. Bartek had
aged badly, really badly. He was in his late sixties, or was it seventies. Who
the fuck cared? He looked like he was eighty. I guess too much alcohol
would do that.
It appeared like he wobbled as he walked out and then I saw her. Irina!
He actually brought her to this shit. What the fuck was he thinking? She
walked behind him, her head bent down, playing an obedient wife. But I
knew better. There wasn’t a single obedient bone in her body. She was cruel
and greedy. She had aged too, and not well.
Her husband stopped ten feet from me along with his wife, his men at
his back.
“Hello Sergei,” Bartek spoke up, sounding like the old Simpson
character with a Polish accent. “I believe you remember my wife.”
Irina raised her head, her blue eyes meeting my gaze. She was still a
beautiful woman, although worn out. Her blonde hair didn’t shine as it used
to, her small frame was slightly overweight and she wore too much
makeup. The best part was that I felt nothing. Not rage, not sorrow…
nothing. And I knew it had everything to do with Scarlett.
I gave her a light nod. “Bartek, Irina,” I spoke curtly. “What business
did you want to meet about?”
I wanted to keep this short. I couldn’t wait to pick up Scarlett and spend
the day with her again.
“I heard you and your brothers are controlling shipments through the
Baltic Sea,” he started, then paused, waiting for my confirmation. When I
didn’t confirm it nor deny it, he continued, “I need to arrange safe passage
for one of my boats.”
I have heard about those boats of his, and he would never get it. He was
trafficking women and children for a hefty profit. Although with Michail’s
and my interference over the years, I was sure their income suffered. It was
clear they didn’t know it was us since they approached me. Or maybe they
were playing games. They should really find a different source of income.
Either way, for as long as my brothers and I lived, we would always
fight human traffickers. I was eighteen when Dimitry, Nikolai, and I
intercepted the agreement Boris was going to make with Lebanese’s head.
Boris wanted in on the human trafficking. We didn’t and never would. We
waited for the Lebanese, hidden in the alley off the Red Square and killed
them all. We may have done our share of illegal shit, but we drew a hard
line on hurting innocents. We’d always protect the innocents. It was the
reason we got a sacred heart tattoo. Our reminder never to forget who we
were.
I returned my attention to Bartek and his wife, disgusted that they’d get
involved in something like that. They deserved nothing better than what
those Lebanese had received. But since I was here, I’d get some
information out of him.
“What are the goods and when exactly?”
He eyed me as if debating whether to tell me the truth or lie to me. Or
maybe it was whether to trust me or not. I didn’t really care. Silence
stretched and I wondered whether the old man forgot the question. My
phone buzzed and I threw it a quick glance. Scarlett’s message flashed.
*All good.*
It was all it took to make my day better and brighter. Now, I just had to
get this prick handled.
“Bartek, I have a full schedule today,” I told him. “If you are not
prepared to disclose the terms, contact us when you are.”
I turned around to leave, when his voice stopped me.
“Next week. And it is just a shipment of dry goods.” Lying bastard. I
watched him stoic, waiting for further explanation.
He was right, we controlled smuggled shipment routes through the
Baltic Sea but we were working on getting away from it. Obviously, he
didn’t know that.
 He didn’t finish but Irina did, which told me a lot more about what was
going on.
“We just need it to get safely to Ryga, and we’ll handle it from there.”
Her voice was raspier than I remembered, like she smoked a shit ton of
cigarettes since the last time I saw her. She smoked back then too, which I
didn’t care for. It looked like she kept that bad habit. “We just need to be
able to have it safely in the port.”
Yeah, I bet they would like that.
It was disappointing that she would knowingly traffic women and
children, leaving them to the cruel people who resorted to buying them and
putting them through hell. She was in the same category as Bartek and
Lebanese, in my book.
I would ensure we intercepted this one and brought those victims to
safety.
“That is not our port,” I told them both. “So you can do whatever you
want in Ryga.”
I tilted my head in greeting to him and his wife then left them both
standing there. It would seem Irina has gotten herself ingrained into her
husband’s business. And I would bet she knew exactly what was on that
boat and didn’t give a shit, which told more than anything about her
character. Not that it surprised me. She was always that greedy and I was
just too blind to see it.
Both Michail and I got into the car, and our men followed into their
vehicles. As we drove off, I pulled out my phone to reply to Scarlett. I never
spared another glance at Irina. She no longer mattered.
“Michail, make sure we get that shipment and set those women free,” I
told him as I typed a confirmation back to Scarlett. “Use whatever resources
you need.”
“With pleasure!” This just made his day. “I’m glad that bitch had no
impact on you,” he added wryly. “It would seem she is trying to run this
shit.”
“She won’t succeed,” I told him.
Michail was right. Irina no longer mattered. Scarlett was my future.

OceanofPDF.com
 SCARLETT

B rian, Olivia, Anastasia, and I were finishing up our breakfast

when my phone buzzed. Anastasia’s eyes came to me in surprise
but she said nothing since Brian was at the table.
I quickly peeked at the message, and it was from Sergei. I worked hard
at hiding my smile. It was a simple message but it made me want to grin
like a fool.
*I’ll pick you up in an hour. Miss you already, solnce.*
Olivia kicked my foot under the table in warning, just as Brian spoke
up.
“Why do I get a sense you are up to no good, Scarlett?”
I wiped the smile off my face. If I smiled like the happiest woman alive,
he’d know I was up to something. I told Anastasia and Olivia but it would
never go over well with Brian. He grudgingly agreed to let me stay behind
alone while Anastasia and Olivia went sightseeing.
“No idea, Brian,” I replied to him, biting into my toast. It would buy me
some time from answering questions since it was rude to talk with your
mouth full.
“What did you do all day yesterday?” he questioned me. “Knowing you,
it must be boring sitting in the hotel room all day.”
I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. But he was right, I hated
being cooped up.
“I lounged around and tanned,” I finally answered him. It was sort of
true. Except that it wasn’t here but on a luxury yacht out at sea. And it was
freaking awesome. “You like my tan?”
 “You should apply some sunscreen,” he muttered. He was still
suspicious. “I still think there is something you are not telling me.”
“C’mon, Brian,” Anastasia interjected. “You know how much she hates
sightseeing. And you have to admit, it is painful to listen to her complain
the entire time. She’ll stay behind, maybe use the hotel pool, read, watch
movies, and tan some more. It is win-win for us all.”
Brian looked around for a waiter, and I threw Anastasia a quick grateful
glance while she winked at me. Olivia and her were Godsent.

OceanofPDF.com
 SERGEI

T he last week and a half with Scarlett were the best days of
my entire life, hands down. There was nothing that could
trump them, not the first winter in the warm apartment
Dimitry secured, not the bite of the pastry Dimitry stole after we had
nothing to eat in days, not the first million I made. The way she wrapped
her arms around me, leaned her body against mine… made me feel alive
and at home. She was home.
Scarlett and her girlfriends arrived in Moscow several days ago. Of
course, I followed. I didn’t like a day to go by without seeing Scarlett. I had
become a schmuck who drooled over his woman. There was dread in the pit
of my stomach at the lies I told her. I kept telling myself it was to allow her
to fall in love with me. To like me before she shut down all our chances at a
great future together.
“Sergei, are you listening?” Michail complained again. This was the
second time he asked me that in the last twenty minutes.
I needed to focus on resolving this clusterfuck that Irina and her
husband caused. We succeeded in intercepting the ship and rescuing the
people they were transporting. Now, it was a task to get them all returned
where they belonged. The problem was Irina had another shipment of
humans passing through in the next few days. They kept that one a secret.
I couldn’t help the irritation at cutting the day short with Scarlett. I
wanted to enjoy my dinner with her and take her back to my bed. Instead, I
had things to deal with. Including Vlad who was on his way here. I didn’t
want to talk to the bastard but here we were… he was five minutes away.
 “Yes, I’m listening,” I finally answered. “How many more do we have
to arrange their return?”
“We are down to the last twenty,” he replied, letting me get away with
my distraction. “What is your plan for Irina and her husband?”
I didn’t have a solution for them yet. By now, those two must have
realized we intercepted their shipment. I’d expected them to call me out on
it, scream or call for a war. Instead, it was quiet, like a calm before the
storm.
“First, we have to find out details about this other shipment they have,”
I told him firmly. “That is our priority.”
I knew Bartek and Irina would try again. But I couldn’t just hunt them
down and kill them. Although that seemed to be the simplest solution. It
would cause a war between us and the Polish or who knew who else. Those
two were up to something.
“You don’t mean to let them get away with this?” Michail hated human
smugglers. Considering what happened to his sister, it was completely
understandable.
“No, we won’t let them get away with it. I don’t have a plan on how to
deal with them yet,” I answered Michail. “But they have to be dealt with.
Otherwise-”
I got cut off by the buzzer on my desk with the announcement, “Vlad is
here. Coming your way in one minute.”
“Thank you,” I told my front man, then turned to Michail. “We’ll find a
way to get Bartek and Irina eliminated.” We had to, otherwise we’d have
this shit on our hands too. “If Vlad is not gone in five minutes, come up
with some kind of emergency. I am not in the mood for this motherfucker
today.”
Michail nodded, got up, and opened the door to leave my office. Just as
he was exiting, Vlad showed up.
“Vlad,” Michail greeted him curtly. The other didn’t even deign to
acknowledge him, which grated my nerves even more. I knew Michail
didn’t give a shit, but still, it pissed me off.
“Shut the door behind you,” Vlad ordered Michail as he sat himself in
the chair where Michail sat mere moments ago. The latter ignored him, his
eyes shifting to me. I gave him a slight nod although I’d rather contradict
Vlad right now.
As soon as the door closed, he went on the offense.
 “This business going legitimate will be a big dent to us,” he started
immediately. He didn’t look great. There were shadows on his hollow face,
bags under his eyes. His hair was all white and thinned out. It was beyond
me why the idiot wouldn’t just take retirement and enjoy his next ten,
twenty years, however long he had left on this earth. I was barely in my
mid-thirties and I was ready to enjoy my life outside the rússkaya máfiya.
I didn’t answer him, just sat back watching him. Vlad was like a snake
in the grass, striking you when you least expect it. I bet Boris never thought
his best friend was going to betray him like he did. It was good for Dimitry,
Nikolai, and I, but it made me uneasy around him. One day, he’d do it to us.
I was glad to get out of this bullshit. I had some good men and we’d all be
fine managing our businesses legally. Life in the mafia aged you fast. My
goal was to have a long life with Scarlett by my side.
“Well, aren’t you going to say anything?” he spat out agitated.
“No, I have nothing to say,” I told him.
“So you don’t agree with pulling out?” That fucker was desperate to
break the bond Dimitry, Nikolai, and I had. He was always sneaking
around, trying to turn us against each other. He had no clue what loyalty
was. Even when I fucked up, my brothers had my back. I knew they joined
Boris’s mafia because they thought I wouldn’t survive another winter in the
orphanage. Even if they turned their back on me, I’d never betray them.
“Well?” Vlad sounded agitated.
“I agree with my brothers,” I finally answered him. “And I don’t have
time for your bullshit.”
“Do you realize this will slash all the profits and make us look weak
with others?”
“Who are the others?”
“Everyone!” He was getting worked up.
“Let them try us and we’ll show them how weak we are,” I retorted
dryly. I wished he’d just go away.
“It could cost us everything. Last ten years of work down the drain.”
What the fuck was he talking about? Dimitry, Nikolai, and I did all the
work. He just reaped the fruits of our labor and sacrifices, trailing behind
us. In my book, Vlad was just as dirty and unscrupulous as Boris. Except he
preferred not to get his hands dirty. He didn’t mind dirty deeds, selling
women or children, as long as he wasn’t doing the hard labor. My brothers
and I had to do the killings, beatings, and set some moral standards within
our organization, like protecting people from being sold like stock.
“Vlad, I don’t have time for your crap today.” I stood up, signaling him
this conversation was over. I wasn’t in the mood for this.
“Fine,” he muttered, and I had to hide my surprise at his quick
surrender. “We’ll regret this, you’ll see.”
I didn’t think so. I couldn’t wait to be rid of the taint of this world and
people like Vlad. Scarlett might have been the daughter of a Boston
mobster, but she wanted nothing to do with it either. She didn’t tell me any
of that, but her claim that she wanted a simple life was declaration enough.
Vlad followed my lead and headed out the door, me at his back. I got
the strangest feeling that he’d cause us too much trouble and I should just
wring his neck now to save us all future problems. But Dimitry would
wring my neck then for sure. He promised Vlad safety when he betrayed
Boris, and Dimitry was a man of his word.
Michail was just headed back to my office with a bullshit excuse so I
stopped to talk to him. Vlad glanced back, but I ignored him. Michail did
too although we didn’t start a meaningful business conversation. I didn’t
want Vlad part of any of my businesses or discussions. From the peripheral,
I saw him linger for two seconds before giving up, leaving out the door.
“All good?” Michail asked.
“Yes, I just wish we’d kill the bastard. I have a bad feeling about him,
had it for years.”
“I could kill him for you,” Michail suggested and it was awfully
tempting.
“Not yet, Michail, but maybe one day.” Hopefully, one day soon!

It was a long day and it was late when I finally got back to my penthouse.
This one in Moscow was very similar to the one in St. Petersburg with
views of the city and a convenient location. But none of it mattered to me, I
just wanted to come back home to my woman. After having her with me
every night for the past week and a half, it felt strange coming home to an
empty place.
 I spoke to Scarlett briefly before she went to sleep. It felt wrong not
having her with me every day or not in my bed. She had become important
to me, the need to see her strong and consuming.
I dropped my keys onto a basket at the door and loosened my tie. I went
straight to the bar and poured myself a glass of whiskey. Yes, I was Russian
but preferred whiskey to vodka any day.
Just as I took a drink, my phone rang and I immediately hoped it was
Scarlett. I frowned, noting it was an anonymous number.
I pressed the answer button, although I wasn’t in the mood for a
conversation.
“Da?” I answered in Russian.
“Sergei, I have left a present for you on your kitchen table,” an
unfamiliar voice spoke back in Russian. The voice sounded familiar
although I couldn’t quite place it. I immediately straightened, scouting my
penthouse. Pulling my gun out of the holster, I kept it in my hand, my eyes
darting around the place. The building and my penthouse had tight security.
Nobody should have been able to get into the building, even less into my
penthouse.
Apparently, the security is not so tight, I thought wryly to myself.
“What do you want?” I asked in Russian.
“Take a look at the pictures,” he continued, completely unfazed while
each hair on the back of my neck stood straight. It wasn’t a familiar feeling
to me. “We have a proposition for you. Your little girlfriend has a mutual
friend. You get us her friend, Anastasia, and we will leave your woman
alone.”
At the kitchen table, I saw a yellow envelope. I dumped the contents of
it. What I saw made my blood run cold. They were pictures of Scarlett,
mostly with me over the last week.
“See the girl circled,” the guy continued, and I swore he would be dead.
Whoever it was, I would find him and kill him with my bare hands. Nobody
threatened my woman. I focused on the pictures and found the one he was
referencing. It was the girlfriend I saw in the lobby, the day Scarlett ran into
me. The green-eyed, dark-haired woman. All I knew was that her name was
Anastasia. “Deliver her to me, and we’ll leave your woman alone. You have
forty-eight hours.”
“Who are you?” I questioned him, barely holding on to my senses.
 “We are your father’s friends,” he responded and my heart froze. It can’t
be. Nobody knew who my father was. I made sure I kept the secret and
destroyed any evidence except one related to who my parents were. And
that last piece of evidence sat in my safe.
“You are lying,” I hissed, fury boiling within me. “He’s in prison.”
“He sends his regards,” the man retorted sarcastically. That couldn’t
possibly be. “I’ll send the meeting location and time details. Don’t make us
go after your woman.”
He hung up, and I ground my teeth so hard, my molars were
complaining at the insult. If my father orchestrated this, shit was sure to
follow. Because the only thing my father was good at was destruction. The
question was did he know I was his son? I didn’t think so but then how did
the blackmailer know?
I glanced at the clock. It was past midnight, but fear gripped my heart
for Scarlett. I dialed her up, and each ring cost me years off my life.
“Hello?” She finally answered, her voice sleepy.
“Scarlett, it’s me.” I wanted her here, where I could personally protect
her. She was too vulnerable alone in the hotel. The worst images played in
my mind.
“Sergei,” she murmured. “Is everything okay?”
No, it was not. I had to protect her, someone was threatening my woman
and I didn’t even know who it was.
“Yes, everything is fine,” I lied to her. “I wanted to hear your voice. I’m
missing you.”
“Awww,” I could hear a soft smile in her voice. I was picturing her
dreamy smile, watching me as her hand reached out to cup my cheek. It was
something she often did. “I miss you too. Did everything go okay with your
work?”
“Yes, everything went fine.” Fuck, I hated lying to her. “I have to take
care of stuff tomorrow during the day but can you have an early dinner with
me?”
“I would love to,” she replied in a sleepy voice and I felt guilty for
waking her up. I didn’t want to alarm her by demanding she double check
her hotel room was locked tight and her windows were all closed. Scarlett
was smart.
“I’ll let you go back to sleep, solnce,” I murmured softly to her. It was
on the tip of my tongue to tell her I love her but stopped myself. Was this
what real love felt like? These feelings with Scarlett were unlike anything
else I have felt before. Certainly not what I had felt for Irina. I’d move
heaven and earth to keep Scarlett safe, at any cost.
“Will you text me tomorrow morning?”
“Of course.” I could tell by her voice she was smiling.
What I wouldn’t give to have her already married to me. “Sweet
dreams,” I told her.
“Good night, Sergei. Don’t stay up late working,” she spoke softly into
the phone. “You need sleep too.”
We weren’t even married yet and she already worried about my habits.
And I loved it. I really loved everything about her. She became my
addiction, her soft and caring heart.
“I will. Now go back to sleep.”
As soon as the line went dead, I dialed up Michail.
“Sergei,” my friend ground out, “aren’t you supposed to be sleeping?”
I stared at the basilica ahead that marked the city. The view was
magnificent, as Scarlett called it. But to me, it reminded me of all the
corruption and struggles to get to the top. I preferred St. Petersburg.
Although, there wasn’t a more magnificent view than the one of my woman
in my bed.
Anger washed over me at the thought of Scarlett being threatened, even
verbally and it made me see red from rage. “Someone got into the building
and my place.”
The silence lingered with meaning.
“Shit,” he spat out. I heard shuffling around, and a feminine’s pout. I
guess Michail was getting busy.
“Yeah, shit.”
Michail grunted, as a shriek sounded off in the background. His woman
didn’t sound too happy about the turn of events.
“Do you have any clue who it was?” he asked, his voice all business-
like, ready to get to work… except for the woman’s cursing in the
background.
“Maybe.” If my father started this, Scarlett could be in danger, and I
couldn’t let this happen. I wish I knew who he was working with. Not
knowing who was in on it with my father was what irked me the most. I
was ready to go after them and kill whoever dared to threaten Scarlett. The
fact that I didn’t even know who to go after was enraging me. My father
was behind bars, I couldn’t go after him.
“Sergei, leave this in my hands,” Michail spoke softly, probably sensing
my irritation. “Try to get some rest.”
Not likely. I was hyped up, and I knew there would be little sleep
tonight.

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 SCARLETT

S ergei was tense. He could tell me nothing was wrong till he turned
blue in the face but something was definitely off. His eyes
surveyed the restaurant for the hundredth time, and I noted he
carried a gun today. It surprised me, never seeing him wear a gun holster
before. When I questioned him about it, he just said that he didn’t have a
chance to go back home and change after work, and it wasn’t safe to leave it
in the car. I thought he said he was a casino and hotel owner; why would he
carry a gun?
While tension rolled off of him in waves, I wasn’t exactly my chipper
self either. Our vacation was nearing the end, but I didn’t want it to end. I
didn’t want to go back home and marry a stranger my family tied me to. I
wanted to stay with Sergei and there were so many times that it was on the
tip of my tongue to ask him how he felt about me. But then I’d chicken out.
Truthfully, I didn’t know a lot about him but I loved what I knew. I liked
spending my days and nights with him. I felt safe and protected, cherished.
I didn’t want to give any of it up.
“Scarlett, can I ask you a favor?” his voice dragged me away from my
thoughts.
I met his brown gaze, and my heart skipped a beat. There was no way I
could marry another man, let him kiss me, never mind make love to him.
Sergei was the one for me.
“Sure,” I muttered on a sigh, my thoughts bittersweet. I knew I loved
him but didn’t know how to break the promise my father made to another
man without anyone getting hurt.
 “I have some work to get done at my club,” he proceeded to tell me.
“But I really want to see you. Would you consider coming to my club
tomorrow night with your friends? That way I can still see you but you
wouldn’t be alone while I’m working.”
It wasn’t what I expected. Every time we were together, it was just the
two of us. I haven’t met any of his friends, and I didn’t divulge any
information to him about Olivia and Anastasia. It was almost as we both
agreed, this was all just about us.
“Sure, where is it?” I asked him, as I brought the wineglass to my lips.
Just a second ago, I wanted to know how he felt about me. The fact he
wanted to meet my friends must mean he was taking our relationship to the
next level. Right? I couldn’t quite decide how I felt about introducing
Olivia and Anastasia to Sergei. Not because I didn’t trust them, but it
almost felt like making plans for a long-term relationship. That’s what I
wanted, right?
Yes, it is what I want.
But my father’s commitment loomed over me. A pang of guilt hit me
again. It has been coming and going over the last week. I wanted to pretend
all was well but the fact remained that I was lying to Sergei and doing
things behind my parents’ back. This could hurt them. Sergei didn’t know
that I was practically engaged. Not of my own free will but still promised to
someone. Yes, I wanted to break it off, but if I was honest with myself, I
knew that I couldn’t. Not unless I was ready to risk my father’s reputation
and possibly life. Breaking an arrangement caused wars in my parents’
world.
I wanted a future with Sergei but wasn’t sure if I’d get it.
“Great,” he gave me a smile but it didn’t quite reach his eyes, and I
wondered what his deal was today. It seemed we both were in a different
frame of mind than our usual selves. “I’ll text you the address. The name of
the club is the Russian Orchid.”
“Are you sure we won’t be a bother though?” I asked him, my alarm
senses going off although I had no idea why. “If you are busy, we don’t
have to see each other tomorrow.”
I was actually impressed I managed to sound nonchalant, as if I didn’t
care. Yeah, right! I felt like an insecure girl, scared I’d get dumped by the
man I fell for.
 He reached for my free hand and took it in his big hand. “I want to see
you every day, all day long,” his eyes were burning, hunger in them
reflecting mine. It gave me some assurance, although the guilt still lingered
in my heart. “You will never be a bother to me, Scarlett.”
And just like that, all my doubts dissipated. But the doubts over the
future with Sergei remained.

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 SERGEI

I sat in my penthouse and watched Scarlett along with her friends

on the security flatscreen. There was no room for error tonight.
It was either this girl Anastasia or my Scarlett. The whole
kidnapping didn’t sit well with me, but it would keep Scarlett safe. That
was all that mattered to me.
I gave my team the excuse of having to handle business out of town so I
could get this done without anyone knowing about it.
Scarlett and her girlfriends came onto my flatscreen that was connected
to the security cameras for all the businesses I owned. Today, my only focus
was on the Russian Orchid.
Scarlett looked beautiful. She wore a sparkling silver dress with her
long, dark hair down, just the way I liked it. It killed me that I would have
to stand her up tonight. I wanted to see her and dance with her.
From the moment we bumped into each other in the lobby, my life had
taken a turn for a better and brighter future. Till fucking Boris’ old gang
followed her friend and connected Scarlett to me.
After the phone call I received demanding I deliver Anastasia, or they’d
go after Scarlett, Michail and I went hunting for information and the men.
They didn’t even bother covering the trail. The whole gang was bigger than
I thought. And there were connections to the Polish mob and Lebanese. Our
two damn favorite fans! If we consider who wanted us dead the most, we’d
make the top of the list with those two groups. Unless I went into a full-
blown war, there was no way I could quietly eliminate them. And I couldn’t
pull Dimitry and Nikolai into it right now. We were trying to pull out of this
world, not get sucked in deeper. No, the best thing was to let it all lay in the
past and we just delivered this girl.
Furious at this damned situation, I balled my hands into fists. For a brief
moment, I debated whether to call my brothers.
And say what?
I knew without even asking that Dimitry and Nikolai would be against
giving them what they wanted in order to leave Scarlett alone. After all, her
friend was innocent and we got tattoos as a reminder to help innocent
people. But Scarlett was innocent too.
Calling Scarlett’s father was out of the question. He would attack the
entire damn country to keep his daughter safe, and again, my brothers
would be pulled into a war. If it was just me, I’d go all in but I knew how
much Dimitry and Nikolai wanted out. Fuck, so did I! It would be nice to
grow old without the constant stress of this kind of life. If they got Scarlett,
a full-blown war would happen. I wouldn’t tolerate it and neither would the
Boston mafia.
No, it was the only choice to deliver Anastasia to these men. Her
friend’s family would pay ransom, and it would be all behind us. I’d ensure
she was safe by planting a few men into the group. I still had some spies
among those assholes. I’d pay them well to ensure nothing happened to the
girl.
I watched the screen with the three women smiling at the doorman. He
was checking them all out like a dessert and I wished I could punch him.
These feelings were stupid. It was precisely the reason I put Pavel to be the
doorman that evening. I knew he’d let them in. As the girls passed him, he
ogled after them. All three of them were truly beautiful, but it irked me that
he’d even lay his eyes on my Scarlett. The bodyguard Scarlett mentioned to
me, Brian, barked something at Pavel, which made him avert his eyes.
Good! My Scarlett. Immediately following that thought, I scoffed to
myself. I was behaving like a possessive boyfriend.
Would she be mine? I still wasn’t sure. If she ever found out about this,
she’d probably never speak to me.
If she found out you lied to her about who you were, she’d never speak
to you.
I was really stacking up things against myself, wasn’t I? It was too early
to tell her who I was. I needed her completely in love with me. When I was
sure she’d stay with me, then I’d tell her. I just needed Scarlett to be my
wife, give me children, give me family. She’d forgive it all once she loved
me.
I could almost hear Dimitry’s and Nikolai’s voices in my head but I
firmly shut them down. Those two were thousands of miles away, taking
care of legalizing everything we owned. They didn’t need this on their
plate. I’d handle this and it would be nothing to worry about.
I made the assumption those men were just desperate for funds. Boris
used to kidnap women from rich families and blackmail them for money
when we were growing up. They were more than likely doing the same.
Anastasia’s family would pay a ransom and she’d be fine. If something
went awry and they didn't pay the ransom, my men would contact me and
I’d pay it. The step after not payment was to send the girl to human
trafficking to be sold, and I’d never allow that. I saved women and children
from that life, not condemned them to it.
It was a risk, this entire ordeal. But I was doing all this to keep Scarlett
safe.
All is fair in love and war. Right?
I swore I could hear Nikolai’s patient voice already, demanding I think
through it and explain my logic, or Dimitry’s anger at my logic he always
called irrational. Well, to hell with both of them.
Scarlett would be my wife, even if I had to lie, steal, and kidnap in order
to achieve it.
With that final resolution in mind, I focused on the screen, watching
Scarlett with hunger. All three of the girlfriends were dancing happily. I
caught Scarlett glancing around every so often and it was a punch in the
gut. She was bathed in the light, her sparkling dress capturing all eyes. She
represented everything I ever wanted. She could give it to me, and she
wouldn’t leave me for a richer motherfucker like Irina.
I stood up and changed into an all black wardrobe, black t-shirt, black
jeans, and combat boots. It was time to go to the club. My plan was to go
through the back door into my office and get Sasha to bring Anastasia to
me. I already found three men to implement into Boris’ group that wanted
to kidnap her. They’d report to me to ensure nothing happened to Scarlett’s
friend till her family paid the ransom and she was delivered safely back to
them.
Switching the security onto my iPhone, I walked out of the penthouse
and straight into the elevator. My heart didn’t race and my nerves were
stealth. It was always the same with me, once I made my mind up, there
was no sense doubting it. If only I could get rid of this damn feeling in the
pit of my stomach.
Driving from my penthouse, and passing the sights I’ve shown Scarlett,
I knew this was all for her. She would be safe and that was the most
important thing to me. She was it for me. I might not have much of a heart
to give but whatever was left it was hers.
The city of Moscow glimmered with nightlights, so opposite of the
darkness within my mind. For once, I’d like shit just to be simple. Boy
meets girl, they get married, have kids, and live happily ever after. It wasn’t
supposed to be like this. Irina betrayed me after she promised to marry me,
it was a stab in the back and through my heart. Now I have sunk so low, I
have to resort to kidnapping to keep my intended bride. I just needed more
time to hear those words of love from Scarlett. She was so different from
Irina. Irina flaunted those words almost from the first day, professing her
love and devotion. And the first chance she got, she moved on to a richer
fucker and took those words from me and gave them all to him. Scarlett
gave her body freely and completely, but she kept her heart and words of
love under guard. Instinctively, I knew once she gave them, they would be
for life.
I pulled into the street where Russian Orchid was the only business
currently open. The location was secluded and hard to find. It was by
design. I didn’t want anyone and anything hitting this club. Our connections
and business associates were the main clientele.
I parked in the spot where I knew outside surveillance cannot pick up
the sight of me. It was the only blind spot in the whole parking lot, the size
of a small garage. I had been meaning to have it covered for weeks now,
and thanked my lucky stars for not handling it. There was another car
parked not too far, right on the edge of the blind spot. Although if they
knew that, they would have probably parked somewhere else. This spot was
excellent when you needed to make a quick getaway.
Exiting the vehicle, I surveyed the parking lot and heard the light
tapping of heels on the blacktop. I narrowed my eyes, checking the area and
couldn’t believe my luck. Scarlett’s friend, Anastasia, was walking towards
me. She was alone. This was some dumb move on her part and damn Irish
luck on mine. And there wasn’t an ounce of Irish blood in me. The thoughts
of my parentage caused fury within me, but I quickly tampered it down. It
wasn’t this poor girl’s fault my parents were shitty as fuck.
I lurked in the shadows to ensure she couldn’t see me. Shuffling with
something in her hand, her attention wasn’t on her surroundings.
Stupid girl.
She was beautiful, in an exotic kind of way. Not my type but still
breathtakingly beautiful. Her dark mahogany hair fell down her shoulders in
thick waves and her fair skin almost glowed in the dark. Her confident walk
reminded me of a princess, a rightful heiress that was born into this world
with all the love and comfort to help her strive and succeed. There was
nothing she wore that screamed money. No jewelry, no expensive watch…
just the air about her that spoke volumes. In her little golden shorts, a black
sparkly top, and her confident stride, she shone more than any diamond.
Fuck, I don’t want to kidnap her and hand her over, but I can’t risk
Scarlett’s safety now that she is on the radar of Boris’ men.
I saw Anastasia whip her head around, her eyes darting around, as if she
was aware of me but couldn’t see me. She was barely ten feet away from
her vehicle, the only one parked next to me. She turned back around and her
walk sped up, moving quickly to the car.
Quiet as a jaguar, I snuck up behind her.
Her hand reached for the door when I finally spoke up softly, “Don’t
move. I have a gun pointed at your head.”
She went to turn around, and I quickly pushed a cloth over her head.
The sound of her keys and purse hitting the ground was the only thing
breaking the night. For a fraction of a second, she froze, her reaction
delayed. But it was all I needed. Lifting her up and throwing her over my
shoulder, I rushed to my car.
Her initial shock wore off quickly, and her screaming and pounding her
fists against my back started. It barely caused me to flinch.
She should really work on her strength, I thought wryly to myself and
felt like the worst bastard at the same time.
“Let go of me right now, you asshole!” she screamed while punching
my back.
“Stop it, princess,” I ordered her in a soft tone, “Or I’ll have to knock
you out.”
The warning didn’t stop her. Instead she kicked and hit even harder,
then screamed at the top of her lungs. With a light hit on her head, I
knocked her unconscious and her body went lax.
“Fucking Boris’ legacy,” I muttered to myself as I placed her limp body
in the back of my car. Even with him behind bars in another country, he was
causing damn issues. I just couldn’t have his men showing a slight interest
in Scarlett. Not now. If she found out my way of life and the arrangement
before she was fully committed to me, she’d bail.
Anastasia didn’t even stir in the back seat. She wouldn’t wake for
another few hours. I got behind the wheel without delay and drove to the
rendezvous spot. I didn’t want Scarlett’s friend waking up while I still had
her. It was best if she never saw my face, especially since her and Anastasia
were friends. She might even be invited to our wedding.
While driving, I dialed up Michail.
“Allo,” he answered in Russian.
“Be ready to get Scarlett,” I told him, not bothering with pleasantries.
There was nothing pleasant about what we were getting ready to do. “Her
friends will be getting back to the hotel very soon.”
“I’m ready,” he confirmed. I had not communicated to Michail why the
need to kidnap Scarlett. And nobody knew about me kidnapping Anastasia.
“Take her to my residence outside St. Petersburg. Not the penthouse!
Don’t tell her anything and keep her safe. Make sure she has everything she
needs and is comfortable.”
“I got it,” he retorted dryly. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
Fuck, last time he asked that, we ended up chained in a basement in
Poland.
“Yes, this is the only way,” I answered.
“I have to tell you, Sergei,” Michail tried one more time. “This doesn’t
seem like a good plan. If there is a threat, we should communicate it with
the Boston group.”
“No,” I barked. They would want to bring her back home and put her
under their protection. And how do you explain the threat was indirectly
connected to my past?
“Sergei-” Michail tried one more time.
“This is the safest way,” I told him. Plus, it kept her close to me.
Fuck, I might have to orchestrate a rescue. These damn lies were piling
up like shit.
I was approaching the meeting spot, so I quickly ended the discussion.
“Text me when you have her. And when you are both safe in St.
Petersburg.”
“Will do.” The call ended.
The drive to the meeting spot was short. It was right outside the city
lines, with no chance of being spotted by anyone or anything. In the old
days, we spent quite a bit of time here. Not so much lately, and I couldn’t
say that I missed it. People were killed here by Boris just for breathing
wrong.
The men already waited. Fucking bastards! Although there were six of
them against me, I wasn’t worried about it. I had a gun in my holster, and
two of those six men were working for me. I was glad to see them here
though. Not for my sake but Anastasia’s. It would ensure nothing happened
to her on the way to whatever destination they were taking her to.
I exited the vehicle and leaned casually against it.
“Gentlemen,” I greeted them, folding my arms in front of my chest.
“What a lovely spot to meet!”
They all understood the reference. They nervously shifted from one leg
to another, their eyes darting around, their hands restless on their guns.
These stupid fuckers were too trigger happy.
“Where is the girl?” asked Petra, who I had to assume was the guy
leading this shitshow. Petra used to work with Boris and Vlad. Once Vlad
betrayed Boris, Petra disappeared. He probably ran like the coward he was.
“Backseat,” I tilted my head towards the car.
One of my guys went to fetch her.
“If I hear this is more than just about money and the girl gets hurt,” I
growled, “I’ll come after every one of you and the gang you have stashed
up.”
Fear crossed Petra’s face but he quickly hid it. “Her father owes us and
once the debt is settled, she’ll be on her way.”
I realized he was vague and my instincts were telling me to kill them all.
But if I started this war, they’d come after Scarlett full force. She was now
on their radar. My brothers and I wanted peace and to move away from this
life, not get wrapped up into more shit.
I watched the man pick up Anastasia, her body limp in his arms. Seeing
her slender legs exposed and her flimsy top, I wished I had thought to put
some sweats on her and a hoodie. She was too exposed wearing nightclub
clothes.
 My men would keep me apprised of what happens with her, I assured
myself.
“Now you got what you wanted,” I spoke casually, although each fiber
of me wanted to start shooting and get Scarlett’s friend away from them. “I
don’t want to see you lurking around anywhere near my territory.”
They nodded in unison, put the girl in the trunk, and drove off. I timed it
exactly one minute before I jumped in the car and went in the same
direction. There was a reason why I decided to drive a beat up, unnoticeable
car today. The purpose was to blend in. Within five minutes, I tailed at a
safe distance.
Every so often, I ensured to be far in the distance so they wouldn’t spot
me in the rearview mirror. Since it was way past midnight, having
headlights far in the distance could raise a flag.
These roads weren’t frequently traveled so there was no risk of losing
them by putting more distance between us, unless they took a turn without
me spotting them.
My phone beeped and I glanced down. It was a message from Michail.
*Got her. Driving to St. Petersburg.
Be safe.*
At least some good news today! Scarlett was safe and soon would be
tucked away in my home. I would stay around here to ensure her friend got
out of this alive. When Anastasia’s parents paid the ransom and she went
home unharmed, I’d join Scarlett in St. Petersburg. Although I still wasn’t
sure how I’d play that one out. This damn devil on my shoulder was getting
me into more trouble than I cared to admit.
I reached for my Yeti thermal with coffee, still hot, and gulped it down.
The liquid slightly burned as it went down my throat, but it was exactly
how I liked it. I disliked the cold, regardless of the season. There was just
something daunting about a cold house, rooms, or cars. I still remembered
that ice cold chill within my bones when we lived in the orphanage. No
running heat and little blankets offered no protection from bitter cold
weather. Just the memory of those days was enough to chill me straight to
my heart. The three of us shivering together, cuddled up in the same bed so
we could use our body heat to keep warm, our breaths would fog the air
each time we exhaled but it was also evidence that we were still alive.
There was no doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t have survived without my
brothers.
 I hated remembering those days, the hunger hollow in the pit of my
stomach. There was no use thinking about it. It led nowhere but pain and so
many sacrifices by both Nikolai and Dimitry. They made sure I had a
chance to survive. It was the only reason Dimitry agreed to join Boris’
rússkaya máfiya.
Thinking about Boris sent raw rage burning through my bloodstream
and anger thrummed through my veins. The betrayal by both my parents
was bitter on my tongue. But then, maybe I betrayed my brothers too by
withholding the information from them. The shame was like lead in the pit
of my soul, slowly drowning me.
I can’t think about that fucked up shit now. I need a clear head.
Tonight was going to be a long night even without a trip down memory
lane. It was best not to even think about any of it. Dimitry, Nikolai, and I
have done many good things since Boris was put away. We slowly started to
build loyalty and trust among our men. Boris managed to damage a lot of
people during his years of being the leader.
I scoffed at the notion of that man being a leader to anything or anyone.
He was a crazy and cruel bastard. The only reason I came out of the whole
ordeal with Boris with the least amount of scars was because Dimitry
always ensured to move the attention from Nikolai and me to himself
during Boris’ rage. Dimitry felt responsible, always the protector. The truth
was that Boris never spared anyone from his rage, not even his women nor
his own flesh and blood.
There were times I wondered if Dimitry would have let me die if he
knew who my father was. He probably should have. I loved both of my
brothers despite the fact that Dimitry and I were like fire and gasoline.
Nikolai was the one that balanced both us out and always calmed us down.
Well, more Dimitry than me since usually by the time we needed to be
calmed down, the damage was already done by me. But this, I wanted to do
it right. It might have not been the best way, but as long as at the end of the
road, we all got what we wanted, alive and safe, it was all worth it.
The car in front of me finally took a sharp turn and I slowed down. We
have been driving for over an hour. I pinned the location on my phone to
ensure I researched it later. It wasn’t the area we used in the past. I parked
right off the side of the road and followed through the dirt path, lights from
their car leading me.
 The humid air of the night was stale, just like this damn situation. As I
stuck to the dark shadows, inching my way closer, I spotted the house. It
would seem this was where they'd wait out for the ransom. If I knew the
details and the amount, I would gladly pay it myself. I didn’t like leaving
her here. I didn’t fucking like it at all.
The house was a dump, barely adequate to live in. I wouldn’t be
surprised if it was condemned and these morons found it to be their hiding
spot till they got funds they wanted.
I watched them carry Anastasia’s limp body inside, and guilt wretched
me from the inside.
I pulled out my phone and several missed messages from Scarlett
waited to be read. She sent them before Michail kidnapped her. It gutted me
that I couldn’t tell her anything. I left her thinking I bailed on our date. But I
couldn't reply to her. If I replied, I’d have to lie to her. I had told her enough
lies, too many in fact.
Instead, I sent a scripted message to the men I embedded into this
group. There were a total of three and I prayed it was enough.
*Nothing is to happen to the girl.*
*Otherwise, you’ll answer to me.*
The reply instantly came back.
*We’ll have eyes on her at all times.*
Somewhat relieved, I made my way back to my car and headed to my
place a few hours away from here, outside the city. There was nothing in the
city that I wanted anymore.

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 SCARLETT

T onight has been a nightmare.

I kept waiting to wake up. I had to wake up. Anastasia
was gone and my whole body shook with fear for her. I was
also worried about Sergei. He always sent a note if he was running late. I
had texted him numerous times tonight and still no response.
What if something happened to him?
The knock on the hotel door had me pausing. It must be Olivia. We
were both upset for staying behind at the nightclub. We should have all left
together. Instead, I was so adamant about seeing Sergei, I endangered her
life by letting her go home alone.
Opening the door, I started speaking, “Olivia, are you-” I cut myself off.
It wasn’t Olivia. My brain was too slow to process it, and it was too late
when I tried to shut the door in his face.
“Don’t shut the door,” he ordered, his voice calm, so contrary to my
racing heart.
“Michail, what are you doing here?” I spat out as I tried to push the
door into his face. I remembered him. He was a hard one to forget with his
intimidating looks and tattoos covering his neck. Before I left for my
summer trip, he was visiting my parents.
“Came to get you.” Shit, he didn’t even bother to lie to me. And he was
still just as chitchatty as last time. Actually, I had to give credit where credit
was due. He spoke a tad bit more.
He pushed the door wide open and I ran further into the room. It was
stupid. I should have kicked him in the balls and ran past him. That was my
only way out. I watched him shut the door behind him and I cursed myself
for such stupidity. He didn’t seem fazed at all while I practically panted
here, scared out of my mind.
“Who sent you?” I asked, getting behind the coffee table. It was my
only barrier.
“Your future husband.”
No!
How did he know I was here? Oh shit, if they were following me,
they’d know I was messing around with Sergei. God, I hope they didn’t kill
him. Maybe that was the reason he didn’t come to the nightclub.
“You tell him to go to hell,” I spat at him, pushing the coffee table at
him. It hit him in his shin, and I could tell it hurt him. But not enough to
deter him or slow him down. “My father will have your head, and his for
this.”
I grabbed my suitcase sitting behind me and threw it at him but he
dodged it easily. Clothes scattered all over the hotel floor. Damn it, I needed
it to hit him straight in the head and give him a concussion.
“Nobody will hurt you,” he stated calmly, his Russian accent thick.
“Yeah, right,” I muttered. “Does someone actually believe you when
you say that?”
He didn’t answer and I interpreted that my way. Yes, he was scary as
shit. On my dad’s property, I didn’t even break a sweat. He’d never let
anyone hurt me. Out in the world, it is a completely different story, and this
man that my father knew was a threat.
My eyes darted left and right, desperately trying to spot something I
could use as a weapon. I spotted my iPhone sitting on the nightstand to the
right of Michail. I tried to think of a best way to dodge this guy. Maybe I
should do what squirrels do? They always tricked you pretending to go left
then right, and then fool you only to turn left again.
I had nothing to lose. Either I tried that or jumped over the balcony,
which would result in my death one hundred percent. While my whole body
was currently running on adrenaline, this guy was calm as an iceberg.
So I gave it a try. I darted to the right, he followed although not very
aggressively. He actually looked like he was bored. I shifted to the left and
again he followed. Then abruptly I jumped to the right and ran for it,
grabbing the phone. I couldn’t believe he fell for it. I ran for the door but
barely got three feet away from him before he caught me. My breathing was
heavy, you’d think I had run a marathon.
I tried to pull my arm out of his grip then went to hit him but he caught
that arm too. I tried aiming my knee into his sensitive area…
unsuccessfully. Apparently, this guy was a mind reader so he blocked that
too. But there was no way I’d go down without a fight.
I tried to hit him, kick him, scream while he stood there like an
unmoving giant. Picking me up effortlessly, he threw me over his shoulder
and then the world turned dark.
When I woke up, my whole body hurt. My body was twisted in an odd
angle, my face smashed into a pillow. I opened my eyes, and a sharp pain
shot through my head.
“Ugh,” I muttered, lifting my head.
My face wasn’t smashed into a pillow. It was plastered against the
backseat of a car. How in the hell did I get into a car?
Then I remembered. Michail, Anastasia, Russian Orchid. I tried to push
myself up and realized my hands and legs were bound.
“What the fuck?” I muttered. “Michail, if you are there you better
unbound me right now,” I demanded.
“I don’t think so.” No explanation, no justification… nothing.
“Why not?” I asked. “And where are we going?”
“I’m not giving you a chance to kill me from behind,” he muttered. That
must be the most this guy had ever spoken. “Somewhere safe,” he added. I
frowned, wondering what that had to do with anything and then
remembered I asked him where we were going.
“Why did you kidnap me?”
“Go back to sleep,” he ordered. “We’ll be there in two hours.”
Like I could go back to sleep! The only reason I slept was because he
knocked me out. God, Anastasia.
“Did you kidnap Anastasia too?” I asked, half hopeful and the other half
dreading. Who the hell was this man that my father arranged my marriage
to? He was resorting to kidnapping. That cannot possibly be good.
“Who’s Anastasia?” he replied with the question. The way he asked it
made me think he had no idea who I was talking about. I wished I could see
his face, it was easier to read people’s expressions than the tone of their
voice.
Shit, did my future husband hurt Sergei?
 I would never forgive him if he did. My heart squeezed in fear. I had
fallen for Sergei, hoping like a fool for a happy ending with him. I knew
better but it still didn’t stop me from dreaming. I sent silent prayers to
whoever was listening. Please let Sergei be safe.

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 SERGEI

Two weeks later

“D amn it, what are they waiting for?” I muttered under my

breath, reading another message from my man planted among
Boris’ group. Fucking two weeks and they still had that girl. I
was itching to go there and end the whole thing myself. I wanted to go to
St. Petersburg; I needed to work things out with Scarlett.
This whole damn thing backfired like nothing ever before.
Scarlett’s father threatened to kill me if his daughter had a scratch on
her. I agreed he should. A week after I had my future wife kidnapped, I
called my soon to be father-in-law and told him there was a threat against
Scarlett and I had to ensure she was safe. Of course, I didn’t tell him the
whole story.
The security guy, Brian, was back in the country and kept snooping
around too. He was in my fucking way each time I turned around. He kept
asking dangerous questions, inquiring about Anastasia and Scarlett.
He should focus on Anastasia, not Scarlett! Scarlett was my
responsibility.
I was in my office at the Russian Orchid. It was the last place I wanted
to be but had to maintain my normal routine when in the city and in my
business.
Since Michail was watching Scarlett, I had to lead the men to intercept
the second shipment of women and children that fucking Irina and her
husband were smuggling. Over hundred women and children were forced
into a small shipping container. It twisted my stomach to see them treated
like cattle. Actually even worse than animals. They were battered, starved,
and dirty. Irina and her husband were the worst scum to run a business like
that.
We succeeded in saving all of them but there was a little boy that didn’t
make it. It wasn’t good enough. Nobody should have died. The little boy
died in his mother’s arms; his little body frail and skinny. He died of
starvation and heat exhaustion from being locked in the container for so
long.
The rage burned within me at seeing the pain on his mother’s face,
holding the little boy like he was sleeping. It was gut wrenching to see. The
look in her eyes as she watched her son was a stab in my heart. There was
lingering hope in them, like her son would open his eyes at any moment and
they’d come out of their nightmare together.
The mother wasn’t in a good shape, but she refused to be separated from
her son. I had to coerce her to let me take them both out of the container
and to the medic we had on staff. All the pain and suffering she went
through and all she cared about was her little boy.
I couldn’t help but compare her to my own parents that didn’t give a
shit. Dimitry was the reason I didn’t end up like this boy. And now I felt
like I failed this little boy, his body lifeless as his mother mourned him. The
sorrow for her pain and anger at the ones that caused her pain were like
acid, eating me up on the inside.
Later that day, the whole event was still heavy on my mind. This was
some hard shit to forget or get over. I met with a few of the contacts and had
to focus on the conversation while my mind was anywhere but on that
conversation. I didn’t give a fuck who was crossing into whose territory. All
of these damn men were the same. All they cared about was showing off
their power while they hid behind their bodyguards. If they would just learn
to trust each other and respect each other, there wouldn’t always be some
kind of war going on. And if they’d learn to work together, we wouldn’t
have human smugglers kidnapping women and children, taking them across
the seas to be sold.
I had to find a way to bring Irina and her husband down. Those two
were hiding somewhere, but I would make it my life mission to find them
and destroy them. I had men searching for them and Michail was helping
from St. Petersburg. He was following several internet leads. It was obvious
Polish wouldn’t back down from their line of business under Irina and
Bartek’s leadership. So I would capture them and torture them for months,
make them feel the pain that mother would feel for the rest of her life for
losing her son. They took her son away the moment they kidnapped them.
“Fucking bastards,” I muttered under my breath.
My phone beeped and I was ready to smash it against my desk. That
boy should have never died. Anastasia should have been long gone, safe
back home with her family. Were her parents refusing to pay up? My eyes
lowered to the phone, and with surprise, I noted it was Nikolai.
*Brother, have a moment?*
I knew Dimitry and Nikolai were busy securing legalization of the last
two businesses for us and kept running into issues.
*Always for you.*
The bubbles on the phone showed Nikolai was typing. *Send us
surveillance of the club from two weeks ago.*
I frowned, wondering why he would ever need that. Then he followed
up with the date and I immediately cursed. This couldn’t possibly be a
fucking coincidence. It was exactly the same night I kidnapped Anastasia.
But how would they ever find out about it?
*Call when you have a moment.*
Shit, did they already know? I could explain to Nikolai but Dimitry
would fucking lose his shit. I wasn’t worried about him killing me, maybe I
should be. He came to my aid way too many times. I didn’t want him to
worry about this too.
*Sending now. Give me two minutes and I’ll call.*
I remembered the night the three of us decided to get matching tattoos.
“We’ve done enough bad shit,” Dimitry’s words echoed in my mind,
that memory from long ago. “This is one thing we can control. We do not
hurt innocent people. We do not hurt women and children.”
Nikolai, Dimitry, and I shared a look. It was our solemn promise to each
other and to the world.
“We are not like Boris,” Dimitry spat that man’s name like it was a
curse. I agreed. The man was despicable, the worst rot on this earth.
“Agreed,” Nikolai commented.
“Agreed,” I added. “We should seal that with a tattoo.”
Dimitry looked at me exasperated. “Sergei-”
 “I’m serious,” I cut him off. “What better reminder than a tattoo on our
chest that represents our promise to protect. We’ll see it every day as we
unclothe to go to bed. And every morning as we get dressed.”
“I’m scared to ask,” Dimitry replied with a ghost of a smile. He rarely
smiled, so this was a huge accomplishment. “Do you have one in mind?”
I smiled. “I actually don’t but we could find one together. With
meaning.”
Shifting my thoughts to now, I found myself rubbing my chest where
the tattoo lay. Shit, this felt like such a disappointment and failure. I have
disgraced my brothers and everything we stood for.
There was no sense in delaying this. I picked up the phone and dialed up
Dimitry’s office phone.
The answer was quick. “Sergei. Thanks for sending it over so quickly.”
“No problem, brother.” Despite our slightly clashing tempers, I loved
Dimitry. He was the big brother I would have wanted no matter what
lifetime. I always looked up to him. Nikolai and Dimitry were the only
family I had ever known. Without them, I would have perished in that
orphanage.
Those fucking parents of mine.
Dimitry started talking, “There were three American women that went
to the Russian Orchid two weeks ago. How did they get in?”
“Hmmm, that was the day I had some business to handle so I didn’t go
into the club,” I replied and silently cursed myself for lying to my brothers.
Sasha entered at that exact moment, and I dug my grave even deeper with
my lies. “Let me ask Sasha if he remembers them.”
I moved the phone away from my ear, Sasha waiting patiently. “What’s
up?” he asked.
“Do you remember American women visiting the club two weeks ago?”
I gave him the exact date although there was no need. There weren’t women
like that in our club for months before nor after that night.
“Yes, I remember them. Fucking gorgeous.” I wasn’t surprised that he
remembered. Those three girls didn’t exactly blend in with the crowd,
Americans or not.
“How did they get in?” I asked him.
“The doorman thought they were hot. They were smoking hot. You
should have seen the ass on the girl that sang. Fucking men were drooling,
and some women.”
 I knew this response would piss off Nikolai. He was the scariest and
most intimidating looking out of the three of us, but he was a big teddy bear
when it came to ensuring women and children were protected. Fuck, he
might be the one to kill me for this. Not Dimitry.
Nikolai hated when men thought with their dicks instead of their brains.
Dimitry couldn’t stand most people, period.
“Did you see anything unusual?” I continued questioning him.
“Nothing more than usual. They danced pretty much all night. There
was a guy with them and before the night was over, the girl that sang left on
her own. The guy and two girls stayed a bit longer. He seemed pissed as he
was leaving with the other two.”
“Thank you, Sasha,” I told him. “You may go.” As soon as he left the
room, I spoke into my phone, “Did you hear that?”
“Yes, I heard it,” Dimitry retorted dryly. “He thinks they were smoking
hot and doesn’t know much at all.”
“I wish I was in the club that night,” I told my brother and felt like even
more of a dick. “Check out the footage I sent you. Maybe something helps.”
I knew the footage wouldn't tell them much. I have been staring at it for
weeks, like some fucking teenage boy stalking his girl. Scarlett looked so
beautiful in it, I couldn’t tear my eyes from it. I haven’t talked to her in two
weeks and each day has been tortuous for me.
“Will do, brother,” Dimitry replied. “I’ll call if we need anything else.
Thank you.”
I ended the call with a bitter taste in my mouth. His misplaced thanks
didn’t sit well. Damn it, nothing sat well with me in the last two weeks.
Ever since Boris’ men approached me, everything went down the toilet.
Scarlett was safe and comfortable but furious. I received updates from
Michail daily and she already tried to escape twice, attacked a guard giving
him a concussion, got one locked into a closet while trying to escape.
Michail had stealth nerves but she was even wearing him down. Poor
fucker!
Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, I got the call from my
brothers. I didn’t even ask them why they were looking into the three
women. If they really thought about it, they would immediately think it to
be odd. I always nagged with questions.
“Damn it!” And now, I've come into the habit of talking to myself quite
frequently.
 And here I thought it was going to be easier to just arrange my
marriage. It would seem the joke was on me. All the way! I wasn’t even
sure anymore that Scarlett would forgive me for everything that had
happened over the last two weeks. No matter how much I charmed her or
how much she might love me… if even at this point she could love me.
My phone beeped again. I didn’t even want to read whatever came this
time. There was no way it would be good. I forced my gaze to it and sure as
fuck. All this shit might give me a heart attack at my tender age of thirty-
four.
*We are coming to Russia. Anastasia Manciatti’s father hired us to
find her. For payment, he’ll get us the last two votes we need.*
“Anastasia Manciatti,” I murmured. The name sounded familiar. Where
did I hear it? Then the lightning struck. “Motherfucker!”
Manciatti was the state’s attorney that convicted Boris for life and got
him put on death row.
“Fuck,” I spat. Just when I thought the day couldn’t get any worse. No
fucking wonder they were still holding Anastasia. I would bet my entire
fortune, the ransom wasn’t only money but also Boris’ freedom. “Fuck,
fuck, fuck,” I muttered. I really fucked it up this time and then just because
it wasn’t helping at all, I added under my breath, “Fucking Boris!”
If there was the worst fuck up of my life, this was definitely it. I
delivered them the daughter of the one man who kept Boris away. Granted,
that was the same man who tried to put Dimitry away. Just a minor detail,
since he wasn’t successful.
Yeah, Nikolai and Dimitry might team up on this one and kill me
together. Motherfucking shit!
When all this was over, it would be shit. I haven’t managed to fuck up
this bad in a while. Actually, I had never fucked up this bad and I have done
some dumb shit. I debated whether to go and get the girl out of there myself
now. Maybe I still had time to redeem myself.
As if, I scoffed to myself. This was way past redemption. If I went to get
her now, they could potentially tie it to Dimitry and Nikolai. All their
chances of going legal would be destroyed. Manciatti would not forgive that
one. I could still remember the old man’s relentless pursuit after Boris. I
swore if he didn’t have all the evidence, that man was going to plant them
in order to ensure Boris’ conviction. And that was saying something for a
state’s attorney who was known for his fairness and obedience to the law.
 Talk about a small world! Too damn small!
Scarlett was friends with Anastasia Manciatti! How was that even
possible? Unless she was using Scarlett to obtain information for her father.
Scarlett barely talked about her friends when we were together. Maybe she
didn’t trust me yet. Shit, none of this would go over well.
My phone beeped again.
“Fucking phone,” I muttered, glancing down. “It’s like a grand central
station.”
The message was from Dimitry.
*Brother, find out what you can on the street. We are getting the girl.
In and out.”
I swore there was lead in the pit of my stomach. I wouldn’t blame
Dimitry if he shot me dead for this. I had no excuse or reason that was good
enough. It was the main reason why Dimitry was good as the leader. I
fucking hated it. I just wanted a normal life. Yes, I can beat the crap out of
people, kill, and shoot. But I hated it all. I hated bloodshed, constantly
watching our backs. There was always someone who wanted us dead, for
one reason or another. I was tired of it the first year we started this mafia
life. At this point, I just fucking hated it!
I typed the message back. *Will do. See you soon.*
I should probably put a will in place, I thought to myself.
My heartbeat started racing wildly, and I knew what was coming next.
Shock and rage mixed within me. I tried to take a deep breath but it was for
naught. It was like oxygen just fed the rage burning within me. My blood
pumped hard, causing shock within me at the intense emotions of self-
hatred I had almost forgotten. My ears thundered, drowning out all my
thoughts. This shouldn’t be happening anymore. I wasn’t that helpless little
boy anymore. I killed that man, cut him limb by fucking limb. He was gone
forever. None of that mattered now. My reason was gone. Red dots swam in
front of my vision, my racing heart making it hard to breathe.
In one swift, rough move, I swiped all the contents off my desk. The
sound of paper, laptop, cell phone crashing against the window, wall, floor
was the only sound breaking the pounding in my head. None of it registered
in my brain. The only thing I could feel and think was the rage and self-
disgust within me.
The mahogany desk followed. I pushed it, my strength enhanced by
adrenaline pumping through my veins. It landed sideways, the wood
splintering echoing through the room. The floor shook beneath my feet. The
red fog was all I saw around me. I wasn’t sure if it was blood or rage, or a
mixture of both. Either way, I was drowning in it. It threatened to swallow
me, taking my mind with it.
The door swung open. Sasha stood there with the gun pointed, and his
eyes darting for a threat.
“Out!” I bellowed.
“What happened?” he asked in a voice full of shock, his expression one
of disbelief. I didn’t blame him. He hadn’t seen me through my rage before.
It had been so long; I was lulled into a false sense of safety. I was stupid to
think it was gone forever.
“Out!” I yelled. Sasha scurried out of there, like the devil himself was
chasing him. I might as well be the devil. I’ve done plenty enough to be put
in the same corner as the devil. My head throbbed in pain.
I took a breath, and then another, trying desperately to clear my mind.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat. Breathe in. Breathe out.
My Scarlett. The thought of my woman pushed through the fog.
Scarlett, it was a calming whisper, the one only I could hear.
Slowly, the pounding in my head and thundering in my ears slowed.
The red fog started lifting.
Scarlett’s name echoed on each breath I took. Breathe in. Breathe out.
“Scarlett,” I murmured on the sigh. The room around me looked like a
cyclone swept through it. Usually, the consequences were worse. Much
worse. It was the thought of Scarlett that made this incident fairly short.
Shit, if she ever saw me like this! She would leave me behind in a
heartbeat. I shouldn’t tie her to someone like me. But damn it, I was too
weak. I couldn’t let her leave me.
I was the mad Russian Sinner.

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 SCARLETT

“M ichail,” I screamed while pounding against the wood

door. I tried to escape… again. Michail caught me and I
kneed him in his balls. I might have reached his limit.
The man was stoic, patient, emotionless, but he wasn’t when I shoved my
knee into his balls with all my strength.
I guess it’s totally true that it hurts like a bitch!
The pain etched on Michail’s face was ingrained into my brain and I felt
bad as soon as I saw how much it hurt him. It didn’t stop him though from
lifting me up and throwing me over his shoulder. He pretty much threw me
on the bed and locked me into this fancy bedroom that has been my prison
for the past two weeks.
My fist hurt from pounding against the door, but I refused to stop.
“I’m sorry, Michail!” I shouted through the door. “Please, let me out.”
Nothing. Just silence which enraged me even more. “Michaaaail!” I
wailed off top of my lungs. I leaned against the door, tears streaming down
my face. “Please,” I whimpered as my body slid down the door. “Please let
me go,” I begged, the salty tears wetting my lips. It was appropriate. It
tasted like my life right now. I knew I couldn’t get away from that
arrangement and I still let Sergei sweep me off my feet.
God, Sergei!
I prayed every day that he was okay. And if he was okay, I hoped he
knew I didn’t just leave him. I wanted to stay behind with him. It was the
reason I never brought up protection again. Damn it, I wanted to get
pregnant and have the perfect excuse to be with him. Now, how stupid was
that? Talk about doing the wrong thing! That showed more than anything I
was a stupid girl. I was the mobster's daughter, for Christ’s sake. I should be
stronger.
Thinking about Sergei brought on a sense of sadness and loss. My days
were filled with worries about Anastasia and Olivia. Did Olivia make it
home? Did that fucking abusive Malcome get Olivia yet? Would he kill
her? Fear gripped me at thoughts of Anastasia’s kidnapping. It was like our
unforgettable summer turned into a summer of nightmares. I prayed that
both of my friends were safe and sound.
The nights were a killer though. They were spent dreaming about
Sergei, missing his touch, his arms around me. It was a relief and torture. I
missed him with an ache that only he could cure.
Why wasn’t he at the nightclub? The short time I knew Sergei, he
always came through. Did Michail and my future husband hurt him? I
wanted to ask but was scared I’d either find out he was dead or I’d reveal
Sergei to these horrid men. If they didn’t know about Sergei, I didn’t want
to alert them to him. Damn it, it was an impossible predicament.
I pulled my knees to my chest and remained sitting on the floor. I had
never felt so vulnerable in my entire life. My family wouldn’t come after
me since they wanted me to marry this man, who was yet to show his face.
I leaned my forehead against my knees as tears streamed, soaking up
my leggings. I have been crying like an idiot every day. I cried more in the
last two weeks than I had in my entire life. I cried for my best friends, for
Sergei, and myself. The summer wasn’t supposed to end like this.
“Everything will be fine,” I whispered softly to myself, for the
hundredth time in the last two weeks. The problem was that I didn’t quite
believe it anymore. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but it wasn’t to be left at
the mercy of my future husband. The idea of him scared me now more than
ever.
My hand lowered to my abdomen where a new life was growing.
Sergei’s baby.
I hadn’t taken a pregnancy test but was fairly certain. My period was
never late, and now I was two weeks late. The problem was that doubt
constantly swarmed my mind. Yes, I was emotional but who wouldn’t be in
these circumstances. My appetite had pretty much gone down the toilet. But
again, it was understandable with everything going on.
 If only I could get my hands on a pregnancy test. I couldn’t even
imagine asking Michail to go fetch me a pregnancy test. He’d probably
shoot me on the spot, on behalf of his boss.
How would I possibly explain the need for the pregnancy test? And
where was this damn future husband of mine? Although my skin crawled
with just the thought of another man other than Sergei touching me. If this
baby and I were to survive, I needed my future husband to get here already.
I might just have to suffer through it and sleep with the man.
Just the thought of it had me crying harder. Dad would get a kick out of
this. He always said I was too stubborn to cry and here I was bawling my
eyes out. How could he let this man just take me like this?
My mind went back to eight weeks ago, the last time I saw my parents
and the first time I met Michail. I wished the man in my father’s office
would have turned around. As of now, all I knew was that he had light hair.
As soon as I pulled into my parents’ home, I knew something was amiss.
A black Aston Martin sat in front of the entrance. My dad hated seeing
vehicles in front of our grand entrance. He said it took away from the look
of the house. I didn’t particularly like the house; it was too grand and too
flashy. Only my parents lived in it now, and even before I moved out, this
house was way too big for just us. My brothers had their own luxury
penthouses in New York City and preferred to stay there.
“Well, whoever this car belongs to,” I muttered to myself as I parked my
bright red Jeep behind the Aston Martin, “if they can do it, so can I.”
I was scheduled to spend the weekend with my parents in upstate New
York before kicking off summer with Anastasia and Olivia. I couldn’t wait
for our European summer trip to start. I was already packed and had a
countdown on my phone indicating each second that we were nearing our
vacation.
Exiting my Jeep, I couldn’t help but be at least a little bit impressed with
the luxurious car. I peeked into it, curious how the inside of such an
expensive vehicle looked.
“Not bad,” I murmured under my breath. “Although not super
impressive either.”
Someone clearing their throat directly behind me had me jumping away
from the vehicle. I only wore a short dress, and it would not be ideal to be
caught gawking into a vehicle with my ass hanging out.
 I turned around to find a guy standing behind me. He didn’t look
familiar, although he fit right into the category of my father’s business
associates. And I stated that with quotation marks in my head. My father
wasn’t exactly doing all his businesses legitimately. It wasn’t the kind of life
I wanted to be a part of so I often feigned ignorance till I could be done
with it. I couldn’t wait.
The stranger and I just kept staring at each other. He wasn’t bad
looking, although totally not my type. He was tall and muscular. With his
dark hair, tanned skin, tattoos, and those green eyes, I bet women chased
after him.
I wondered if Anastasia and Olivia would find him swoon worthy.
Probably not, I scoffed. The tattoos covering his neck were a bit too
much, although interesting.
“Hello,” I finally broke our staring contest. “Who are you?”
“Michail.” Well, that was short and sweet. No chitchatting with this
dude, that was for sure.
“Are you here to see my father?” I asked.
“No.”
I rolled my eyes at him. Whatever. I wouldn’t get any information from
this guy. Regularly, this guy would be scary as shit. But I grew up among
scary as shit men so I was rather used to it. And I was on my dad’s turf, so
he couldn’t touch me
“Okay, then,” I told him. “I’m going in. Bye.”
He said nothing, just watched me. When I turned away from him and
headed for the house, I heard him say something in a foreign language. I
swore it sounded like Russian, and it made me wonder what my father was
up to.
As soon as I entered the house, Seamus, my dad’s oldest friend, greeted
me. Those two grew up together on the streets of Dublin and came to the
States together. You’d think they were real brothers.
“Hello, Uncle Seamus,” I greeted him. I learned later in life they
weren’t real brothers, but by that time, the Uncle title had stuck; there was
no sense in changing it.
“Hello, beautiful,” he greeted me with a kiss on a cheek.
“Having guests?” I asked, and he raised his eyebrow.
“No, why do you ask?” There was a true surprise in his voice, throwing
me off.
 Well, that is weird, I thought to myself. I glanced over my shoulder and
sure as shit, that black Aston Martin still sat there. Michail was nowhere in
sight but there wasn’t doubt in my mind that he was lurking nearby
somewhere. But I wouldn’t get into a debate with my uncle. I learned a long
time ago debating with Uncle Seamus nor my father accomplished
anything.
My eyes returned back to my uncle, and I shrugged my shoulder. “No
reason,” I told him. “I’m going to find Mom.”
“Sounds good,” he retorted.
I always knew where to find her. I headed for the library and sure
enough, she was in there, reading her books. Her small frame cuddled on
the corner of the couch, a book in her hands. Her hair always amazed me.
It was in a perfect bun, not a strand out of place. My hair, on the other
hand, was always a huge mess. I had too much hair. Although I inherited
my mother’s dark hair color, unfortunately it wasn’t as smooth nor fine as
hers. My hair had a mind of its own.
“Hey Mom,” I called out to her as soon as I entered, not wanting to
scare her.
She always hung out here, while dad was in his office. Coincidently, his
office was connected to the library. I think she purposely did that when she
designed the house. Those two always wanted to be close to each other; it
was quite disturbing.
Her light blue eyes raised to me and her lips curved into a big smile.
That was another thing I didn’t inherit, her blue eyes. Instead they were
dark, like my father’s.
“Scarlett,” she called out, her hand reaching for me.
I briskly walked over to her and took her hand. Although I wanted
nothing to do with my family’s business and that way of life, I still loved all
of them. They were part of me, just as I was part of them.
I leaned over and placed a kiss on her lips, the smell of cinnamon
drifting to my senses. My mom was a baker before she met dad. To this day,
she still loved to bake, so it seemed to me she always smelled like
cinnamon.
“I missed you,” I muttered against her cheek.
And I really missed her; I just avoided coming home more and more as I
grew older. When I found out that Dad arranged for me to marry some
stranger, a business colleague, I ensured being home was a rarity. I was
furious with him for doing something like that to me.
“We missed you too, sweetie.” My mom’s voice was soft. “You have
been avoiding us.”
Yeah, no shit. I wanted to make sure I stayed as far as possible, not
wanting to risk running into whatever man my father decided I should
marry. Yeah, fuck that crap.
I still wasn’t sure how I’d get out of it but there was no way I’d marry a
perfect stranger. It was a ridiculous notion that he would have thought that
was acceptable even, in today’s day and age.
But here we were, both Olivia and I. Although, it would seem my
situation was slightly better than Olivia’s. That fucking monster should be
executed on the spot.
Well, now I’m thinking as the mobster's daughter, I thought wryly to
myself. Bloodthirsty and vengeful, how perfect.
“Where is Dad?” I asked her. I wouldn’t comment on her statement.
There was no sense in pretending or lying about it. They knew me too well.
“He’s in his office,” she replied, smiling softly. “Let him know you are
here and then come back and sit with me for a bit.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back,” I promised.
I guess my father didn’t have a guest after all. If he did, Mom wouldn’t
have told me to interrupt him.
As I approached his office, I could have sworn I heard multiple voices
coming from his office. But the knowledge that my mother never allowed my
brothers and I to interrupt Father during his meetings had me ignore what I
thought I heard.
I knocked on the door and my dad’s booming voice traveled over.
“Yes?”
I cracked the heavy mahogany door open and my step faltered half
across the threshold of the entrance. My dad was not alone and I stood
there in confusion, undecided if I should apologize and shut the door or go
greet my dad.
“Um, sorry Dad,” I muttered, glancing at the back of a man’s blonde
head. The man never turned, his back leaned casually against the seat, his
one ankle crossed at his knee. The way he sat reflected power and
dominance. Although he was in my father’s office, I swore it looked like my
father was the visitor. “I didn’t realize you had a guest.”
 But I really knew he did. Otherwise an unfamiliar car wouldn’t be
parked in front of our house. Why didn’t I question my mom and Uncle
Seamus? It was clear as day that Dad had a visitor if an unfamiliar vehicle
was parked in front of the house. My dad quickly stood up and strode
toward me.
“Scarlett, my girl.” He wrapped his arms around me, just like he did
when I was a little girl. “I’m so glad you are home.”
My eyes traveled to the man seated but he still didn’t move, as if
uncaring of his surroundings.
“Is everything okay, Dad?” It was weird for him not to scold me for
interrupting his meeting.
“Yes, of course. Why do you ask?”
My eyes darted between my dad and the stranger who still didn’t bother
turning around.
“No reason,” I ended up answering. “I’m around today and tomorrow,
but leaving Sunday. Okay?”
He kissed me on the cheek and nudged me out of his office, following
behind me.
“Yes, I remember,” he retorted. “But when you come back, we have to
move forward with your engagement.”
I looked at my dad in disbelief. Not even ten minutes back and he
couldn’t resist bringing it up.
“Seriously?” I hissed. “I literally just came in the door and we are
already back to that. I told you, there is no way in hell-”
“Scarlett,” his voice was warning me.
“Don’t Scarlett me,” I seethed with anger. “How could you even ask
that of me? I’m not property for you to settle.”
“It is not like that, daughter.”
“Well, it sure as hell looks like it to me,” I retorted in a slightly elevated
tone. “How could you even ask me to marry a perfect stranger?”
“Well, you could meet him-”
It was my turn to cut him off. “Hell no, I don’t want to meet him. I want
you and him to end this ridiculous idea,” I demanded. “This is my life, not
yours and certainly not this damn old guy’s.”
“He’s not old.”
I scoffed. “It is not what I meant. I just meant-,” then I quickly cut
myself off realizing he was getting me sidetracked. “It doesn’t matter to me
how old he is. When I get married, it will be because I love a man and want
to get married. And you should want that for me. Not make a damn
arrangement, signing me off. I was seventeen for Christ’s sake when you
two decided that. Is that even legal?”
My dad’s dark eyes watched me, letting me get my rant out of the way.
Unfortunately, his calm demeanor got me even more fired up.
“Why did I even bother coming home?” I complained, regretting my
homecoming already. This must have been a new record. Less than an hour
and I was already leaving. “I’ll just grab my passport and a few things. I’m
not staying.”
“Sweetheart,” it was my mother’s soft voice right behind me. “Let’s just
all calm down.”
The door to my father’s office was slightly opened, and I wondered if his
guest was hearing this disturbing conversation. It seemed so careless for
Dad to leave it cracked open.
“I am calm,” I told them both, my attention leaving the stranger in the
office and back to my parents. “You two act like I should be jumping for joy
that you pretty much sold me out. And then you act surprised that I have
been avoiding coming home for the last seven years. At every chance you
have, you keep trying to convince me it is a good thing. Well, it is not. You
had no right to do something like that. I don’t see you arranging a marriage
for one of my brothers.”
“It’s not the same,” my mother tried to smooth things out.
“Bullshit, Mom,” I snapped, trying to keep my voice down. “You two
are being so hypocritical.”
“Scarlett, it is for your own good,” my dad exploded. And silence that
followed was like a calm before the storm… or was it after the storm. I
wasn’t even sure.
“Well, we’ll have to agree to disagree then,” I answered, my voice calm
which was so contrary to the boiling anger I felt inside me. “I’ll just grab
my passport.”
“Sweetie,” my mom tried to soothe the situation but there was no saving
it.
“I’ll text you both when I get there,” I told them and rushed out of
there.
I pretty much ran to my old bedroom, passing my Uncle Seamus on the
way out. My bedroom was exactly as I left it. Absolutely nothing changed,
as if they were waiting for me to come back home any day now. Except, I
never wanted to come back. I couldn’t even remember the last time I slept in
my bed, under this roof. It fucking hurt that my own parents would pass me
off to a stranger like that, like I was nothing.
Grabbing my passport and a few other items, I shoved them quickly into
a bag that sat here probably from my high school years. It couldn’t have
been but thirty minutes since I arrived but I swore it felt like thirty hours.
As I exited my parents’ home, the blonde guy that was in my father’s
office was getting into his Aston Martin, his back to me… again. Michail
held the door open, his eyes darting around like he expected police to
swarm the property. Again, I couldn’t catch the glimpse of the man except
for the back of his head and barely a peek at his profile. Although the little I
saw, there was no denying it, he was a gorgeous specimen.
“Leaving already, lass?” Uncle Seamus’ voice had me whipping my
head to my left. I didn’t even hear him approach me.
“Yes.”
“Will you be okay?”
“Yes.” I swore, I sounded like Michail now.
The loud sound of the engine powering up had me turning my gaze back
to the car and its visitor as they drove around the circle and headed off the
property.
I exhaled deeply, returning my focus to Uncle Seamus. “Yes, I’ll be
okay. It was nice seeing you. I’ll send a note when we land in Europe.”
He nodded, a solemn look in his eyes. “If you need anything, just call.”
I hugged him goodbye, then headed to my Jeep. Maybe it was good that
I didn’t stay. Dad would have probably had my head if he saw I parked in
front of the house.
As soon as I started the Jeep, the music blasted loudly through my
speakers. Since my top was down, I pulled my hair into a tight ponytail and
put my sunglasses on. The moment my parents’ property was behind me, I
turned the music to the max, tuning out my thoughts and sped down the
highway way past the legal speed limit. It was reckless, it was stupid, but it
felt good. The highway was empty, except for me and a vehicle way ahead
of me. I maintained the speed, there was no reason to be stuck behind a
vehicle when no one was in front of it. I shifted to the left lane, and pressed
harder against the gas pedal intending to pass the vehicle in front of me.
Too late, I realized it was the Aston Martin that was parked in front of my
father’s home. I felt like I was just caught stealing chocolate and my dad
was going to find out but it was going too fast to slow down. Slamming on
the brakes now would definitely get me noticed. Maybe I’d get lucky and the
man that was driving it, never makes the connection. After all, there were
tons of Jeeps around. Aston Martins not so much!
I sped past the Aston Martin, the speedometer showing a hundred miles
per hour, never glancing over. It was as if the devil himself was chasing me,
or maybe I was trying to escape my destiny; I didn’t know anymore. I knew
the time was nearing and when I got back from Europe, my days of freedom
would be numbered. I wasn’t fooled by the fact my dad let me walk out
today. It was my last hurrah before he’d lay the hammer down and I’d have
to bend to his will.
Because in his world breaking the agreement would mean war and
death.
I should have known better. No, scratch that. I knew better but chose to
ignore my reason. Now, look at this mess I found myself in. And I dragged
Sergei into it. With a heavy heart, I dragged myself off the floor and
crawled into bed, pulling the covers over my head. Squeezing my eyes shut,
I forced my brain to stop thinking and focused on my breathing. I couldn’t
think anymore. I had to sleep. I was exhausted. I just wanted to forget it all.

Someone’s hands nudged me.

“Go away,” I muttered. I didn't want to wake up. Sleep was my reprieve
and Sergei was with me. His ruffled blonde hair, soft under my fingers and
his body pressed hard against me. I pressed my cheek against his, feeling
his warmth.
I missed you, solnce. I could hear his voice whisper, deep and sexy… it
sent delightful shivers down my body. And his warm brown eyes were on
me again, hungry and passionate.
“Scarlett,” an unfamiliar voice kept pulling me out of my escape. No! I
wasn’t sure if I said it out loud or thought it. I wanted to stay with Sergei. I
liked it here. Man’s hands shook me harder. “Wake up, Scarlett.”
Sergei’s face faded, my hands reaching for him. “Don’t go,” I
murmured. I wanted him with me. I loved him. I had to tell him something
important.
“It’s Michail. I’m not going anywhere. Wake up!” Hands wrapped
around me, but they felt strange. They felt wrong.
I forced my eyes open and stared at the man in front of me. He was the
wrong man, wrong eyes, wrong hair, wrong face. I blinked in confusion.
Where was Sergei? Then it all came back. Michail kidnapped me, on behalf
of my future husband. Talk about a rude awakening. That thought was more
powerful than an icy cold shower.
I pushed off Michail. “What?” My voice sounded raspy, harsher than I
intended.
Michail’s gaze on me watched me pensively. I worried he saw too
much. God, I was tired of this. I wanted to go back to two weeks ago and
leave that damn club along with Anastasia. We’d all be together now if only
we all left together.
“You’ve slept for twenty-four hours straight,” Michail murmured softly.
“So what?” I spat back at him, pulling my knees to my chest. “It is not
like I have anything else to do.”
Shit, I was so tired. I could just go back to sleep. At least in my dreams,
I had Sergei with me.
“I’m sorry I locked you in this room,” Michail surprised me with his
apology. “I was in pain and wasn’t thinking straight.”
Now it was my turn to observe him pensively. I didn’t expect his
apology. After all, I hurt him worse.
“I’m sorry I kicked you in the-” I cleared my throat uncomfortably,
“Um, in the sensitive area. Are you okay?”
“Yes, all better.” He smiled, actually smiled. And my mouth fell open.
This man was fucking beautiful when he smiled. Drop dead gorgeous
beautiful! Not my type, but still. It was a crime to have such a
transformation in any human being. It was unexpected.
“Jesus, Michail,” I muttered, scooting back a bit. “You are drop dead
gorgeous when you smile. You shouldn’t smile.”
His smile shifted to a wide grin. “Is that a compliment, Scarlett?”
“Umm, I guess so. Just didn’t see it coming.” I tried to justify myself,
aware I was staring at him. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
Not sure where the question came from. I knew it wasn’t an appropriate
conversation to have, while he sat on my bed. I just came out of the dream
with Sergei fresh on my mind. And he worked for my future husband.
Gosh, that was the biggest strike against Michail.
“No. Not a girlfriend in sight,” he replied. “How about we call a truce?”
I blinked my eyes confused. Was he purposely smiling so he could
throw me off my game plan of escaping?
“What do you have in mind?” I asked him suspiciously.
“No more escaping,” he suggested. “And I let you roam free the entire
compound.”
“Compound?” Where was I exactly? When we arrived it was dark, so it
was hard to see. I haven’t been outside in two weeks, although the view
from my balcony was beautiful.
“The property,” he paraphrased. “We call it compound. The whole
property is safeguarded.”
We eyed each other in silence, as if measuring whether we could trust
each other. The thing was that I didn’t have much of a choice. I could make
it difficult for myself, or come to terms and make the best out of it.
“So when is my future husband coming?” I asked. Because if I was
pregnant, and he shows up in six months, I’d be doomed. There would be
no hiding at that point. I needed him here now.
“Soon,” was all Michail said. “Do we have a truce?”
“Sure, Michail,” I answered with a sigh. “We have a truce.”
He extended his hand and I eyed it. Did he really expect me to seal it
with a shake? That was as good as a contract in the mob world. Was I
resigning myself to this fate?
“Fine,” I took his hand and shook it. If it would keep Sergei safe from
them all, it was worth the sacrifice. And I’d have his baby.

OceanofPDF.com
 SERGEI

T he moment I got the notification that Dimitry and Nikolai

entered my compound, after they'd been gone most of the
day, I came out. I gave them the address where Anastasia
was being held. It was a supposed tip from the streets. With each day, I
succeeded in digging my grave deeper.
I waited in the parking area as the car approached. A shootout must
have happened because the car was pretty much destroyed. Windows
busted, and the side of the vehicle was covered with bullet holes. Initially
they were going to leave as soon as they rescued the woman but things must
have gone wrong. They were planning to come back only in the event she
wasn’t able to go back home.
Nikolai was driving but Dimitry wasn’t in the passenger seat. For a
fraction of the second, my heart stopped, anguished with worry, but then I
saw him in the back seat. Before I could even debate why he would sit in
the backseat, I saw her.
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath. Nikolai parked the car next to me.
With a nod, Nikolai exited the vehicle, shutting the door lightly. Dimitry did
the same thing.
Anastasia Manciatti slept in the backseat. She looked like she had been
to hell and back. The young, carefree woman I saw in the hotel lobby
almost a month ago was gone.
Fuck!
She slept with her knees pressed against her chest, her body curved into
a ball. Her arms were wrapped around her as if she was trying to protect
herself even while sleeping. She was still in the same clothes I kidnapped
her in. Dimitry’s jacket was placed on her but it didn’t cover her enough,
not to see all those bruises. They’d be forever etched in my mind.
I should have gotten her a change of clothes. Goddamnit!
Her ivory skin had purple bruises all over her, even on her cheek and
her neck. Didn’t I fucking tell those men to keep her safe? It didn’t look like
she was safe at all. With the gut-wrenching fear, I wondered what she had
been through. I tampered my rage, taking a deep breath in and out. I did it
to save Scarlett, although at this moment it seemed like a poor ass excuse.
And this guilt burned like acid through me. I have violated everything
my brothers and I stood for. By the time this ordeal was over, I might lose
everything and everyone. And I couldn’t say that I would blame my
brothers for finally washing their hands of me. I deserved nothing better.
“Brother,” Nikolai greeted me grimly. His eyes turned back to
Anastasia’s sleeping form surrounded by shattered glass and bullets
everywhere.
I swallowed hard. “Is she alright?”
Dimitry joined us, his face a mask of fury and rage, reflecting what I
currently felt towards myself.
“She will be,” Nikolai answered somberly. “She’s strong.”
“We busted into the house as one of those fucking bastards was getting
ready to rape her,” Dimitry’s voice was pure ice, although he spoke low to
ensure we couldn’t be overheard or wake her up.
“Fuck,” I gritted through my teeth. I was worse than those men because
I handed her over. All this was my fault.
Misha, one of Dimitry’s men, came over to join us. His eyes shifted to
the young woman’s form and pity crossed his face.
“Is she okay?” he asked in a low voice.
“She will be,” Dimitry replied. “Can you grab the bag quietly out of the
trunk and put it in the bedroom we designated for her? When she wakes up,
I’m sure she’ll want to get cleaned up. We’ll be staying a few days.”
“You got it,” Misha threw another worried glance at the woman, then
went to fetch the bag.
“We killed a good number of them,” Nikolai spoke up, his eyes darting
to the woman. He was very protective of women, which was
understandable. His sister has been through some bad shit. “I can’t believe
after two weeks of whatever she endured, she still fought against them.”
 Dimitry’s eyes softened as he looked at the woman. A shocking
revelation, Dimitry never softened towards anyone. Sometimes I wondered
if this life we lead completely wiped out any soft emotion from him.
He likes this woman. He likes her a lot, I realized.
He was gone most of the morning. What could have happened in such a
short time? I scoffed to myself. It didn’t take me long to fall for Scarlett. I
observed my oldest brother and was sure he liked Anastasia Manciatti. He
might not even realize it himself. It was the first time I had ever seen my
brother watch someone with longing and hunger.
Yes, I will need an even deeper grave. Unmarked grave. Shit!
“Now what?” I asked my brothers.
“She’ll be under our protection till Boris’ execution,” Dimitry
answered. We all shared a look and didn’t need words to agree. We all knew
it was her best chance at staying alive. And I had quite a bit to make up to
Anastasia. I handed her to Boris’ men, gave them leverage. I could be the
main culprit if this shit got even worse.
Movement in the car had all three of us turning our eyes to Anastasia.
Her green eyes were quite striking. She watched us all warily and I couldn’t
blame her. The last two weeks must have been a nightmare for her. The
worst part was that I could have prevented it. I deserved whatever life
dished out my way because what I had done was unforgivable.
Dimitry strode over to the car and opened the door. Anastasia’s eyes
watched his every move. With a quick glance down at herself, a little frown
showed up on her face and her hands moved to remove the jacket placed on
her.
Dimitry stopped her. “Keep it on.”
“Thanks,” she murmured softly. Although she watched him with
wariness, there was something in her eyes as she watched my brother. I
couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was… distrust, trust for protection, or
something entirely different.
As she stepped out of the car, she winced and it felt like a punch in the
gut. Her knuckles turned white gripping the large jacket around herself,
hiding her body. The sorrow and regret unlike I had ever experienced before
hit me right in my face. It was the worst slap in the face, the worst eye
opener. I didn’t deserve my brothers, Scarlett, nor anything good in my life.
Anastasia continued watching us warily, trying to appear strong but I
could see fear and anxiety written all over her face.
 “Remember Nikolai,” Dimitry spoke softly to her. She nodded, her hand
visibly shaking as she went to move a piece of hair out of her face. A sharp
breath left her as she noticed blood all over her hand and her eyes
frantically searched her body looking for a source.
“It’s not yours,” Nikolai told her gently.
“Oh, okay.”
Fuck, what have I done? Whatever I had to do, I would make it up to
this woman. I swore on my own life. I might not be able to profess it to her,
but I would hold up that promise. I would make it up to her. Even if it cost
me my life, I owed her my protection.
“Since Dimitry won’t introduce me, I’m Sergei,” I went to introduce
myself and took a step forward, reaching out my hand for a handshake.
Anastasia flinched and immediately took a step back, towards Dimitry.
A heartbeat of silence.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her eyes big on her face. “I… it was a
reflex.”
“No worries.” I couldn’t blame her. She should spit in my face, hit me,
shoot me after what she endured. I deserved nothing less.
“There is a doctor who can check you out and make sure you are okay.”
Dimitry told her, keeping his voice low and calm. But I knew my brother.
He was furious underneath that mask, wanted to go back and kill all the
men who caused this woman pain.
Anastasia’s eyes shifted to my brother, and her eyes glistened with tears.
Then she blinked, several times. I saw her take several calming breaths, and
I could totally relate.
“Thank you,” she answered my brother softly. She seemed to feel safe
around Dimitry, her body shifting towards him and her eyes mostly on him.
“I would really like to take a shower first.” Then as if she realized she
didn’t use enough manners, she added, “Please.”
Scarlett would forever hate me if she found out I kidnapped her friend.
Even if they weren’t close. Although now I wondered. What have I done?
“Sure,” Dimitry answered. “I can show you to your room and your
bathroom.”
“Are you sure it is best that you show her the bedroom, Dimitry?” I
asked my brother in Russian. Even if I had to protect Anastasia from my
brother, I would. I owed her after what I had done to her. “You seem quite
enthralled with the woman. It is the last thing she needs right now.”
 Dimitry stiffened slightly, then spat back at me in Russian. “Mind your
own damn business, Sergei. She is under my protection.”
“I am so sick and tired of Russians speaking Russian around me,”
Anastasia announced, glaring at both of us. “If you want to say something
that concerns me, any of you, speak English. At least until I can learn this
damn language.” Her eyes traveled between all three of us, then returned to
Dimitry. “If my father insists you cannot take me home, I would like
Rosetta Stone for Russian… please.”
My lip quirked slightly. She certainly had manners. Even when pissed
off, she didn’t forget her please and thank you.
A heartbeat of silence and it was broken by Nikolai’s laugh.
“I like you,” he told her smiling. She stared at him like he was crazy.
“That is a bizarre response, but okay,” she muttered.
I smiled at her and announced, “Ok, princess. We’ll speak English when
we talk about you. Do you want to know what I said to Dimitry?”
She eyed both of us warily, then finally answered, “No. I’d rather have
that shower now.”
Nikolai and I watched her and Dimitry walk into the house. As soon as
they were out of the earshot, I spoke to my brother.
“Do you think it is smart that we stay here?” I asked him. “This place is
not exactly a secret.”
“Dimitry mentioned we’ll be moving in a day or two,” Nikolai
answered, watching me. “How are you, brother?”
“Good,” I answered curtly. I couldn’t very well tell him I started all this
shit by bending to Boris’ men because they followed Scarlett to me.
His hand came to my shoulder. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I didn’t deserve my brothers. They made so many sacrifices for
me and all I have done was lie to them. About this, about my parents. I
should have told them who my father was the moment I found out. Instead,
I buried it deep and ensured they would never know. I didn’t want to lose
them, didn’t want them to look at me with hate.
He took a deep breath. “Just always remember, Sergei. You have us and
we are always here for you. Even though we are across the pond, we’d drop
it all to come here for you.”
That statement made me feel even worse.
“Noted and likewise,” I told him. I meant it too. I would do anything for
my brothers, although if this ever came to light, they might not want me
around. Hell, they might even kill me and I couldn’t even argue with them.
I killed men for less. “Let’s go in.”
“Good idea,” Nikolai agreed. “I need a shower myself.”

I stood in the library of my home reading Michail’s message. He was

worried Scarlett was getting depressed and urged me to come home. I really
wished I could but it wasn’t an option now. How could I explain to him I
was trying to redeem myself by helping Anastasia? I owed her that much. If
she’d be under our protection for the next five months, I had to stay here.
Although it gutted me not to see Scarlett. I missed her with each
heartbeat and breath I took. She wasn’t trying to get into my heart but she
succeeded. It was ironic really. I was trying to woo her and have her fall in
love with me and here I was. My heart was bleeding for her, dying to be
with her.
I typed a quick message back. *What makes you think she’s getting
depressed?*
The message came back swiftly. *All she wants to do is sleep. Barely
eating too.*
Fuck, and I knew firsthand how much she loved to eat.
*Keep an eye on her. I’ll be back as soon as I can.*
The door of the library opened and Dimitry strode towards me, a grim
look on his face. He had just taken Anastasia to be checked out by our own
doctor to ensure she was okay and he looked like he was ready to murder
someone.
“Is Anastasia okay?” I asked although I dreaded hearing the answer.
The guilt was stacking up quickly.
“She wasn’t raped but,” he growled, “she’s bruised all over. Those
bastards should be tortured long and slow.”
I couldn’t agree more with him. Even those assholes I planted there.
Fuck, I should be tortured too since I was the one who handed her over.
“You killed most of them,” I tried to calm him down, although my own
rage pumped through my veins. “We could go back and kill the rest?”
Dimitry took a deep breath, pushing his hand through his hair. He was
still in the same clothes he rescued Anastasia in and a holster on him. He
rarely relaxed and no matter where we were, he always had a gun on him.
“No, I don’t want to leave her here alone,” he muttered and confirmed
my suspicions. He liked the woman… a lot. He reached into his pocket and
handed me an iPhone.
“Thanks, but I already have one,” I told him sarcastically.
“It is Anastasia’s, you smartass,” he retorted dryly. “Her dad had it for
her in the bag he sent. Nikolai ensured it is safe, removed all social media
accounts and downloaded Rosetta Stone with Russian on it.”
I took the phone and was surprised it was unlocked. “Wow, her dad
must trust you not to have a passcode on it.”
“Highly unlikely,” he smirked. “Since I didn’t know it was in the bag,
and I wasn’t going to snoop through the woman's clothes.”
I rolled my eyes. For being a ruthless killer and a mobster, he had some
weird sense of honor. We shall kill but we shall not go through women’s
bags and dig through their undergarments.
“I’ll get it secured,” was all I said instead. No sense in edging him on
when he was so tense. “Why don’t you go get showered and changed?”
“Are you trying to tell me I smell bad?”
“No, but you smell of blood and gunpowder,” he scoffed at me. “Your
woman won’t appreciate that.”
“Sergei,” Dimitry’s growl was my warning.
“Just go get cleaned up,” I ignored his warning. “I’ll go find Anastasia.
I’ll give her a little tour of the place so she feels comfortable for the few
days we’ll be here. Then we can figure out the plan going forward.”
“Thank you, brother,” Dimitry’s hand came to my shoulder. “And thank
you for all the help in locating her. We got there right in the nick of time.”
His gratitude was a bitter pill to swallow. If he only knew it was all my
fault, he’d strangle me with his own two hands. Or possibly gut me alive.
With a quick nod, he headed out of the room.
I scouted through her phone to ensure all the gadgets and security on the
iPhone worked then headed in search of Dimitry’s woman. It didn’t take
long to find her.
“Hey, Anastasia,” I greeted her with a smile. “Nikolai asked me to give
you this.” I handed her phone back to her. “He removed all social media
access. Just for security purposes. But Dimitry had him add the Rosetta
Stone app with Russian already in it.”
 She nodded with a little smile. This woman was really something to still
have it within her to smile after everything she had been through. “Thanks,
and I look forward to the Rosetta Stone.”
“You want a tour of this place?” I offered.
“Sure, but maybe just the first floor. This place is huge.”
I laughed, then added teasingly. “Didn’t you grow up in a palace,
princess?”
Why did I call her a princess? The night I kidnapped her, I called her
that. I must be an idiot, eager to have my part in the whole scheme
discovered.
“No, I grew up in an oversized home,” she answered back, trying to
hide disinterest on her face. She didn’t care for the tour but agreed only to
appease me. “Unnecessarily oversized home with lots of wasted space since
I’m an only child.”
“It still must have been nice,” I commented back. “You are one of those
girls who were probably very popular and had friends over all the time.”
“Not really,” she chuckled softly. “I grew up with Olivia and her twin
brother. In high school, we met Scarlett and she was so much like us, we
sucked her into being our friend. So it was pretty much just us. Oliver had
his own room, while Olivia, Scarlett, and I shared my room most of the
time, even though they each had their own.”
At hearing Scarlett’s name on her lips, I tensed slightly but quickly
recovered. Shit, if they’ve spent so much time together, those two must
have been close after all.
“Sounds like a full house,” I muttered, the predicament I caused digging
deep into my soul. At the thought of losing Scarlett and my chance at
making her happy, I felt hollow and sad. Although my mind whispered, I
deserved nothing better. In fact, I should get much worse.
Absentmindedly, I walked Anastasia from room to room, explaining
what each room was and pointing out things I thought would interest her.
All the while though, Scarlett and the possible future we could have
together was on my mind. I wanted it more than I had ever wanted anything
else in my life. The past and this fucked up mess behind us, we would enjoy
each other, continue to learn our likes and dislikes, and maybe have
children together.
“So how do you three know each other?” Anastasia’s question pulled
me out of my thoughts. “Do you have any siblings?”
 “Dimitry, Nikolai, and I all grew up together in an orphanage.” Her
green eyes flashed in surprise. “Nikolai had a sister but thankfully, a family
member was able to take her in.”
Having Nadia with us during our time in the orphanage and while under
Boris would have been a big problem. We could barely keep ourselves safe,
it would have been impossible for Nadia. And to watch her twenty-four
hours a day was not possible, even I knew that. Dimitry and Nikolai tried
that with me. Since I was the youngest, they kept me protected at all cost,
all the time. But even with all their fierce protectiveness, they couldn’t
protect me from that fucking, sick bastard. It only happened a few times,
but shame and disgrace remained.
Ironically, it took Dimitry gutting the fucking guy that bragged he’d
make me his bitch for the man that abused me to stop. Dimitry saved me
without even knowing it. When I got strong enough, I hunted the man down
and made him pay. He was my revenge.
“How old were you all?” Anastasia’s voice was low and soft.
“Dimitry was about two when he was left at the doorstep of the
orphanage.”
“And you and Nikolai?” she asked gently. Anastasia was a good
woman, and I could tell by her expression she cared.
“Dimitry is the oldest. He was there first, then when Nikolai’s parents
were killed and his uncle dropped him off at the orphanage, Dimitry took
him under his wing. I followed behind Nikolai when my parents gave me
away. Again both of them took me under their protection.”
I kept my voice void of all emotions but it still hurt. No matter how old
I was, it still hurt like a bitch. My fucking parents. They completely erased
me out of their family tree, even taking away their last name. Leaving me
with a real last name was too much for them to give.
Although, now that I knew who my father was, that last name was
worthless. Just as he was. Fuck, just as I became. What I had done to
Anastasia resembled awfully close to something that fucker would do!
The saying blood is thicker than water was fucking bullshit. All that my
flesh and blood ever brought me was pain. It made me rage with hate. I was
the Mad Russian Sinner thanks to my fucking father. My biggest fear was to
become like Boris. He was cruel, evil and heartless, relishing in others pain
and suffering. Nothing and nobody meant anything to him. I experienced it
firsthand.
 “Does Nikolai’s sister live close to him now?” she asked, pulling me out
of my raging thoughts. “He must love having his family around.”
“No, she was killed,” I told her, anger boiling inside me but I kept it
reigned in. One of the men of the powerful political circle killed her and got
away with it. “He does have a niece that lives under his roof.”
We walked in silence for the rest of the tour, both of us lost in our
thoughts. We exited the house, and I took her to the back of the house
where a large eternity pool lay and views of the mountains stretched for
miles.
“This is my favorite part of your house, Sergei,” she exclaimed with a
smile that came back. I noted she winced each time she smiled and it was a
reminder how badly I fucked up. But I still smiled back at her enthusiasm.
“It’s beautiful.”
My phone rang and I answered in Russian.
“There is a stranger in the village,” one of my men announced over the
line. “Should we send someone to check it out?”
“Yes, do it discreetly,” I told him, sticking to Russian. Then I hung up,
turning my eyes to this hunted woman. There was no doubt in my mind,
whoever the stranger was, they were here for her. “I have to go. If you want
to go for a swim, feel free.”
“I won’t swim, but I’ll stay around here if that’s ok,” she replied. She
looked tired too.
“Of course,” I replied quickly. “I’ll send someone with drinks.”
I left her without a backward glance and went in search of my brothers.
On the way, I saw Sonia.
“Sonia, please send someone with wine, cheese, and crackers to the
pool for our guest.” She nodded and I continued my path.
I found my brothers in my study. Dimitry must have showered and
changed in record time. His hair wasn’t even dry yet. He had an unbuttoned
jacket on, his gun holster peeking underneath. It was ironic really, all three
of us were on our own territory and we walked around with a gun secured
in a holster. You never knew when shit would hit the fan.
“There might be a stranger in the village,” I told them without beating
around the bush. “I sent someone to check it out.”
“Fuck,” both Dimitry and Nikolai answered in unison. “We might have
to move sooner than I thought,” Dimitry continued.
 It wouldn’t surprise me. Since I was the one that gave her to them, my
place would be the first for them to look.
“Let’s see what they come back with. It could be a false alarm,” Nikolai
added with a calm reason although I could tell he didn’t think it was a
coincidence.
“When were you thinking it best to move Anastasia?” I asked Dimitry,
because she was his and he would call all the shots. Just like I would call all
the shots with Scarlett, if she didn’t kill me first.
Whether Dimitry wanted to admit it or not, he was completely
enthralled with Anastasia. If either Nikolai or I would even look at her way
or touch her, he’d lose his shit. It was just taking him a tad bit longer to
realize it. And although Anastasia has been through shit, she liked my
brother. Those two would be good for each other and my brother deserved
happiness.
“I hoped we’d have two or three days here to allow her to recover a bit,”
Dimitry answered. “After captivity, she needs some normalcy. I was
thinking about taking her to my St. Petersburg home but if men are already
lurking after her, that won’t work.”
I knew what he was thinking. As we were getting richer, we bought
remote homes all over Russia that would allow us to stay safe.
“How is it that Boris manages to cause trouble even from behind the
prison bars and on death row?” I spat out furiously. Ever since the moment
his men approached me, it all went down the drain. It didn’t fucking matter
that he was my father. I hated that knowledge. I used to dream about my
parents, how they’d be happy when I found them and welcome me back
with open arms. That was before I found out my mother was just some
common prostitute and my father was Boris. From all the fucking men in
this world, my father had to be the one lunatic that caused pain to my
brothers and me. I never bothered telling Boris. It would have meant
nothing to him. The only one that mattered to Boris was Boris.
“It will be over soon,” Nikolai tried to calm us both down. Honestly, I
couldn’t understand how Nikolai kept his cool considering that scar on his
face was Boris’ fault. That fucking asshole could have blinded him. It was
another reason I couldn’t never gather the nerve to tell my brothers. I found
out the identity of my parents shortly after Boris gave Nikolai that scar.
“Let’s focus on keeping the woman and us safe, and out of his reach,” he
continued.
 “You are right,” I muttered under my breath but it did nothing to settle
my anger.
“I’m going to check on her,” Dimitry left to leave us.
“I left her by the pool,” I told him.
The moment he left the room, I spoke to Nikolai. “Has he been like this
since the moment he saved her?”
He chuckled. “Actually, from the moment he saw her picture. The video
footage from the club made it worse.”
“Do you think it’s smart?” I asked him. It wasn’t like her father would
ever give him his blessing. He’d probably put him away for just looking his
daughter’s way. “We don’t want to get on the wrong side of Manciatti and
her family. They are quite influential.”
“Dimitry can handle them,” Nikolai answered in his forever wise way.
“Besides, I have a feeling when Anja wants something, nobody can deter
her from it. Her and Dimitry have that in common for sure.”
“Anja? Did you give her a nickname?” I inquired. “You like her that
much?”
“I read somewhere her dad calls her that,” he explained. “Plus I like
shorter names.”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the man. Scary as shit but liked
nicknames. It would ruin his reputation as the scary Russian Sinner one day.
We walked out of the study and made our way to the stairs, both of us
abruptly stopping in our tracks. Dimitry had Anastasia in his arms and was
walking through the foyer towards us. She seemed to be sound asleep. I
raised my eyebrows at the sight and glanced at Nikolai next to me. His arms
were crossed over his chest with a knowing expression on his face, his
focus on our oldest brother.
“She had too much wine,” Dimitry explained in Russian. Both Nikolai
and I let out a small scoff. “Nikolai, I need you to run another search on her
background.”
“Why?”
“I want to know if she was kidnapped before.”
I didn’t expect that comment. “What?” I asked in surprise, sticking to
Russian. “That would be some shitty luck. What makes you think she was
kidnapped before?”
“Something she said before she passed out.”
 “Do you think she was kidnapped by Boris or his people before? That
she’s marked?” Nikolai asked the question I was thinking. If she was
kidnapped before and she got away, the same people would come after her.
They would mark her as a target, spread the word on the black market, and
offer a hefty prize until they got her.
And I handed her over. I should have done my homework, instead of
thinking with my dick.
“I don’t know,” Dimitry muttered, and I knew he hated not knowing. He
always did all his research. This must have been something her family was
hiding.
“Has either one of you heard from Vlad?” he questioned both Nikolai
and me.
“Yeah, he came to the Russian Orchid a few weeks ago,” I told him.
“He pissed off the Italians. Again. You know, same shitty story. We
shouldn’t give them business; we can do it all on our own. He’s hell bent on
keeping business going the way it has been done for the past thirty years. I
got tired of listening so I told him to take it somewhere else. He said he’d
lay low in Naryan-Mar.”
“He’s starting to cause more trouble than he’s fucking worth,” Nikolai
cursed low under his breath. I saw him glance at Anastasia to ensure he
didn’t wake her up.
“Agreed.” I wished Dimitry would just end the fucker. I had a gut
feeling he was up to no good. But Dimitry was big on keeping his word.
Vlad was always sneaking around and wanted to keep our business
dealings illegal. He relished working on the black market and dealing with
illegal smuggling. The problem was that he helped us put Boris away. He
handed the information to Dimitry and he gave him his word that he’d be
protected and taken care of when it was all said and done. Vlad was the
only one who knew where Boris disposed of bodies. When Dimitry turned
in the evidence against Boris, he wanted to ensure Boris got the worst
possible sentence. Fraud and murder were a jackpot. If only he wasn’t still
causing all this havoc from behind prison walls.
“But we have to follow through with our deal,” Dimitry voiced his
opinion that Nikolai and I were well familiar with. “We promised him a
clean cut when he helped us put Boris away.”
“If there is ever a promise to break,” I added grudgingly, “that would be
the one.”
 I had a bad feeling about Vlad. I recalled how quickly he gave up last
time I spoke to him. It was uncharacteristic of him. Could he be
coordinating all this with Boris? That fucking bastard of a father would cost
me Scarlett and my brothers with the damn games he was playing from the
death row. It was certainly telling that if he could cause that much damage
from prison, how much worse it would be if he was out on the loose.
“Unless he gives me cause,” Dimitry retorted dryly, “I won’t break my
promise.” We both nodded in agreement, although it was reluctant on my
part. “Nikolai, we should check if there is any connection between Boris
and the Manciatti family,” Dimitry continued.
“Why would there be?” Both Nikolai and I asked in surprise.
“He was the prosecutor, right?” Nikolai added. “I wouldn’t think there
would be a further connection than that.”
“Anastasia asked whether Boris was after her family,” Dimitry
explained. “There is a connection; I know it.”
“I’ll do the search,” Nikolai agreed.
The mood was getting tense and we all felt something was brewing.
There were too many things happening, all at once… and none of them
were good.
I couldn’t help but help relieve the tension in the air by teasing my
oldest brother, “I think she likes you.”
“What makes you say that?” he asked curiously, glancing at the sleeping
woman in his arms. Every time his eyes landed on her, the expression in
them softened. It was actually nice seeing this side of my brother.
“When I stepped towards her to introduce myself, she backed herself
closer to you.” I told him. “And each time we talk, her eyes search you
out.”
“She feels most threatened by me, which is probably the reason she
keeps watching me.”
Nikolai scoffed. “You keep telling yourself that, brother.”
His eyes shifted to her again and there it was again. That longing I was
well familiar with.
“People of her status don’t mix with people like us.”
I wasn’t sure if he was reminding us or himself.

OceanofPDF.com
 SERGEI

I stood outside, the warm breeze light on my hot skin. Anastasia

told me this pool was her favorite spot of the house. It was mine
too. Not because I cared much about the pool, but it was the
quietest spot. The surrounding hills glimmered under the moonlight making
it seem like we were in another world. A more peaceful world.
I pressed the dial number. I needed to call Michail and check on the
situation with Scarlett.
“Michail, I’m sending Sonia to St. Petersburg,” I told him. “Things are
not safe here. We’ll have to move tomorrow.”
It was almost midnight but I knew he’d be awake. He functioned on
barely any sleep. Scarlett had been on my mind all day. I worried about her
after the last message from Michail. She slept too much and barely ate.
All this shit was getting out of hand. The events today promised a rather
shitty next five months. They should have executed Boris already. Instead
he slipped through their fingers and now he was on the loose.
The man that was lurking around, looking for Anastasia, was
apprehended. The information we garnered from him after torturing him for
hours was disturbing. It had my blood running cold through my veins. Boris
wanted Anastasia. Not as a leverage to break free from prison, but to finish
what he started fifteen years ago. I was no better than Boris, that fucking
father of mine. He killed Anastasia’s mother and I almost cost Anja her life
too. I still couldn’t believe what Manciatti had revealed. Anastasia and her
mother were kidnapped fifteen years ago by Boris and he tortured her
mother. Unknowingly, I helped my father get his hands on Anja.
 It made me sick to my stomach to think what he would have done to her
if he got her. That man was an abomination, a cruel lunatic walking this
earth. My brothers would loath me if they knew that man was my father.
Especially Dimitry, now that we learned what Boris had done to Anastasia
and her mother.
And Anastasia… how could she ever get over the fact that my father
had killed her mother? I kidnapped her. It made it look like I was working
with my father when in fact I was trying to keep Scarlett safe.
“Do you need me there?” Michail asked. I knew ‘babysitting’ as he
called it was hard for him. He was accustomed to coming and going as he
pleased. But there was nobody else, aside from my brothers, I trusted more
with Scarlett’s safety.
“No, not this time,” I commented. “I know this is not ideal for you.
Hopefully, having Sonia there will help. I already told Sonia not to mention
any names. Please make sure you remind her too. She’ll be there in about
four days.”
He grunted something into the phone and I knew he wasn’t happy with
the decision.
“Boris escaped,” I revealed to Michail. He was trustworthy and needed
to be aware of potential dangers with Boris out in the world. “Keep the
security tight. Don’t let any outsiders in, regardless of who they are. Keep it
to men we absolutely trust.”
“Fuck, how did the old man get out?” he muttered.
“He had help from the outside,” I explained. “We are trying to narrow it
down. But I am sure Russia will be his first stop.”
“This is not good. He’s a loose cannon,” he stated the obvious. “A full-
blown war will break out if he tries to take back his old position.”
Anastasia, my brothers, and I would be his first targets, I was certain.
You’d think being his biological son would potentially give us some
leverage… but I was certain it wouldn’t. It would probably make me the
first target on the list among my brothers. It was best for everyone,
including Boris, if he didn’t know we were related. He was a loose cannon,
as Michail put it. If he had no qualms about killing the woman he loved, he
certainly wouldn’t have qualms about killing anyone else.
“If anything happens, Michail,” I started giving him instructions. “Make
sure you grab Scarlett and take her to our safehouse. Then keep moving.
Have vehicles on standby in case you need to leave in a hurry so you are
prepared at all times. If something happens to me, get her back to the States,
under her father’s protection.”
Several heartbeats of silence followed, the heavy meaning lingering in
the air.
“Sergei, why aren’t you here?” His tone was almost accusatory. I have
been waiting for this question from him. Michail and I went through a lot of
things together. He has been by my side all along. “This is your woman. I’ll
keep her safe for you, but she’ll never forgive you if you keep her caged up
like this. She keeps asking me where you are.”
I knew he was right, but I couldn’t be in two places at once. No matter
how badly I craved to be with Scarlett now, and ensure I was the one
protecting her, I owed a debt to Anastasia. I had to make it up to her and get
her to safety. I owed it to her and my brothers.
“Keep her safe for me,” I told him. “Once we get the woman that Boris
is after to safety and the situation is stable, I’ll come. We’ll be moving
locations tomorrow.”
Michail didn’t answer and I knew he disagreed. Damn it, I didn’t like it
either but I couldn’t possibly explain the debt I owed without divulging all
the details.
Just as I was about to try to explain, a loud explosion shook the ground
under my feet.
“What the fuck was that, Sergei?” Michail spat through the headset.
“We’re under attack,” I cursed under my breath. “Call you later.”
The rage surged inside me like a volcano. The years of trying to control
my fury unleashed, as gunshots sounded through the air. I pulled the gun
from the holster and held it in my palm as I took in the scene around me.
There was chaos already.
I could hear moans of pain and low curses. I blocked it all out as I
zeroed in on the enemy. Because Boris and his men were exactly that.
Gunmen hung out of a Mercedes SUV shooting with automatics, as they
drove over my lawn.
Fucking barbarians.
I took aim and held my breath steady, just like Dimitry and Nikolai had
taught me when we were kids. My hand never wavered. On an exhale, I
pressed the trigger and it hit the driver right through the windshield. Blood
splattered against the windshield and the vehicle crashed twenty feet away
from me, ruining one of my statues Anastasia was admiring yesterday.
 The men that weren’t strapped in went flying in the air, some of them
landing face first, others sideways. They scrambled around trying to get out
of the car but my men were already there killing them. There were more all
around the property. I started to run towards them, shooting them all dead.
Gunfire sounds were all around us, my men against the attackers.
Another explosion blasted, too close for comfort and I lost my balance,
landing on my knees.
“Fuck,” I muttered, ringing in my ears.
I surveyed the grounds and noted another vehicle approaching.
“You good?” Misha was next to me, pulling me off my knees.
“Thanks, all good.” Both of us raised our guns in unison and started
shooting at the vehicle approaching straight for us. Neither one of us
moved, aiming at the driver.
“Shoot the tires out,” I told him, never waving my eyes from the target.
“I’ll get the driver.”
Misha hit the front passenger tire. Good man, I thought to myself as I
took another calming breath and pulled the trigger, hitting the driver. This
time I wasn’t as lucky, it hit him in the chest. The impact didn’t kill him but
it made him swerve the vehicle to the left, missing us by mere feet.
I was at the vehicle within a blink of an eye. I pulled the door open,
practically ripping it off the hinges. Point blank, I shot every man inside.
“Sergei, on your left,” Misha’s voice had me turning but it was too late.
The sound of a flying bullet was all I heard and then searing pain in my
shoulder. Ignoring it, I raised my gun and Misha must have done the same
thing because we both shot the bastard at the same time. He never stood a
chance.
“Shit, you’re hit,” Misha spat a few curses.
“I’m good,” I assured him. I had worse wounds over the years. “Let’s
get moving. Get to the cars with the others. I’ll go get Anastasia.”
“Dimitry and Nikolai went after her,” Misha conveyed. “There was
more shit going on the other side of the house too.”
“Fucking Boris,” I muttered. “Go to the cars, be ready. I’ll go check on
my brothers.”
With a quick nod, I headed to the front of the house and ran into my
brothers along with Anastasia. She looked pale, fear written all over her
face but she kept calm. Thank God, hysteria in times like this was the worst
thing.
 The moment she spotted me, her fear was replaced with worry for me.
She reached out to me, wanting to examine the bullet wound but we didn’t
have time for that right now.
I took her hand. “I’m ok, princess. Let’s get out of here.”
“Medical kit?” she asked in a low tone. She was no longer a scared
woman but a doctor. The one that graduated top of her class. The one that
was used to saving lives instead of taking them. And she made me proud.
No wonder my brother was falling for her.
“I got it,” Nikolai replied in a hushed tone. We kept moving forward,
my brothers and I surrounding Anastasia like a body shield.
Another explosion blasted, the ground shook and I held my feet firmly
to the ground although my ears rang from the sound of it. It wasn’t the time
to lose balance. My brothers did the same but Anastasia fell to her knees.
She was glancing around frantically.
Dimitry lifted her into his arms, his one hand still held the gun as he ran,
Nikolai and I alongside, towards the woods. Our vehicles were waiting for
us there, packed and ready to depart. The plan was to leave tomorrow but
this definitely sped up our plans. Thankfully we were at least ready. Fuck, I
was starting to feel weak and Nikolai came up to help me. He put me in the
back seat of the large black Ford Expedition. Anastasia was already there
reaching for me.
“I’ve got him,” she told Nikolai. He nodded although he threw me a
worried glance. I slightly nudged him to get going. He couldn’t babysit me
forever.
Anastasia sat me upright and started taking my shirt off.
“How bad is it, princess doctor?” I asked. I could barely manage a weak
smile.
“Nikolai, give me the medical kit.” She met my eyes and smiled sure of
herself. “Nothing I can’t fix. But I’ll need you to talk to me.” My eyes
closed, fatigue catching up to me. Or maybe it was blood loss. “I want you
to talk to me, Sergei. Okay?”
“Okay,” I muttered tiredly. “Such a bossy princess.”
“Why do you keep calling me princess?” she asked as she surveyed the
medical kit.
Maybe death was what I deserved, but fuck it… I wanted to live. I
wanted a life with Scarlett, to see her grow old and love her for the rest of
my life.
 “You remind me of a princess,” I murmured softly. “At first, I thought
you were a pampered, spoiled brat. But now I see you are beautiful and
strong. While you give people the impression your life is easy, it is anything
but. You have it all, but you want none of it.” She raised her stunning eyes
and met my gaze. “Am I right, princess?”
“There are people that have it much worse.” Her reply was simple but it
struck deep. She had been kidnapped as a child, saw her mother tortured,
and then endured kidnapping again. The latter, I could have prevented, yet
she refused to feel weak or sorry for herself. I should get a clue from her;
maybe I still have shit ton to learn. “So do you have a girlfriend?”
I chuckled. “Why? You want to be my girlfriend?”
She turned her head at Dimitry and Nikolai. “Can we turn on the lights
back here?” Nikolai’s eyes were on me. He always acted as a protector, a
big brother. Dimitry eliminated threats, but Nikolai was always a big teddy
bear scary brother.
“I got this,” Anastasia murmured to Nikolai with a smile, then she
turned back to me. My eyelids felt heavy, and I was so tired. I just needed to
rest for a little bit.
“Sergei, seriously?” Anastasia’s voice sounded a bit undignified. “You
are going to ask me if I want to be your girlfriend and then you are going to
fall asleep on me?” I forced my eyes open. “Way to make a girl feel
special,” she scolded gently.
I chuckled. She was definitely the most entertaining doctor that ever
treated me. “You are Dimitry’s girl,” I muttered. Just like Scarlett is my girl.
She kept her focus on cleaning my wound and then applied the pressure
of the patch against my bullet hole.
“I must have missed that memo,” she teased but her eyes were seriously
studying me. I could see she took her responsibility seriously. “When did it
come out?” she asked.
For a second, I wasn’t sure what she was talking about but then
remembered. Dimitry’s girl memo.
“Not sure.”
“So do you all live in Moscow or somewhere else in Russia?” she
asked.
“Dimitry and Nikolai now live permanently in the States,” I replied
weakly. “I go back and forth.”
“So how come you stayed in Russia?”
 “For the same reason you tried to learn Italian,” I told her. We heard her
conversation with Sonia earlier in the day when she admitted to learning
Italian because she had a crush on a boy. “A woman in my case though.”
“Excuse me?” She didn’t stop working on me through our conversation.
“We came into the kitchen and listened to your conversation with
Sonia,” I mumbled. “But just a little bit of it.”
“I see.”
Fuck, I hoped we got out of this alive. I wanted to see Scarlett again,
hold her, kiss her till she couldn’t think of anyone or anything else. We
would have children, spend days lazy in our backyard or somewhere on the
beach, we’d grow old together. Why was that too much to ask for out of
life?
“It’s her loss, you know,” Anastasia whispered softly. For a second, I
thought she was talking about Scarlett but then realized she was referring to
the woman I stayed behind for. Fucking Irina. “My mom used to say,” she
continued to clean me up while gently feeling around my shoulder with her
cool fingers, “that things in life end up exactly as they should. We might not
see it that very moment but eventually we’ll realize it.”
“Smart woman,” I murmured. I could hear sadness in her voice. It
gutted me to think my father killed her mother. I shouldn’t accept her
kindness nor her healing skills.
“The smartest,” she confirmed. “There it is!”
“Who? Your mom?” I looked at her confused, my mind hazy. It was
hard to focus on her words.
“No, silly. The bullet.” She placed her lips onto my forehead and I had
to admit it felt good. She certainly had a tender touch and great bedside
manners. Unlike any other doctor that treated me before for bullet wounds.
“I like the way you smell,“ I told her. “Like fresh lilies in the spring.
You can kiss me anytime.”
In a bizarre way, her caring for me almost felt like a mother’s touch I
never experienced. Or maybe I just couldn’t remember it. Yeah, I must be
delirious with fever if I was comparing Anastasia Manciatti to my mother.
She chuckled. “I didn’t have a spare hand. I wanted to see if you are
running a fever.”
“You had to bust my bubble.”
“Nikolai, give him two acetaminophens with some water please.”
 I took both from my brother. And there he was again, watching me like
a worried big brother. He would rather take the bullet than see either
Dimitry or I go through it. Even after all these years, I tried to figure out if
it made him weak or strong… definitely overprotective.
“Could we stop for five minutes so I could get the bullet out?”
Anastasia asked my brothers.
“No,” I answered before either one of them had a chance.
“But-” I didn’t let her finish.
“No. They could catch up to us in five minutes.”
She glanced at the men in the front seat but my brothers felt the same as
me. Three of us might have completely different personalities but in
situations like this, our thoughts were in sync.
Anastasia didn’t like it at all. “I don’t want to make his shoulder worse.
If you so much as go over the bump, I could gouge his muscle and hurt him
more. And I can’t even put him under.”
I deserve all the pain she gives me.
“Anastasia,” Dimitry sought out her eyes in the rearview mirror. “I read
your file. You are brilliant. You have done this before.”
“Yes, on a surgical table. Not in a moving car. And combat wounds are
not what I specialized in.”
“Princess,” I interrupted. I didn’t want her to convince my brother to
stop and put them all in jeopardy. “If anyone can do it, it is you.”
She didn’t like this, it was written all over her face. “Sergei, if you die
on me, I swear, I will kill you all over again.”
She made me laugh but damn, it hurt.
“Okay,” she started, getting into her doctor mode. “I will need you to
talk to me the entire time. I’ll numb the area as much as I can with the
medicine we have but you’ll still feel it.”
“Okay.” She eyed me as if she was trying to ensure I was alright.
“I should hook you up with Scarlett,” she announced and my heart
stilled for a second. She thought Scarlett and I would be good together?
“Who’s Scarlett?” I asked, my voice sounding strange to my own ears.
To hear Anastasia mention her name again was a painful reminder of what I
had done. “Is she the one that got you in trouble with old British men?” I
would marvel at my casual tone if I wasn’t in so much pain.
“How long were you guys eavesdropping?” she asked, a small smile
playing around her lips. “No, that was Olivia. You wouldn’t be good for
Olivia.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. You are not really her type.” She gently pushed on the
area of my bullet wound and then went to work.
“Am I your type?” I asked her for no reason at all.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Why don’t you tell me something you enjoy doing?” she asked instead,
trying to ignore me. I could see her focus on the task at hand.
“I enjoy beautiful women and would like to know why I’m not your
type.”
“You talk too much,” she almost sounded exasperated.
“I could talk less.”
She straightened up and met my gaze, looking like a strict doctor or a
mother scolding her child. “Okay, Sergei. No more questions. You will
recite the alphabet. Please.”
I couldn’t help but give her an impish smile. Anastasia was definitely a
good woman. My brother would be stupid to let her go. But my instincts
were telling me Anastasia already chose him, whether she knew it or not.
Reciting the alphabet as the beautiful doctor ordered, I felt the push of
the forceps into my muscle. The sensation was greatly numbed and I was
grateful for it. She must have gotten it because she quickly placed the patch
over it, holding it in place to stop the bleeding.
“Better?” I asked with a smile, although I felt my strength weakening by
the minute.
“What blood type are you, Sergei?”
“O negative.” She nodded and I could just see her storing the
information in that brilliant brain of hers.
“Nikolai, feel his forehead,” she ordered my brother.
“You don’t want to kiss me?” I teased her as Nikolai’s rough hand
touched my forehead. Yeah, I definitely preferred Anastasia’s cool hand.
“I can’t quite tell,” my brother told her.
She leaned over and placed her lips on my forehead, just like last time.
“Give him two Ibuprofens,” she told Nikolai and then asked Dimitry,
“How much longer to our destination?”
“Twenty minutes.”
 I could see the worry on her face, worry for me. I could almost imagine
her brain counting down.
“What’s your happiest memory from childhood?” I asked her to get her
mind off me.
She met my eyes, so much sadness in those emeralds that captivated my
oldest brother. She cleared her throat, as if she needed to ease the choke in
her throat.
“I danced from… well, from the moment I could walk. At least my
mom used to say that.” She smiled tenderly at the mention of her mother. It
was nice to see it, because the thoughts of my parents only sent me into a
rage. “I was in ballet from the age of four. When I was nine, my parents and
grandfather took me to St. Petersburg to see The Nutcracker. I can still
smell the stage and hear the chatter of the dancers. I made my mom take me
to the bathroom multiple times during the show, just so I could sneak a
glimpse of the beautiful ballerinas. Of course, my mom figured out why I
kept insisting on going to the bathroom. When it was really time to go to
the bathroom, she refused thinking it was another stunt from me. By the
time I finally convinced her I had to go for real, I almost peed myself.”
“Why is that your favorite memory?” I asked with a weak chuckle. “It is
almost an embarrassing memory.”
“It was the last time we were all together,” she told me softly. “We
stayed there for a week and could see the Winter Palace from our hotel. I
pretended to be the princess, driving my grandfather crazy. My dad didn’t
work the entire week, my mom’s phone was turned off for the duration of
the trip, and my grandfather didn’t turn on the news once.” She stared into
the pitch-black outside of the car, her mind clearly lost in the memory. “A
few weeks later my mother died.”
“Shit, I’m sorry.” Now, I wished I didn’t ask her that question. I placed
my palm over her free hand offering my comfort. If she only knew how
sorry I was. I felt so responsible for the pain she experienced.
“Don’t be. And don’t move your arm; otherwise I’ll have to tie you
down.”
“I might like that,” I retorted, teasingly and she shook her head in
disbelief but a little smile played around her lips.
“Why did you stop?” Dimitry asked her. She raised her eyebrow not
understanding what he meant. “Why did you stop dancing?”
 She took a deep breath, and I could almost relate to her pain and regret
that etched on her face.
“I couldn’t dance without thinking about her,” her words were choked.
“I… I just couldn’t do it without getting upset so I stopped.”
If I had any strength left, I’d pull her into a hug. She should have never
gone through an ordeal like that. She and her mother didn’t deserve to
experience something as horrific as that. The fact that my father was the
cause of it was even more disturbing.
There was no doubt in my mind that Dimitry and Anastasia would end
up together. It was one of those things that you just instinctively knew. Then
she would be my sister. Unless Dimitry killed me beforehand.

OceanofPDF.com
 SERGEI

W hen I woke up the next morning, I felt like I'd been run over
by a train. My shoulder throbbed but I kept the pain to
myself. Anja came to check on me, examining her handy
work. She did a great job fixing me up and the other men. I forced myself to
join the others for breakfast, Anja behind me ensuring I was safe on my
feet. She was a good woman and an even better doctor.
After her cooking lesson with Dimitry and everyone’s full belly, she
went outside to call her father. Listening to Anja’s conversation with her
father made my anguish and self-disgust grow with each second. She
worried about Scarlett. Her father must have told her she was kidnapped.
Fuck, I wanted to tell her that Scarlett was safe. I wanted to tell her I had to
kidnap her best friend to keep her safe because the same men that came
after Anastasia knew about my Scarlett. And most of all, I wanted to come
clean and confess to Anja that it was me that kidnapped her.
I detested the idea of becoming anything like my father. I’d rather
Dimitry and Nikolai shoot me dead than allow me to become the mad and
cruel maniac Boris was. It would be merciful to give me death rather than
allow me to turn into the lunatic my father was.
Dimitry was in the woods with Anja and the moment we heard a gun,
Nikolai and I rushed into the woods. Although I wasn’t in much of a shape
to defend Anja or my brothers, I would damn well try. And die trying, if
need be.
By the time we reached Dimitry and Anja, I was barely standing. Her
eyes came to me and they flashed in annoyance.
 “Sergei, I told you not to overdo it,” she scolded me.
“We heard a gunshot,” I told her, barely keeping my voice even. My
breathing was heavier from the physical exuberation. I lowered my eyes to
the gun she gripped, wondering why she had a weapon.
“Anastasia learned to fire a gun at the target,” Dimitry explained.
All the men’s eyes, including mine, shifted to the target, and I couldn’t
help but be impressed. She fucking hit the target, only one shot, at her first
attempt. Not even Dimitry succeeded in doing that. Although he was in his
early teens when he first shot a gun.
“You hit the bullseye on the first try?” Nikolai sounded impressed, just
the way I felt. I mean, how couldn’t I?
“I used to do archery,” she muttered, as if that explained it all. My heart
actually constricted in pain for her. This world, the violence, was clearly not
what she wished for or liked in life. Obviously, not too many people loved
the violence. It must have been extra hard for her. She fought to save lives,
not end them.
“Woman, you could give me a hard on,” I tried to tease her, hoping to
make her feel better. If she wanted to smack me, that was fine too. I didn’t
like to see her so upset. “If I wasn’t in this much pain, I would be so turned
on.”
I wished Scarlett was here. It was time I came clean with some of this
shit I had done. I might lose my brothers in the process but I couldn’t live
like this. And I hated seeing Anja upset and worried over her friends. If I
could ease her mind about one of her friends, it was worth it. She was too
good of a person; I couldn’t let her worry herself. She had enough on her
plate.
“I want to go home,” she announced and my mouth just about dropped.
If she went home and left Dimitry’s protection, she was as sure as dead.
“Let me rephrase,” she continued, her voice confident and sure although I
got a distinct sense it was a farce. She was hiding her fear and worry. It was
easy for me to see, since it was something I often did. “I am going home.
I’m not staying here.”
“And what do you plan on doing then?” Dimitry was furious at her. He
cared about her and would never allow her to endanger herself.
“I will work that out on my flight home.” Anastasia raised her chin in
defiance. Why in the fuck did she remind me of myself at this moment?
Usually, it was only me doing dumb shit. I guess I finally found someone to
keep me company when on the shit list. Although I would love company on
that list, I couldn’t allow Anja to get hurt.
“You hit a target and you think you can fight now?” I challenged her.
“I don’t think that. But I won’t be hiding here while my friends-” Her
words came out strained. She kept swallowing hard, trying to keep herself
together. “You three couldn’t possibly get it. I can’t hide here, safe while
one of my friends has been kidnapped because of me and the other is forced
to marry a narcissistic psychopath who will torture her for the rest of her
life.”
Fuck. Now would be the time to tell her I had Scarlett. And who was the
narcissistic psychopath that would torture her other friend? We couldn’t
allow that.
“Calm down, Anastasia,” Dimitry demanded, his tone calm. “I know
how you feel. My brothers and I would do the same for each other. But if
you get yourself killed, you won’t be able to help them.”
Those two went back and forth, battling their wills. It’s like watching
foreplay, I thought wryly to myself. My strength was seeping slowly but
surely. I knew today would be hard, after losing so much blood. It wasn’t
the first time I got shot; hopefully it would be the last time though.
Not likely.
My mind worked at possible scenarios and how to announce that
Scarlett was safe. And to admit that it was me that handed Anja over to
Boris’ men. Hopefully without getting buried on the spot.
Anastasia’s elevated voice brought my attention back to my brother and
Anja.
She was pointing her finger at his chest. “I’m a grown woman. You
have no jurisdiction over me, regardless of how well you kiss.” My lip
quirked. So those two were already on to the kissing stage. She continued,
probably unaware she announced in so many words that she liked Dimitry. I
couldn’t be happier for my brother. “You can tell my father he has no say in
what I will or won’t do either.”
And that was when I knew without a shred of doubt that if Anastasia
decided she wanted Dimitry, she wouldn’t let anyone stop her. And to my
absolute delight, I would bet my money that she wanted him.
“Anastasia, how about if we help?” I offered. I liked her. I wanted her
for my brother. He deserved the best after everything he had gone through
to keep me and Nikolai safe. I couldn’t be more proud to call him my
brother, even if he buried me alive once everything came out into the open.
Because I was sure it would all be revealed.
Anja’s head snapped to me, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. “How?”
Dimitry chimed in. “First we would have your word that you are staying
with me until it is safe for you to leave.”
He was right to demand that. If Anja got it into her head she’d take off
to save her friends, she would. Not sure how I knew that but I knew. I was
rather similar in that way. This woman was stubborn and probably one of
the reasons why she’d be good for my brother. Once she decided to stay
with Dimitry, nobody would pull her away from him. Even Dimitry himself
wouldn’t be able to deter her.
“I can’t give you my word until I know the plan,” Anja replied to
Dimitry. But I could see her resolve was folding. She trusted him.
“You have my promise, we will come up with a plan on how to help
your girlfriends,” he vowed to her. “We’ll reach out to our contacts and feel
out the situation as soon as we get back to the cabin. But I want your word
you are staying with me and won’t try something stupid.”
I couldn’t help but smirk. It almost sounded like when he was scolding
me. Those were words I often heard from Dimitry. I want your word you
won’t try something stupid. Of course, I often did something stupid.
Dimitry added in a serious tone, “I never break my promise.” And
damn, if he didn’t speak the truth. Even if it meant pain and suffering for
himself, he never broke a promise.
Nikolai and I chimed in, “You have our promise too.”
The moment Anja made her decision, I could see resolution on her face.
It was a relief written all over it.
“Okay, you have my word; I will stay with you until it’s safe to leave,”
she announced.
And a good thing too. “Thank fuck,” I muttered under my breath,
swaying slightly on my feet. My strength was pretty much nonexistent at
this point. “I don’t think I can stand much longer.”
“Your own damn fault for insisting on coming along,” Nikolai scolded
me goodheartedly as he took my arm over his shoulder and Dimitry did the
same.
I was almost as useful as a newborn as Dimitry and Nikolai helped me back
to my room. Once I was settled, Anastasia gave us the summarization on
her friend Olivia and the predicament she was in. The whole situation made
my stomach queasy. It could be because I felt weak after yesterday or
because Malcome Schmidt was too close to my Scarlett. It couldn’t be that
Scarlett never ran into that sick man with her friendship to Olivia and
Anastasia. And I have come to realize those three were really close. Which
made my betrayal even worse.
It was time I came clean with some of this shit I have done.
“And Scarlett?” I asked Anja after she was done going over Olivia’s
predicament.
She pushed her hand through her hair. “I don’t know,” she muttered
exasperated. “My dad said she was taken from the hotel. It just doesn’t
make sense because they had already taken me by then. I was taken in front
of the nightclub, the Russian Orchid.”
“I own that club,” I told her. She wasn’t dumb. She would eventually
connect the dots. I couldn’t be sure what Scarlett had told them but either
way, Anja would connect the dots.
“What?” Her eyebrows drew in, and I could almost see those wheels
turning in her head.
“I own that club,” I repeated.
The moment she realized what that meant, her face turned angry. She
stood up and marched towards me.
“It was you!” Oh, she was furious.
“What are you talking about?” Dimitry and Nikolai asked her at the
same time but my eyes were zeroed on Anja. How much did she remember?
“You are the guy who told her we should go to the Russian Orchid.” Her
tone was accusatory, and she had every right to be upset. “You are the only
reason we went there.”
“Explain.” Dimitry was pissed now too. I have been lying to my
brothers, the only family I have ever known and always had my back. My
throat constricted, all the years and shit we went through flashing through
my eyes. I loved my brothers, and although I readied myself to lose them, it
still fucking hurt.
“Don’t cry, Sergei,” Dimitry and Nikolai huddled in the same bed as
me. The bed screeched under the weight of me, never mind the three of us.
My body shivered from the cold and everything hurt. I still recalled that
hunger, how bad my stomach hurt. “I’ll go first thing in the morning and
bring something special for you. I’ll take care of you.”
Fuck, how old was I? Six, seven? Nikolai and Dimitry used their body
heat to keep me warm, ensured I didn’t perish and this was how I repaid
them.
“Scarlett ran into a guy the day we arrived in St. Petersburg,” Anastasia
explained to Dimitry. “Scarlett wasn’t interested much in sightseeing. By
the second day in the city, all she could talk about was the guy she ran into
and went out with. The whole week we spent in St. Petersburg she kept
sneaking out while Olivia and I were sightseeing. Then when we came to
Moscow, he was there too. She was completely-” she stopped and took a
deep breath. There was nothing she would do to me that was worse than
what I did. “Olivia nor I were interested in the nightclub but she was all
giddy about you.” Her eyes met mine and it was another punch in the gut.
Would Scarlett ever forgive me? I wasn’t so sure anymore. “She wanted us
to meet you so we thought what the heck. She hadn’t been interested in
anyone since forever.” Anja watched me, million questions in her gaze.
“Why would you tell her to go to that club and then not show up? That was
the only reason she wanted to stay behind. She kept hoping to see you
again.”
My jaw complained under the insult of my clenched teeth. This was it.
It was the moment that would cost me the only family I had, that I had
known. The family I didn’t deserve.
“Stop it, princess,” I told her softly and the recognition flashed across
her face. She remembered. She finally remembered the voice and
endearment I called her the night I kidnapped her. The night I fucked it up
so bad, there was no going back.
“You fucking bastard.” She lunged at me and slapped me hard across
my face. I could have stopped her but remained still. I deserved it, and
worse. She should torture me, gut me alive. Anything she dished my way, I
deserved it. My fucking ass belonged in pits of hell. “How could you?” she
screamed.
Before she could hit me again, Dimitry wrapped his hands around her
from behind. But that was only because he didn’t know. He would know it
very soon though. I readied myself for hate and disgust from the only two
family members I had. They might have not been my blood brothers but
they were so much more.
 Dimitry kept demanding she calm down but Anja was livid. Rightfully
so. She bit into his arm, her furious gaze zeroed on me. She screamed at
him, thought him involved in her kidnapping but I was the only culprit here.
“She finally remembered,” I spoke, keeping my emotions in check.
Fuck, my whole insides were ripping apart. I would lose Scarlett over this
and my brothers. “She finally remembered who kidnapped her.”
“Sergei, you better explain yourself.” Dimitry’s voice was cold and
angry. But not his usual anger and disappointment at my wrong choices.
This was the tone he reserved for his enemies.
Anastasia sobbed, her pained expression tearing into me. Every inch of
my insides bled and cried along with her. But it had been a fucking long
time since I cried. So all I could do was sit and watch my family slip
through my fingers. I couldn’t make it worse for them. I did this all on my
own.
“Do you have any idea how terrifying it was, night in and out sitting
half-naked in that dark, cold room alone.” Anja’s words shook me to my
core. Her lips trembled and her voice quivered. “I was sure it would end
just like that night I watched my mother-.”
She couldn’t finish the sentence but I knew what she meant. Her mother
was tortured and raped in front of her. She was a little girl pulled into this
fucked up world. And now I made it all happen to her again. I made her
relive it all. Her shoulders shook as she buried her face into Dimitry’s chest.
If I was a better man, a stronger man, I’d put a bullet through my own
skull right now. I hurt an innocent woman. Handed her to a group of men
that I knew were criminals.
“Sergei, you better start explaining,” Dimitry demanded. “Or I’ll kill
you myself.”
My brother never made empty threats. He had never threatened to hurt
me, much less kill me. But I knew he meant it now.
My eyes shifted to Anastasia. “It was either you or Scarlett,” I told her.
It was a bad decision on my part. It wasn’t an excuse, although it sure as
fuck sounded like it. “I didn’t know you, and Scarlett barely mentioned you
so I assumed you weren't that close after all.”
“What do you mean?” Anja’s face was wet from tears, and it didn’t sit
well with me. She would hate me forever. Even if by some miracle, Nikolai
and Dimitry didn’t kill me or cut any ties with me, every time Anja looked
at me… she would see the man that caused her pain. I was sure Dimitry’s
future was tied to this woman and I lost my chance at having a sister.
How could I explain to my brothers and Anastasia what happened?
Scarlett mattered so much to me. “We ran into each other in St. Petersburg
in the hotel lobby,” I started, my eyes on Anja. “You probably didn’t notice
because you were studying a travel guide or something but your redhead
friend saw me. Scarlett and I hit it off, and she’s important to me. Boris’
men must have been following the three of you because one night they
followed Scarlett to me.” My eyes shifted to my brothers. “They offered me
the deal that they'd leave Scarlett alone if I could deliver them Anastasia. I
couldn’t risk losing Scarlett so it seemed like a no brainer.”
“Why didn’t you call us?” Nikolai asked, in an almost exasperated tone.
Always the big, protective brother. Out of the three of us, Nikolai was
probably the most sane.
“Fuck if I know,” I answered Nikolai. I couldn’t well tell them I wanted
to protect them, leave them out of the fucking mess. But this shit was so
much bigger than I envisioned. I thought they just wanted to make a quick
buck and they were cooking up so much more than random kidnapping.
“For once, I wanted to fix it all on my own and leave all the shit in the
past.”
It was the truth too. I was eager to get out of this kind of life just as my
brothers were.
Anja raised her eyes to Dimitry. “Did you know Sergei was involved?”
“Fuck no.”
“Nobody knew but me.” I didn’t want her to doubt Dimitry. He
deserved a good woman and family in his future. More than any of us. He
had sacrificed a lot for us and protected us at every turn.
“Why would I believe anything you say?” She was right to question me.
I have been lying to her from the moment we met. I could tell by the
expression on her face she was pondering something. “That’s the part I
don’t understand. What do Boris’ men want with me? He’s put away for
life, awaiting execution.”
“Fuck,” Dimitry muttered. We haven’t told her what we found out
yesterday from the man we tortured.
“I really don’t know, Anastasia.” I didn’t want her to lash out on my
brother too. He was only trying to protect her. “They mentioned your family
would pay the price. I planted three men into that group to ensure nothing
happened to you.”
The moment the words I left, I knew I failed at that too. “Seriously?”
She scoffed at my statement. “Define nothing.”
“Have you made any other bad decisions like this that we should know
about?” Dimitry’s anger and disappointment drenched his voice. “Did you
work this up with Vlad? Because I swear it sounds like shit he would do.
Although you tend to fuck up pretty bad when it comes to women too.”
I balled my hands into fists. Worst part was that he was absolutely right.
I majorly fucked this up all on my own.
I gritted the answer through my clenched teeth. “No, he showed up
around the same time but I didn’t tell him anything. This is all on me.”
Silence stretched and each second was heavy in my heart. I felt like that
little boy again, scared to be left alone. During our time in the orphanage,
Nikolai and Dimitry alternated staying with me because I was so fucked up
and scared all the time. Those two would have survived staying in that
motherfucking torture house, but they knew I wouldn’t survive. It made
their sacrifice weigh on me even harder.
“The whole time they held me captive, it was as if they were waiting,”
Anastasia kept pondering. “I just couldn’t understand what they were
waiting for.”
And there it was. All of our secrets were pouring out.
“They were waiting for Boris,” Dimitry told her. Anastasia looked at
him, confusion in her green gaze that seemed to capture my brother as
much as my Scarlett captured me.
“But he’s in prison.”
Dimitry sighed. “Your father told me yesterday that Boris escaped. We
believe he escaped the U.S. and is probably in Russia now.”
Tension rolled over me as I watched Anja observe us all. For the oddest
reason, I hoped she wouldn’t turn her back on Dimitry. Not only because he
was her best chance at survival, but also because she was good for him.
And he would be good to her.
“This is how we are going to do this,” her voice was low as she spoke.
“Anything that concerns me, I want to know. I don’t need anyone making
decisions for me. I can’t make informed decisions if I don’t know all the
facts.” Her eyes turned to me and there was a hard resolution in them. Fuck,
if she wanted to kill me right now, I would let her. “If something happens to
Scarlett, I will kill you.” Her threat surprised me. It proved to me she was
close with both of her friends. “I never killed a person but I’ll make an
exception this time.” She walked over to me, locking eyes with mine. “And
as soon as you are able to move without passing out, you will go save her,”
she demanded. Once she knew, she might demand Scarlett be saved from
me. “If there is a scratch on her, it will be added to the debt you owe me.
Because Sergei… I plan on giving back to you everything I received over
the last two weeks under Boris’ men.”
She was too soft. I deserved ten times worse than what she got over the
last two weeks under those men. Putting a gun to my head might be too
good for me. It truly showed how much better she was than us.
I grinned, a little glimmer of hope booming in my chest. It was stupid
and I didn’t deserve it but there it was. “That’s fair, and I’ll take all of it
without a complaint, Anastasia.” I leaned over, since she was leaning on the
armchair, trying to appear mad. I pressed a brotherly kiss on her cheek and
she blinked in confusion. “Scarlett is safe,” I told her.
“How do you know?” All three of them blurted out.
“Because I had my men kidnap her.” It sounded so much worse when
spoken out loud.
Anastasia and I watched each other. I waited for her to change her mind
and kill me after all. Or slap me. Anything. Instead she chuckled,
amusement in her eyes.
“Oh, you are so fucked, Sergei. Because once Scarlett finds out, hell
will freeze over before she forgives you.”
Shit, that’s what scares me. But I wouldn’t admit that to her. I could
barely admit it to myself. I have been lying to her since the moment we
bumped into each other.
“She’ll see I did it for her own good, to keep her safe.”
Fuck, I hope she would see my reasoning. Because I wasn’t sure if I saw
it anymore.

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 SCARLETT

I t has been three days since Michail and I called a truce. True to
his word, he let me roam the property and I kept my word. I
stopped trying to escape. When I roamed outside, Michail
would join me.
Kidnapping and the fact he worked for my future husband aside, he was
rather entertaining. He talked about his childhood and his parents. He got in
trouble a lot. He was quite mischievous.
“You didn’t do that?” I laughed at his words.
“I did,” he admitted. “And I got a good beating for it.”
I chuckled. “Serves you right. Putting a snake in your sister’s bed.”
“It was dead,” he tried to justify but his eyes twinkled.
“Still! It would give me a heart attack,” I admitted. “And I would refuse
to sleep in that bed forever.”
“All women must be the same because my little sister did exactly that,”
he admitted. “So I ended up with a small bed too.”
The way he spoke about his sister, he cared about her greatly. I noticed
each time he spoke about her, it was always in the past. I wondered what his
story was but my gut was telling me he wouldn’t reveal it to me. I didn’t
want to ruin this fragile friendship, if you could even call it that, with my
nosy questions.
Instead, I chuckled. “All my brothers are older, but none of them tried
anything like that. But they did manage to scare a lot of boys in high school.
It was hard to get a prom date with them hovering around.”
“That’s what brothers are for,” he jested.
 Just as I was about to ask about his other siblings, his phone rang. He
answered and spoke in Russian.
“It’s for you,” he handed me the phone.
Hesitantly, I took the phone from him and pressed it against my ear,
unsure what to expect. “Hello?” I spoke into the phone.
“Scarlett?”
“An- Anastasia?” I usually didn’t stutter but I swore it had to be
hallucinations. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Hearing her voice was
a huge relief. “How are you calling? Aren’t you kidnapped?”
“No, not anymore,” she replied. Her sudden and unexpected call made it
hard to grasp what and how. I felt like I just woke up and someone gave me
too much information while my brain still struggled to wake up and absorb
it all. Or maybe my pregnancy hormones have made my brain too slow?
“Are you okay?” she continued to ask me.
“Yes, but how did you know who to call? Where am I?” None of this
made sense. I threw a glance at Michail who was watching me, as if he
expected me to break our truce any second.
“It’s a long story and you’ll hear it soon.” I could hear annoyance in her
voice. “It seems you were kidnapped to be kept safe by one of the men that
Dad hired. Please don’t ask for logic here. So you are kind of kidnapped but
not really. More like tucked away in a safe place. Did they scare you?”
“Hell no, although they pissed me off more than anything,” I told her. It
was true; I was pissed off in the beginning and tried to escape. Now I was
just resigned to my faith but there was no need to dump more worries on
Anastasia’s shoulders. She didn’t need that right now. “Between you and I,
this is like the nicest kidnapping ever, although I will kill whoever did it.” I
tried to sound light and unconcerned. Besides, it wasn’t like I could give
Anastasia a rundown of my events and worries about being pregnant while
Michail stood next to me. “Are you okay?” I questioned her instead.
“My kidnapping wasn’t that nice,” she replied in a dry tone. I cringed at
trying to imagine what that meant. “I met your dream boy though. Actually,
he is an asshole if you want my honest opinion.”
“Oh my God! Is he the one that kidnapped you?” I asked in disbelief.
My brain was slow, very slow at connecting all the dots.
“No, he’s not the one that kidnapped me,” she replied after a few
seconds of silence. “He is part of the good guys helping... I guess.” None of
this made sense. They knew where I was, and one of the good guys
kidnapped me? My eyes shifted to Michail. He has been holding me for my
future husband. Anastasia continued explaining, unaware of my internal
turmoil. “He wanted to make sure Boris’ men didn’t get to you as well. It’s
a long story. I’m fixing him up, and he’ll come to get you soon. Two days
maximum.”
“Fixing him up?” I repeated, dumbfounded.
“Yeah, he was shot.” I took a sharp inhale. “Don’t worry, he’s not
dying.” Then she added teasingly, “Although he might wish he was.”
“Thank God,” I muttered but the wheels in my head were turning.
Sergei was shot. Anastasia patched him up. He will come here. Michail
kidnapped me for my future husband… or was it to keep me safe from Boris’
men, like Anastasia said.
“I have to go but just wanted to make sure you were okay,” Anastasia
commented softly. Was Sergei my future husband? What the hell was going
on?
“Are you sure you are okay?” I asked her worriedly.
“Yes, I’m sure. Be careful.”
“I’m so happy you are okay,” I told her. And I truly was, but there was
currently a knot in my stomach. “We have to get to Olivia soon,” I added.
Olivia and Anastasia were my only friends and I hated to see anything
happen to either one of them.
“We’ll get her.” She sounded sure and I wondered if she had a plan. Not
that I was in a position to help right now. “When Sergei comes to you, he
knows how to contact me.”
And there was my confirmation! This couldn’t be a coincidence. It had
to be one and the same Sergei.
“Okay. Love you.” I wasn’t even sure how the words came out of my
mouth.
“Love you too. Bye.” And the line went dead.
In a robotic move, I handed the phone back to Michail, meeting his
gaze.
“He’s coming,” I whispered, the betrayal bitter on my tongue. Sergei
had been lying to me since day one. “My future husband, the man you work
for. Sergei is coming.”
“Good. About time,” Michail replied.
I almost hoped he’d reply and ask who Sergei was. But he didn’t. A
mixture of emotions swam through me. From betrayal, to relief Sergei was
alive and unharmed, to anger, and right back to betrayal.
My family arranged a marriage with Sergei. He was a mobster too?
“Michail, I’m tired,” I told him. “Do you mind if I go back to my
room?”
I have to think in peace through all this. Sergei was the man that I have
been promised to for the past eight years!

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 SERGEI

A nja was packing. Another hour and we’d all go our own separate
ways. Dimitry was angry with me. He didn’t even want to be in
the same room with me. Not that I could blame him. I wasn’t even
sure how to fix it.
I just knew that I didn’t want to lose either one of my brothers. Nor
Scarlett. After her call with Anastasia, there was no more pretending. She’d
know I was her intended husband and I kept it from her the whole time. So
much for my wooing plan. In retrospect, it wasn’t that bright but fuck it. It
was done now.
“Sergei,” Nikolai’s voice had me raising my head. I wasn’t in the best
shape after being shot but recovery was going well. Anja had cleaned my
wounds and patched me up one more time. She also pumped me full of
medication so I’d feel less pain. She was truly a good woman.
“Brother,” I replied in Russian. Would I still be allowed to call him my
brother? Would they tell me they were finally done with me? I really had to
get a grip on myself. If I wanted a future, a good life with Scarlett, I had to
set all this shit right.
Nikolai’s hand came to my shoulder. “Are you okay?”
I scoffed. “I’m surprised you don’t want to kill me,” I muttered, sticking
to Russian. I didn’t need Anja witnessing my downfall further. “I’m just
waiting for Dimitry to pull the trigger.”
“No matter what, you are still our brother.” Nikolai’s words had me
raising my head to meet his eyes. I wasn’t sure that I believed that. He sat
opposite of me and cranked his neck. He was tired. Fuck, all three of us
were tired. Tired of this life, tired of bloodshed, constantly trying to stay
alive. “Dimitry is steaming but he’ll cool off. I want to know if you are
okay.”
My gaze went over his scar. The memory from that day was still fresh in
my mind. Boris slashed Nikolai’s face, in one of his moments of rage. Just
because Nikolai refused to hurt an innocent man. There was so much blood
when Dimitry and I came back from an assignment, but none of it
compared to what was left after Dimitry’s wrath. He went into a crazed
attack, and at the end, all the men that were in that room when Nikolai was
given that scar were dead. Except for Boris.
He was a paranoid, mad lunatic for as long as I could remember. It
wasn’t as easy to get to him but we put him away. He ruled with his
emotions, not a clear head. That was my biggest fear; to become like my
father.
Ironically, a month or so after Boris gave Nikolai that scar, I found out
the name of my father and mother. Fuck, I wanted to tell Nikolai and
Dimitry everything. How I desperately searched for my parents, only to find
out that a man that tortured my brothers was my father. It shamed me to
know that he was my father. He gave my brothers and I nothing but pain
and brutality. There was so much shit that happened in our lives and most of
it was because of Boris.
“Yes, brother,” I finally said. “I’ll be okay.” Two deep breaths and I
continued, “I don’t want to lose you and Dimitry.”
Nikolai watched me and just like when I was a kid, I felt he could see it
all... my fear, my shame, my dreams I had no business wishing for,
everything.
“You will never lose us, Sergei,” he replied in Russian. “We are
brothers, for better or worse. But you have to finally accept that you are
good enough.”
He stood up and gently squeezed my shoulder. Fuck, now Nikolai was
acting like my brother and my father.

We were less than thirty minutes from my St. Petersburg house, and I
couldn’t wait to finally lay eyes on Scarlett. It felt like I hadn’t seen her in
years. Anastasia’s words kept ringing in my ears. She said Scarlett would
never forgive me for the betrayal.
Did I go too far?
I knew my brothers were disappointed. Nothing had gone according to
plan, but it served me right. What a clusterfuck!
It was almost nine o’clock in the evening. It had been a long drive since
we left Dimitry and Anastasia. What was supposed to be a nine-hour drive,
ended up being much longer due to stops we made. And Andrey insisted on
cleaning out my bandages.
As the city lights of St. Petersburg shone in the distance, I hated to
admit that I was nervous. I killed numerous men, saw some fucked up shit,
but I was nervous of Scarlett’s reaction. Did she care about me enough to
give us a chance?
There was no doubt in my mind that she now realized who kidnapped
her and who her future husband was. After all, Michail told her it was a
kidnapping by her intended husband, he just never mentioned my name. But
after Anastasia’s call, everything finally came out. It felt better having all
the lies and deception out, I just wished she found out in a different way.
I leaned my head against the headrest of the backseat. I took the
medication as Anja instructed but I haven’t been able to rest during the
drive. Andrey, Nikolai’s man, kept nagging me to get some shut eye but
who in the hell could sleep now. I scratched my face, the scruff of a beard
there. I hadn’t shaved in two days now.
My phone buzzed and I read Michail’s message. *Scarlett is acting
edgy.*
Yeah, no shit! She was probably contemplating how to kill me.
*Just nerves,* I texted him back.
I glanced out the window and St. Petersburg’s buildings rose all around
us. I didn’t particularly care about Moscow and no matter where I was,
there was always a reminder of the past, crimes, and poverty we went
through. But here, in this city, I’d forget the slums we came from, the men
we killed, the food we stole to survive. I didn’t like those reminders.
We pulled up to the gate of my compound and the guards let us right in,
seeing us. Scarlett shouldn’t affect me as much as she did. She’d become
my wife, either way. Her father had a debt to repay and word to keep. We’d
hash it out.
Although it might take months or years, I thought wryly.
 The car pulled up at the house, and Andrey quickly came around to
help. I hated that I needed help but it would be another few days before I
was back to normal.
Michail must have been waiting because he came right out.
“You look like shit,” he greeted me, trying to hide concern in his eyes,
“Thanks,” I retorted dryly. “And you look like an ass.”
Andrey took my one side while Michail took the other.
“Just help me to the top of the stairs,” I told them. “Then I can take it
from there.”
“Sure you can,” muttered Michail.
I didn’t want Scarlett to see me like this. I wondered where she was but
also dreaded hearing the answer. I almost expected Michail to tell me she
refused to see me or talk to me, that she demanded to go back home. Instead
nothing… she just acted edgy.
At the top of the stairs, the wide front entrance door was wide open.
“Thanks for the help, guys. I got it now.”
They both let go but still remained close, as if they expected me to pass
out any second. I walked slowly into my home and that’s when I saw her. It
was like someone hit me in the chest. She looked the same but not exactly.
She was paler than I remembered, her dark, long hair pulled up into a messy
bun. She wore a loose, big shirt and tight leggings.
God, she made this place feel like home. Just by being here, in her
casual clothes.
Her body was leaning against the wall, her arms over her chest, but her
eyes were on me. Unlike all the other times, there wasn’t a soft smile
greeting, nor arms wrapped around me. I didn’t expect it, but fuck… I
hoped for it.
I came up to her and stopped a mere five feet from her.
“Hello Scarlett,” I spoke up first. Damn, I missed her so much. I had to
hold back or risk pulling her into my arms. Her dark eyes held anger and
resentment. We stared at each other, silence stretching with each heartbeat.
Just as I thought she’d refuse to talk to me, she straightened up.
“You are a fucking asshole,” she spat at me.
“Let me explain w-”
“No! I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I told her. “We are going to be married. You’ll
have to hear at least some things that I have to say.”
 She turned, grabbed the vase closest to her and threw it at me. I barely
dodged it at the last second. It crashed against the wall.
“That vase was for you,” I told her.
“Fuck that stupid vase,” she yelled. “And fuck you, dipshit. You…
you,” she desperately searched for a word to call me. “You jerk! This whole
time,” Her eyes flashed in anger. “The whole fucking time, you were lying
to me.”
She reached to grab another vase and despite the fact I could barely
walk up the stairs, the adrenaline kicked in. I closed the distance between us
and took her hands in mine.
“Let go of me, you moron,” she spat at me. I towered over her but she
wasn’t concerned at all.
“Stop it, solnce.”
“Shove solnce up your ass.” Yes, she was furious. She might need a
year to calm down.
“Let me explain and you’ll understand then.” I tried to soothe her but
nothing was working. She was so worked up, I’d be surprised she heard a
single word I said.
“I understand clearly,” she retorted. “I don’t want your explanations nor
lies.”
She pushed me away, turned around, and walked away from me without
a backward glance. Not exactly the welcome home I hoped for, but I
remained positive. She didn’t try to kill me. A vase to the head would have
only hurt a bit. And if she wasn’t mad, it would mean she didn’t care.
Right?
“I take it from that encounter you have met your future wife before?”
Michail asked in Russian.
“Don’t start, Michail,” I groaned. “I am really not in the mood.”
“When did you meet her?” Andrey asked curiously.
“Over four weeks ago in St. Petersburg, at the hotel she was staying at,”
I told him, suddenly feeling tired. “We were going out that week, and when
she went to Moscow, I followed.”
“And there wasn’t a moment in that time to let her know who you
were?” Michail asked, a clear disbelief in his voice. “What the fuck did you
expect?”
I didn’t answer him, instead I just headed for my room. “I’m going to
bed. See you in the morning.”
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 SCARLETT

M y heart was beating widely, the rush still raging through my

veins. When I saw Sergei walk through that door, I had to
force my body not to move. It caused physical pain not to
run to him and throw myself at him. He looked in pain, the scruff of his
beard so much darker than his blonde hair. My fingers itched to scrape
against it and feel his skin under my hands.
But the moment he greeted me like that… like he hadn’t kidnapped me,
like he hadn’t lied to me, a trigger went off within me. The worry and need
for him turned into anger for the lies and deceit.
There was no I am sorry. I had no idea what in the world he thought he
could explain that would have made it okay to lie to me. Over the last two
weeks, I worried whether he was alive or dead, if my future husband killed
him. And he was my future husband.
Well, you lied to him too, my mind whispered. Yes, I didn’t pretend and
lie like he did, but I omitted to him that I was promised to another man. I
hoped for a summer fling, a miracle, but deep down I knew all along that I
could never hurt or endanger my parents nor my brothers. If I refused to
respect my father’s arrangement, my entire family would have become a
target. Would Sergei kill them if I refused to marry him? Now, I wasn’t sure
how well I knew this man.
Do I know him at all?
I heard footsteps in the hallway. I stilled, waiting, holding my breath
while my heart raced. For a moment, the steps paused in front of my door.
 Was he coming here? My heart thumped in anticipation. I was such an
idiot.
Even knowing all that, I still wanted him. My body hummed with desire
the moment his hands grabbed my wrist to prevent me from throwing
another vase at him. Every time he touched me, my body melted. Even
knowing his lies and deceit. He had been manipulating me the entire time.
And I was foolishly using him as a possible escape to my arranged
marriage.
I hoped to escape it and went right into it. Now, if that wasn’t ironic, I
wasn’t sure what was.
The steps resumed and an exhale left me, although I felt no relief. More
like disappointment.
Damn him!
No, no, no. Fuck him! I should barge into his bedroom and demand my
phone and freedom back. I walked to the door, my hand on the doorknob,
ready to follow through with my plan. But the moment the image of Sergei
undressing entered my mind, I paused. Instantly my body quivered with
need for him. A low groan escaped my lips.
I wouldn’t be able to resist him if I saw him undressing, I knew it. I
wasn’t delusional. Yes, I was a sad case of an idiot when a man that lied to
me, was shot, and could barely walk still turned me on.
I’ll wait.
Tomorrow I would demand my phone and to be taken to the airport. If
my parents thought I’d put up with this kind of shit, they were nuts.

Michail and I sat at the table in the dining room, both of us eating our
breakfast in silence. Correction, he was eating. I was just shoving the food
around my plate. The smell of the food didn’t bother me, but eating eggs in
the morning was making me sick. Every so often, I’d put a piece of fruit in
my mouth. It was the only thing not making me sick.
I debated whether to ask Michail if Sergei would be joining us for
breakfast or lunch. Just when I opened my mouth, he walked in. His eyes
met mine and as he sat down at the head of the table, his eyes never
wavered. He looked better today, not as pale and exhausted as yesterday. He
must be feeling better. My heart raced, but on the outside, I remained calm.
I was actually impressed with myself. He was freshly showered but he
didn’t shave. He wore a pair of black jeans and white shirt. His hair was
still damp from the shower and I wanted to run my fingers through it, like I
did when we took a shower together in his St. Petersburg penthouse. I
wondered why he didn’t shave. I preferred him clean shaven.
No, no, no! I don’t care if he is clean shaven or not.
The cook brought a plate full of food and placed it in front of Sergei. He
kept watching me like he was waiting for something. Whatever it was, he
wasn’t going to get it. I glanced at Michail, and noticed his eyes darted
between Sergei and me. It would seem I would be the one to break the
silence.
I waited and waited till I timed it perfectly. The moment Sergei put food
into his mouth, I spoke up.
“I want my phone and passport,” I announced. “I’m going home, back
to the States.”
Another silence followed, and tension you could slice with a knife filled
the air.
I waited, unaware I was holding my breath.
Sergei continued chewing his food slowly, then took a drink of his
orange juice. I scoffed in my head. Russian mobster drinking orange juice
in the morning. It just seemed wrong.
He placed the glass on the table. “No,” he answered.
“You can’t hold me hostage,” I spat at him. “And when my father and
brothers find out how you-”
“They already know,” he replied, his hard eyes on me. “You are
staying.”
“I am not,” I hissed. “If you think for one second, I’d have anything to
do with you, you are crazy.”
“I probably am crazy,” he replied calmly. “People do call me the Mad
Russian Sinner.”
“What?” What the hell was he talking about?
“People call me-”
I cut him off. “I don’t give a shit about you or what people call you. I
want my phone back. I will call my parents and tell them what happened.
There is no way in hell I am staying here or marrying you.”
 “I already informed your parents what has transpired.” Who in the fuck
is this guy sitting there? He wasn't the Sergei I knew.
“I don’t believe you,” I spat out. “My dad would kill you if he knew
what you had done.”
“Well, he knows.” I didn’t want to believe him but I had a bad feeling
he wasn’t lying. “After breakfast, I’ll let you call from my phone so you can
talk to your parents.”
My blood simmered and my body was so on edge, my muscles actually
cramped from the tension. I rolled my shoulders back and I heard my
shoulder bones crack. I felt my whole body could snap along with my false
bravado.
“Scarlett, you seem too tense. Maybe you should go for a jog,” he
suggested causally. Was he mocking me? Trying to insinuate to something?
“It could help you relax.”
I swore I wanted to kill him with my stare. He was purposely trying to
agitate me. There was no trace of the charming man from a few weeks
back.
“Fuck running,” I spat at him. “What are you trying to say? My ass is
big?”
“No, your ass is perfect,” he replied calmly.
“It is?” The question slipped before I thought better of it. I shook my
head. He was trying to distract me. “I want to call my dad.”
I eyed Sergei suspiciously, trying to determine what his game was. My
eyes shifted to Michail and he immediately put his hands up in the air.
“I know nothing,” he mumbled and stood up. “I’m here just to keep you
two safe. I’m going to check into security.”
He left, and thick silence enveloped the room, the clinking of Sergei’s
silverware against his porcelain plate the only sound. The signs of the man I
fell in love with were gone. This man in front of me was an unmoving
mask.
“I hate your guts,” I whispered. I didn’t know why I felt the need to say
it. It wouldn’t mean anything to him. He never even paused eating, not even
a linger of his hand. No emotion at all crossed his face.
“It is a thin line between hate and love,” he replied, his eyes back on
me.
I stared at this man who took my body, heart, and soul and realized he
was a complete stranger to me. I fell for him fast and hard, without knowing
him at all. I loved a man that was a figment of my own imagination. That
first week of us together, I thought he was genuine but it was all a lie. He
wasn’t that person at all. While my brain understood that, my body didn’t.
I stood up, unwilling to be around him anymore. “I want to talk to my
dad as soon as possible. I’ll be in the back garden.”
I left him without a backwards glance and walked in rushed steps
towards the back garden. I would not cry. I would not cry. Damn it, I would
not cry!
Angrily, I wiped the tears threatening to spill in jerky movements. He
wasn’t worth it. He wasn’t worth my tears, heartache, or sleepless nights.
He didn’t deserve any of my emotions… well, except hate. He was right; it
was a thin line between love and hate.
The problem was I wasn’t even sure I hated him. I was hurt and I
wanted him to hurt, or tell me how sorry he was and how much he loved
me. He gave me nothing! It was clear he had none of those soft emotions
towards me from our first week together. I wanted the kind of love that my
parents had. So when things get tough, it would be our love to get us
through those hard times. Not hate.
God, and I was pregnant with his child. What had I done? I remembered
us getting the morning after pill. And I forgot it in his car. Did I forget it or
subconsciously do it on purpose? After all, I was contemplating getting
pregnant so Dad couldn’t force my marriage. Karma is a bitch!
But still, I couldn’t regret it. My hand covered my lower abdomen.
There was nothing to feel, and my stomach was still flat. What if all of it
was a false alarm? It was driving me crazy that I wasn’t hundred percent
positive.
“Scarlett,” Michail’s voice startled me.
I raised my eyes to meet his gaze. I detected pity there and it was like a
punch in the gut.
“Michail, please don’t pity me,” I murmured. “Just recall how I kicked
you in your sensitive area and wipe out any pity for me.”
He smiled. “It will all work out.” I just nodded, wishing I had his
optimism . “He’s ready for you, if you want to call your parents.”
“Where?”
“His office. Follow me.”
And I did. Sergei’s office was in the separate wing of the house, where I
usually didn’t venture since my truce with Michail. I preferred to go
outside, rather than roam the house. It made me feel free.
When we got there, Sergei was seated behind his desk and leaned
against his chair, his eyes closed. He looked tired.
“Sergei, are you okay?” The words escaped me before I thought better
of it.
His eyes shot open and he turned to me, his face back to the
unemotional mask.
“Never better,” he replied.
“Did you take the medicine?” Michail asked.
“What medicine?” I asked, frowning.
“Yes, Michail, and it is nothing to concern yourself with, Scarlett.” He
handed me his cell phone without another word.
Michail left and suddenly, the room seemed too small to be alone with
Sergei. I eyed him warily, worried about getting too close to him. I knew it
was stupid but it would seem I was stupid when it came to this man.
“Do you want the phone or not, Scarlett?” His deep voice was doing all
kinds of deliciously horrible things to me. My body tingled in response, and
my heart pumped with excitement. I needed a doctor to check if pregnancy
hormones have a negative effect on me. Because it sure as hell felt like it.
I glanced behind my shoulder, towards the open door, tempted to bolt.
But I’d never been the one to cower, so I wouldn’t start now. I took a step
forward and took the phone from him, our fingers brushing together. A
sharp exhale left my lips, and I quickly covered it by clearing my throat.
With slightly trembling fingers, I dialed my dad’s phone number.
Dad answered on the first ring. “Sergei.”
“It’s me,” I answered. “Scarlett.”
Duh, like he wouldn’t know. It was all Sergei’s fault. He made me all
frazzled.
“Hello sweetie,” my dad’s voice instantly softened, “I missed hearing
your voice. How are you?”
“I want to come back home,” I went straight to the point of this
conversation. “I don’t want to stay here.”
“Did someone hurt you?” My dad’s voice took on a serious note,
tension in his voice.
Yes, Sergei broke my heart.
“No,” I answered instead. I was aware of Sergei’s eyes on me. I wished
he’d go away so I could have this conversation in private. “I don’t want to
stay here and this is illegal.”
“What is?”
“He kidnapped me,” I spat out, agitated.
“No, daughter. He put you in a safe place. There were people that
threatened you.” My father was delusional. I couldn’t believe he took
Sergei’s word over mine.
“Well, I’m safe and I want to come back home. Your men can keep me
safe.”
“Scarlett-”
“Dad, please,” I almost whimpered. “Don’t leave me here.”
“Can’t you give him a chance?” My father asked on a tired exhale.
“No.”
“You don’t even know him.”
“I know enough,” I spat, glaring at Sergei who sat unmoving. His lack
of emotion was like fuel to the fire. “You two can work out the dissolution
of your agreement, but I want to go back home. Today.”
I sounded bratty, probably no better than little kindergarteners in my
class. But I couldn’t help it. With the distance from Sergei, I could bounce
back. I’d be my old self and everything would be back to normal.
Well, except the baby.
That was if I was even pregnant. Jesus, now I was having full blown
conversations in my head.
“Daughter, you know I cannot do that,” my dad finally responded.
“We’ll come for the wedding.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. It took a few seconds for the words to sink in
and my anger flared.
“There won’t be a fucking wedding,” I screamed into the phone. “Hell
will freeze over before I marry this… this asshole. Whatever you owe him,
it is your debt. Not mine! Why in the fuck am I paying for it?”
The line went quiet. I waited, holding my breath... for what I didn’t
know.
“Put Sergei back on the phone,” my dad’s voice was cold and business-
like. The little hope I had was squashed by my father’s words. I knew he
wouldn’t come for me. There was no hope of getting away from Sergei.
As I handed the phone back to Sergei, my hands shook visibly, and I bit
my lip hard to prevent sobs from escaping my lips. As soon as he took the
phone, I turned around, rushed to my bedroom, and went straight through it
into my private bathroom, locking myself in.

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 SERGEI

I watched Scarlett storm off and it took all I had not to go after
her. She was visibly upset and it gutted me to be the reason for
it. She didn’t want me anymore. There was no wooing her; she
couldn’t stand to be in the same room with me.
“Patrick,” I greeted Scarlett’s father on the line.
“Why is my daughter upset?” O’Brady was upset. And he had every
right to be. That was his daughter and I made her unhappy. “Sergei, if I find
out that you’ve hurt my baby girl-” I heard him take a deep breath as if
trying to calm his rage, “there is nowhere you could hide. I will kill you and
this agreement can go to hell.”
The list of people I am pissing off is growing, I thought wryly. I must be
aiming for an award.
“I didn’t tell Scarlett who I was when we ran into each other,” I told
him, on a deep sigh. I had nothing to lose. If he demanded his daughter
back, I wouldn’t fight him. “Things were going well but I kept waiting for
the right time to tell her. Unfortunately, Boris’ men showed up and
everything went to hell.”
Silence followed and I pretty much resigned myself to Patrick
demanding I bring Scarlett home to him. Just the thought about losing
Scarlett and never seeing her again made my vision swim with red fog and
rage boil through my veins. I could relate to my father in this. After all, it
was what drove him mad. Losing the woman he loved tipped him over the
edge and spiraled him into lunacy.
 “She went out with you without knowing who you were?” I wasn’t sure
why he was asking the question I already explained.
“Yes.”
“Sergei, did my daughter,” he cleared his throat and I wondered where
he was going with his line of questioning. “Did she spend the night with
you?”
I frowned at the weird question. Then it dawned on me. Was he asking
me if I slept with his daughter? Yeah, that was just weird.
“That is none of your business, Patrick.” If he wanted answers to those
questions, he could ask his daughter. I was pretty sure she’d tell him to fuck
off. Dad or no dad.
“I see,” he replied and then chuckled. Fuck, this was weird. But then,
how the hell would I know what fathers did? I never had one. Neither did
Dimitry and Nikolai. I could only go by what those two did.
Her father continued talking when I remained silent. “Let me know
when the wedding is. Scarlett has a forgiving heart, Sergei. Don’t you
fucking take advantage of that. Be good to my daughter. Otherwise, I’ll
show you how much she means to me. My family is everything to me.
Don’t you fucking make me regret this arrangement.”
Patrick O’Brady was the type of father I wanted to be one day. “I’ll
make her happy,” I vowed to him. I just had to figure out how to make her
forgive me first.
“Good,” he seemed to accept my promise. “Now tell me about the
threats.”
I scratched my face, the scruff of my beard rough under my fingers.
“It’s not good. Boris is on the loose, spotted in Moscow.”
“Would it be safer to bring Scarlett back to the States?”
I didn’t want to have Scarlett away from me. Over the last two weeks, it
was hard not seeing her. The only thing that kept me sane was knowing she
was in my home. I worried what would do for my sanity if she was out of
my reach.
“Maybe, although I’m not sure who all is in on this,” I told him
honestly. My sanity didn’t matter here. It was keeping Scarlett safe.
“Someone powerful helped Boris escape, and it had to be someone based in
the States. Nobody from here would have had resources nor money to pull a
stunt like that.”
 Patrick pondered my words. I knew I was right but if he demanded I
bring her back home, I would. “Hmmm, you are right,” he finally spoke and
I almost exhaled with relief. “Keep her there. If anything happens or you
need more resources, let me know. I want Scarlett safe. You’ll understand
that one day when you and Scarlett have your own children, Sergei.”
Hearing him talk about Scarlett and I having our own children shifted
something inside me. There was nothing I wanted more - Scarlett and our
children in our home.
“I got a call from the Polish,” Patrick interrupted my thoughts.
“Those motherfuckers,” I muttered.
“Bartek said you intercepted two of his shipments of dry goods.”
Patrick wasn’t accusing but I knew he wasn’t happy. He believed in fair
business transactions. We all had illegal business transactions but some of
us kept to a code. Unlike the damn Polish mafia.
Patrick O’Brady kept a civil business relationship with the Polish,
although I knew he wasn’t keen on them. He firmly believed in the phrase
Keep your enemies closer.
“Those were not dry goods,” I barely gritted through my teeth, the rage
simmering inside me. “They were smuggling women and children. Yes, we
intercepted two shipments and there was a dead boy in the second one.
They won’t get those people back. You can tell them to fuck off and I intend
to intercept every single shipment of humans.”
“Those dirty bastards,” he spat. “We do not deal in human smuggling.
You were right to do that.” I was glad at least my future father-in-law and I
were on the same page in that regard. “If you need any help fighting against
that Bartek scum, let me know.”
“Thank you.” Unless I absolutely had to, the intent was to eliminate
Bartek and his wife on my own. They would pay for the death of that little
boy and for putting all those women and children through hell.
We discussed a few more items before hanging up. I leaned back into
the chair and closed my eyes.
My phone buzzed and I glanced at the screen. It was a message from
Nikolai. He was kidnapping Olivia. The irony of it all didn’t escape me. At
this point, every single one of the three friends was kidnapped.
And I started it all.
But if something bigger was at play here, the danger was lurking all
along. If Dimitry, Nikolai, and I worked together, we could eliminate it.
OceanofPDF.com
 SCARLETT

I leaned against the locked door in the bathroom and slid down
onto the tile. All the years of feeling loved and cherished by my
parents and now that I needed them, my father refused me. He
left me to my own devices. Well, if those two men think I’d take it lying
down, they better think again.
Damn, this hurt! I felt alone and abandoned.
I wasn’t sure how long I sat in the bathroom lost with my thoughts when
a door knock startled me.
For a fraction of a second, I hoped it was Sergei. The notion so stupid, I
would have laughed if I had it in me.
“Scarlett?” A woman’s voice called out that I didn’t recognize.
“Yes?” I answered hesitantly.
“I’m Sonia,” she answered like that should mean something to me. “I
met your friend Anastasia. She told me a lot about you.”
I didn’t bother getting up, just unlocked the door and scooted away from
it, so she could open it. On the other side of the door was a young woman.
She was very pretty, with dark hair and big sparkling blue eyes. Actually,
scratch that. She wasn’t just very pretty. She was beautiful.
“Can I come in?” Her voice was soft, asking for permission.
I nodded, and she squeezed in, and sat down onto the floor, opposite of
me. I shut the bathroom door again.
“Why are you here and how do you know Anastasia?” I asked her
suspiciously.
 “I work for Sergei,” she responded. First strike! “His brothers rescued
Anastasia and brought her to Sergei’s place. She mentioned you and
Olivia… a lot. Then Sergei sent me over here but I had to help my parents
first.”
“Oh.”
“Are you okay?” There was honest concern in her voice but I felt raw.
How was a person supposed to answer a question like that? My father and
Sergei arranged a marriage, without consulting me. I fell in love with a man
four weeks ago, but he deceived me and concealed that he was my future
husband. And then to top it all off, there wasn’t a trace of the man I fell in
love with in this Sergei that came back.
“I guess so,” I ended up answering. “Anastasia called the day before
yesterday.”
“Yeah, Sergei’s house was attacked,” Sonia stretched her legs. “I am
guessing they must have thought it was coming, and it was the reason he
sent me here. I worried about them but they always come through.”
“They do?” What did she mean, Sergei’s house was attacked?
“Yes, they do,” she replied. “And because Anastasia was with them, I
knew she’d be safe too. Besides, Dimitry would never let anything happen
to her.”
I frowned, not following exactly. “Who is Dimitry?”
“That’s Sergei’s brother. Dimitry and Nikolai are his brothers.” I was
just about to ask a question, when she continued. “Well, not real brothers.
Those three grew up together in an orphanage. From what I gather, they
always stuck together.”
I looked at her in surprise. I was certain Sergei didn’t tell me that bit
about himself. Truthfully, he hadn’t told me much of anything about
himself.
“Why did you say Dimitry wouldn’t let anything happen to Anastasia?”
She chuckled. “Honestly, I have no basis for saying that,” she whispered
like either one of them could hear us. “But the air just sizzled when those
two would look at each other.”
“Sizzled?”
“Yes,” she chuckled again, like it was the funniest thing. “He was
basically devouring her with his eyes. I have to admit, out of the three of
them… he was the most stoic so maybe that’s why it stood out so much.
Don’t know.”
 Did Anastasia mention she liked him during our brief phone call? No, I
wouldn’t have forgotten that.
“Hmmm, I’ll have to ask Anja if she likes him,” I mumbled under my
breath.
“Oh, she likes him,” Sonja replied with certainty. “Trust me, she likes
him very much.”
“I guess he is Russian too?” I asked her, and my voice sounded a tad bit
bitter and angry. “And part of the mob?”
Sonia eyed me carefully, studying me as if she was trying to understand
me. Yeah, good luck with that!
“Those three have been working to get out of it,” she replied.
It was ironic I was hearing all this from a girl I just met.
“And how do you know that?”
“I’ve worked for Sergei for the past two years,” she replied, shrugging
her shoulder. “And my dad still helps him out once in a while. You overhear
stuff here and there.”
“Hmmm.” I wasn’t sure what to say to that. From everything I heard,
usually men that were in that kind of life didn’t or couldn't get out of it. I
stored the information for the future. It wasn’t something I could worry
about now.
I leaned my head against the wall and closed my eyes. I needed a plan
but I wasn’t even sure where to start. Maybe a temporary truce with Sergei
till I come up with a plan. Usually, I was full of ideas but absolutely nothing
came to mind now.
“Why are you here?” I asked her. “Did Sergei send you?”
I didn’t bother opening my eyes. Her answer didn’t really matter.
“Actually, Michail asked me to check on you.” I watched her under my
lashes and noted a blush creeping up her neck. She liked Michail. “He said
you were upset, heard you yelling, and wanted to make sure you were
okay.”
Well, that was just lovely. Michail wanted to make sure I was okay but
Sergei, the man I was supposed to marry, didn’t give a shit.
“Yeah, Michail is nice like that,” I replied. “I’m surprised he tolerates
me after I kicked him in the balls.”
“What?” Her eyes got wide.
“I was upset and wanted to get back to Moscow to find Sergei.” Now,
how stupid was that?
 “Oh.” There was confusion on her face, but she didn’t want to pry. I was
done talking about it anyhow. Today it was exhausting just to think, not to
mention talk. I hated feeling so tired. And I hated that I wasn’t even certain
it was the pregnancy, although there was still no sign of my period.
Then a thought hit me. I wondered if I could use Sonia for it. I winced
at the thought. Well, not use her exactly. I just met her but it wasn’t like I
had many options. And I couldn’t go and fetch it by myself.
“Sonia, can I ask you for help?” I started and she tilted her head.
“Will it get me in trouble?”
It was my turn to chuckle, although my predicament sucked. “Would I
ever get you in trouble?”
She smiled. “Anastasia said you and Olivia constantly got her in
trouble.”
“Did she, now? It was actually the other way around,” I joked. “I don’t
think this should get you in trouble. I was hoping that you could get me a
few things… today, if you can. I’m not allowed to leave this compound and
since I’ll be staying here, I would really like some things that I usually have
or use.” There was a suspicion on her face, but I didn’t let it stop me.
“Clothes, lotion that I prefer, things like that. You know, so I can feel more
at home.”
Her face lit up. “Yes, of course. And I love shopping.”
“Me too,” I retorted dryly. “I could ask if we both could go together, but
if they won’t allow it, maybe they’ll let you go.”
She scoffed. “Let them try and stop me.” I liked her already.
“Okay, let’s go and ask.” I stood up quickly and pulled her up eagerly. I
was so ready to get going. I didn’t dare hope that Michail or Sergei would
allow me to go shopping. I hated the idea of having to ask. I hated even
more that I’d have to ask for money too. Maybe Michail actually
remembered to grab my wallet when he kidnapped me.
I rushed out of the room, in search of Michail, dragging Sonia behind
me.
“Michail?” I yelled through the house. It could take me hours to find
him. This place was too big. We walked a few more steps and I shouted
again. “Michail!”
He appeared out of nowhere, Sergei right next to him and I silently
cursed. I didn’t want to see Sergei so soon.
 Those two were both tall, although completely different builds. Sergei
had a few inches on Michail, and his blonde hair was a stark opposite of
Michail’s dark.
“Oh, there you are,” I smiled at Michail, ignoring Sergei. “Sonia and I
would like to go shopping.”
His eyes darted to Sonia and she smiled confirming it. “It would be
good,” she commented. “That way she feels at home here.”
“Give me a list of what you want and we can send one of the men to get
it,” Sergei interjected.
“Michail, please tell the man standing next to you,” I gritted through my
teeth, “that I won’t be having men selecting my undergarments and
nightgowns.”
Michail actually rolled his eyes, and it made me want to smile. I was
rubbing off on him or was he like that before. Either way, I liked it.
“Scarlett, he heard you,” he replied exasperated.
I shrugged my one shoulder. “Well, if he heard me, he will also know
that I want my wallet back. The one that was in my room when he arranged
for my kidnapping. Or he can cough up some money. And lots of it, because
I intend to buy a lot.”
Sonia gasped behind me. I guess she didn’t know Sergei had me
kidnapped. Good, I thought smugly. He wasn’t a bright shining star. He was
the devil, disguised in a handsome and hot body.
I tilted my chin up, challenging Sergei to say something. His eyes
darkened, and his lips pressed tightly together. Good, I pissed him off.
“It’s not safe to go shopping right now,” Sergei finally replied, his voice
strained.
“Then provide for security,” I spat back. “If you are not able to keep me
safe while I go shopping, then you certainly can’t keep me safe from
anything else.”
I barely blinked, and Sergei was on me, pinning me against the wall.
“Michail, take Sonia and secure a vehicle along with guards,” Sergei
told him, his eyes never moving from me. “We’ll meet you in fifteen
minutes.”
Those two scurried along, while I remained with my back pressed
against the wall, my breathing hitched. I desperately tried to calm my racing
heart and appear unaffected by his closeness but was failing miserably. I
wanted to wrap my arms around him and hold on to him. I missed him so
much.
I kept waiting, not sure for what. Having him this close to me was not
good for my body. I literally wanted to arch my back off the wall so I could
feel him even closer. My body burned for his touch, wanting him against
me. And that enraged me even more. That I was so weak, I couldn’t resist
him.
“Now what, Sergei?” I meant to sound defiant, but all I accomplished
was to sound needy.

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 SERGEI

S carlett tried to lean away from me, defiance in those dark eyes of
hers. Inhaling her sweet smell eased the caged rage inside of me.
She used a different shampoo, but the smell was still uniquely
hers. Lilacs in the spring. For the past two weeks, this was all I dreamt
about. Having her so close to me. Yet now it was bittersweet. She didn’t
want me. Her body still responded to me but she hated that it did.
I fucking ruin everything!
But I meant what I told her father. Now that Scarlett was on Boris’
radar, she wouldn’t be safe and I would do anything to keep her safe. She
was under my protection and I’d kill anyone that threatened her.
I took her face with one hand and pushed her head back till she had no
choice but to lock her gaze with mine. I leaned in and pressed my lips
against hers. I expected her to bite me, to push me away. Instead a needy
moan escaped her, and her soft body pressed against mine.
This was how I loved my Scarlett. Surrendering to me and only to me. I
brushed my tongue against her lips and she immediately opened. She was
perfect for me. And mine. Now that she knew who I was, there was nothing
else standing between us. She would be my wife and mine forever.
I plunged into her eager mouth. I knew I was too rough, too possessive
but all my self-control vanished with her in my arms. After two weeks
without her touch and her smiles, just her sweet moans could make me spill.
No other woman had ever gotten to me like Scarlett. She was my future. All
the dreams of my own family were within reach with her… but only with
her. Nobody else would do it for me anymore.
 Her hands wrapped around my nape, pulling me closer. This was my
woman, warm and soft. Not the furious one I came back to. This was how I
wanted her all the time.
I pushed my groin against her and a whimper left her mouth, as she
hooked her one leg around me.
“Sergei, we are ready,” Pavel’s voice was like a cold shower. He was
another guard that I trusted with my life, but right now I wanted to shoot
him. Scarlett pushed against me, her body no longer welcoming me.
“Excuse me,” Pavel apologized quickly. “We’ll wait outside.”
“Let go of me, asshole,” she gritted her teeth. Her fury was back on.
I took her cheeks between my hands and she instantly stilled. “Not until
I set some ground rules,” I told her firmly. My cock might be aching for her
but for now, I still had my head. “We’ll go shopping but don’t try anything
stupid. If you do, I’ll bring you back and spank you. And all your outings
will be cut.”
She took an undignified gasp. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
“I will be your husband and you won’t put yourself or my men in
danger by acting reckless,” I demanded. “I want your word.”
“Fuck you.”
So defiant. In retrospect, I should have just told her the day we met who
I was. But fuck, how was I to know everything was going to go to shit?
“Either you give me your word, or we are not going,” I told her and she
stilled.
I knew she wanted to tell me off again but there was something she
planned for her shopping trip. My gut was telling me there was something
she wanted to do but hell if I could figure out what. The only thing that
came to mind was that she wanted to flee. That’s why I wanted her word.
The danger she could put herself in was unlike any fear I felt before.
“Your word, Scarlett,” I reminded her, “or I’m telling my men to get
back to their other duties.”
She pressed her lips together as I trailed my hand down her arm lightly.
I wanted to lace my fingers with hers, just like we did that first week
together. It was simple but intimate, and I wanted that with her. “Should we
stay home?”
She took a deep breath, and I sensed her surrender. “Fine,” she replied.
“You have my word. I won’t put your men in danger.”
 “And?” She really thought to outsmart me. Although I had no doubt she
could when she put her mind to it, this time was not it.
“And you have my word I won’t put myself in danger.”
“Good girl.” I smiled while she glared at me.
“I will either need my wallet or yours,” she spat back at me.
She pushed me away from her and headed to the front of the house. She
walked with her head held high, and I couldn’t help but admire her beautiful
backside. I wanted to grip that butt and rut her like a beast. I wanted to ram
home and stay inside her tight little pussy. She would only ever welcome
my cock because she was mine.
Shit, I better focus on what was going on around me rather than
daydreaming about rutting my future bride.
“You will have my wallet,” I told her and she startled, like she expected
me to still be standing where she left me. “You are my woman and I will
take care of all your needs.”
She tripped at those words and crimson colored her cheeks. She was
beautiful. Both of us stopped, as she turned to face me.
“Okay, then give me your wallet,” she muttered, extending her hand.
“You don’t need to walk me to the car.”
“But solnce,” I purred in her ear. “I’m coming with you.”
The shocked look on her face had me chuckling. She expected me to
remain behind and let other men watch my woman. She didn’t know me at
all.

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 SCARLETT

“B -But aren’t you busy?” I stuttered. I didn’t expect him to

come along.
“No, I’m all yours today.” There was the charming Sergei
that I fell for but I knew it was all fake. I wouldn’t fall for it this time. It
was ridiculous how easily he got to me.
“Whatever,” I muttered under my breath. “I don’t want to ask for a card
or money every time I’m making a purchase. So I’d like either your credit
card or mine.”
He nudged me forward, his hand on the small of my back. My body
hummed in anticipation, like his hand on my back was just foreplay. God,
my hormones were killing me. This was not normal, it couldn’t be.
When we got outside, everyone was already in vehicles, except for
Sonia and Michail. It seemed overkill to have five vehicles for a shopping
trip.
“You ready?” Sonia asked, her eyes darting between Sergei and me.
“Yes.” Turning to Michail, I addressed him. “Could you and Sergei ride
in another vehicle so Sonia and I can-” I didn’t even get to finish when
Sergei interrupted.
“No, we are riding together.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “I’d rather just ride with Sonia, so we can make
a shopping list in peace. That way we are in and out.”
“I doubt there is in and out with you, Scarlett,” he replied. “Well, except
when we-”
 “If you fucking say it, I will kill you,” I spat at him, then took Sonia’s
hand. “Sit next to me, Sonia.”
She chuckled. “Okay, I sense more sizzling attraction flowing in the
air.”
If my glare could kill, she’d be dead. “No, this is murderous sizzling.”
“Hmmm,” was all she replied, but there was a knowing look on her
face.
Once we were all in the SUV, the vehicles moved. “This is ridiculous,” I
muttered under my breath. “It’s just shopping, not a battlefield.”
Neither Michail nor Sergei commented.
“Okay, Scarlett,” Sonia tried to keep the topic light. “Tell me what you
need so we know which stores to hit.”
“Clothes and I need a drug store.”
“That’s it? What kind of clothes? And do you need medicine?”
I sensed Sergei’s eyes on me but I ignored him. “No, like where you buy
all kinds of stuff. Like shampoo, soap, body wash, condoms.”
Sonia’s mouth just about dropped. But what was I supposed to say?
Pregnancy test? Usually condoms and pregnancy tests were in near vicinity
in the U.S. stores. Hopefully they were in Russia too.
“Okay, I guess we can stop at the pharmacy,” Sonia mumbled and I was
aware of Sergei and Michail’s eyes on me. I swore my face was burning but
I refrained from fanning myself. “Why do you need condoms?”
“Oh, I don’t,” I replied, trying to seem nonchalant. I hated that I didn’t
have a phone I could pretend to look at. “I was just giving you examples.
But first let’s do a clothing store, one that has everything so we don’t have
to jump from store to store.”
I honestly didn’t give a crap about more clothes. But in order to conceal
buying a pregnancy test, I wanted a lot of bags so I could hide the
pregnancy test.
The shopping trip was efficient. I grabbed a little bit of everything and
asked whatever guard was too close to me to take piles of stuff to the
counter, and I started with Sergei. Right after that, he gave me his card, and
waited right at the entrance of the store. He had the store manager close the
store to the public so we could be safe. So I felt obligated to buy a lot of
stuff. Sonia, on the other hand, was enjoying the shopping too much. She
kept lingering close, showing me this or that. I would agree it was cute and
get it added to the pile. While it wasn’t a big deal at the clothing store, I
wasn’t sure how I’d get the pregnancy test bought without her noticing.
Once we were done with the clothing store, we stopped at the pharmacy.
With satisfaction, I noted all the guys swept through the store to ensure it
was safe, and then lingered at each entrance of the store rather than stay
close to me.
I grabbed a basket and filled it with everything and anything. I roamed
around the store, desperately looking for a section where they kept condoms
and pregnancy tests but the writing on the boxes was in Russian. Tiny
problem! They usually had a plus and minus window picture on the box,
right? That could be my clue. It would have been easier if I asked Sonia to
help me out but she would have told Sergei or Michail. I was sure of it.
So I continued struggling aisle after aisle, and kept sending Sonia on
fool’s errands. Finally, after I went through the whole pharmacy twice, I
was at a loss. I ran into a woman stocking up the shelves. I pretended to
look at the toothpaste on the bottom shelf. Glancing over my shoulders, I
noted Sonia nor Sergei’s men were around or could see me.
“Excuse me,” I whispered quietly to the woman. “Do you speak
English?”
She eyed me suspiciously. “Little bit.”
“Do you know where the pregnancy tests are?” I asked, feeling the heat
creep up my neck. “Please,” I added in a whisper, glancing behind me
again.
As if she understood my predicament, she nodded. “Stay here.”
She disappeared and returned within half a minute. My heart was racing
like crazy, scared that Sergei would decide at that moment to search me out.
We both glanced around before she handed me three of them. I quickly hid
them under all the other junk I had in my basket.
“I ring you,” she mumbled. “Come.”
I hoped she meant what I thought she did. She waved her hand and I
followed.
“Scarlett, are you almost done?” Sergei asked, eyeing my basket. It was
overflowing with shit I didn’t need. Yes, some of it I used and loved but
some of it was just nonsense.
“Yes, I’ll pay and then we can go.”
“Thank God,” one of the guards muttered under their breath.
 The woman that helped me get the pregnancy test eyed Sergei and then
me. I couldn’t say anything to her but I hoped she’d keep up our unspoken
concealment.
She said something in Russian and I froze. I stared at her, hoping she
wasn’t saying anything about pregnancy tests. Anastasia was right, we
should have attempted to learn some of the language.
“Give,” the woman said and pointed to my basket. The understanding
dawned on me and I tried to lift the heavy basket, grunting.
“Here let me help you,” Sergei spoke behind me and lifted the basket to
hand to the woman. I didn’t even hear him approach.
I must have looked panicked because I stared at the basket and then
back to Sergei.
“Thanks,” I could barely speak the words. My eyes darted to the
woman, and she just smiled and then winked. I hoped that meant she could
somehow hide the tests.
All I could focus on was the ringing with each item she scanned, then
bagged it. Then repeat, and again. She handed two bags to Sergei. He just
passed them on to another guard and inwardly I groaned. He wasn’t
supposed to be standing next to me while she rang my pregnancy tests.
His eyes were alert, scanning around and back to the woman. I cleared
my throat, and his eyes came to me. He raised an eyebrow but when I said
nothing, he was ready to avert his gaze again so I cleared my throat again.
“Sergei, my throat is itchy,” I muttered. “I think I have allergies. Could
you please get something for it?”
He opened his mouth and I knew he was getting ready to ask one of his
men or Sonia to get it.
I quickly grabbed his hand. “Oh, look,” I pointed to the corner shelf.
“Could you grab that?”
“That’s candy,” he replied, eying me suspiciously. His gaze went to our
connected hands, and he met my eyes again. God, I missed his touch. His
eyes darkened and my body instantly responded.
Focus, Scarlett.
“Could you get the candy for me, please?” My voice was husky, like I
was begging him to fuck me right here in the store.
His eyes went back to our connected hands and he reluctantly let go.
The moment he turned his back to me, I glanced at the woman and she rang
the three pregnancy tests and stuffed them into the bag. I swallowed hard,
giving her a quick nod just as Sergei was coming back.
He handed the woman the candy and she rang those as well and stuffed
them into the same bag. She recited the price in Russian, but I had no clue
how much it came to. I just handed her Sergei’s black American Express.
She took it and in turn gave me the bag with pregnancy tests. Sergei
reached for it but I quickly grabbed it.
“I got this one,” I muttered. He watched me curiously but I ignored his
eyes, scared he’d read something there.
The woman handed back the card and receipt.
“You can take your card back,” I told him. He took both and stuffed
them into his wallet. “Do you have any cash?” I asked him.
“Are we doing more shopping?” he asked, a half-smile making him
look gorgeous.
“No, I’d like to give her something as a thank you,” I mumbled. “I
couldn’t read Russian so she helped me.” It was the truth, just not all of it.
He immediately pulled out a stack of bills. “Is that why you took so
long? You should have asked me or Sonia.”
Woman’s eyes grew wide as Sergei handed her the bills.
“Thank you for your help,” I murmured. Sergei translated behind me
although I was pretty sure the woman understood.
“Good luck,” she replied, smiling. Sergei frowned but I ignored it.
I smiled back. “Thanks.”
Tilting my head in goodbye, I headed out the store, Sergei right at my
back. Sonia was waiting with Michail by the car and I couldn’t help but
smile. She liked him, and I couldn’t blame her.
“Hey you two,” I greeted them. “We are ready.”
“Did you buy out the whole store?” Sonia teased.
“No, but I did get us a snack,” I pulled the bag of candy out and waved
it at her. “Dessert.”
Sonia laughed. “Yummy.”
I gave her the bag of candy and we all got into the car, but this time
Sonia sat herself next to Michail so Sergei sat next to me. His leg pressed
against mine and it was the sweetest torture. I held the bag from the
pharmacy close to me and focused on the sights passing me by out the
window… familiar streets. And familiar buildings. No, it couldn’t be. I
watched wide-eyed at Nevsky Prospekt street. I’d never forget this street.
Sergei drove me through this street on our first date, showed me St.
Petersburg at its most formally magnificent. It was the most famous street
of St. Petersburg that cut through the heart of the city.
“We are in St. Petersburg?” I asked in shock.
Sonia gave me an odd look. “What?” I retorted defensively. “I was
kidnapped, and we came in the dead of the night.”
I turned my head back to look at the busy street and magnificent
building surrounding us on both ends. The images of my first week with
Sergei flashed through my mind and it hurt like hell, like someone stabbed
me through my heart.
I wished the memories didn’t matter. I wished I didn’t want him.
Instead, I felt like I was being gutted alive. I dug my nails into the palms of
my hands, as I kept my hands balled into fists. Physical pain was better than
all this hurt inside.
Sergei’s hand covered mine. “Scarlett,” his voice was soft, but now I
knew it wasn’t real. I wanted the old Sergei back… easy going, teasing and
caring.
I pulled my hands away.
“Don’t touch me,” I whispered. Something flashed in his eyes but I
couldn’t read what. I couldn’t allow his hands on me. If he touched me, I’d
cave in. I knew I would. I yearned for him, for his love.
The rest of the ride was spent in an uncomfortable silence. Sergei sat
stiff next to me and I stared out the window. As soon as we got to his
compound, I went straight to my room and locked the door.
“Scarlett, where do you want the bags?” Sonia’s voice came through the
door.
I completely forgot about them. “Tell the guards to just leave them in
front of the door. I’ll get them later.”
I dug through my bag and opened the first test. Of course, the
instructions were in Russian but the device looked like the ones I’ve seen at
home.
“Can I help you with anything?” Sonia was still in front of my door.
“No, I’ll see you at dinner.” I needed to do this alone. Her footsteps
echoed in the hallway as she walked away. I marched into the bathroom. I
really never understood why they couldn’t come up with better pregnancy
tests than peeing on the stick. As soon as I was done, I washed my hands
and braced myself for the result.
 I sat on the edge of the luxury bath and didn’t have to wait long. The
faded plus already started to show in the window. I couldn’t say I was
surprised, but the shock was still there. My hands covered my abdomen.
A baby.
I took a deep breath. The situation wasn’t the best and I felt tricked by
Sergei. I remembered questioning him why he wasn't concerned about
getting me pregnant. I guess now it made sense. Although I was to blame
too. Instead of using protection after that first time, I didn’t. So really, both
of us were to blame. I didn’t know who he was but I wasn’t exactly
innocent. How many times did it cross my mind to stay behind with him? I
even wished to get pregnant with Sergei so I couldn’t marry the man my
dad promised me to. Of course, it would have been easier from the start if I
knew they were one and the same.
My biggest objection to the arranged marriage was that it was to his
business associate. I didn’t want anything to do with anyone dealing in
illegal businesses. Yes, I grew up in it, but I wanted out of it for as long as I
could remember. My mother wasn’t born in it and my grandparents had
always been my window out to a normal life. They showed me a simple
life; it was what I wanted.
I would have to tell Sergei about the pregnancy. It was only fair. We’ll
just have to make the best out of it. When I met Sergei, he swept me off my
feet. Now, it was time I got to know him. It would require talking to him.
And if we married, I’d need to know the plans for the future and be part of
the planning. No chance I would sit and let him decide our whole life.
Talk about extremes! This morning I screamed I would never marry
him, and now, I was trying to figure out how to make the best of it.
I threw the pregnancy test into the trash can and went into the bedroom.
I stood in the middle of the bedroom, suddenly at a loss. What should I do?
From the moment we landed in Russia, it would seem my world started
spinning. And I didn’t even know it.
I left the bedroom, noting the shopping bags piled right outside the door.
Pavel was just bringing another one. I felt guilty making Sergei’s men bring
all those bags of stuff I didn’t even need.
“Thank you, Pavel,” I told him. “Let me help you.”
“No worries,” he smiled goodheartedly. “This was the last one.”
“I should have helped you. I am sorry.” It was rude of me to just leave it
all behind for them to take care of. The fact that I couldn’t wait to take the
pregnancy test was a poor excuse.
“Don’t worry about it. You sure like to shop, ha?”
I chuckled. “I used to. Today was a bit different.” He waited, waiting for
me to explain but I really couldn’t. There was nothing to say really. I
wanted to go shopping so I could get a pregnancy test, as far as
explanations go was out of the question. “Do you know where Sergei is?”
“You’ll find him in his office.”
I smiled at him and headed in the direction of his office. I wasn’t quite
sure what to say. Maybe I could start by finding out why he arranged a
marriage with my father eight years ago. Yes, that sounded like a good
place to start.
As I neared the office, I heard several elevated voices. My step faltered.
I couldn’t help it but now wonder if maybe Sergei didn’t like to be
disturbed while in his office. My father’s rules were never to go into his
office or linger around it. My mother explained once it was for our
protection as well as his. It was best we didn’t know everything he was into.
Of course, my reply to my mother was that if he wasn’t in the mob there
wouldn’t be a need for a rule like that.
“You cost me millions of dollars,” a woman’s voice shrieked over a
speakerphone.
“I don’t give a flying fuck, Irina.” Sergei sounded calm, almost bored.
“You will regret this, Sergei,” she continued shrieking, her voice kind of
rough. Like she was a heavy smoker. “Unless you pay us the damages of
the stolen goods, you will regret this.”
Sergei laughed. It wasn’t his happy, light laugh. It was a menacing
laugh. “I will make it my life’s mission to intercept every single one of your
shipments till I bring you and your husband down. Those shipments were
not stolen goods. Those were humans that you intended to sell. Innocent
women and children. You better pray I never get my hands on you or that
fucking husband of yours. Because I will wring your neck till I see the light
in your eyes extinguished.”
“You are fucking mad,” the woman yelled back. “Fucking Mad Russian
Sinner. And then you wonder why I didn’t want to marry you. You are
nobody and will remain nobody for as long as you live.”
What did she mean? She didn’t want to marry Sergei. When was that?
So many questions swarmed in my head. I barely knew anything about
Sergei. For Pete’s sake, I have been promised to him for eight years and I
didn’t even know his name. Shame on me for burying my head into the
sand. That was so stupid, and as my father’s daughter, I should have never
allowed myself to be so willingly blind and deaf.
“And you Irina will remain a heartless bitch in the short life you will
live,” Sergei retorted back. His cold voice sent shivers down my spine, and
not the usual ones. This Sergei was dangerous and hard.
The line went dead and a string of curses left Sergei’s mouth. Some of
them were in English but many of them Russian. I didn’t need the translator
to know they were curses.
“One day I want to torture and gut that woman alive,” Michail’s voice
surprised me. I didn't realize he was there too. “I never want to hurt women
but that… that is not a woman. She is a bloodsucking, greedy, evil bitch.”
“I could add a few more adjectives to that,” Sergei muttered. “See if you
can get someone within the Polish to talk. We’ll need to find a way to end
her human smuggling activities. Both her and Bartek will have to be
eliminated.”
Yes, now I could understand why my mother forbid me to ever linger
around my father’s office. Eventually my brothers were allowed into his
office, and I knew he groomed them to take over the business. And I said
that with quotation marks in my head. This was really hard information to
stomach. Although, I couldn’t say that I disagreed with Sergei. If that
woman was trafficking and selling humans, she deserved to be killed.
“Scarlett,” Michail’s voice startled me. “How long have you been
standing here?”
“Long enough,” I told him. He wore a three-piece suit, just like Sergei
and a gun holster underneath it. It was unnerving that they carried guns
within their own home. “You two should really learn to shut the office door
when transacting your business.” I emphasized the last word. Shit, I really
didn’t want to be in this world. I didn’t want to be part of it in the States,
and I certainly didn’t want it here in Russia.
I strode past him, entered Sergei’s office and shut the door. Sergei sat in
his chair, his beautiful eyes on me. When he watched me, my body just
responded. I wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. My attraction to him was
so strong, but I knew without love, it would diminish. I wanted his love,
because I gave him all of mine. My mother said it took her all of five
minutes to realize she loved my dad. But she never mentioned any
heartache or roadblocks on the way to the altar.
 Now what?
I should have taken some notes because I forgot what I was going to do.
Well if I was honest, I didn’t know what I was going to do to begin with.
“Sit down, Scarlett.”
I sat down in the chair, his eyes never leaving me. He observed my
every move, my every breath. Now that I watched him, I couldn’t believe
that I was so blind not to see his ruthlessness and harshness. Yes, he could
be soft, caring, and protective but also dangerous. My father gave off the
same vibes. Growing up around people like my father, uncle, and brothers, I
should have spotted those qualities from miles away. Instead, I totally
missed them.
Damn it, I really liked him. Loved him. Wanted him. And now I was
going to have his baby. But unless we had some foundation to build our
future on, we’d both end up miserable. I wanted to raise children in a happy
home with loving parents. Just like mine.
Sonia’s words telling me that Sergei grew up in an orphanage came
back to me. It made me realize how little I knew about this man. Actually, I
probably knew next to nothing about him. At least the real him.
“Did you want to talk about something?” Sergei’s voice startled me. I
have been staring at him, lost in my thoughts.
I took a deep breath and exhaled. “So I’ve come to realize that I really
don’t know much of anything about you,” I started. “I have been promised
to you in an arranged marriage for the past eight years and I didn’t even
know your name.”
Although, that was of my own doing. I didn’t want to know.
“What do you want to know?” He leaned back into his chair, completely
relaxed. He tugged on his tie to loosen it up. But I wasn’t fooled. He was
tense underneath it all.
“Well, for starters, why don’t you tell me why an arranged marriage?” I
asked him. “So eight years ago, you were twenty-five or so. What a
coincidence, you were my age now! But I have to confess, it never occurred
to me to search for a husband at my age. In fact, I wouldn’t have minded
waiting till I was thirty or thirty-five.” Sergei’s unmoving form watched me,
his eyes intense. I continued in a soft voice, “For men, I would imagine
tying the knot at such a young age is certainly not a priority. So why do it,
Sergei?”
 For a moment, I thought he wouldn’t answer. Silence lingered, the only
sound ticking of his old-fashioned clock. It reminded me of a ticking bomb,
not that I ever heard a bomb tick.
“I was engaged when I was twenty-two,” he finally spoke. “It turned out
the woman was just using me to get to bigger fish. She dumped me because
I was a nobody. My parents abandoned me, didn’t give me a family last
name, and I didn’t have all the money nor power that I have now.”
Well, that sucked. And hurt like hell! He loved another woman.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured softly. And I really was. Nobody deserved to
be treated like that.
“It worked out for the best,” he retorted. “She wasn’t who I thought she
was. Anyhow, my brothers and I worked hard for the next few years and
accumulated wealth. Your father’s businesses were struggling and I saw an
opportunity. I bought two of his casinos and was ready to buy the third one,
when he called my brothers and I in. He thought we were poaching his
territory. We weren’t interested in taking over his territory. In fact, Dimitry
and Nikolai, my brothers, weren’t interested in his casinos. It was just me.
We agreed to meet with him. We barely started discussing business when a
call came in. Apparently, from the little conversation I overheard, you got in
trouble at school. How did your father put it?” Sergei’s lips tilted into a
half-smile and my heart stopped. “He said you were going through
rebellious teenage years and gave him more trouble than all his sons
combined.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “That’s only because my brothers
were better at not getting caught,” I retorted amused.
“I’m sure,” he agreed. “He made a half-joking comment about marrying
you off and the idea struck. I offered to bail your father out of his situation
in exchange for a bride. Your father was reluctant at first, but I assured him
I’d wait till you were twenty-five at least. I was convinced no woman
would ever want to start a family with me, considering my background. I
came from nothing, slums, and couldn’t offer much except for the money I
had accumulated.”
I stared at him in shock. He really thought he had nothing to offer a
woman. Didn’t he realize that all a woman wanted was his heart? Maybe
that woman who rejected him, squashed all his ideals.
“The woman from the phone rejected your marriage proposal?” My
voice sounded strangely distant. The jealousy wasn’t a familiar emotion for
me but I felt it now. I was jealous. She had his heart and squashed it. And
now, all he was offering was monetary security.
“Yes, Irina.” He spat out her name, anger and hate in his tone.
Shit! No wonder Sergei arranged a marriage and kept himself closed
off. His parents abandoned him, the woman he loved used him, and left
him.
“It’s her loss, you know,” I spoke softly. Even though my heart was
breaking with the knowledge he didn’t love me, I still wanted to offer him
comfort. We watched each other and there were so many things I wanted to
say to him but my pregnancy hormones were working against me. I was
getting too emotional already, tears pricking my eyes. I stood up, the need
to get out of here before I started bawling my eyes out. “And you don’t
need perfect parents, money, nor a family given last name to find a wife,
Sergei. You just need a heart.”
I turned around and left his office. The moment the door of his office
clicked shut, my steps sped up. I rushed into my bedroom and locked the
door behind me. The tears spilled and my heart bled. This part my mother
definitely never told me about. I had a feeling that even if I met Sergei as
my intended husband, I would have fallen for him. Stopping it would be
like attempting to control a hurricane. It was impossible. But his heart was
long gone.
It was mid-afternoon but I felt exhausted, physically and emotionally. I
crawled into the bed and sought reprieve in sleep.
Sergei in my dreams loved me.

OceanofPDF.com
 SERGEI

“A nd you don’t need perfect parents, money, nor a family given

last name to find a wife, Sergei. You just need a heart.”
Scarlett’s words lingered in the air as she left my office.
Those words alone were a reflection of her nature. To Irina, heart never
mattered; it was everything else. But not to Scarlett. It was probably the
reason I fell in love with her so effortlessly. I gave her my heart, and I
wanted hers in return.
I wanted to run after her, shout that she has my heart. Instead, I
remained glued to my seat, staring at the door after she left.
I wasn’t sure how long I remained watching the door, as if Scarlett
would come back. My phone rang and I frowned, noting it was Dimitry. I
expected him to still be pissed off at me, not speaking with me for at least
another year. Although I’d miss him.
“Hello?” I answered the phone.
“Anastasia was shot,” Dimitry’s voice was strangled, his words barely
audible.
“What? How?” My heart thundered with fear.
“What?” I heard Nikolai ask the same question. He must have
conferenced us both in.
“Vlad betrayed us,” he choked up. “I don’t know if she-”
Dimitry couldn’t finish. Nikolai and I listened, silence deafening as the
fear for my brother and his woman grew. If something happened to her, it
would destroy my brother.
 I heard some shuffling. “I’ll tell them,” I heard Misha’s voice. “Doctor
wants to speak to you.” Some more shuffling. “It’s Misha.”
“What happened?” I questioned him.
“Anja was a svidetel at my wedding. At the reception, Vlad said
something to Anja and she left the wedding,” he muttered. “We don’t know
what he told her but she just took the car keys and left. There was an
ambush and Boris’ men rammed into her car. Vlad had it all set up, he’s the
mole. We tracked her to a warehouse thanks to the tracking device in her
necklace. There was a shootout between Boris, his men, and us. Anastasia
threw herself in front of Dimitry. Took a bullet for him.”
“Fuck,” I muttered. She loved him too. Their life together wasn’t
supposed to be short.
“That fucking Vlad-” Nikolai cursed, fury in his voice reflecting rage
boiling within me.
“The second bullet was sure to kill her,” Misha continued. “But Boris
took that bullet. He died.”
“What?” Nikolai and I both asked at the same time. I must have heard it
wrong. There was no way Boris would take a bullet for anyone.
“She is his fucking daughter,” Misha revealed, and if I wasn’t sitting, I
was sure I’d be on the floor, right along with my jaw. “She didn’t know,
neither did Boris. Manciatti revealed it to him right before the shootout
started. Can you fucking believe it? Boris’ daughter!”
No, I couldn’t believe it. Anastasia was my sister. My blood sister!
“Will she pull through?” I asked, anguish eating me on the inside.
“She is in surgery. It’s not looking good but the doctors are doing
everything they can.”
God couldn’t let her die. Life couldn’t be so damn cruel. My brother
deserved happiness. He had given his life protecting Nikolai and me. God
wouldn’t take it all away from him now.
“What can we do?” I asked. My sister! She was strong; I knew she was.
She would pull through. She had to. For my brother! For me!
“Vlad orchestrated Anastasia’s abduction,” Misha muttered over the
phone. “Both of them.”
“Fucking snake in the grass,” I spat. I knew I should have wrung his
neck back at the Russian Orchid. I should have followed my gut feeling.
“Nikolai, you focus on Malcome. I’ll start on Vlad.”
 With somewhat of a plan, we hung up. Misha would keep us updated.
Dimitry wouldn’t be in a good frame of mind till Anja pulls through. She
would; I strongly believed that.
I went in search of Michail and gave him a quick rundown of what
happened. The only thing he didn’t know was that Anja was my sister.
Nobody knew about my connection to Boris. Not even Boris himself knew
he was my father. Apparently, he didn’t know he was Anja’s father either.
The question remained: how did the blackmailer on the phone know?

I went in search of Scarlett. I haven’t seen her since we had a conversation

in my office. With all the news I received, it seemed like it was days ago. I
had to ensure she was okay, that she was safe. It was almost dinner time,
and I was just about to go search for her when my phone buzzed signaling a
text message.
Glancing at it, I saw Nikolai’s name. I swiped it open. It was a short
message. He planned on coming back to Russia in a few days. Nikolai put
Olivia, the red-haired friend, in his house here, in St. Petersburg. Maybe the
two friends could connect once it was safe for everyone. I shot a quick
message back to my brother and offered help.
I imagined he worried about her safety, even more now that Anastasia
was hurt. Just as I was worried about Scarlett.
Nikolai was desperate to bring down Malcome Schmidt, the man that
killed his sister. The world was truly a small place, because that same man
was engaged to both Scarlett and Anastasia’s other travel buddy. I could
still remember her telling Scarlett to stop swooning over me.
She certainly stopped swooning over me. The way she spat back at me
not to touch her in the car was a wound straight to my chest. I was like a
puppy running after her, dying for her hugs, kisses and smiles.
And even as I scoffed at myself for being so weak, I went in search of
her. Whenever I felt on edge or rage, seeing her or thinking about her
helped. I found Michail outside, talking to the men on rotation.
“Where is Scarlett?” I asked him.
“She is not out here,” he replied. “Did you check her room? Need me to
find her for you?”
 “No, I got it.”
I went to her bedroom and noted all the bags still in front of her door.
That was odd. I tried to open the door but it was locked. I knocked softly
but there was no response. A cold fear ran down my spine. I reached above
the door where spare keys were always kept. I quickly unlocked the door,
put it back and went in to find her sleeping.
I came to the bed and sat on the edge. She looked tired and pale. I
noticed she barely ate breakfast and no lunch either. It was unusual since
self-admittedly Scarlett had a healthy appetite. I’ve seen it firsthand.
There was a strand of her dark hair on her forehead and I lightly
brushed it back. My heart swelled with pride every time I looked at her. She
was mine and I could never let her go. All the rumors surrounding Boris
and his cruelty he inflicted after he lost the woman he loved finally
resonated. There were moments when I sensed rage overwhelm all my
senses and drown out the decent parts of me. In the strangest ways, Scarlett
grounded me, calmed me. My father might have not given me his last name
but he certainly managed to give me his bad traits.
I thought back to my conversations with Scarlett’s father. He wasn’t
happy about the kidnapping. I felt like an asshole this morning when she
begged her father to get her. Lately, I felt like an asshole all the time. I
couldn’t wait till this whole mess was behind us. I was thankful she was
here with me, where I could keep an eye on her. Her father trusted me to
keep her safe and I intended to keep her safe. I hated to worry her father
with dangers but the fact remained she was targeted back in Moscow, when
they followed her to me. If Vlad was after Anastasia and he knows about
Scarlett, he could be coming after her too.
Scarlett’s eyes fluttered open. “Hey,” she murmured sleepily.
Her brain must have not caught up yet because she was smiling at me.
Just like she used to.
“Hey.” I cupped her cheek and she leaned into my touch. God, I loved
her touch and feeling her close to me. I missed these little tell tales of her
trust. I hated that I ruined it by not being upfront with her when we ran into
each other. She was right to hate me for staging Michail to kidnap her. The
intent was to keep her safe but she must have been terrified. Remorse was
eating me up and I hope my actions didn’t destroy the feelings that started
to flourish between us. I would fight for her, till she gave herself to me
again. This attraction between us was real. But it wasn’t just that, I loved
everything about her. Fuck, I loved her.
“It’s almost dinner time. You should try and eat something.” I kept my
voice low, hoping that soft look in her eyes while she watched me wouldn’t
diminish.
I worried she was sick. She usually had a very healthy appetite.
“I will,” she mumbled and her eyes shut again. “I’m just so tired.”
“Should I get a doctor?” She shouldn’t feel so tired. We barely did
anything today.
“No, it’s normal. Just let me sleep a bit more.” I frowned. What did she
mean by that? A sigh left her lips and she spoke softly. “It gets better later.”
Her words made no sense but it was probably because she was still
sleeping. I’d let her sleep a bit longer. We can have dinner a bit later than
usual.

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 SCARLETT

W hen I woke up from my nap, it was almost eight in the

evening. I took a quick shower and changed into a high
waistline floral dress that came down to my knees. A quick
glance in the mirror told me I looked presentable, although there were still
circles under my eyes and I still looked pale. I guess exhaustion was a side
effect of the first trimester.
As I was leaving my bedroom, I glanced around the room. The
shopping bags still sat unopened. I didn’t need any of it but would need to
put it all away. It would seem this would be my new home. Maybe Sonia
could help me; she was good company. It was easy talking to her, kind of
like Anja and Scarlett.
I rushed to the dining room fully expecting Sergei and Michail to be
almost at the end of their dinner but instead I found the room empty.
Maybe they have already finished eating.
Just as I turned around to leave, I bumped into Sergei.
“Whoa,” his hands steadied me. “You alright?”
I raised my eyes to his face and my heart skipped a beat. I had this need
to just wrap my arms around him and ask him to hold me. Instead, I just
took a step back.
“Yes, all good,” I told him. “I took a nap and overslept. I was just about
to go into the kitchen and ask for leftovers.”
“You didn’t miss dinner,” he commented. “We’ll have it now.”
“Oh, okay.”
 “Scarlett, there is something I want to tell you.” His words surprised
me. I raised my eyes and waited for him to continue. “Something bad
happened. A man that works for my brothers and I turned out to be a
traitor.”
I nodded, although I wasn’t sure why. “Will you be okay?”
“Yes,” he assured me. “But it won’t be safe to leave the property for any
shopping trips till we bring him down. I want to make sure you are safe.”
He sounded worried. “Okay,” I smiled. “No more shopping trips.”
My reward was his smile and my insides melted. “Thank you, solnce,”
he murmured, leaning forward and pressing his lips against my forehead.
“I’d lose my mind if something happened to you.”
Hearing his endearment and admission made me quiver with want and
need for him. Maybe he cared for me? It was on the tip of my tongue to ask
how he felt about me, if he ever thought he could love me.
“Should I go tell Michail about dinner?” I offered instead. It was safer
when he or Sonia were around.
“I already did,” he nudged me back into the dining room. “He and Sonia
are coming. Would you sit next to me during dinner please?”
I raised my head, meeting his eyes, and nodded in a daze. Just as we
both sat down, Michail and Sonia joined us. Surprisingly the dinner ended
up being pleasant. Food was delicious and there wasn’t a single thing on the
menu that bothered my senses.
Sonia spoke of her siblings and her family a lot. Michail added a few
more stories about his family.
“I’m happy to hear that you didn’t only torture your sister,” I teased
him.
“No, I spread love equally among my siblings.”
“Sergei, did Michail tell you,” I glanced his way, “that he put a dead
snake into his sister’s bed? A dead snake!”
“No, he forgot to mention that during his interview,” he retorted dryly.
“No wonder,” I smiled at Michail. “I would have had you in time-out.
For a year!” We all laughed. “How long have you two known each other?”
Michail and Sergei seemed to work well together, like they’ve done this
for a long time.
“About fifteen years or so,” Michail replied. “I got into a bad fight
against five other kids. Instead of being smart and running, I decided to
fight. Sergei happened to see it and decided to join in. To even the odds,
you know”
“So did you two win?” It didn’t surprise me to hear Sergei wanted to
help the underdog. For some reason, he seemed the protective type.
“Yes, we did,” Sergei replied.
“Although we got in trouble with Sergei’s older brothers,” Michail
added dryly. “Those two are protective of him. And scary as shit when they
want to be.”
I tilted my head, watching Sergei. It was odd to me that he rarely
mentioned them.
“Yeah, usually older brothers are,” I commented. “How much older are
they?”
“Dimitry is thirty-eight and Nikolai thirty-six,” Sergei answered.
“What about your siblings, Scarlett?” Michail asked out of nowhere and
surprised me. During the last two weeks, he kept to neutral subjects. “You
mentioned brothers, right?”
“Yes, I have three older brothers. Cillian, Brennan, and Liam,” I replied.
“Cillian is the oldest and the most obnoxious. Brennan is next and he’s the
most easy going. Liam is the rebel.” I smiled thinking about them. Although
I hadn’t seen them often, I still loved them and missed them a lot.
“You and Liam must get along,” Michail retorted dryly.
I chuckled. “You are not still pouting about me kicking you in the
sensitive area, are you?” The whole table chuckled, including Michail.
“Besides, you have Brennan to thank for that. He taught me how to do it.”
“Remind me to thank him,” he replied, grimacing. I couldn’t help but
chuckle.
“I bet they are protective of you,” Sonia chimed in.
“They are,” I told her. “Annoyingly so.”
“Are they married?” Sonia asked curiously.
I shook my head. “No. Our parents are quite devoted to each other. It
probably ruined us all. I think every single one of them is looking for that
kind of devotion.”
“Your parents’ marriage wasn’t arranged?” Sergei asked in surprise.
I shook my head. “My mom had a little bakery. One morning, Dad
stopped to pick up a pastry and boom.” I rolled my eyes. “My mom always
told me it took her exactly five minutes to realize he was the one.” I took a
shaking breath. God, I missed them. I have been avoiding going home for
years but I still missed them and loved them. “She still bakes all the time.
She really enjoys it. For as long as I can remember, I swore she smelled like
cinnamon.”
“Okay, now I want some cinnamon buns,” Michail announced laughing.
“Don’t look at me,” I joked back. “I can’t bake. And how do you even
know about cinnamon buns? I thought that was more of an American
pastry?”
“Every time we go to the States,” Sergei commented, “Michail whines
like a baby to go get some cinnamon buns.”
I threw my head and laughed. “You better watch it. They go straight to
your hips.”
“They are worth it,” he replied smiling.
“I’ll ask Mom to make you some next time,” I told him. “She makes
killer cinnamon buns.”
“What’s your favorite, Scarlett?” Sergei asked.
“I guess carrot cake,” I thought for a second. “You know, not sure if I
have a favorite. I like them all but I’m not crazy about cinnamon buns. How
about you?”
“I’m not much into sweets,” he replied, frowning.
“That’s true,” Sonia added. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat a
dessert.”
“But we shared that mint-” I cut myself off, feeling my cheeks heat up.
“Why don’t you care for sweets?” I asked instead.
“My brothers and I grew up in an orphanage,” Sergei answered, his eyes
on me. “When we were hungry, we stole from a bakery down the street. It
happened frequently so I had enough pastry to last me a lifetime.”
I was surprised by his honesty and the information he shared. My hand
reached out to him. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s all in the past now,” he replied simply. His eyes watched me
intently, and they burned with desire. My whole insides melted. I quickly
pulled my hand back and looked away, scared I’d get burned if I stared at
him for too long.
Just as we were finishing up dinner, Sergei’s phone buzzed. He shared a
glance with Michail and both of them excused themselves.
I looked over at Sonia but it didn’t seem to alarm her. She caught my
gaze and shrugged her one shoulder.
“They do that all the time,” she commented. “Just ignore it.”
OceanofPDF.com
 SERGEI

T here was a stranger at the gate that tried to get into the
compound. Both Michail and I rushed to the gate where
guards apprehended him.
“Where is he?” I asked as soon as we got to the gate. There was a small
building by the gate that allowed guards to use the restroom and have a
little kitchen and sitting area.
“He’s in there with Pavel.”
The moment I entered the building and laid my eyes on him, I
recognized him. It was the security protection, Brian, that traveled with
Scarlett and her friends over the summer.
His eyes met mine and something flickered in them.
“I was told you were looking for the owner of this house,” I asked him.
He nodded and I continued, “You found him. What can I do for you?”
He stood up and extended his hand. I shook it and sat down, he
followed suit.
“I’m Brian Ryker,” he introduced himself. “I’m looking for Scarlett
O’Brady. I believe she is being held here.”
“And what is your business with Scarlett?” I asked him.
“She was abducted three weeks ago,” he replied calmly. I had to give it
to the man, he kept his cool. “I want to ensure she is safe and wants to stay
here before I go back to the States.”
“And what makes you think she is here?”
“I received a tip that she is being held here. I have been watching the
house for the past two days. I saw her.”
 We watched each other in silence. He knew he was at disadvantage,
being alone while I had four men inside this building and many more
outside. He was brave. Well, either brave or stupid. I knew he had been
asking about Scarlett all over Moscow but this was the first time we came
face-to-face and spoke.
“Yes, she is here and she is safe,” I told him finally. “But she is not
going back to the States. Her parents will be joining us in a few weeks for
our wedding.”
A surprise crossed his face. “If it’s just the same, I’d like to see her and
ensure she is alright.”
I gave a quick nod to Michail and he went to get her. While we waited,
neither one of us tried to make small talk. It was for the better anyhow
because I wasn’t in the mood.
It didn’t take long for Scarlett to show up. The moment she entered the
building, her eyes got big.
“Brian?” she exclaimed and ran to him, giving him a big hug. I had to
clench my fists, to force myself not to pull them apart. I knew there was
nothing between them but my possessiveness wasn’t rational. That was the
welcome I hoped for, instead Brian got it. “What are you doing here?”
He smiled at her. “Looking for you, actually.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Manciatti felt responsible and wanted to make sure you were
okay.” He eyed her up and down as if checking for any sign of mistreatment
of my woman. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m sorry, I’m still in shock to see you.” She hugged him again.
Fucking asshole was getting a better welcome than I was. “Didn’t Anja call
Manciatti to tell him I was fine?”
“I guess not,” he retorted dryly.
“Is Olivia okay?”
“She got back to the States,” he replied. “Both you and Anastasia
disappeared so it was just the two of us.”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” she muttered. “Anastasia called a few days ago
and she’s been rescued.”
He didn’t seem surprised. Manciatti must have kept him in the loop.
“Want me to take you home?” Brian locked eyes with Scarlett, and I
tensed. “Manciatti knew Anja was rescued but nobody informed him about
you. I just spoke to him earlier today.”
 I didn’t want to have bloodshed with this man, but I wouldn’t allow him
to take her away from me. It was as if the whole room stilled, and everyone
held their breath waiting for Scarlett’s answer.
“I would love to go home,” Scarlett spoke softly and rage thundered in
my ears. My whole body tensed and an inferno boiled through my veins
ready to explode. Before I acted on it, she continued. “But not right now.
I’m staying with Sergei for now.”
Just like that, the fury evaporated and peace washed over me.
“You sure?” He glanced at me and I stood up.
“She already answered you,” I warned him.
Brian eyed me suspiciously, as if he sensed I was teetering on the edge.
Because the truth was, I would descend into madness if I lost Scarlett.
“Scarlett, it is dangerous for you to stay here,” Brian took her hand and
locked eyes with my woman, unspoken words lingering in the air.
“What do you mean?” Scarlett’s eyes darted between Brian and me.
“Since I came back to Russia, I have been focused on Moscow’s
surrounding area looking for you.” Brian’s eyes traveled over all of us. “I
had no leads, nobody that saw anything. And then a week ago, I got an
anonymous tip that you were in St. Petersburg.“
“Did you get a call with the tip on Scarlett?” I questioned Brian.
“First it was a note under my hotel door,” he answered annoyed. “It just
said St. Petersburg. I had no other leads, so I came here. After days of
searching, I got a call. It was a disguised voice but I’m fairly certain it was
a woman’s voice. All I got was the street. No house number.”
I shared a glance with Michail. This was not good. It meant someone
wanted to get their hands on Scarlett or wanted her out of the picture.
“Do you still have a phone number that called you?” Maybe we could
trace the number and find out who was after Scarlett. It couldn’t be a
coincidence that Brian was given clear clues on how to find her. But the fact
Brian believed it was a woman that called him threw me off.
“I do,” Brian told me. “I tried tracing it but to no avail. Maybe you get
lucky.”
“Send it to my phone,” Michail chimed in and recited his number.
Brian quickly put it into his phone and shot him the number. “You
should have it now.” His gaze went to Scarlett. “Are you sure you want to
stay? I’m worried about you.”
“Yes, I’m sure, Brian.”
 “Okay, then,” he stood up, eyeing me suspiciously. “I will stick around
for a few days so you can think about it.”
I growled and leaned forward ready to pounce on him. Scarlett’s hand
came to my chest, and instantly I stilled.
“I won’t change my mind, Brian,” she told him calmly, her eyes on me.
“Thank you for finding me. But I’m good. Go back to the States and tell
Manciatti I’m fine.”
She never spared him a glance, all her focus on me and I relished in it.
“How all three of you ended up back in Russia is a damn mystery,” he
muttered under his breath.
“What do you mean?” Scarlett sat up straight, her eyes turning to him in
question.
“Olivia is back in Russia too,” Brian explained to her. “She was back in
the States for a few weeks and then disappeared. Everyone suspected
kidnapping but apparently, Anja’s friend brought her back.”
“Is Olivia okay?” I could tell by her tone that Scarlett cared about her
friends a lot.
“Yes, Manciatti said she was safe.” Scarlett took a sigh of relief. “I
swear this summer has aged me at least five extra years,” Brian muttered
under his breath.
“I’m sorry. But you were such a great sport all summer.”
Brian smiled tiredly. “Goodbye, Scarlett.”
“Safe travels, Brian.”
“Michail, escort Mr. Ryker off the property.” I wanted to be sure he
wasn’t lurking around.
Those two left, along with the guards, leaving Scarlett and me alone.
“C’mon,” she took my hand and pulled me along. “Let’s go back to the
house.”
I followed along. Nobody had ever been able to calm down my rages
like Scarlett. Her touch alone was enough for all my reason and sanity to
come back.
We walked in silence, all the way to my office.
“Sit down,” she ordered gently, pushing me into a loveseat. “Whiskey?”
I nodded, watching her every move. She moved gracefully, comfortable
in her skin. And she looked beautiful. I wanted to tell her the moment she
bumped into me how stunning she was. The dress hugged her curves in a
way that made my cock twitch.
 She handed me the glass and I was surprised when she remained. She
sat on the armrest of the seat. I took a gulp of the drink and offered her
some. She shook her head.
“Why did you stay?” I asked her. It was her perfect chance to leave and
yet, she stayed. “Brian would have fought us all to take you back home.”
“Would you rather I leave?” she answered with a question.
“You know I want you here,” I told her. There was a light nod as she
watched me pensively. I wondered what thoughts ran through that pretty
head of hers. I yearned for her trust and love. But I didn’t exactly earn it,
did I? “Scarlett, I want to start over.”
She gnawed on her lip, her eyes zeroed in on the window, although it
was dark outside and you couldn’t see anything through it. Dread settled in
the pit of my stomach and the fear gripped me. She's going to leave me too.
“I don’t want to start over,” she countered, her voice calm. So opposite
of the anguish I was feeling right now. Her eyes returned to me, her head
tilting sideways as she watched me. “I want to know why you lied to me.
Why do you want to marry me if you love someone else? Why did you
kidnap me? If we are to do this, I want honesty. We both started this off
wrong.”
Her words gave me hope. But she was right to ask for honesty. She
deserved it; she deserved the best. Fuck, where do I even start?
“I told you Irina was going to marry me. It was before my brothers and I
accumulated our wealth and power. Truth was, she was just stringing me
along till she got a better candidate. Richer, more powerful, with a
parentage line that actually acknowledged him.”
Scarlett didn’t move or offer any words. She sat waiting for me to
continue, and I wondered if she’d walk away after she learned the truth
regardless.
I took a deep breath. “It felt like a betrayal and I didn’t take it well.
After that, I worked harder to accumulate more money and power to prove
myself I was worth something. Or prove to people that had abandoned
me… my parents, the woman… that I’m better than they gave me credit for.
But all along, I struggled with the knowledge that I wasn’t worthy.”
Her small hand landed on my shoulder and squeezed gently. Her touch
was the comfort I needed.
“You are worthy,” she murmured softly. “No matter what, you should
always remember that.” Even after all I have done to her, she still thought
so. “And don’t forget your brothers.”
My lip curved into a half smile. “Yes, I have my brothers. They’ve
always come through.” Scarlett was perceptive and exactly the kind of
woman I needed by my side. “My brothers and I had a hard upbringing.
First the orphanage.” I took a deep breath. I never knew pouring myself out
would be so hard. “Dimitry and Nikolai would have survived it, but I kept
getting sick. The only reason I survived was because of my brothers.
Dimitry stole food to keep me fed. The cold winters, he and Nikolai would
keep me warm as best as they could with the nothing we had. When the
chance arose to join the mafia, Dimitry took it. He never said it but he took
it to keep me alive. He was worried I’d perish if we had another winter in
the orphanage without heat.”
Scarlett’s arms came around me. “I’m so sorry, Sergei.”
I took her comfort. Fuck, I needed her comfort.
“Dimitry and Nikolai taught me to shoot, kill, defend myself, but have
always protected me. When Boris, the leader of the mafia at that time,
would go mad and on a rampage to hurt anyone, my brothers always
sheltered me. Dimitry would taunt him so he’d get the beating, not me.” I
had never told any of this to Irina. Maybe instinctively I knew she wasn’t
the one for me. Maybe a part of me ensured she couldn’t have leverage over
me. “My brother Nikolai has a scar across his face. Boris gave it to him
because he protected an innocent man. See, I barely have any scars because
Nikolai and Dimitry got most of them.”
“They must be amazing brothers,” she murmured softly.
“Imagine the disgust when I learned Boris was actually my biological
father.” Her sharp inhale was the only sound in the room. “How was I to tell
my brothers that my biological father made us all go through hell? They
endured beatings and scars on my behalf and my father was dishing them
all.”
“Why would your father do that?” Her voice was a whisper.
“He was fucking mad,” I muttered. “Crazy. I never told him I found out
he was my father, and I never told my brothers either. You are the first
person I’ve ever said it out loud to. And then Irina pretty much spat at me. I
was sure no decent woman would ever want me.”
“I hope you know what Irina did to you is not decent.” Her fingers
brushed across my cheek.
 “I know now. But when I was making the arrangement with your father,
I was so lost and fueled by rage and self-disgust. I felt unworthy but I still
wanted a family. My own woman and children. Your father had a type of
family I wanted one day. So I seized the opportunity when it presented
itself. I’d bail your father out financially, keep his financial difficulties a
secret, but he’d give me you in marriage. He was a man of his word and I
knew he’d keep it.”
She scoffed. “You didn’t think I was a bit too young for you?”
I grinned despite the situation. “It was the reason I agreed to wait eight
years and not marry you on your eighteenth birthday.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “My brothers would have buried you if Dad
agreed to marry me off on my eighteenth birthday.”
She was probably right. Her oldest brother objected to the arrangement
from the beginning. Hell, all three of her brothers objected wholeheartedly.
But her oldest was ready to murder me.
“You are probably right,” I agreed. “Your father has been trying to break
the engagement and pay me back the money with a hundred percent return.
He cares a great deal about you.” Scarlett’s eyes glimmered. She loved her
family too. “When I visited him eight weeks ago, I think he wanted to show
me firsthand how much you resented the idea of marriage to me.”
She exhaled heavily. “That was you in my father’s office.” Her eyes
were watching me intently. “I didn’t make a connection till Michail came to
kidnap me that my father had a meeting with my intended husband that day.
I just didn’t know it was you till Anja called me.” I wasn’t surprised to hear
she had made a connection. Scarlett was smart.
“Yes, it was me. But what your father didn’t count on was that once I
saw you, I was determined to have you. You were beautiful, and I knew I
didn’t deserve you, but fuck it, Scarlett... I wanted you. I wanted it all with
you.”
She wrinkled those delicate eyebrows of hers. “But you never even
turned around.”
“I saw your reflection in the mirror that your father has above his
mantle,” I told her. “You argued with your parents and then stormed off.”
“I saw Michail that day but never saw your face.” We watched each
other in tense silence and I knew each word I spoke probably drove the
wedge between us deeper. But if I don’t tell her everything, I was sure to
lose her. “Did you orchestrate bumping into me in the hotel lobby?”
 “No, that was pure luck.” I still couldn’t believe that it worked out that
way. “I couldn’t believe you were in front of me. I took it as a sign. I
wanted you to get to know me without the looming arranged marriage
constraints. I kept telling myself if you gave us a chance, maybe you
wouldn’t walk away from me. I convinced myself I just needed time with
you so you would get to know me, and I would get to know you.”
She lowered her eyes, watching her hands folded in her lap. She was
still seated on the arm rest of the loveseat. “I wasn’t exactly honest either. I
shouldn’t have agreed to have dinner with a stranger, knowing I was
promised to someone else.”
I guess we both had things to work through. As long as we both worked
together, we’d be able to get through them.
“No more deceit,” I vowed to her. “I want to be a good man for you,
solnce. I love you.”
“What?” There was shock on her face. “You- you love me?”
“I know I shattered what we started building,” I confessed, fear
squeezing my heart. This fear of abandonment was hard to get rid of. “But I
love you and want to earn your love. I know I messed up a lot. Especially in
the last month. First I lied to you, I kidnapped your friend and then
kidnapped you to keep you safe from the same men.”
“Wait, what? You kidnapped Anastasia?”
My ears rang, my head thumped. “Yes, I received a threat. They were
following you and her. They threatened to hurt you if I didn’t give them
Anastasia.”
“Oh my God, Sergei.” Her face portrayed disbelief and I felt like the
worst scumbag. “How could you? And why would Anja say you didn’t
kidnap her?”
“She wanted to give me a chance, I guess. She is a much better person
than I am.” I took a deep breath in and then exhaled. “I am so sorry for
everything I have put you through, Scarlett. But trust me when I say, I only
wanted to protect you. I will always protect you and our family.”
Scarlett stood up, stepping away from me. I’m losing her. And fuck, it
hurt worse than any bullet. But I couldn’t blame her. No woman would stay
through all this with anyone. Even less one that was as unworthy as me.
“This next thing I have to tell you will be hard,” I started. I promised
her no more lies and deceit. I would have to deliver, no matter the
consequences. “Boris got to Anja. There was a shootout. She threw herself
in front of my brother and took a bullet for him. Boris took the second
bullet meant to kill her. It turns out Boris is Anja’s father too. Her biological
father. She’s in the hospital. The doctors are doing all they can. But you
know her, she is strong. She’ll pull through.” She had to. Because I only
learned today she was my blood sister.
Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok. That fucking clock was the only noise in my office.
The clock and the blood pumping in my brain.
“How could you keep that from me?” Scarlett’s voice was soft and low,
an accusation in her eyes.
“I wanted to wait till she woke up to tell you.”
“I want to go see her.”
“I am sorry, we can’t. You’d be endangering her and yourself.” I took a
deep breath. “Please Scarlett. I don’t want to lose you too.”
My woman stood there, mere two feet away from me but she might as
well be on another continent. With each word I spoke, she was slipping
further and further away. I wanted to shout that I loved her, that I needed
her. Instead, I watched her, trying to memorize every curve of her body,
every line of her face.
“This is just too much,” she murmured and my heart sank further. “I- I
just need time to process it all.”
She turned around and left, her steps barely audible. Or maybe my heart
screamed so bad in agony, drowning out the sounds of everything else.

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 SCARLETT

I t has been a whole week since Sergei’s confession. I haven’t

seen him since, except in passing. I wished I could rewind time
and hug him. He has poured his heart out, given me honesty as I
asked and then I bolted.
Each time I tried to seek him out, he was either busy with someone or
nowhere to be found. In times like this, I missed speaking with Olivia and
Anastasia. Michail told me that Anastasia woke up and would pull through.
That was a major relief. And Olivia was in Russia too. It has been a month
of whirlwinds, from the moment we stepped foot in this country.
He loves me.
The thought echoed through my mind for the millionth time. I replayed
his words over and over again. Each time I stopped at his admission of love,
my heart swelled. I loved him too. I should have told him but our
conversation went unexpectedly awry. Completely unexpected!
My hand went to my lower abdomen. I still haven’t told him about the
baby. His admission was so shocking that I completely forgot. And this
Boris. He was Anastasia and Sergei’s father. That made them siblings. Holy
shit!
I still had so many questions but none of them were as important as this
love I felt for him. And our baby. We could have a future together; we just
had to give it a chance. Together. Yes, together, like my parents. Suddenly, I
realized that it took me less than a minute to fall for Sergei. The first look at
him and my heart fluttered. He was the one for me all along. Since the
moment I found out about the arranged marriage, it was as if Sergei and I
were steered to each other.
I roamed the house full of Sergei’s men but felt alone. I knew he was
within a compound but he must have been avoiding me. I was half tempted
to start yelling for him. He’d be forced to answer then, I thought wryly to
myself.
Actually, that is not a bad idea.
Just as I readied to yell at the top of my lungs, I heard his voice. I
stilled, listening. It was almost ten at night and the house was dark.
Regularly, I’d be falling off my feet but I took a late nap so there were still
little reserves of energy I had floating around. Growing a baby was some
serious energy draining business.
I tiptoed towards the back of the house. Sergei was in his office. It
sounded like he was on a conference call. Is that Anastasia’s voice?
“Jesus, you two,” an unfamiliar man’s voice spoke through the
speakerphone. “This is a serious call.”
“First Olivia, now you too, Anastasia? I really don’t need these images
in my head.” What the hell? That sounded like Oliver’s voice, Olivia’s twin
brother.
A woman chuckled. I swore it sounded like Anastasia’s laugh. “Really,
Oliver? Your sister and I will whip your ass when we see you. And you,
Nikolai, I heard you quite like it when Olivia is on your lap.”
There was laughter on the line. I felt so out of the loop. Olivia was on
Nikolai’s lap. That was Sergei’s brother, I recalled.
“Olivia told you?” A deep man’s voice asked.
Yes, that was Anastasia’s laugh. There was no mistaking it. “No,” she
answered through a chuckle. She sounded happy. “But you just confirmed
it. Although I hear congratulations are in order. Could we have a double
wedding?”
Whaaat!
“What?” Sergei seemed just as shocked. There was another man’s voice
that asked the same question.
“You are getting married too?” Sergei asked incredulously. I guess he
didn’t see it coming either. Olivia and Anastasia were getting married. Well,
damn it… I was missing it all. There was no chance in hell. I would see
them get married. And fuck, I wanted to get married too. But only to Sergei.
 “Yes, Olivia and I are getting married.” I had to still myself or risk
getting caught eavesdropping. I wanted to jump for joy. Oliva was safe and
she fell in love. It was the only reason she would ever agree to marry
someone. “To get back to the purpose of this call. Malcome and Vlad are
related and this must have been in the works all along.” Oh, that piece of
shit Malcome. I hope Sergei’s brother killed him. Actually scratch that.
Tortured him! “The only hiccup in their plan is the three of us. They never
anticipated Manciatti calling Dimitry to save Anastasia.”
“See, I was right,” Anastasia’s voice was happy. “Sergei kind of started
a positive chain reaction.”
“Does that mean you are no longer mad at me, Anja?” Sergei asked. Did
she know they were related? Did Sergei tell her?
“No, it doesn’t.” A man’s voice grumbled. I guessed that it must be
Sergei’s oldest brother.
“Don’t answer for me,” Anja scolded him. “It means, Sergei, I am softer
towards you. And my punishment for you won’t be as harsh as initially
planned.”
I scoffed at that. It was hard not to laugh out loud. Anja would never
hurt an ant, even less another human being. I quietly listened to the rest of
the conversation. There was a lot of back and forth. Since I have been out of
the loop, it was hard to follow but it seemed like they were planning on
capturing Malcome. It would seem he was hiding, here in Russia.
Russia must be a popular destination lately, I joked in my head.
Too bad Malcome wasn’t dead but from the tone of Nikolai’s voice, if
that man got his hands on Malcome… yeah, he would suffer greatly. Good,
Malcome deserves all the suffering he dished on others!
“Sergei, what do you think?” A man’s voice brought my attention back
to the call.
“If we do nothing, there will be more and more men coming after
Olivia. We’d be sitting ducks. We have a better chance to go after him and
end him.” The fact that Sergei cared about what happened to Olivia,
someone he hasn’t really met, told me a lot. He was a good man. And I
loved him even more for it.
“So we all agree?” I came to recognize Nikolai’s voice. He was the one
with the scar that Sergei’s father gave him. “Oliver, you have your military
career to think about so you monitor our security and be our eyes.”
“But-”
 “No buts. Take care of the casino and be our eyes.”
Ohhhh, I really liked Nikolai. He would be good for Olivia. I could tell
just by listening to this conversation, he was caring and would be protective
over her. He’d keep her safe for as long as they both shall live. Ah, that
sounds like a wedding vow.
Nikolai continued talking. “Sergei, we can’t afford to have you lose
track of Vlad and what he is doing with the Polish. So you keep monitoring
him.”
“Roger that.”
A few more details were worked out and the call ended. I stood still,
listening in the darkness. So many feelings swam around my head and in
my heart. Hearing that Olivia found her love and trust with Sergei’s brother
put me to shame. She had endured so much and still she didn’t hold back.
And look at me! My parents have pampered me my entire life, and when
Sergei gave me the truth like I asked for, instead of giving him my love, I
had to think.
“Don’t linger at the door, Scarlett.” Sergei’s voice startled me. I didn’t
realize he heard me. I have barely moved and kept to the shadows. “I can
smell your perfume.”
“I’m not wearing any perfume,” I told him as I walked in.
He looked tired. His hair ruffled, like he pushed his hands through it too
many times. And there was scruff of a beard on his face.
He sat on the sofa chair with a glass of brown liquid in his hands. I
watched him take a drink, and my insides clenched seeing the drop of the
alcohol on his lip. My hands clenched alongside my body, the need to touch
him overwhelming all my senses.

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 SERGEI

T he love of my life stood in front of me, her dark eyes locked

on me. What thoughts ran through her head as she watched
me? Hate? Disgust? Regret?
Staying away from her over the past week was killing me. She didn’t
know it but I snuck into her room every night and watched her sleep. Yes,
there was something seriously wrong with me. But unless I saw her, my
mind spiraled and madness threatened to descend. Maybe this was the shit
that made Boris go crazy. He loved Anja’s mother so much he lost his mind
when she didn’t love him back.
I can’t lose Scarlett. She was my sun and moon, my entire life. Life
without her wasn’t worth living.
With her rejection, I focused on hunting Vlad and bringing down the
Polish. Vlad was on the loose, scheming and threatening all my brothers
like a dark cloud. The Polish mob had become bolder and doubled their
human trafficking efforts. It infuriated me that women and children were
suffering for the greed of the Polish. The fact that Irina assisted with all of it
made me sick to my stomach. It started to appear that Irina was pulling the
strings and running things in the Polish mafia while Bartek continued to be
the face of it. She was scum of the scum and deserved torture and agonizing
death.
That woman was never worthy of my love. Irina’s words from twelve
years ago were taunting me. I realized the sense of unworthiness she
bestowed on me was nothing compared to the agonizing fear I felt at losing
Scarlett. I’d crawl on my knees till they were raw, just to keep Scarlett in
my life.
I closed my eyes, scared I’d lose my shit just thinking about my woman
leaving me. Was this what Boris felt? The madness and obsession was the
only thing my father had ever gifted me. The thundering in my ears
increased, the blood simmered under my skin. The madness was coming,
each breath I took fed it. I felt more than heard Scarlett’s soft footsteps on
the floor. I wanted to reach out and touch her so bad. I needed to feel her
skin. She grounded me and kept me sane. But another rejection would break
me.
“I love you too, Sergei.” Scarlett’s words were so low, I was sure I
imagined them. I was hallucinating. If there was a way for me to go and
lose myself into madness, this might be the best way. “I love you so much
that it hurts.”
“What did you say?” I rasped, peeling my eyes open. I had to be sure
my mind hadn't slipped already.
“I love you, Sergei.” Her eyes glimmered. “I want you and nobody else.
There is nobody better than you. There is nobody else for me.”
I waited but she said nothing else. She loves me. Scarlett gave me hope.
I put my glass down onto the side table, reached for her and pulled her onto
my lap. She didn’t fight me, didn’t push me away. I couldn’t bear to lose
her.
“Scarlett,” I breathed her in, burying my face into her neck. She pushed
her hands through my hair, her fingers scraping against my scalp. “Don’t
leave me, solnce.”
I sounded like a wimp but I didn’t give a fuck. I wanted to be her
everything, like she had become my everything.
“I won’t,” she whispered a promise.
I grabbed the nape of her head and brought her mouth into a hard kiss. I
wanted to conquer her, take back her surrender she gave me during our first
week together. Nothing less would do. She moaned into my mouth, her
body pressing against me.
The weeks without her were torture. No other woman would ever do
now that I’ve had Scarlett.
Breaking the kiss, I lifted her ass off me, so I could pull her panties
down her legs. Her eyes were hazed with desire, reflecting my own. Her
scent alone was enough to drive me over the cliff. It was uniquely hers and I
needed it like my own brand of cocaine.
I pushed her dress up over her hips. In rushed movements, she reached
for my pants and eagerly unfastened the belt, then pulled the zipper down,
opening my pants. Surprise flared in her eyes when she saw I had nothing
underneath. My cock was ready for her.
“Straddle me,” I demanded and she instantly obeyed.

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 SCARLETT

I t had never been like this with Sergei before. There was an
underlying desperation and need that pushed both of us into a
frenzy for each other. His mouth on me was merciless, his
hands rough, and I wanted more.
“Straddle me,” he ordered and I didn’t hesitate to obey. My mind was
gone, the desire and need for him dictating my responses.
My hands moved to grip his shoulders, lining his cock up with my
aching pussy. Feeling him hard at my entrance was almost enough to make
me orgasm.
“Down,” he groaned. His fingers dug into my hips and guided me down
onto his cock.
“Oh, God,” I moaned. “I missed you so much, Sergei.”
We were both breathing hard, and from the far corner of my mind, I was
glad he was affected by this as much as I was. He lifted my hips and
slammed me back down on his lap. My whole body burned with the
sensation, this need for him. And I knew he was the only one that could
ever sate it. I rode him faster up and down, his cock filling me to the hilt.
“Fuck, Scarlett,” he gritted as he threw his head back. “Just like that.”
My fingers dug into his shoulders, as I rode him hard. My thighs
trembled and my insides clenched around his cock, as if welcoming him
home. We were both lost in it. He lifted his hips off the chair, matching my
movements, fucking me hard. My whole body burned and shook as my
heart pounded in my throat.
 “My Scarlett,” he laid claim. I was wholeheartedly his. He leaned
forward and bit gently into my throat. The slight pain shot pleasure straight
to my core.
“Sergei!” I cried out his name, chasing after the pleasure he had given
me before. Every time with him, it was different and better. He kept
thrusting up at me as I ground my hips against him.
His hand took the nape of my head and brought our faces inches from
each other. “You’re mine,” he declared, as I moved harder and faster,
chasing the pleasure.
“Say it,” he ordered me.
“Please, Sergei,” I moaned, begging for the release. My thighs were
burning, I was so close.
“Say it,” he repeated in a hard tone. He was conquering me.
“I’m yours,” I surrendered. He bit my lower lip and sent sparks like
embers through my veins. Every nerve in my body exploded and sent
shockwaves of burning pleasure.
Slowly, the pleasure faded into a hum and my vision slowly focused
back on Sergei. The look in his eyes resembled reverence, love, and made
me want to cry.
“My solnce,” he murmured hoarsely. “I love you.”
He grabbed my hips hard and held me in place as he thrusted into me
over and over again, and I took all of him. Each pump of his hard shaft
brought on a new arousal and pleasure ignited within me. He fucked me
hard over and over again, and the moment my pussy tightened around his
cock as another wave of pleasure swept through me, his own release swept
him away and he followed me into the abyss.
With a grunt, he fell forward, burying his head in the crook of my neck.
Slowly, I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around him. This was all it
took, and my heart beat with tenderness for this man. I was a fool, it
probably never stopped beating for him.
The silence enveloped the office, the only sounds of our labored
breathing. But there was so much more, so many unspoken words lingering
in the air. And the spoken ones.
“Tell me again,” he murmured softly against my ear. “Tell me you love
me… please.”
I lifted my head and took his into my hands, our eyes locked. “Sergei, I
love you,” I professed. I didn’t want him to ever doubt it. “I will always
love you. Only you.”
I ached for a little boy that he was, so scared and alone without his
parents to offer comfort. His brothers were there for him but they were
children too. They must have had a hard time too. Then his dirtbag of a
father. Shit, Sergei’s father was also Anja’s father. Did Manciatti know?
Holy shit, there was so much to process.
But I guess this was a beginning. No more hiding or lying to each other.
“Sergei,” I whispered softly. “I have to tell you something.”
He stiffened slightly, his muscles tense under my palm.
“Don’t push me away, Scarlett,” he groaned softly. There was a hint of
despair in his voice. “I won’t give you up.”
“I trust you and love you,” I repeated. He would have to hear those
words often and I intended to give him my love and assurance for the rest of
my life. I inhaled his scent deep into my lungs. Each breath I took, he was
the reason behind it. And that knowledge scared me, knowing how easily he
made me fall for him. But with the fear, there was also hope booming in my
chest.
“I won’t push you away but I need you to listen to me,” I replied,
pulling my head up so I could look into his eyes. I needed him to see how
serious I was. “I need to know who you are, who you really are. My parents
have a good marriage because they love each other and because they know
each other better than anyone else. My father trusts my mother
unconditionally and vice versa.” I took a deep breath. “Right off the bat, we
are at a disadvantage. Maybe I can’t have a marriage like theirs but I won’t
settle for just existing as your wife. So I want to know you, the real you.
Not the charmer from four weeks ago. I want to know your worries and
fears, and help you through them. And I want to be sure you’ll have my
back when I need you. I know you will always protect me but I want to
protect you too. I don’t need you to be perfect, but I want you to know, no
matter what, I will still love you. And I won’t leave you.”
I wished I knew what he was thinking as he watched me. This man
wasn’t easy to read and he kept himself at bay. He had my whole heart,
body, and soul. I could understand that he had his fears after so many
people abandoned him but I couldn’t be happy with less.
Patience was never my virtue so I blurted out. “Do you think you could
work with that?”
 He nodded and I didn’t realize I held my breath waiting for his answer.
“Yes, Scarlett. I could work with that.” We might both be idiots but at least
we would be together. “I fucking love you so much. I worried I’d become
my father if you left me. The madness ate at me, thinking about life without
you.”
“You won’t become your father.” I was certain of that. “You are a good
man and I’ll never leave you.” I leaned towards his lips and before I kissed
him, I murmured softly. “And you better never leave me.”
He responded with a chuckle and his smile took my breath away.
“Never.” It was his promise. “I want to marry you tonight so you can’t leave
me.“
I wouldn’t mind it at all. He was still inside me, I was straddling his lap,
and I readied myself to deliver one of the biggest news of my life.
“I have to tell you another thing.” I remembered what he said about us
getting pregnant before so I didn’t think he’d take the news of my
pregnancy bad. But I was still nervous. “I’m pregnant,” I told him with a
sigh. “I didn’t want to say anything till I took the test but… yeah, I’m
definitely pregnant.”
What I didn’t expect was for a wide smile to spread on his face.
“Seriously?” His arms wrapped tights around me. “You are having my
baby?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. I would forever blame all these swings in
my emotions on pregnancy hormones. Either that, or I was on my way to
losing my mind.
“Yes, your baby,” I murmured softly. “Our baby.” His eyes glistened
and I couldn’t help but choke up. I placed my palm against his cheek with
tenderness. I knew without a doubt he’d be a good father. “And you will be
a wonderful father, Sergei. I know it.”
I wrapped my arms around him and held him tight. “Our kids will love
you as much as I do,” I whispered in his ear.
“You want more kids?” His voice slightly shook, and I could only
imagine all the emotions he was going through.
“Heck yes. But only with you.” I wanted our children to have a home
like I had growing up. “I want it all with you.”

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 SERGEI

N othing had ever made me as happy as hearing Scarlett’s words.

She was having my baby, our baby. I knew I was an asshole,
because when she left her morning after pill behind, I didn’t
bother reminding her about it. I hoped for a family with her. Fuck, I prayed
for it. My heart pounded with joy. Scarlett and our children would be the
most precious and valuable gift ever. I didn’t deserve it but I wanted it
nonetheless. I would fight anyone and anything that tried to take her away
from me.
“Are you happy about the baby?” I asked her cautiously. She was still
young, and I was forced on her.
“I am. It came about the unorthodox way,” she murmured. I frowned at
her words and she quickly explained, “You were supposed to be a summer
fling, Sergei. And everything kind of spiraled out of control. And then the
kidnapping, fearing you dead, and then coming to find out you are the man
my dad insisted for the past eight years I marry.”
Ok, I’d give her that much. It was a bit unorthodox.
“But yes,” she spoke softly. “I’m happy about the baby.”
I sighed in relief. She would be a good mother. I didn’t have any
foundation to be a good father but she did. I would do right by her and our
child.
“I promise I will be a good husband and father,” I vowed to her. “I
didn’t have parents to mirror what a good father is but I will kill and torture
anyone that tries to harm you or our baby. I love you and our baby.” I
placed my hand gently over her lower belly. Fuck, I might even start crying
from happiness. Maybe Scarlett’s pregnancy hormones were hitting me too?
She chuckled softly again and it was the best sound. “We can start with
that. And Sergei,” she spoke softly. “You will be a great father. Don’t ever
doubt it.”
I noted she didn’t say a great husband, but I would prove it to her. I had
the rest of my life to show her I’d be a good husband to her.
“Let’s go to bed, solnce,” I nibbled her ear. “Sleep in my room tonight
and every night.”
She shrugged her one shoulder. “Sure.” I couldn’t help but grin at her
and she shook her head. “I give in to you too easily,” she murmured low, as
if she was talking to herself.

I woke up with Scarlett cuddled up to me and the world seemed right. Just
the way it should be. I watched her sleep and something shifted in my chest.
I never expected this; I never expected her. All the deceit came crashing
back like a typhoon and there was nobody else to blame but me. But life
gave me another chance. I wouldn’t waste it. There would be no more lies
lingering between my woman and me. I wanted to clear them all up with
her. I would make my woman happy.
I had to find a way to talk to my brothers too. I owed them the truth.
After everything they have done for me, it was the least I could do for them.
Scarlett was right. My brothers always had my back, even when I didn’t
deserve it. I should have trusted them with the information on the identity
of my father. They would be upset I kept such a big secret from them but I
would never give up on them.
My phone buzzed and I glanced over to see Michail asking to talk.
What the heck? It was barely six in the morning. It must have been
important if he felt the need to message this early. I gently lifted off the bed,
careful not to wake up Scarlett. She mumbled something and buried her
head into the pillow where I laid mere seconds ago. I couldn’t help but
chuckle. If our baby slept as soundly as Scarlett, we’d have a wonderful
first two years.
 My family. It sounded too good to be true. I wished for it so bad but
always thought it wouldn’t happen to me.
I quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and a shirt and grabbed my combat
boots. I placed my hand on her head and kissed her on the crown of her
head, then exited the room barefoot. Michail was waiting for me in front of
it.
“Fuck, Michail,” I spat at him in Russian. “Did you stand here all
night?”
His lip quirked into a half smile, and I quickly pulled on my combat
boots. “No, but you and your woman should really learn to shut the doors.”
I raised my eyebrow. “Our bedroom door was shut all night.”
“Yes, but your office door wasn’t,” he chuckled. “Not last night.”
“You sick voyeur,” I pushed him. Neither Scarlett nor I realized we left
the door open till we headed to bed. But it was too late then.
“Don’t worry,” he teased. “I didn’t see anything, only heard a little bit.”
“Why the fuck were you coming to my office anyhow?”
“To share with you how Brian Ryker found Scarlett.”
That piqued my interest. “How?”
“Irina.”
“What?” I must have not heard him right.
“Irina,” he repeated. “She was the anonymous tip. That number she
called him on was untraceable but apparently, she reached out to him again.
He came by last night to let us know. She accidentally ran into him. He
doesn’t like her and doesn’t trust her.”
“Smart man,” I mumbled under my breath.
Although, it didn’t make any sense. She couldn’t possibly even know
about this place. I didn’t purchase this property till years later.
“How would she know about this place?” Michail asked. We continued
talking in hushed tones, sticking to Russian.
“She wouldn’t,” I told him. “She shouldn’t. Let’s go into the office. I
don’t want to wake up Scarlett.”
“I don’t want to sit on that chair,” he scoffed, his eyes shining with
amusement.
“You sick fuck,” I punched him in the arm. “You better not have
watched my woman.”
“It wasn’t my intent but it is hard to unsee now what little I saw,” he
muttered, laughing. “But I’m glad you guys worked it out.”
 Throwing him a side glance I could see he was sincere, aside from all
the joking. “We are working on it.”
“Good. She’s a good woman, and she’ll do right by you,” he
commented. “And you will do right by her. Don’t even doubt it.”
“Thank you,” I appreciated his words more than he’d ever know. “She’s
pregnant.”
The shocked expression on his face was priceless but he quickly got
himself together. “Congratulations! I guess it makes sense now, her weird
sleeping habits and her weird moods.”
We were in my office and I shut the door.
“Don’t let Scarlett hear you say that. She might gut you… and me,” I
joked, and we both chuckled. “Thank you for keeping her safe,” I told him
somberly, leaning against my table. I trusted Michail as much as I trusted
my brothers. And that said something.
“Always,” he replied without reservation. “After everything you’ve
done for me.”
I waved my hand. He thought too much about that; it wasn’t worth
mentioning.
“I mean it, Sergei,” he continued. “If it wasn’t for you, I would have lost
all my siblings.” The problem was the one sibling that we lost was still a
heavy burden on both of us. Neither one of us would rest easy till we found
out what happened to her.
“One life lost to that kind of life is too many,” I muttered with a heavy
knot in my stomach. We could never find out what happened to his sister
but we both feared she might be dead.
“Agreed,” he acknowledged, sorrow evident on his face. “But thanks to
your help, I’m able to search for answers.”
The heavy silence lingered in the air. I knew very well how much
Michail needed answers. And I wanted to help him get them.
“Okay, back to the subject at hand,” Michail switched subjects. “Irina
knows about your place.”
“I want to know how Irina knows about this place. If the Polish are
coming after us, we might have to move,” I told him. It angered me that she
would know about it. What else did that woman know? “Now that Vlad is
openly going against my brothers and I, we’ll need to ensure security is
tight. And he’s been spotted in St. Petersburg.”
 I didn’t like that man in the same country as Scarlett, not to mention the
same city. Now I knew he was the one that led Boris’ men to Scarlett and
me, in his attempt to capture Anastasia.
“That man is a snake,” Michail never liked Vlad either. He hadn’t been
around him as long as Nikolai, Dimitry, and I have but his sentiments
reflected our own. We’ve known Vlad since we were children. He wasn’t
batshit crazy like Boris but he was sneaky and just as cruel.
Michail had good instincts. “About Irina, I called in a few favors. I
thought it unlikely you would have shared any information with her, so I’m
chasing a few leads.”
“Anything worth talking about?” I asked him. I had utmost confidence
in Michail, and knew I could rely on him.
“Not yet, but I can tell you this,” he replied. “I got confirmation that
Irina is running the whole Polish mob operation. Bartek is just a puppet.”
We thought as much but this was a firm confirmation. “She got in bed with
the Lebanese in her human smuggling business. Rumor is the Polish are
unhappy with her. They didn’t care for Bartek but they outright hate her.
They don’t want to be part of human trafficking but are too scared to speak
up, because people turn up dead for far less.”
Anastasia’s words rang in my ears. My mom used to say that things in
life end up exactly as they should. We might not see it that very moment but
eventually we’ll realize it.
I was starting to see that to be true. Irina was never the one for me.
A soft knock sounded on the door and I knew who it was before the
door even opened. Scarlett’s dark, messy bed hair peeked through.
“Oh, hey you two,” she murmured. “Working already?”
“Come on in,” I told her. I wanted to pull her and wrap my arms around
her, but didn’t want to smother her with my affections.
She walked in with a tentative smile, glancing between Michail and me.
I hoped she’d walk into my arms, but didn’t expect it. Instead she sat on the
chair that we got busy on last night and Michail promptly averted his eyes,
clearing his throat.
“Maybe you should sit over here, Scarlett?” Michail suggested a
wooden chair, next to the table.
I glared at him. I would shoot him if he made her uncomfortable.
“Why?” she asked, confusion in her eyes. She had a pair of sleeping
shorts on, with a white tank top.
 “It was just an idea,” he murmured, moving his eyes away from the
chair. I could see already, I’d have to move it to another location. Maybe
our bedroom, I thought smugly.
“Sergei, I was thinking,” her voice pulled me back from the naughty
things I wanted to do to my woman. “I think I should see a doctor.”
I immediately straightened up, naughty things forgotten. I eyed her for
any sign of illness. “Are you not feeling well?”
“No, no,” she quickly assured me. “But I think, maybe, I should see an
OB/GYN. I need to get prenatal vitamins and have blood tests run, that kind
of stuff.”
Fuck, I wanted to go over to her and hug her tight. Our baby. I smiled at
her. She was right, of course.
“Yes, I’ll get us an appointment,” I told her. “Today. My friend knows
the top OB/GYN in the city. Women from all over the world come and see
him. We’ll go see him.”
She chuckled. “I think they are pretty much all the same but make sure
he’s a real doctor.”
I swore when she smiled at me like that, I wanted to push Michail out
the door and take her all over again.
“Congratulations, Scarlett,” Michail chimed in. “I feel stupid now for
not noticing it, as tired as you were. My cousin had the same tiredness. I’m
happy for you two.”
Scarlett’s eyes shone like diamonds. “Thank you, Michail. It’s too early
to announce it so we should not tell people. Besides, it is probably best we
see a doctor first.”
I was already typing a message, requesting the appointment.
“Oh, and don’t tell my parents,” she mumbled. “Definitely don’t tell my
parents.”
I raised my eyes in surprise at that request. I would have thought she’d
want to tell them right away.
“Why not?” I asked her curiously, although her parents never even
crossed my mind.
“Let’s just wait a bit,” she pleaded. “Otherwise, they’ll jump on a plane
and demand we get married tomorrow.”
I watched her, trying to understand what was going through her mind.
“Michail, can you give us a minute?” I asked him, never wavering from
Scarlett.
 “Sure thing. I’ll touch base with you later.”
As soon as he was gone, I walked over to Scarlett.
“Did you change your mind about us? About the wedding?” I asked her.
Sometimes, old ghosts were harder to squash.
“No, I am committed to it,” she assured me, grabbing my hand with
both of hers. “I just want to do it slowly and not be forced to do it
immediately. And they will force it to happen tomorrow.”
“I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” I told her.
“But I am,” she sat up straight, agitation written all over her pretty face.
“I don’t want to be forced. It will be on our terms.”
“Ours or yours?”
“Sergei, please, try to understand. I want it to be on our terms. There is
so much we don’t know about each other. Just give us some time. I love
you, but when we get married, I want Anja and Olivia at our wedding. And
your brothers too.”
“Okay.” I didn’t want her to rebel, and I knew if I forced the issue,
Scarlett would aim for the opposite. Besides, she had a valid point. We
wanted my brothers and her friends there. She deserved a dream wedding.
“But I do have one firm condition.”
“Yes?” There was caution in her voice.
“We need to be married before our baby is born. I want our child’s birth
to start on the right foot.”
Scarlett stood up and wrapped her arms around me. “I agree. I’ll add
another condition,” she tilted her head up to meet my gaze. “We’ll get
married before I’m big and round.”
“You got it, solnce,” I bent my head down and pressed a kiss on her lips.
Her words also hinted she wouldn’t make me wait for a long time.
“I love you,” she murmured against my lips, her eyelids heavy. I would
never tire of hearing those words from her. She made my world brighter and
warmer.
“And I love you,” I told her. “You are my sun, earth, and moon.”
I liked this side of Scarlett, and I loved us together. This woman showed
me she loved me with every touch and every look she gave me.
The vibrating noise of my cell phone interrupted the moment. I thought
it was Michail again with some smartass comment. It was too early in the
day for anyone else to message. The sun wasn’t even up yet, for fuck’s
sake.
 I frowned seeing the message from Nikolai.
*Vlad’s men got Olivia.*
*Leaving now.*
“Fuck!”
“What’s the matter?” Scarlett’s face held worry.
My first instinct was to tell her everything was fine. I didn’t want her to
worry about anything in her condition. Just as I was about to tell her not to
worry about anything, I changed my mind. We agreed on doing this
together.
“Don’t get upset,” I tried to soothe the blow. “Olivia was kidnapped.”
The way her face paled alarmed me. “How?”
My phone rang and Dimitry’s name flashed on the screen. I pulled
Scarlett closer to me, wrapping my arms around her. I wanted to comfort
her and for her to hear firsthand the conversation with my brother.
“Dimitry,” I answered the phone.
“Are you good, brother?” he questioned, his voice worried. “Is your
woman safe?”
“Yes, everything is good here.” Hearing Dimitry’s voice and his worry
only confirmed my prior resolution to come clean to my brothers. But first
we needed to help Olivia. “Are they taking her to Moscow?”
“Yes, they boarded the plane for Moscow.”
“I’ll leave now and be in Moscow in two hours, tops three.”
“Sergei, you stay and watch your woman,” Dimitry stopped me. “If shit
goes down and something happens to Nikolai and me, you are the only one
I trust to keep Anastasia and Scarlett safe.”
I sought out Scarlett’s gaze. She was carrying our baby. My brother was
right. If something happened, Anastasia and Scarlett would be left
vulnerable. Michail would protect Scarlett but he wouldn’t be able to get
her and Anja out of the country.
“You got it,” I vowed to him. “You two make sure you stay safe. And
bring Olivia back unscratched. Otherwise, Scarlett will be upset and I can’t
have her be upset in her condition.”
“Her condition?”
Scarlett gave me a silent nod, tears shining in her eyes. “We are having
a baby.”
“My little brother is having a baby?” Dimitry’s voice was full of
disbelief. And truthfully, he was right to doubt me a bit. I have been the
most irresponsible of the three of us. “Seriously?”
“Yes. So you better make sure all of you get out of there safe. I want my
kid to have uncles and aunts.”
Dimitry chuckled. “You got it, brother. I am so proud of you.”
“Thank you. I wouldn’t be here without you.” I meant those words.
There was so much I owed to him and Nikolai. “Be safe. There is much we
have to talk about.”
“Congratulations to you and your woman. And tell Scarlett, welcome to
the family.”
I hung up and Scarlett’s arms wrapped tight around me. “They’ll all be
okay, right?”
Cupping her cheeks, I held her face between my palms. “Nikolai and
Dimitry are the best men I know. They will save your friend. Trust me.”

The tension was high all morning. Scarlett kept pacing back and forth,
unable to settle her nerves. Sonia tried to keep her distracted but it didn’t
work. If anything, it made her more tense. I wished I could help her relax,
ease her mind. I assured her Nikolai would never let anything happen to
Olivia. He would protect her, no matter the cost.
I knew my brother. He was overprotective of women and children but
those he loved, he was downright brutal in his need to protect them. He and
Dimitry both. Fuck, I saw it firsthand. They’ve watched over me from the
moment I stepped foot into that orphanage. I remembered nothing from that
age. But from what I learned, I was malnourished and couldn’t speak. The
staff at the orphanage was more than happy to divulge information I was
dumped on their doorstep at the age of two, on my birthday. They said my
mother told them I was an idiot. She couldn’t care for a child that couldn’t
speak.
Dimitry and Nikolai taught me everything; how to speak, hold a spoon,
read, write, and fight. If anyone tried to get close to me, they’d beat them
up.
Dimitry didn’t know about the man that got to me. There was another
bastard that bragged to the men about hurting me and making me his bitch.
Dimitry hunted him down and killed him. That action consequently saved
me from my abuser too. Because Dimitry made a statement; he’d hunt
down anyone that messed with us. That’s why I had no doubt my brothers
would save Scarlett’s friend and come out of it safe.
The memory of that night I went hunting for the man who hurt me as a
kid was still fresh in my mind. I was barely nineteen, and with the training
from Dimitry and Nikolai, I felt strong. The rage had fueled me for years
and the thirst for revenge kept me going when Dimitry pushed me hard in
training.
The humidity lingered heavily that day. The stench of the stale air was a
smell that would forever remind me of that night. I had been watching his
movements for weeks and waited for the perfect time to strike. He lived in
the ritzy part of the city where killings usually didn’t happen.
But that would change tonight. Because he would finally pay for what
he’d done with his life. As dusk fell over the street, I saw his car pull up to
his fancy home, watching as he got out, and entered the house.
The car drove off, leaving the bastard alone but I remained still, waiting
in the shadows, stalking. I had all the time in the world. As the last of the
light of the day vanished, I made my way up to the house, sticking to the
shadows.
I went around back, where the unlocked door waited for me. I entered,
the only sound was the ticking of a clock. It was counting down the time this
motherfucker had left on this earth.
I made my way through the kitchen and the hallway, up the stairs where
I knew I’d find him. I knew the layout of this house like the back of my hand.
I’d studied it in detail.
“Kneel down,” I heard that fucker’s harsh voice. A whimper followed
by a whip, stuck through the air and then I saw it. There was a young boy of
maybe ten, kneeling down, stripped down only to his boxer shorts. This sick
asshole was whipping his bare back, getting off on torturing the young boy.
I hadn’t seen the boy exit the car with him and thought the sick bastard must
have kept him locked up somewhere in the house. He stood behind the boy,
the whip hanging loosely in his grip. He had stripped out of the suit he’d
been wearing and stood barefoot, in his white undershirt and dress slacks.
I swung the door open, wasting no time in getting down to business. I
cracked my knuckles and against the silence of the room, it sounded harsh
and threatening. Both of their heads snapped to me and a flicker of
recognition in the old man’s dark eyes was all I needed.
 “What’s your name, kid?” I asked, my eyes never wavering from the
sick motherfucker I would kill very soon. Angry red whelps marked the pale
skin of his small back, and I was thankful he’d yet to break the skin.
“Ivan, sir.” His voice was small, scared. There was a fear in his crystal
blue eyes, and I was pulled back to the times I’d been the one in his
position. The memories threatened to overtake me then and there but I
fought to keep a clear head.
“Are you okay?” I asked the boy.
The eyes of the old bastard before me never flinched from mine nor did
he open his mouth to object. He knew this was between only us.
“Y-yes,” he stuttered. “He only whipped me twice.”
“Go home,” I told him. “Don’t tell anyone you saw this man today. And
never come back here. Okay?”
“Okay. Thank you.”
In a rushed movement, the boy got dressed and walked past me. “Thank
you, sir.”
I acknowledged him with a quick nod and he scurried out of the house.
“Now, pass me that whip,” I ordered.
“Fuck you.”
I pulled out my gun and shot him in the foot. He wailed like a baby,
while blood seeped through his sock and onto his expensive Persian rug.
“Pass me the whip, asshole,” I repeated. “Next time, it will go straight
through your sick brain.”
It must have finally sunk in, because he threw me the whip. Fear flashed
in his eyes and I relished in it. I caught it with my other hand and put my
gun away. Instead, I unsheathed my knife. A quick death would be too good
for this bastard.
“Kneel down,” I ordered him. Now, it was his turn. I could see the
objection in his eyes but I knew the fear in his body was overriding
everything. Because it had been the same fear I’d felt as a child each time
he came for me. He did as ordered, his legs visibly shaking. Not so tough
anymore, motherfucker.
I walked over to him and grabbed a fistful of his hair, pulling his head
upwards. I lifted my knife and stabbed him in the eye. Warm, crimson blood
spurted from the socket and the madness inside of me roared in excitement
at the sight. I didn’t let him move and watched with rage burning inside me
as blood pooled and trickled down his face. He squealed like the coward he
was, begging for mercy.
He would get none from me. Instead, I jabbed my knife into his other
eye careful not to push it in too far and hit his mush of a brain and end his
torture too soon. Another stream of blood releasing from the other eye. His
screams tore through the house and I savored the sound as it rented the
silence and echoed around us. It made me want to laugh and dance, even
though I’d never been one for dancing. But then, I was just a bit crazy.
I watched his body writhe in pain and part of me wanted to slowly slice
and dice him but keep him alive so he’d endure it for hours. To anyone
watching it would have been a sickening sight at how much I was enjoying
his pained whimpers. Euphoria washed through me with each scream, each
groan. Years of dreaming about delivering my revenge and it was better
than I hoped for. There must have been something wrong with me. Of course
there was; I was the mad one, the psychopath of the group. It didn’t matter
though, because this man deserved it.
If I ever hurt an innocent person, then I’d ask my brothers to kill me.
They wouldn’t let me sink into the madness. I knew they’d kill me first.
I went against my need to slowly torture him and listen to his agonized
screams all night. I had spent enough time letting him consume my life in
one way or another. Instead, I stabbed the knife straight into his heart,
slicing through the skin and cracking bone. His body dropped to the floor
like a sack of potatoes. I stood over his body, watching the light extinguish
in his eyes and peace came over me.
My phone rang, pulling me out of the ugly past. I immediately answered
it, expecting Nikolai or Dimitry to check in.
“Da?”
“Hey Sergei.” It was Anja’s voice that greeted me.
“Is everything okay?” I asked her in alarm. I immediately cursed myself
because Scarlett’s head snapped to me in worry.
“Yes, yes,” Anja quickly assured me. “I’m just going out of my mind
and was hoping I could talk to Scarlett. I miss her and just needed to talk.”
Inwardly, I cursed myself. I haven't given Scarlett a phone. I needed to
be a better boyfriend, husband, future husband… whatever I was.
“Is this a good number to call you back on?” I asked her instead.
“Yes.”
 “Give me two minutes and I’ll have Scarlett call you from another line,”
I told her. “I want to keep this line open in case Dimitry or Nikolai need
something.”
“Okay. Yes, that makes sense. I should have thought of it.”
I chuckled because it wasn’t really a standard way of thinking for
someone of her background.
“Two minutes,” I repeated and hung up.
I took Scarlett’s hand and headed for my room. “Where are we going?
Who was that?”
“It was Anja.” Scarlett’s gasp followed but before she could say another
thing, I continued. “I have been a terrible boyfriend.”
Scarlett actually chuckled. “I think you are a bit more than a boyfriend.
Don’t you?”
I grinned, happy at my promotion. “I hoped. Either way, I kept you
away from your friends and family. It is unforgivable.”
We arrived in my room and I scrambled through my drawer in search of
her phone. The moment I found it, I quickly put it on the charger. While it
was powering on, I turned around to find Scarlett smiling.
“I think you are right, Sergei.” Her eyes were shining mischievously.
“You have been a horrible almost husband. I deserve a kiss and maybe I’ll
forgive you.”
I bent my head and took her mouth into a kiss. Her hands came around
my waist, her small body melding into mine. I would give her all the kisses
she wanted and needed.
“Please forgive me… for everything,” I murmured against her lips. She
opened her eyes and kissed me, while her lips curved into a smile.
“How could I not when you kiss me like that,” she spoke softly against
my mouth.
I have never been a happier man than at this moment, even with the
Vlad and Malcome threat looming around. This woman and our big family
was what life was about… our child, my brothers, her friends that would
become my sisters.
“Call Anja so she doesn’t worry,” I urged her to her phone. She sat
herself on the bed and criss crossed her legs, grabbing her phone still
hooked on the charger off the nightstand. Like this, she looked barely legal.
She caught me staring at her and a smile spread over her face again.
 “Want to stay here with me?” she offered, reaching her hand towards
me. I took it and placed a kiss on her palm.
“No, I’ll leave you to it. I’ll be in my office, in case my brothers call the
landline.”
She nodded. “Will you let me know the moment you hear something
please?”
“I will. Don’t worry about anything.”

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 SCARLETT

“S carlett?” Anja answered on the first ring.

“Oh my God,” I exclaimed. “I feel like it has been years!”
“I know,” she agreed. “Are you okay? Is Sergei treating
you well?”
I laughed. “The question is whether you are okay? I heard you were
shot.”
“Oh, that was ages ago. I’m good though. Just worried about Dimitry,
Nikolai, and Olivia.”
I was worried about them too but didn’t want to add to either one of our
anxieties. “Sergei said Dimitry and Nikolai are the best. And Nikolai won’t
let anything happen to Olivia.”
We both took deep exhales. “You are right. I just hate that Malcome has
her in his clutches again.”
“I know.” That man was a sick bastard. “I hope Nikolai kills him and
makes it hurt so bad that he cries like a little girl.”
“Whoa, bloodthirsty,” she teased but she didn’t seem bothered at all. “I
hope they torture him for days.”
I scoffed. “And you call me bloodthirsty,” I joked. “So, you and Dimitry
are an item? You must be if you took a bullet for him.”
“I love him.” I smiled at her simple proclamation.
“Your folks good with it?” After all, Anastasia was a daughter of a state
prosecutor.
“Yes, they are. Dad and Grandad are actually here with me. Dimitry told
them they can stay for as long as they wished, so they never left.”
 I started laughing. “I am sorry. I am having a hard time picturing that.”
She chuckled. “Right? Who knew! But tell me how are you?”
“I’m good. It was hard in the beginning, and I was mad at Sergei for
kidnapping me but we worked through it. There is still a lot we have to
figure out but we’ll do it together.”
“That’s wonderful.” I could tell by her voice she was happy. “All three
of us and three of them.”
“Now that is bizarre, isn’t it?”
I just already imagine Anja shrugging her shoulder. “It was meant to be.
But what about your arranged marriage?”
“Now you are really going to fall off your chair,” I told her. “Make sure
you are sitting down. Sergei is the one my father arranged the marriage
with.”
“What?” She pretty much screeched into the phone.
“Right?”
“But you didn’t say that when you were going out with him.”
“I didn’t know it was him. I never knew his name and boom… here we
are.”
“Holy shit. He really likes you then, ha?”
“Well, he didn’t really know me when he made the agreement with Dad.
Either way, it worked out. I love him and we are having a baby.”
“What?” She screamed again. “Are you trying to give me a heart
attack?”
“I would never,” I retorted jokingly. “But seriously. I’m pregnant. And I
sure as hell hope you and Olivia won’t leave me hanging. It would be great
if we all had kids together. So we can complain to each other about
sleepless nights.”
Anja’s booming laugh echoed through the line. “Okay, as soon as
Dimitry gets back, we’ll start working on creating a family. I particularly
like the act that leads to it.”
“I like this promiscuous side of you,” I teased her. “When did that
happen?”
“Little after he and Nikolai saved me.”
That reminded me that Sergei was the reason she was captured. “Sergei
told me he kidnapped you and handed you over to those men. I am so sorry,
Anja.”
 The line went quiet and I pondered if I made a mistake bringing it up.
But it was too big of an event to sweep it under the rug. I loved Sergei and I
loved my friend. I wasn’t willing to give up either one of them.
“I’m actually proud of him for telling you. Honestly, the more things
unfold, it seems he actually saved us all. I know he didn’t do it to hurt me.
He was trying to save you. And how could I fault him for it?”
My throat constricted, my emotions all over the place. “Ah, damn it,” I
muttered on a sob.
“Why are you crying?” Anastasia seemed puzzled. “I’m not mad at him.
In fact, I like him very much. He’ll be a great brother-in-law.”
Shit, she didn’t know that Sergei was actually her brother. I couldn’t tell
her that. It was for Sergei to break it to his brothers and Anja.
“These pregnancy hormones are a killer. I’m crying when I’m happy
and when I’m sad. It’s ridiculous.”
She started laughing. “Great. You want me to get pregnant so I can be
all crazy emotional like you.”
We talked for another ten minutes all the while the worry lingered in our
mind for Olivia and Sergei’s brothers. I was happy we could at least spend
it talking and keeping each other company.
The bedroom door opened and Sergei showed up.
“Everything okay?” I asked him and he nodded the same time Anastasia
muttered into the headset.
“Listen, Dimitry is calling me. I’ll talk to you later. Okay? Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I pressed the end call and ran over to Sergei, throwing myself into his
open arms. “So Olivia is safe? Your brothers too?”
“Yes, they are all good. Nikolai and Olivia are going back to their home
and Dimitry back to Anja.”
A huge relief swept through me. “Thank God.”
I remained in his arms, enjoying his strong hands around me. I knew he
worried about his brothers too. It couldn’t be helped. No matter how strong
we were, we would always worry about the ones we loved.
“Are you feeling okay?” His mouth pressed against the crown of my
head.
“Yes. I told Anja we were having a baby. But I didn’t tell her about any
of the other stuff.”
 His nod was solemn. “I’ll let my brothers have some rest, but I want to
tell them. I kept that secret too long from them.”
I pressed my hand against his cheek. “They’ll still love you. You are
their brother first and foremost. It takes a lot more than conceiving a baby
to be a father. Boris never deserved that title.”
Watching Sergei, I wondered if I should bring up what has been
weighing on my mind. I didn’t want to upset him. Today has been stressful
enough.
“Ask me,” he could read me too easily. “Whatever is on your mind, just
ask me.”
Inhaling deeply, I went for it. “I worry about staying in this crime
world. One of the reasons I fought against the arranged marriage was
because I didn’t want to be part of the mafia world. I didn’t want to raise a
family among all the threats and danger. I’ll stand by you, I just-”
“My brothers and I are pulling out,” he cut me off. “We have been
working on pulling out for a while now.”
“Seriously?” I couldn’t believe that all the pieces would fall into place
so perfectly. “Sonia mentioned your brothers might be trying to go legal but
I wasn’t sure.”
“I want to get all this behind us. Once Vlad is eliminated, I want to get
married and enjoy our life together. You, our children, and me.” I smiled at
his wide grin. “Some weeks we’ll invite your parents and my brothers, but
mostly it will be just us. Because I’m greedy like that.”
“I like your greediness,” I beamed. “But don’t forget. We’ll need
babysitters so we have to keep the family close.”
“Ah, right you are,” he retorted, laughing. “I want to have lots of dates
with my wife.”
Life was good and getting better by the minute!

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 SERGEI

I t was the first week of November and the weather was already
turning cold. I fucking hated winter and snow. Even to this day,
I found no appeal to flurries. I’d rather slash my legs than
willingly go skiing. Why would anyone go out and freeze their balls off in
the snow was beyond me!
Scarlett and I kept talking about living arrangements. She wanted to live
in the States but agreed we would visit Russia in the summers. It didn’t
matter to me as long as we were together… and it wasn’t fucking cold.
I was eager to start my life with Scarlett. Dealing with the threats
became tiresome but I knew unless we eliminated them now, we’d be
hunted for the rest of our lives. And I wasn’t willing to spend my years
looking over my shoulder, worrying whether they’d hurt my wife, children,
or brothers. Because Vlad wouldn’t have qualms about hurting my family.
Neither would Irina and Bartek. Those had to be eliminated.
I left Scarlett asleep in our bed. It has been barely a week since Olivia’s
rescue. My brothers arrived in St. Petersburg late last night. We planned to
surprise all three of the girls with a reunion.
But first, I had to talk to my brothers. It was barely seven in the
morning. I was sure Dimitry and Nikolai were cursing me for dragging
them out of bed so early. I couldn’t blame them. I would have much rather
remained in bed to wake up with my tongue between my woman’s legs.
But this couldn’t wait anymore.
“Damn it, little brother,” Nikolai grumbled. “I hope you at least have
hot coffee for me.”
 “Fuck, Sergei,” Dimitry grumbled. “This couldn’t have waited till we
brought the girls over?”
“No, I wanted to tell you two first.”
We huddled into the guard house. I gave my gate men the next few
hours off so we’d be uninterrupted.
“You won’t even take us into the house?” Nikolai questioned with a
raised eyebrow. “I promise I’ll be a good uncle to your baby.”
Both Dimitry and him chuckled. Dimitry smiled a lot more since he met
Anja. They sat at the small table, opposite of each other and left the middle
seat for me. I couldn’t help but smile. Certain habits were hard to break.
Those two always put me in between them, trying to keep me safe.
“I hope you’ll still want to be an uncle to my baby after I tell you what I
have been keeping from you two,” I told them seriously.
Suddenly, both their faces turned somber. I poured a fresh cup of coffee
for both of them and sat down. I didn’t need a cup. I was jacked up enough
on the adrenaline pumping through my veins. I took the middle seat.
“Serg, what is it?” Dimitry used to call me that when we were children
and I was upset.
I took a deep breath and then exhaled. “I don’t even know where to start
with this.” I pushed my hand through my hair and thought of Scarlett. I
owed it to her to be a better man. I couldn’t keep a secret like this forever.
“Remember when Boris gave you that scar?” I asked Nikolai the stupid
question. Of course he remembered it. Neither one of us could ever forget.
“A few months later, I learned who my parents were. I had been searching
for months, relentlessly. I wanted to know how they could dump me like
that.”
“Brother, that’s on them,” Dimitry put his hand on my shoulder. “Trust
me. I looked up my parents and found only my mother. She regretted
nothing. She wasn’t worth my love.”
“Yeah, my mother didn’t regret dumping my ass either,” I muttered.
“But she did give me my true birth certificate that showed my birth name
and who my father was.”
I raised my eyes and my stomach churned. I tortured men, gutted men
alive, and I never felt sick. But the knowledge that Nikolai and Dimitry
suffered through many beatings and endured scars to protect me from Boris,
my own father, made me sick to my stomach. They should have never
endured it.
 “Brother, whatever it is,” Nikolai spoke up, “we are in this together.
Always.”
“Both of you have protected me and raised me.”
“Okay, if you call me mother, I’ll have to beat your ass,” Nikolai joked.
“As long as I’m the father,” Dimitry added teasingly.
I swallowed hard. “Just remember that no matter what, I would still
consider you my brothers. And I won’t blame you if you no longer want
anything to do with me.”
“Sergei, you are starting to worry me,” Nikolai grumbled. “I promised
Olivia no more cursing since we are trying for a family but fuck… you are
making me fucking sweat.”
I pulled out the birth certificate out of my pocket and placed it on the
table. I destroyed all the evidence of my parents and traceability to them.
This was the last piece. “Boris was my father. I found out a few months
after he gave Nikolai the scar.” I took a deep breath. “I should have said
something but knowing everything he had done, all the sacrifices you made
for me. I regretted ever finding out. It was better not knowing.”
Now that it was finally out in the open, it felt like a heavy weight was
off my chest. Although dread of losing them still lingered. My brothers
must have stopped breathing. I watched them, waiting. For what, I wasn’t
sure.
“Fuck, brother,” Nikolai spat. “And you kept this boiling inside for
fourteen years?”
Dimitry picked up the birth certificate and his eyes roamed over it. He
put it back down and his steel grey eyes met mine. Dimitry made people
piss themselves. So did Nikolai. Their brutality didn’t scare me; it was
losing them as my family. But what could I possibly say in my defense?
“Did he know?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so. I didn’t tell him and the woman,” I
couldn’t even say my mother, because really she wasn’t. “She claimed she
never told him.”
“How does a bastard like that,” Dimitry uttered, “end up procreating
two awesome kids?”
He shook his head in disbelief while I stared at him in shock. If there
was anything I expected, it wasn’t this.
I turned my head to Nikolai, waiting to see disgust on his face. But there
was none.
 “Brother, you are not him. Nothing Boris has done is on you.” Fuck, I
really loved my brothers. “You are family. I don’t give a shit who your
parents are. The moment they left you there, you were our family.”
“Ditto, brother. And don’t forget he didn’t spare you all the beatings.”
“But you got the worst of it,” I reminded him. “You and Nikolai…
because you always moved his attention from me to you.”
“You were so young when we joined his group. Barely eight,” Dimitry
muttered. He would forever be the protective one.
“You were eight once too,” I reminded him. “And you had nobody
protecting you in the orphanage. You and Nikolai are the only reason I lived
into adulthood.”
“No,” Nikolai disagreed. “We survived into adulthood because of each
other. You might not see it, brother, but when we wanted to give up, you
helped us through. Together we are stronger.”
“Yes, brother,” Dimitry added. “Together, we are fucking invincible.”
“Fuck,” I muttered, my throat hurting at the sudden emotions. “I think
Scarlett’s pregnancy hormones are contagious.”
All three of us burst into laughter.
“Fuck, little brother. You realize you are Anja’s half-brother?” Dimitry
asked.
“Yeah, it crossed my mind,” I admitted. “And how I almost had her
killed by handing her over to Boris’ men.”
I didn’t want to bring up my mistakes but they couldn’t remain
lingering.
“Yes, you did,” Dimitry agreed. “But you are also beating yourself up
enough for all of us. Anastasia has a point though; if you hadn’t done it, we
wouldn’t have been here. All three of us with the three of them.”
“Agreed. And since we are in the admission stage, I might as well tell
you.”
“Fuck, don’t tell me Boris is your father too?” Dimitry half-joked.
“Fuck, no. Olivia and I got married.”
“What the fuck? How could you do it without us?” I complained
although I was happy for him.
“It was just the two of us. We’ll do a wedding for family and everyone
else.”
“Well, you better. Because Anja is aiming for a triple wedding now. So
you better play along.”
 The world righted itself as I watched my brothers joke around. Growing
up, we rarely had play time. Once we entered the mafia, the playground
became a battlefield. Now, finally after so many years, we were almost
there.
“I almost forgot,” Dimitry turned to me. “What about the Boston
arranged marriage?”
I frowned. “What about it?”
“Well, you are going to tell them the deal is off, right? I don’t expect
Patrick will be terribly upset since he has been trying to buy you off. He
cares about his daughter.”
I chuckled. “Scarlett is Patrick’s daughter.”
“What?” This was a rare occurrence to have both Dimitry and Nikolai
with their jaws dropped onto the floor.
“Yes, Scarlett is his daughter. I ran into her by chance when the girls
first arrived. I recognized her but she knew nothing about me so I came up
with the brilliant plan to woo her before I revealed who I was. It didn’t go
exactly according to plan but we ended up here.”
Nikolai groaned. “Sergei, you really have to start thinking things
through. No wonder she threw a vase at you.”
Dimitry shook his head, but there was still a smile on his lips. “She’ll
have her hands full with you.”
“More like the other way around,” I retorted, smiling wide.
“Now, if we could only kill Vlad,” Dimitry added, “we could actually
enjoy the rest of our lives in peace with our family.”
The joking immediately ceased. We all knew he was dangerous.
“Michail has been following a few leads. Vlad is in bed with the Polish
and Lebanese.” It wasn’t surprising but it pissed me off. “And when I say
with the Polish, I mean Irina. Her husband is pretty much a puppet and she
is running the show there. They are working with the Lebanese smuggling
and selling women and children.”
“I never liked that bitch,” Dimitry cursed under his breath.
“Fuck, we have to do something,” Nikolai muttered.
“Brother, you have to stop cursing,” I told him. “I’m about to meet
Olivia officially today, and if you start cursing, she’ll blame me.”
“She knows how to put me in check,” Nikolai grinned wide. It made me
so fucking happy to see my brothers happy.
 “Anyhow, Irina reached out to Brian, the protection security the girls
had. Manciatti hired him.”
Dimitry grumbled something and I raised my eyebrow. It wasn’t like
him to judge people without seeing them.
“Don’t mind him,” Nikolai interjected. “He saw the footage from the
club where his woman danced with him. Poor Brian has been on the hit list
ever since.”
I chuckled. My oldest brother wasn’t regularly jealous, but here we
were. All three of us obsessing over our women.
“Irina tried to entice Brian to kidnap Scarlett,” I told them both.
“Do you trust him?” Dimitry growled.
“I do. He is the one that came forward and told us that the only reason
he found Scarlett was due to anonymous tips he received. Well, it was Irina,
which he didn’t know at the time. When Brian came and talked to Scarlett,
he was satisfied she was safe. Scarlett told him she was staying so he left.
Imagine the surprise when he called a few days later. Irina reached out to
him, asking for his help. Thankfully, the man has good instincts so he
reached out to us.”
“What could she possibly want with Scarlett?” Nikolai pondered.
“I don’t know.” I couldn’t possibly imagine what she was trying to
accomplish but whatever it was, there is no doubt in my mind Irina was up
to no good. She was cruel and vindictive. “But I can’t risk her getting her
hands on Scarlett.”
“What do you want to do?” Nikolai asked in a somber voice.
“I think it best that I take her out of town after today.” I didn’t want to
ruin her surprise and she’d be happy to see her girlfriends. “Right after you
and your women leave tonight.”
“That’s smart. Keep her safe. Especially now. We can’t have Irina get
her dirty paws on Scarlett and your unborn baby.” Dimitry spoke. There
was a pondering look on his face. “Do you think there is a connection
between Vlad and Irina?”
I frowned. “Besides that they are working together?”
“Yes. I remember hearing a long time ago that he had a daughter.”
“It couldn’t be Irina,” I muttered. “I would have known that. I met her
mother.”
“Did you meet her father?” Nikolai questioned.
 “The mother said he was dead.” I recalled that night. It was the night I
asked Irina to marry me and she accepted for a short couple of weeks. It
was the only time Irina brought me around her family. It was only on my
insistence that I get permission from her parents. “You know, it’s weird now
that I think about it. I insisted that we talk to her parents and get their
blessing. Irina said her mom and dad wouldn’t care. But then when we
arrived and I asked to speak to Mr. and Mrs. Popov, her mother said there is
only Mrs. Popov, herself. That Mr. Popov was dead.”
“Could he have hidden his family from Boris for that long?” Nikolai
pondered.
“Yes, I believe he could,” Dimitry retorted. “We all know how sneaky
he is. Besides, Irina falls around that age. The rumor was that she was
around your age, Sergei.”
“Could we have really missed that connection for all those years?” I
wondered.
“Truthfully, we were never interested in that kind of leverage over
people,” Dimitry justified. “We would never use a family against our men.
So it was easy to miss it. First, we were trying to survive and then we were
working to get established and now we are working to get out of it all.”
I could see his point.
“It is plausible that Irina and Vlad are connected in more than business,”
I agreed. “If he eliminated us, he would be in charge of the Russian and
Polish mafia. It is clear now that Bartek is just a puppet. I certainly
wouldn’t put it past either one of their greed. Honestly, I can’t believe that
Vlad would have enough brain to pull it all off.”
“But Irina, that sneaky bitch would,” Nikolai chimed in.
He was right. Irina wasn’t stupid. She was manipulative, greedy, cruel
but not stupid. Shit, could I have been so blind not to see it all these years?
“It might be best that all our women not stay in the city. Should we
move them all?” I offered. My brothers could protect them but I still
worried. They were family and mattered to me as much as my brothers.
“I think you are right, brother,” Dimitry agreed. “I don’t want that
motherfucker or that woman getting anywhere near our women. He almost
cost Anja-”
He couldn’t even finish the sentence. Dimitry has always been in
control, thinking with a cool head… unlike me. Seeing my brother shaken
up like that didn’t sit well with me.
 I put my hand on his shoulder. “She is safe and alive. He won’t get
another chance to hurt her… none of us!”
“Okay, it’s a plan then.” Nikolai announced, standing up. I knew he
couldn’t wait to get back to his woman. “We’ll be here around noon. Girls
will have their time and then we all head out of the city till we bring Vlad
and Irina down.”
“I will let Scarlett’s family know too. They offered support.”
“Good. We’ll need all the support we can get against Vlad, the Polish,
and Lebanese.”

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 SCARLETT

T hings with Sergei were going good… hmmm, they were

great actually. It has been a week since Olivia was saved.
Anastasia, Olivia, and I spoke almost every day, sometimes a
few times a day. It felt like life was finally getting back to some sort of
normal.
Sergei and I have been making good progress. He made sure he spent
some quality time with me every day. Whenever he wasn’t barking into his
phone, and being tense about God knows what, I was slowly getting to
know him.
He was way overprotective. And possessive. What was worse? I kind of
liked it. I hated those qualities in my dad and brothers, but damn, they made
me all wet and horny with Sergei. Well, either that or it was my pregnancy
hormones.
When we went to see the top OB/GYN, he just about pulled out his gun
at the poor doctor for asking me to get on the table and spread my legs. I
still blushed remembering back to it. I had to calm him down and ask him
to hold my hand. Instead of him soothing me, I had to soothe him during the
entire exam. I started to regret bringing him along… maybe. It was kind of
nice seeing him jealous like that.
But when the sonogram moment happened, and the tiny peanut showed
up on the monitor, he went from a possessive alpha male to a puddle of
mush. He squeezed my hand tightly and the macho man had glimmering
eyes. That made me want to cry but I kept it together.
 Sergei met with his brothers this morning and told them about Boris. It
was a huge weight off his shoulders and it was nice to see that behind him. I
didn’t think his brothers would hold it against him. After all, it wasn’t like
he could control who his parents were.
It was the first week of November and it was getting cold fast. Sergei, I
learned, hated the cold but I wanted some fresh air so we sat on his patio,
me on his lap. That was the only way he’d agree to sit outside. He claimed
if I sat on his lap, our body heat would keep us warm. I couldn’t help but to
roll my eyes at him. We had plenty of blankets.
“I’m glad you told your brothers,” I murmured against his cold cheek.
“And that they stuck by you. Otherwise, I would have had to hunt them
down and kill them.”
He laughed. “I don’t doubt that you would have tried. That’s why I love
you.”
I beamed. “Well, I have my own brothers to help me. And they are just
as badass as yours.”
He patted my butt gently. “Good thing it won’t be necessary.”
“So what’s the plan today?”
I have been bored to death. I missed my job, a daily routine. Sergei had
his men packing stuff. He said we’d be leaving in the afternoon, moving to
a safe location.
“You just wait,” he nibbled on my earlobe. “I have a surprise for you
before we leave.”
I chuckled, loving his affection. And he loved my affection and caring
too. It constricted my heart to think of him starving for his parents’ love
while growing up. But we had each other now and we’d make it all up.
“I love surprises,” I admitted to him. “And I love you even more.”
His grip on me tightened and his face buried into my neck.
“You make me so happy,” he murmured, his voice raspy. “Some days I
can’t believe my happiness.”
“I’ll pinch you so you can be assured,” I offered him with a wide grin.
“We have our entire life to convince you how much I love you.”
Michail came out the door and stopped in his tracks. His eye roll
followed. “Please don’t ruin that chair too,” he groaned with mischief in his
eyes.
“Michail,” Sergei growled, threatening.
 I glanced between two men, lost at what was going on. “I feel like I am
missing something here.”
“You are not, solnce,” Sergei answered quickly while Michail chuckled.
“This man must love you a lot to sit outside in the cold,” Michail
crackled, and I immediately grinned happily.
“I do love her a lot,” Sergei chimed in, his hand squeezing my thigh
tenderly.
“And I love him,” I told Michail, unashamed. I’d shout it from the top
of the rooftops, if necessary.
Michail smiled goodheartedly and he genuinely looked happy for us.
“Sergei, you have a minute?” Michail still had a smile on his face but
amusement was no longer in his eyes.
I lifted off Sergei’s lap. “I’ll stay out here for a bit longer.”
With a peck on my cheek, he headed back inside. Sergei and Michail
have been busy for the past week. They constantly chased leads but I had no
clue what they were working on. Most of the time, they stuck to speaking in
Russian.
My mother had told me numerous times never to intervene in my
father’s and brother’s business. I tried to apply that here as well. But worry
lingered. I could feel tension running high with both Sergei and Michail.
On a deep sigh, I stood up. Soon it would all be over. Sergei wanted to
move away from this life as much as I did. I had to let him take care of
whatever business he was handling and then we’d have the rest of our lives
to enjoy.
I watched some of his men load up vehicles and I wondered where we
would go. It never crossed my mind to ask him. As long as he was with me,
that was all that mattered. I stood up and descended off the porch, needing
to stretch my legs. I was eager to see what surprise Sergei had in store for
me. He said someone was visiting us this afternoon. My interest was
certainly piqued.
I paced outside while his men were getting everything together. They
were in and out of the house. Sonia was helping them too. I wanted to help
them, keep busy with something… anything. But Sergei freaked out each
time I picked up anything. The OB/GYN told him not to let me carry heavy
bags and Sergei took that to a whole new extreme. So here I was,
completely unhelpful.
 It was my second circle around the house when I noticed the front gate
was opened, without a guard in sight. I frowned. The guys were paranoid
about keeping the entrance secured and locked.
I walked slowly towards it, ready to turn around and run if some shit
happened.
Yeah, this is stupid. You should run and scream now.
But I didn’t want to sound like a paranoid woman that freaked out just
because the gate was open, and I couldn’t find a guard. I mean, seriously! I
wasn’t a damsel in distress. I was a damsel strolling around the garden,
bored to death while waiting for her over possessive, overly sexy man to
bring me my surprise and then sweep us both to a super secure location.
I smiled at my clever description, when I noticed a guard sprawled on
the floor.
“Shit!” I turned around to sprint to the house when a hand grabbed me
around my neck and pulled me backwards.
“Not so fast,” a man’s voice with a heavy Russian accent spoke. I
elbowed him hard, and then stomped hard onto his foot.
“Sergei!” I screamed at the top of my lungs as I ran towards the house.
Before I could even get a glimpse of it, someone grabbed my ankle and I
fell forward, face planting the immaculate lawn. Trying to scramble back
up, someone hit me hard at the back of my head and the whole world turned
dark.

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 SERGEI

S carlett’s scream shot terror through my heart. I dropped

everything and ran outside but I was too late. The only thing I
saw was the car speeding away. I jumped into my car, but I
couldn’t catch up to them. They disappeared before I even had a chance to
get out the gate.
It didn't matter, my heartbeat raced wildly as terror and panic swelled
inside me. I pressed the clutch in, throwing the car into second gear as the
car rounded onto the street. The thought of losing Scarlett overwhelmed all
of my senses as I pressed the clutch in and flicked the shifter into third.
There was no sight of them, but it didn't stop me from continuing down the
street. The car jerked sideways as I rounded the bend. Car horns blared
around me as I barely missed a taxi.
Oxygen fed my rage and my blood pumped hard through my veins,
causing the veil of red to fall before my eyes. This is the legacy Boris had
bestowed upon me. The rage and madness I was now infamous for.
I can't live without her.
She was the anchor that held me to the ground, the one that chased away
the crazed demon inside of me begging to be released.
I didn't see the waste truck in time. Slamming the breaks, I wrenched
the steering wheel left, sending the car careening into the side of the
building.
She was gone... I'd lost her...
“Sergei!”
 Fuck, I was losing my shit. My mind was being swallowed by this red
fog.
“Sergei, my brother. Think of Scarlett!” Dimitry’s voice penetrated my
mind. I couldn't focus, couldn't seem to grasp that they were standing
outside of my car, pulling me free from the wreckage.
“Brother, we are here,” Nikolai’s voice followed.
“Let me through, Dimitry.” The woman’s voice sounded familiar but I
couldn’t place it. It wasn’t my solnce’s voice. That was the only voice I
needed right now. “Hey there,” the voice was soothing, the hands cold on
my face. It was the wrong hand though. “Let’s make sure you are not hurt.”
I felt hands on my forehead, then on both my shoulders. The clinical
touch to ensure I didn’t have any broken bones. “That’s good,” she
murmured. “You didn’t break anything. You are lucky. You might have
some bruising tomorrow, but nothing you aren’t used to.”
Anastasia.
It was my sister’s voice. My head throbbed in pain. I took a deep breath,
and then another, trying desperately to clear my mind. Breathe in. Breathe
out. Repeat. Breathe in. Breathe out.
“Sergei, you got this.” Her voice was soothing. “Don’t get upset. I
nagged Dimitry to death after he got back from your little rendezvous this
morning.” I wasn’t sure where Anja was going with this. It was hard to
think past all the thundering in my brain and the pain in my heart. “He told
me Boris is your father too.”
I’d become Boris without Scarlett. I had no doubt in my mind about
that. I needed her and our baby like the air I breathe.
“You have to get your shit together. Scarlett needs you.” There was a
pause as if Anja was trying to let the words sink in. Yes, she needs me. “And
so do I, you know. I always wanted a brother. Although our dad is kind of
cuckoo.”
My Scarlett. The whisper of my woman pushed through the fog.
Breathe in. Breathe out. She needed me. I had to keep my sanity for her.
Slowly, the pounding in my head and thundering in my ears slowed down
pushing the fog out of my mind.
My sight cleared to find Anja’s face in front of mine. Behind her,
Dimitry, Nikolai, and his woman.
“Hey there,” Anja greeted me again.
“They took her,” I muttered, my mouth dry.
 “We’ll get her back,” Dimitry vowed.
“Yes, we’ll get her back,” I confirmed. And I’d make those
motherfuckers pay. “Let’s get back to my compound. We’ll need a plan.”

I was done with this life. I just wanted Scarlett and to get out. The last two
days were a nightmare. Sleeping evaded and fear pervaded. I couldn’t allow
myself to even consider that Scarlett might be hurt. The rage immediately
descended and I couldn’t afford to lose it now. She depended on me.
Her parents and her brothers were here too. It was good, we needed all
the resources. I’d burn this country and Poland to the ground if I had to. My
only priority was finding her, safe and sound.
The last two days have been a flurry of activity. Thank fucking God that
Dimitry and Nikolai worked with O’Brady. All I wanted to do was kill,
even the slightest provocation sending me into attack mode. I was unable to
focus on anything and anyone, all my thoughts consumed with my woman
and my unborn child. I should get myself together, show the O’Brady’s I
was strong. But I couldn’t muster the strength for it. The truth was, I didn’t
give a fuck about being strong because without Scarlett, I was nothing.
“What the fuck is wrong with him, Sinner?” I heard one of Scarlett’s
brothers question either Dimitry or Nikolai. He just loved to agitate us by
calling us Sinners. “He needs to get his head back in the game.”
I wasn’t sure how my hand ended up around his throat, choking the life
out of him. Fuck, I didn’t even realize I moved clear across the room to
pounce on him.
“This is not a game,” I gritted out.
“Everybody chill,” Nikolai shouted out. There was commotion all
around me but none of it registered through the pulsing in my brain.
“Brother, let go of Brennan’s throat.” When I didn’t move, I felt a hand on
my shoulder. “Serg, Brennan’s here to help. Think of Scarlett.”
I finally let go, my eyes never wavering from Scarlett’s brother. If he
said another word, I’d kill him. Luckily for him, or me, he remained quiet. I
glanced around and saw lots of trigger-happy men around the room.
O’Brady’s men and my men had their guns pulled out, along with Scarlett’s
brothers.
 “Sons, put your goddamn guns away,” Patrick barked out. “We don’t
pull out guns on our family. And Brennan… keep your mouth shut and stop
agitating Scarlett’s husband.” When I realized what he said, my eyes
snapped to him. He nodded and continued, “Your sister has been kidnapped
and is pregnant so I need you all to focus on rescuing her. Not being
arseholes. And if she finds out you agitated her man, she’ll have your balls.
Remember that!”
Brennan’s lips twitched into a small smile but he said nothing else.
“Okay, now that we are all sane,” Dimitry cut the bullshit of too much
testosterone in the room. “Try to follow directions.” He gave Scarlett’s
brothers a pointed look. They may not have grown up in the harsh
conditions that were forced on me and my brothers, but they were still good
fighters. “Brian is our guy that Irina reached out to. He was able to find out
where they are keeping Scarlett. He’s sending us a location and then we will
roll out. They are preparing to load women onto the boat to complete the
sale with the Lebanese. When we get there, I need you all to be where you
are told. I don’t want any cowboy shit and risk Scarlett’s or any other
woman’s life there. Understood?”
My vision fuzzed with the familiar red fog. It was happening more
frequently over the last two days and I knew it could become my life if...
Fuck, I can’t even think it. It took all my self-restraint not to allow my
rampage and rage to dictate my actions. Without a word, I exited the room,
leaving my brothers to do the planning. My sole mission was to get Scarlett.
Nothing more, nothing less. I’d be good for nothing else.
I wasn’t sure how I found myself outside, nor how long I’ve been out
here. I stood in the bitter cold outside, but felt none of it. The cold outside
didn’t compare to the freeze I felt on the inside. I was armed and ready to
go. Two days without my woman, imagining what she was going through
was too much.
A soft hand came to my back, and with surprise I noted, it was Scarlett’s
mother.
“You bring her home.” Her voice was soft. She didn’t cry or scream,
although I could see worry edged in the lines of her face. She was a strong
woman, just like my Scarlett.
“I will,” I vowed. I couldn’t even bear to think what shape she’d be in.
“I’ll bring her and our unborn baby home.”
“Yes, bring them home, Sergei.”
 Her father and brothers, along with my men and my brothers exited the
house. We all loaded into the black-colored SUVs and headed towards the
docks.
“We’ll get her,” Nikolai’s hand was on my shoulder. “Hold on to your
senses, for her. She’ll need you.”
“I won’t make it without her,” I gritted out. I didn’t give a fuck who
heard it. Fortunately for me, only my brothers and Michail were in our car.
“You won’t have to,” Dimitry’s cold conviction was actually helping
me. “We’ll kill Vlad and Irina, end this once and for all. We’ll live out the
rest of our lives enjoying our hard-earned family.”
We rode the remainder of the way in silence. When we arrived at the
docks, there was no need to hide. We came to blast the entire block to
nothing, if necessary.
As we stepped out of the SUV, I took in the sight before us. The
looming gunmetal gray warehouse stood in front of us. A foggy, white mist
rolling in from the water appeared as ghostly fingers wrapping around our
bodies, beckoning us to the watery grave beyond the docks. Every nerve
inside of me should have been jumping in anticipation of what was to come,
but I remained calm. I couldn't allow myself to get lost to the madness.
Brian stepped up beside me, although I had no fucking clue where he'd
come from. Maybe I was so far gone, I wasn't even aware of my
surroundings.
“Where the fuck did you come from?” Dimitry’s question actually had
me relieved. If he didn’t see him, I wasn’t a total basket case.
“I’m good at blending in,” he chuckled. “Anyhow, I’m ready to get this
going.” He placed a hand drawn map with blood splatter all over it on the
hood of our car.
“Why is there blood on your map?” Nikolai asked him with a raised
eyebrow. “Did you get the party started without us?”
“I had to take out two guys,” Brian explained calmly. “It was a bit
messy.”
Scarlett’s father and brothers joined in and we all studied the map while
Brian talked.
“Scarlett is here,” he pointed to the lower level of the dock building.
“They have men watching here, here, and here. They started moving
women onto the ship right here.” He pointed to the southern side of the
building. No wonder he told us to come to the northern side. We were in
their blind spot right now. “They are scheduled to leave in an hour so we
don’t have much time.”
“Okay, Brian you take the men you need and free the women from the
ship,” Dimitry ordered. “Nikolai and I are going with Sergei. Michail and a
few men will be our backup. Liam and Patrick, could you eliminate their
men on the inside?”
“Nothing better happen to my sister,” Liam hissed, glaring at me.
“Liam, he will take care of your sister,” Patrick tried to calm the
tension. “She’s his woman.”
“And she is my fucking sister,” he growled.
I didn’t bother answering him. I walked away, towards the entrance that
would take me to my woman.
Although not before I heard Nikolai warn Liam, “Don’t threaten my
brother.”
“Everyone just cool off,” Dimitry said. “If something happens to
Scarlett, we will lose our brother. He won’t make it without her so keep
your mouth shut and let’s get her out.”

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 SCARLETT

A sharp throb in my temple was the first thing I noticed when I

woke up. There was noise around me, but I could barely catch any
words. My brain was in the fog and the whole world kept
spinning, making it hard to concentrate or even open my eyes. It felt cold
and damp.
I tried to move and found my wrists bound. I forced my eyes open and a
sharp pain went through my skull.
Ouch.
What the hell happened?
“She’ll fetch a good price,” a woman’s voice reached through the air. I
tried to force my eyes open, searching for the voice but it was like my
eyelids weighed a ton. I gritted through the pain and pushed through. When
I finally opened them, my gaze darted around, searching. There was nobody
in the room, except for me. It looked like I was in some kind of
underground room, stone walls, no windows and concrete floors.
My throat clenched tight with fear. Was this the threat that Sergei
mentioned to my father? Was this what he was trying to protect me from?
“Get her through the exam,” a deep man’s voice said, “and then put her
with the other women. Shipment is leaving in an hour. Sergei won’t dare
intercept this one. Otherwise, his precious cargo will go up in flames.”
I felt a hand in my hair and a tight clenched fist shoved my head to the
side.
“You are pretty.” Cold, blue eyes of a blonde woman met me. Who in
the hell was this bitch?
 “Sergei will kill you for this,” I growled at her, although with a dry
mouth and pounding headache, I didn’t sound fierce at all. Fuck fierce. I
was actually scared, ready to shit myself. I was pregnant and didn't want
anything to happen to my baby.
She laughed and the sound was harsh, making my head hurt even worse.
“He’ll never get a chance. The fucking idiot couldn’t see what was in front
of his nose.”
I pondered what she meant but refused to ask. He would come for me
and he’d kill her. I was positive. He was fiercely protective and ruthless
when occasion called for it. And nothing mattered more to Sergei than his
family. And we were family. We might have not tied the knot yet but he was
part of me as much as I was part of him.
“You’ll never be able to replace me,” her raspy tone taunted, followed
up with a horrifying laughter.
I frowned. What the fuck was she talking about?
She laughed and it sent a shrill of disgust through my body. “He didn’t
tell you?”
I hated this woman’s guts already.
“Let me go or you’ll be sorry,” I meant to sound tougher, but my voice
wasn’t working that great. “Sergei will come for me.”
“Little girl has claws,” the man’s voice echoed from somewhere else in
the room. God, my head was pounding something bad. It was like my entire
skull was shifting and pounding against it increased with each second. I had
a hard time keeping my eyes focused, my vision blurring every few
seconds.
“You have been out for two days,” she chuckled, like I just said the
funniest joke. Her voice was hoarse to the ears. “There hasn’t been a sign of
Sergei.”
I didn’t believe her. I knew for certain he’d come for me. And if he
didn’t, my father and my brothers would.
“He’ll come for me,” I told her firmly. “And so will my dad. Then
you’ll be sorry you ever fucking touched me.”
Her face turned into an ugly grimace and she shoved her face into mine.
“Sergei cost me millions in the last few months. Fucking millions. Now,
you will work off his debt. And trust me little girl… all I have to do is fuck
him and he’ll forget all about you.”
Irina! This was the woman Sergei was going to marry.
 I watched her, really watched her. I could see evidence of a woman she
must have been once upon a time. There was no denying it; she must have
been pretty. But now, her ugly soul shone through her. Her face twisted with
jealousy. She only had herself for losing Sergei.
“Sergei wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole,” I gritted back. “You
missed your chance and you are the only one to blame.”
It was stupid to taunt her but my pride couldn’t let her get away with her
make-believe superiority. She was nothing but a greedy bitch that made
Sergei hurt.
“Just gag her, Dad,” the woman spat, her thick Russian making her
threat sound more threatening. “She is annoying me.”
I let off a piercing scream hoping for anyone to come and save me. It
was a stupid move, because allowed the man to shove a piece of cloth into
my mouth.
“Yes, she will fetch a very nice price indeed,” the man came into view.
He was older, slim, white hair, and cruel eyes.
“Too bad you couldn’t get all three of the women,” the woman
complained. “Those fucking Russian Sinners should be dead. They are a
problem.”
Three women? Does she mean Anastasia, Olivia, and I?
“We’ll have to settle with her,” the man spat out agitated. “Nikolai and
Dimitry went on a rampage killing everyone. I was lucky to get away while
Malcome raged like a lunatic about that redheaded woman. Fucking idiot!”
“That cousin of yours was a loose cannon,” she replied nonchalantly,
like I wasn’t even there. “He should have ended that satellite business while
he was ahead and jumped in on this deal. The Lebanese are eager for
another shipment of girls, and with the stock we got, they’ll pay a fortune.”
Anger rose in my chest at hearing her call the women she captured
stock. She must have seen fury in my eyes, because she laughed like she
just heard the funniest joke.
“You are quite something,” she scraped her nail across my skin.
“Don’t scratch her, Irina,” the man warned her.
“You know, Sergei and I used to be lovers,” she bragged. “He even
asked me to marry him. It was twelve years ago. I wanted to but he didn’t
have much back then. He was so jealous, he crashed my wedding. If I knew
he’d do so well for himself, I would have done it. But no matter, after you
are gone,” she purred, “he’ll see we were best together.”
 Yeah, she could have spared me that detail. I didn’t want to know that.
But truthfully, it didn’t matter. She missed her chance and he loved me. We
were planning a family and the rest of our lives together.
Someone knocked on the door, and she finally stopped talking. “Ah, the
doctor.”
Doctor? Why is a doctor here?
There must have been fear in my eyes, as my gaze darted around.
Irina laughed again and I fucking hated that sound.
“Don’t worry,” she purred with venom. “He’ll just abort your baby. We
can’t have you growing a belly while servicing men that pay top price for
you.”
Bile rose in my throat and fear gripped my insides. I started panicking,
yanking on the cuffs, causing pain to my wrists. I couldn’t let them do that.
That was our baby, Sergei’s and mine. I tried to scream but the cloth in my
mouth muffled the sound and caused me to choke.
“Enough!” A hand slapped me, and I realized it was the woman.
The man she called dad laughed. “She’s getting to you, Irina.”
“She’s nobody, a whore,” she spat. “The doctor will remove that bastard
baby out of your womb and then we’ll sell you to men that will decide
whether you’ll be a breeding whore or just a whore.”
My stomach rolled at those words and bile threatened to come up,
causing me to choke. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe and I was sure I’d
pass out. But there was no way in hell I’d go down without a fight. I started
kicking and screaming against the gag. Tears burned in my eyes, rolling
down the cheeks.
“You will have to hold down the patient,” the voice I assumed belonged
to the doctor demanded.
One of them held my legs spread, while the woman held my hands. I
continued fighting against them, my mind swirling, my chest heaving from
fighting and getting nowhere.
I felt the man’s hands reach my inner thigh and tears rolled down my
face, while I kept fighting against both Irina and her father holding me
down.
“Get the fuck away from her.”
Sergei. That was his voice. I’d know it anywhere. I thrashed my head
from one side to another.
“Sergei, darling.” That bitch actually dared to even address him.
 A gunshot rang out.
“You fucking asshole,” Irina spat out. “You killed my doctor. You know
how hard it is to find a good doctor.”
“Get your hands off my woman,” Sergei gritted out. I could hear fury in
his voice, like he was teetering on the edge. “You too, Vlad. Or I’ll fucking
gut you alive.”
Relief washed over me at hearing his voice, although the situation was
still dire. If anyone could save me, it was Sergei. I kept twisting my head,
the need to get a glimpse at him twisting me on the inside.
“There is nowhere to run, Vlad.” A cold man’s voice mocked him. “I
knew we’d catch up to you eventually. You did too, didn’t you... coward.
Now, we can finally hear you squeal like the pig that you are.” Whoever it
was, I liked him. I hoped he beat the shit out of him.
“I don’t think so.” Irina put a knife against my throat. I’d have to talk to
Sergei about his previous taste in women. This woman was a lunatic.
“You even scratch her, and you will regret ever walking this earth.”
Irina laughed maniacally. Yes, the woman was totally crazy. I wished
he’d just shoot her and be done with it.
Her knife pressed against my throat and I felt warm liquid trickle down
my throat.
“You got yourself a prissy little princess here, Sergei,” she taunted him.
“You and I were good together… you and I could rule the world.”
I wanted to bite her, scratch her. She had her chance to have Sergei; she
didn’t want him. He was mine now.
Sergei scoffed. “There was never you and I,” he mocked her. “You were
a fake. The woman I thought you were, never truly existed.”
“Slash her throat, daughter,” the old man that she called earlier ordered.
“Don’t you fucking dare, Vlad,” another man’s voice growled. How
many people were in here exactly? “You think people call Sergei the Mad
Russian Sinner for naught? You hurt that woman, and you’ll see just how
mad he is. And I’ll enjoy watching him tear you and your daughter to
pieces, limb by fucking limb.”
“Be reasonable, Vlad,” Sergei tried to keep his voice cool but I knew
him well enough by now to read his rage signs. “Scarlett is the only
daughter of the Boston head. He’s here. If you hurt her, he and his family
will hunt you down.”
“And you won’t?”
 “You should have thought about that before you started this.” Sergei
was unapologetic and he was right. Vlad and Irina brought this upon
themselves. “You almost cost me my brothers and sisters. My woman and
our child. You will die. It is up to you how you die.”
Long and painful. Make him hurt. I wanted to scream but the damn
cloth was still stuck in my mouth.

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 SERGEI

D imitry was right. I would not survive losing Scarlett. I needed

her; she was my link to maintaining my sanity. Scarlett and our
baby.
I sensed Dimitry and Nikolai at my back as we made our way to the
warehouse. The sound of glass shattering broke through and a loud
explosion shook the ground. My brothers and I shared a quick glance. Each
one of us reached for our guns and just in time too. The warehouse door
burst open and men started swarming out.
Both my brothers and I started shooting. There were our men from
various positions firing back at them too. These bastards had no idea who
they were dealing with. But they would learn very soon.
I heard one of my men call out to me. I followed his gaze and gave him
a quick nod.
“On the roof,” I told my brothers.
In unison, each one of us started shooting, taking the snipers down. The
blazing gunfire sounded all around us but my heartbeat remained steady. It
was for Scarlett. She needed me with a clear head.
A gun fired right above me and I noted it was her brother Liam. He took
down one of the snipers. I tilted my head in thanks and continued my way
to my woman, firing at these fuckers and running at the same time. My gut
tightened with worry, and I could slowly feel my rage surfacing.
“You go on, Sergei,” Dimitry shouted over the bullets. All three of us
were shooting these bastards. These guys were like a never-ending swarm
of flies. “We are right behind you.”
 I nodded and took off. The drive to get to Scarlett was the only reason I
let my brothers cover my back. The moment I opened the door to the
warehouse, one of the Polish men attacked. I unsheathed my knife and with
a flick of the wrist cut the man’s throat. I didn’t wait for him to drop to the
floor but kept going.
Three more came forward, although I wasn’t sure where they came
from. Nikolai and Dimitry were next to me, their own knives pulled out.
A piercing scream tore through the building and my heart froze. Dimitry
threw a knife straight into one of the fucker’s chest and went into attack.
“Go,” Nikolai shouted as he attacked the other man, giving me a free
passage.
I ran through the building, following the voices and yelling. The
moment I burst through the door, my vision blurred and the haunting red
fog swam through my sight.
“Get the fuck away from her,” I growled at them.
My blood thundered in rage seeing Scarlett tied up on that dirty table,
with her wrists and legs cuffed up. The miserable excuse for a doctor was
between her legs, ready to use a dirty tool on her. I shot him dead on the
spot.
Now, all I had to do was get my Scarlett. Vlad and Irina were like
vultures on my woman. I’d make them pay.
It didn’t take long for Dimitry and Nikolai to be at my back; they
always had my back. They were right; we were stronger together.
There was a commotion and gunfire outside this room. Probably Patrick
and Liam killing all these fucking bastards, but I didn’t give a shit. The only
one that mattered to me was Scarlett.
“It’s over, Irina,” my voice was cold and calm. Unlike the fire burning
through my veins. Scarlett’s eyes were wide with fear as she struggled to
breathe. Her chest was rising and falling in sharp movements. “Our men
and the Boston men are taking over this entire building and you won’t have
anyone left after we are through with it.” In case she needed additional
assurance, I added, “The Polish have sold you out. They don’t want you nor
your traitor father back.”
“Fucking traitors,” she spat, her Russian thick. “I’ll teach them a
lesson.”
Her face was hideous, twisted in hate. She could never compare to my
Scarlett.
 “You won’t teach them anything,” I told her calmly. “You will step
away from my wife, otherwise, I will gut you alive. Woman or no woman.
And then, I’ll torture you for days.”
“You fucking three idiots are a disgrace,” Vlad squealed like the pig that
he was. “Worst mistake Boris ever made. And you, Sergei, are the biggest
disgrace of them all.”
I didn’t give a fuck what that snake thought. “Boris was so stupid and
blind with his rage, he didn’t see what was in front of his nose,” Vlad
continued venting. “He didn’t recognize his own son. But I did,” his
hideous laugh echoed in the room. Relief swept through me with
confirmation that Boris never knew I was his son. “Who do you think sent
that man to feel you up? Abuse you. I thrived knowing that Boris was so
stupid, he couldn’t see his own son being a little bitch to one of his men.”
Cold sweat flashed through my body, the memories dark and bitter. But
before I even had a chance to get myself together, Nikolai was on Vlad, his
big hand wrapped around Vlad’s traitorous neck.
“Who’s the bitch now?” he hissed, slamming Vlad’s body against the
concrete floor. “You fucking piece of shit.”
I took advantage of Irina’s distraction and twisted her arm with the knife
she held against Scarlett.
“You don’t fucking touch my wife,” I growled. Dimitry was right
behind me and grabbed Irina by her hair, shoving her against the wall. She
whimpered but I felt nothing. She threatened my woman and child. She
deserved nothing better.

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 SCARLETT

“Y ou don’t fucking touch my wife.”

My darling Sergei. If we get out of this alive, I will marry
you tomorrow.
Sergei’s voice was portraying fury and possessiveness.
And I loved it. I knew he’d always protect us. Hearing Vlad’s words about
Sergei’s abuse was a knife in my heart but it took nothing away from him. It
made him even greater in my eyes. If his brothers decided not to torture
Irina and Vlad, I’d do it myself.
Hearing Sergei call me his wife felt right. We weren’t married yet, but I
guess in his book I was already his wife. And I liked the sound of that. To
hell with everything. I guess my parents knew best after all.
I heard several gunshots outside the room and the clink of the metal
against the concrete floor. I couldn’t see what was happening and fear
gripped me at the possibility of losing Sergei. Loud ringing blared in my
ears and I tried to tug on my bindings.
“Scarlett!” Sergei’s face hovered above me. “I’m here, solnce.”
He worked the gag out of my mouth and I took a deep breath. Sergei
captured my face with his hands and men were running all around us,
shouting commands. But to me nobody mattered, except him. He came for
me.
“I knew you’d come for me,” I rasped out.
“Always.” It was his solemn promise. He quickly started untying my
wrists from the belts, and then my ankles followed. He lifted me off the
table and held me up in his arms.
 “Did they hurt you?” he asked.
I lowered my hand to my lower abdomen. “No, you came right on
time.”
“We should still see a doctor,” he buried his face into the crook of my
neck. It might have been his comfort but it was mine too. Feeling his face
so close to mine, inhaling his unique smell.
“Whatever you want,” I muttered.
“Fuck, I was going out of my mind. I almost lost you,” he murmured
against my ear. “I would have lost all my sanity without you.”
“I’m here.” I wrapped both my hands around his neck. “You saved us
both. I’m here.”
A man with a scarred face held the man against the floor in a chokehold.
And another guy with steel grey eyes had Irina against the wall, while she
spat words in Russian at him. He didn’t seem bothered at all, although I had
a feeling she wasn’t flattering him at all.
“You should torture them,” I rasped angrily. They should suffer for what
they were getting ready to do and for what they have done to Sergei. “For a
long time.”
Both men turned their eyes at me. “Oh, fuck. I like her. Welcome to the
family, Scarlett.” The guy with the scarred face announced.
Sergei spoke up. “Solnce, meet my brothers. Dimitry who is kindly
taking care of Irina.” I smiled at his oldest brother. “And Nikolai who will
enjoy toying with Vlad for the next few months.”
Nikolai looked scary as shit.
“I thought you said he’s a big teddy bear,” I murmured low. “You didn’t
mention a scary big teddy bear.”
That scar across his face made him look badass and wicked. But then he
smiled and my mouth dropped. No wonder Olivia fell for the man.
Gorgeous!
Nikolai laughed. “Nice to meet you, Scarlett. My wife has told me a lot
about you.”
I frowned. “I thought you were dating Olivia.” Then I glared at him
“You better not be-”
“Olivia is my wife,” he grinned happily.
I blinked, then again. “Shut the fuck up!”
“Yep.”
 “Damn it, Nikolai,” Dimitry groaned, although there was amusement in
his eyes. “Stop broadcasting it. My woman wants a triple wedding
ceremony.”
I glanced between two men and then back to Sergei. Yes, those three
were scary as shit but I liked them all.
“That was fast, Nikolai,” I retorted, grinning. “I have to admit, I would
never have thought you’d be her type,” I beamed. “No offense but I swear,
she never… like ever, swooned over any man. And then boom. You. I’ll
have to talk to her. I’m impressed.”
“I live to serve,” Nikolai teased.
I looked at the man that he was still holding in a chokehold. “Now, what
should we do with these two?”
I never wanted part of this kind of life, but these two hurt Sergei.
“Didn’t I warn you all not to fuck with my family?” Dimitry growled,
his eyes murderous on Vlad as he slammed his daughter right next to him.
“Was my warning not clear enough?”
I didn’t quite follow. I glanced at Sergei and he stood there motionless. I
took his hand into mine and pressed a kiss on it.
“I love you,” I mouthed and his eyes instantly softened.
“Who was it?” Dimitry’s foot was on Irina’s throat. “Who was the guy
that abused Sergei or I’ll squash your daughter like the piece of trash she
is.”
“I killed him,” Sergei announced calmly, his eyes on his brothers. “He
went into hiding when you killed the other guy that tried to get close to me.
It took me a bit but I hunted him down and put a knife through his black
heart.”
“Good,” I told him. “And these two will get the same.”
Sergei glanced at me grinning. “I never realized you were bloodthirsty.”
I smiled sheepishly. “Regularly, I’m not, but you bring it all out in me.
Because I love you so damn much.”
He leaned over and pressed his mouth on mine. “I love you too, solnce.”
“And I really want to get married tomorrow,” I added. The look in his
eyes was priceless. I knew marrying him would be the best decision of my
life.
“C’mon you two,” Dimitry groaned, with a wide grin. “Anja wants a
triple wedding ceremony. Take pity on me.”
 I smiled at him. “I don’t want to wait. I want to be Mrs. Volkovsky as
soon as possible.”
Michail ran into the room with my brothers and father by his side.
“Scarlett, my girl,” my father ran over to me and wrapped his arms
around me. Sergei still held me so he kind of hugged him too but it didn’t
seem to bother either one of them. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, Dad.” He was showering my forehead with kisses and suddenly I
felt like a little girl. “I’m all good. What are you doing here?”
“What do you think, Sis?” Liam spoke behind him. “Your husband
called for extra backup and we came to kick some Russian ass.”
Awkward. I glanced around but Sergei and his brothers didn’t seem to
take offense.
“Well, limit it to kicking the Russian ass that is on the ground,” I told
him and Liam acknowledged with a smile.
“Good to see you, baby sister.” He leaned over and kissed me on the
cheek. Brennan and Cillian followed suit.
“Did you use techniques I showed you?” Brennan asked, winking.
Michail laughed behind him. “She sure did. I think my balls still haven’t
recovered.”
Everyone laughed and damn it, if it didn’t feel like our family just grew
a big notch.

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 EPILOGUE

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 Sergei

Two weeks later

I grabbed the leg of a stool with my foot and dragged it over the
concrete floor. It was ironic that we have made a full circle.
Vlad, Irina, and Bartek hung off the ceiling in the concrete
basement of Dimitry’s warehouse. It was his special torture chamber. At
least we were nicer and didn’t hang them upside down.
All three of them flinched at the noise of the stool dragging across the
concrete floor, their heads whipping side to side. Their arms were cuffed,
dangling on a meat hook. Vlad and Bartek were beaten… only a time or
two. The fuckers deserved it for all the pain they caused the many women
and children over the years. Torturing a woman didn’t sit well with either
one of my brothers or me, but letting her go was out of the question. She
was even more dangerous than her husband and her father.
The revenge was sweet, although not as sweet as what was happening
later today.
I sat on the stool, watching all three of them. They didn’t look good;
they wouldn’t last much longer. We were able to obtain information on
every single one of the shipments over the past fifteen years but one. We
just needed that last piece of information and then we could end their
suffering.
Since we rescued Scarlett, my whole world and mind shifted. Things
were good. Life was good. It was never in my cards to be happy but fuck, I
was happy. And seeing my brothers happy was icing on the cake. Some
might say we didn’t deserve to be happy but I thanked God on my knees
every single day for giving me my woman, my brothers, and sisters.
I watched Michail pace back and forth. He was too wound up to sit. I
couldn’t blame him. That last piece of information was a key he has been
looking for.
Dimitry and Nikolai were due to arrive any moment too. I worried
whether we were doing right by Michail. I hoped we were. I liked him and
wanted for him all that my brothers and I have gotten. But he was hungry
for his revenge. Until he got it or found someone to stir him away from that
path of vengeance, he wouldn’t listen to reasoning to pull out of this life.
So yes, I agreed with Dimitry and Nikolai. Michail was the best to carry
it on; for the good of the innocent. Otherwise, another Vlad or Irina would
seize power and run people into the ground. Just like Boris had.
The sound of metal doors opened and I heard the echo of my brothers’
footsteps down the concrete stairs.
“About fucking time,” I muttered the moment they were in front of us.
“Don’t blame us,” Dimitry cackled. “Your woman made us repeat all
the steps we had to do today. And insisted we go over the schedule.” I was
happy to see my brothers get along with Scarlett. Anja and I had grown
closer too and Olivia had become another sister.
Yeah, life was awesome and I had the best family a guy could wish for.
“And then she insisted I help her with flower arrangements,” Nikolai
chimed in with amusement on his face. “Before we could clear out, she
decided she needed ice cream. Not any kind of ice cream. It had to be mint
ice cream. In the middle of a goddamn winter storm.”
Scarlett’s food cravings have become the focus of our lives.
“Yeah, about that,” Dimitry started, glancing at Michail, Nikolai, and
me. “Anja is pregnant. So we might have to buy lots of ice cream.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Nikolai retorted. He picked up that phrase from
Scarlett. Michail promptly followed up with a roll of his eyes. Yep, another
Scarlett trait. “Olivia is pregnant too,” Nikolai added.
“You three are turning into homebody schmucks,” Michail stated the
obvious with a big smile on his face.
He was right, of course but we loved it. It was what we always wanted,
families of our own.
“Which brings us to the next point, Michail,” Dimitry commenced. I
watched Michail, trying to get a sense of his thoughts. Unfortunately, he
was good at hiding his feelings too. Probably what made him a good choice
for the next statement. “My brothers and I think you should step in as the
Bratva leader. You are honorable and people respect you. Most importantly,
you will protect the innocent and won’t take advantage or be led by greed.”
This was not what Michail expected. He kept watching us, the only
betrayal was his tightly pressed lips.
“You want out but want me to stay in?” he retorted dryly. “In fact, even
worse… you want me to lead it?”
“Michail, if you don’t want it,” I reasoned with him, “we’ll support you.
But if you want answers and to find those bastards, it might be your best
chance. As the Bratva leader, you’ll have vast resources at your disposal.” I
could see he considered my words. “At least think about it.”
“You can always call us for help,” Nikolai offered. “You were the first
choice. You're an honorable and good man. You have a just cause and aren’t
doing this to be in the crime world. That’s what makes you the perfect
choice. Some of my men who want to stay behind would follow you.”
“And mine too,” Dimitry said.
Nikolai’s words lingered in the air. He was right, of course. Michail was
an honorable man. The circumstances forced his life into this world, just as
they did my brothers and me.
“Let’s see if we can make these assholes talk,” Michail ended up saying.
“I have a wedding to attend.”
I grinned. “And I’m the groom.”
“What the fuck?” Nikolai retorted with a wide smile. “I thought I was
the groom.”
“Stop it you two idiots. I’m the groom,” Dimitry cackled.
“The three of you are idiots,” Michail grinned. “All three of you are
getting married today.”
Michail stepped towards the three forms hanging off the ceiling,
reached up and quickly tore off the duct tape from each of their mouths.
One by one they screamed and swayed.
Their screams delighted me. It might mean I was sick and the Mad
Russian Sinner but fuck it. They nearly tore my family from me. Not only
my woman and my unborn child, but also my brothers and their women.
Michail’s boots echoed around the warehouse as he moved, circling
them like a predator.
 “S-Sergei, stop this please,” Irina sobbed. I felt no pity for her. She only
cared about herself.
“You know what we need,” I told her. “Give the information.”
She stilled, but pressed her lips together, which told me she refused to
spill it. Michail’s fist sailed through the air and her head flung back with the
force of his punch. I didn’t blame him for his rage.
“The information,” he snarled. His hand went to her throat and
squeezed. He was draining her of oxygen. “I don’t give a fuck who gives it.
You, your father, or your husband. Give. Me. The. Information.”
He took duct tape and went to work on her husband. He was the
weakest link. More likely to talk. Reaching for the corner of the duct tape,
he rolled it over his eyes and then yanked it hard.
He howled as he took half his eyebrow off.
“Nice wax job,” I muttered.
He pushed his body and he swung back and forth, while he screamed
with pain.
“Information,” Michail gritted. This was a change of scenery. My
brothers and I usually did the torturing. “Now or I’ll start sawing off your
fingers… one by one.”
He whimpered. Yep, definitely a weak link!
Michail picked up the large cutters that were probably meant for
gardening rather than torturing but hell, you make do, right?
He placed the cutters against his hand while Bartek trembled. He’d
probably piss himself any moment. Michail pressed it hard against his flesh
and blood started trickling down onto the concrete.
“Ireland,” he screamed. “Look in Ireland. That is all I know.”
Michail didn’t stop, continuing his torture as if Bartek said nothing. I
stood up and laid a hand on his shoulder. Michail never lost his cool but
shit, he was on the rampage. He cut me a look. I could understand the rage
but it wouldn’t do any good. Not with these fuckers.
“They won’t give us anything else,” Nikolai muttered. “Either they
don’t know, or they’ll take it to their graves with them.”
I agreed with him. Irina kept staring at me. She hoped to get out of it,
thought I’d turn soft. That would never happen. She should have minded
her own business and stop meddling into ours and hurt our family.
“Want me to do it?” I offered Michail.
 “I got it.” I knew he did, but fuck, I wanted to help. He did so much for
me.
Without an ounce of hesitance, he sliced their throats. First Bartek. Then
he waited, as Vlad screamed like a baby. Vlad was next. He watched wide-
eyed, hoping against all odds someone would come and save him.
No saving here, you fucking traitor!
He left Irina for last. He did that on purpose. She started it all. Her
father might have had an idea but she made it happen. Too bad she didn’t
know how to use that brain for good things.
“Sergei, I can help,” she tried again, her body shaking. It was finally
sinking in. She was a dead woman. “Let me help. I’ll help you all.”
Michail came behind her. “Your help kills people.” Another slice and
silence descended. The only sound, the dripping of their blood onto the
concrete floor.
No judgement here. But I didn’t want blood on me today. I was getting
married for the love of God. I couldn’t help but grin again, despite the
gruesome scene.
“You are thinking about your woman again,” Michail rolled his eyes
again.
“And your eyes will be permanently stuck behind your head,” I retorted
dryly.
Michail’s eyes traveled over the three of us. “I’ll take it,” he said.
Dimitry nodded. We knew what that meant. “I’ll take it. But you have to
promise me, if I turn dark… you come and pull me out. Or kill me.”
It was a fear we all have. Letting this filthy world swallow us whole,
reaching the point where we no longer recognize right from wrong.
“I swear to you on my family,” I vowed. “I will come to you if you
reach that point… my brother.”
“Me too,” Dimitry and Nikolai agreed. “You are not alone.”

Anja got her wish. Triple wedding.

Manciatti, Anja’s grandfather, Scarlett’s entire family, Tasha, Olivia’s
mother and brother, Brian and our closest men were all here. It wasn’t an
ordinary family but it was a damn near perfect family.
 Scarlett walked down the aisle with her girlfriends. All three of them
were beautiful, but fuck… I couldn’t tear my eyes off my woman. I wanted
to run up to her and carry her back to the altar. Her eyes were locked on me,
and the entire world ceased to exist. It was just her and I. It took her too
long to get to me. Way too fucking long.
“She’s coming brother,” Dimitry smiled, his hand on my shoulder.
“We must have done something right,” Nikolai uttered. “Because we got
this… priceless family.”
His eyes were on his woman, just like Dimitry’s were on my sister.
The moment Scarlett was within my reach, I pulled her to me.
“I love you,” I murmured and kissed her on the lips. I didn’t give a crap
that the ceremony hadn’t started yet.
“And I love you,” Her smile was soft, pure of devotion, her words
whispered only for my ears. “I’ve loved you from that first date. You drive
me crazy and I still love you. Love is a permanent side effect apparently
after meeting you. I know you’ll be a wonderful father and husband. You’ll
always protect us. What more could a girl ever want?”

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 AUTHOR’S NOTE

Dear reader,
Thank you for purchasing the final book in the Russian Sinners series.
This standalone mafia romance series will take you on the journey you’ll be
eager to continue. Please consider leaving a review if you enjoyed it.
When you finish this steamy novel and are eager for more, my current
list of published or upcoming works is below.
Love Isn’t What It Seems series
Devotion www.amzn.to/2FubBWH
Adoration www.amzn.to/38bCt8k
Revelation www.amzn.to/3nIFC5m
Affection www.amzn.to/2LzMyEM
Chance At Love Series
Second Chance At Love www.amzn.to/3hZc29m
Final Chance At Love www.amzn.to/3oOKyXz
Russian Sinners
Marked www.amzn.to/2KhpuKm
Scarred www.amzn.to/3bDEwpc
Disgraced www.amzn.to/3bKiUY3
Vows of a Mobster - Standalone
www.amzn.to/3f6IDu6
Eva Winners

OceanofPDF.com
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

As always, I had a wonderful group of friends seeing me through this

journey. So I wanted to take a moment to thank you all - for supporting me
through this whole ordeal with constructive feedback, challenges and
pressing me on when I had my doubts.

Please note the list below is not all inclusive and if I missed anyone, it is by
no means intentional.

Readers of my first drafts, second and fifth, idea bouncers and everything
else!

Susan C. H
Jessica F.
Christine S
Nicole H.
Emma J.

Thank you to MW Editing for bearing it all with me. I couldn’t have
done this without you!

Formatting by Kassie Morse.

Book Cover Design by Eve Graphic Design LLC.

Last but not least, thank you to Ashley B. for managing everything when I
get lost in my world full of schemes, adventure and happily ever afters.

Thank you all! I couldn’t have done any of this without you!

Eva Winners

OceanofPDF.com