Arranged Bratva Love Novel – Mr Slavik, the results of the review are ready! Miss Aurora has not had any. exual relations and all the gynecological examinations are in order. She is a pure and immaculate young woman, said the bodyguard respectfully to the man on the other side of the telephone, near the door of the hospital examination room.
Aurora I always knew I was going to die. My life was destined to end this way right from the start. Staring down the barrel of a gun, pointed at me by my own husband, I was shocked that I was so important that one of the worst men in the Volkov Bratva needed to kill me. The moment I married into this world, my days were numbered. The fact I’d lived this long was a miracle. Tears filled my eyes, and I hated that they made me look weak. I wasn’t surprised that I was the one on my knees. It took every ounce of strength not to give anything away.
Would he kill me if he knew the truth? I’d never betrayed my husband or Ivan Volkov, the leader of the Bratva, my husband’s boss. The moment I’d been with him, I’d been loyal to him, to the entire organization, but it meant nothing now. My husband wasn’t known for his patience, and I was shocked I wasn’t dead already. It wasn’t like he wanted to be married to me. Like so many things in my life, I was the second-best choice. The real woman he probably wanted was my sister, Isabella. The beautiful one. The one my father couldn’t bear to sacrifice to the disgusting Bratva bastards. Me, Aurora Fredo, the second daughter, the ugly one, I was the one he gave up freely. All my life, it had been so easy for everyone around me to pass me by.
I was friends with many but not cared about at all. Kind of crazy. I was the nice one. The one people said was sweet and kind, but didn’t care. I was the one they didn’t invite to parties, or they spent more time ignoring me. It was something I’d gotten used to. My family was worse than that. I was the embarrassment. When we went to dinners, I was placed so far away from them, people had no idea who I was. Passed over, time and time again. On my wedding day, men gave their condolences to the man who stood before me. A peace treaty. Something new and never before heard of.
Ivan Volkov was determined to set about a new era, a modern world for the Bratva, but to do that, for one section of the States he controlled, he needed his head man, his brigadier, Slavik Ivanov, to bring a conclusion to all the bloodshed with the mafia family. I was the sacrifice in that mafia family. Our marriage drew peace between the Italians and the Russians, supposedly. The moment my father placed my hand in Slavik’s hand, my fate had been sealed and along with it, this moment. There were times I thought it would be different. He’d made me believe I meant something, but like always, I was second best.
I wasn’t important. I wasn’t loved. I wasn’t worth anything to anyone. I’d lived with this knowledge for years. Some days, I could pretend it didn’t matter, that I wasn’t hurt by it. Then something would happen, a statement, an action, and it would awaken all the wounds I kept hidden. Now, it was finally going to be over. I closed my eyes and waited for the inevitable bullet that would finally end my miserable existence and set Slavik free. Aurora Ten months earlier The party was boring. Women stood in their little groups, gossiping amongst themselves. Some of them glanced in my direction. The Italian mafia-made men mingling with the same version of the Russian ones. I wasn’t exactly sure of the full details as to what they were all called.
What I did know was Slavik Ivanov, my husband, was like the Capo in his world. Even though we were parted by twenty-one years. He was forty years old, and I was nineteen, but in this world, age didn’t matter. Sipping on my champagne, I held the glass in my hand, counting to ten repeatedly to try to calm my nerves. I’d been married a week. The event had been a huge success. The press had been there to take pictures and to announce it in the paper. My father hadn’t wanted to give my perfect, beautiful sister to such a man, but me, he had no problem. Put my hand in Slavik’s and ignored me for the rest of the day.
Even the following morning, I’d done our family proud by bleeding. On our wedding night, my husband had made me bleed. I was sure a lot of virgins did on their first time. The night itself was kind of a blur. Slavik and I didn’t talk. No words were whispered or spoken out loud. To anyone who’d look at us, we’d been nothing more than perfect strangers. He hadn’t touched me since, which was a blessing. In fact, at night, I slept alone. The pain had been … well, it wasn’t something I wished to repeat. When we’d gotten to the room, he’d pulled the covers back, tore my dress off with his knife, and I’d lain down and closed my eyes as he climbed on top. The only sounds in the room had been his heavy panting. I’d drawn blood on my lip. Done. Finished.
No longer a virgin. The romance books I read were so far off the mark, it wasn’t even funny. Glancing at my husband, I saw he stood with his constant scowl, looking out over the room. I didn’t know if he had the first clue of how to smile. It wasn’t my problem. That was the mantra I kept telling myself. Every single night this past week, he’d arrived home, and each time I saw him, he’d been covered in blood. In our world, it was best not to ask any questions, so I didn’t. Some would call me a coward. My mother had once told me it was all about survival. As women, we were so easily replaced. In fact, as the men were all cheering at Slavik’s virgin, my mother was telling me he’d be bored now and would find other women to deal with his appetites.
What did I have to look forward to? The children he’d grant me unless he killed me first. It didn’t matter. No one cared. I sipped at my champagne and simply waited. This was an engagement party for one of the other bosses’ brigadiers or whatever it was he called them. I didn’t even know if he kept to these terms as Ivan Volkov was supposed to be taking his Bratva into another era. A modern era of peace, where he set the hierarchy and the new rules and terms for how things were run. I came from tradition. Where everything was done via the book, including arranged marriages. Standing at a party, surrounded by a bunch of Russians, well, it was scary. They all spoke English. I knew my husband did speak Russian, or at least I thought he did. Sometimes I’d heard him in hushed tones. I didn’t even dare to learn the language for fear of where that would leave me.
Finishing my champagne, I chanced another glance at my husband, and shame washed over me when I caught sight of a barely dressed woman hanging around him. Her head was tilted back and laughter spilled from her lips. The way she looked so calm and collected around him, I didn’t get it. He was scary. Not that I’d say it aloud. In fact, over the years, I’d learned the fine art of saying stuff in my head. I’d even begun to cuss out my parents and tell the boss to back off. It was kind of fun. They controlled everything else around them, but not my thoughts. It was the one sense of freedom I got. A waiter came by to offer me another flute of champagne, which I ignored. I didn’t know when the polite time would come to make my excuses to leave.
Rather than come with my guard and driver, Slavik had brought us. The moment we’d entered the party, he’d left me here all alone. This was … humiliating. A week married and my husband couldn’t even be bothered to stand with me. Not that it came as any surprise. I wasn’t beautiful. All my life I’d been told I was the ugly one. The ugly, fat sister no one wanted. I had long, brown hair, the tips of which touched the curve of my hip, which again was another issue. I had a weight problem. On a good day, I fit into a size eighteen. I had huge boobs, massive hips, a somewhat slender stomach in comparison, and chunky thighs.
Even when I dieted and exercised, the curves stayed. It was something I had to live with. Was it polite to fold my arms across my chest? It was so hard to not show boredom when that was exactly what I was. When the woman, whoever she was, seemed to be smooching my husband’s neck, I’d had enough of the spectacle and decided to make my way outside. The doors were wide open, and the moment I was out in the fresh air, I took a deep, calming breath. Tilting my head up to the sky, I saw it was a clear night, which explained the cold. The chill made me realize I was very much alive. Not a single part of me was dead, even though people seemed to pray for my death. The idea of my marriage being a peace treaty was so lame and stupid.
They thought it was going to bring peace. The truth was it now made more people hate me because they couldn’t continue their bloodshed. “It’s a nice night out, isn’t it?” The deep rumble of a voice startled me, and I turned around to see none other than Ivan Volkov liting a smoke in the shadowed corner, slightly hidden away by the door. I hadn’t known anyone else was out here. “Do you speak?” “Y-yes, sorry. You startled me.” He chuckled. “The party is not to your liking?” I quickly glanced at the doors. Everything was an act of survival now. If I said the wrong thing, he’d kill me. If he wanted some entertainment with my screams, he’d kill me. There was no way to win. “It’s wonderful.” “And yet you escape to the cold outdoors.” He tutted.
His accent was rather nice. “I just needed some air.” “Oh, please, I saw you in there.” He chuckled. “I would have thought Slavik would have known better by now.” Was I going to get my husband in trouble? Did I care? He had another woman hanging off his arm. Girlfriends, mistresses, they weren’t exactly unheard of in our circles. For many, it meant the husbands had other places to go for them to sate their appetite. For others, they were a pest and destroyers of loving relationships. Love. I didn’t have love. “He’s perfect,” I said. Internally, I cringed. I’d long ago developed the mask I wore now. Passive verging on submissive.
They didn’t know I had my thoughts. How I spoke my own mind. Staring at Ivan, though, I didn’t like how he looked at me. It took every single ounce of control not to react. He chuckled. “You’re a little spitfire. It almost makes me upset that I gave you to Slavik.” Pressing my lips together, I averted my gaze, bowing my head just slightly. More often than not, this appealed to men. It had worked to divert their attention. Not Ivan. He placed a finger beneath my chin and tilted my head back, looking into my eyes. “Such a shame. Slavik is usually a man who sees so much and yet, he doesn’t see you, does he?” “He’s the perfect husband and loyal to you, sir.” “Twenty years old and already know the way the world works. I don’t get those mafia men. You see, submissive women have their qualities in the world, Aurora, but the women who know how to bite back, they’re the ones who make our blood boil.”
Why was he telling me this? “Maybe one day, when you’re not so afraid, we can have a proper conversation, don’t you think?” He still had a finger beneath my chin. “And when you’re dealing with Slavik, heed my advice.” “Sir,” Slavik said, choosing that moment to interrupt. I didn’t jerk back, captivated by Ivan’s gaze. I couldn’t look away. It was like he was trying to tell me a million different things in his gaze alone, and I nodded. That was all I did. “Charming.” He released me and turned to look at Slavik. “You would be mindful to pay more attention to your wife than the whores who grace this place.” Slavik nodded his head. It wasn’t a warning or an order. I got the sense Slavik and Ivan were more than just boss and employee. They were friends, which again was odd.
Most bosses in our world didn’t have friends. They made sure people feared them. Learning the ever-changing dynamics that now surrounded me was difficult, but it was something I needed to master. Years of being around my own family had given me a lot of chances to watch, to listen, and to find out all the details I needed to survive even my father. “Come,” Slavik said, holding out his hand. I moved toward his side. He took my hand in his grip, and I expected us to leave. Instead, he led me inside and took me straight to the dance floor. One quick glance around the room and I saw we’d become the spectacle. I hated anyone’s gaze on me, but it was easier to get this over with. Slavik had been scorned. Would he beat me when I got home? Once, when I was a child, my sister Isabella had embarrassed my father by playing the role of a spoiled brat.
When we got home, rather than punish the perfect one, he’d turned his wrath on me, smacking me so hard I’d fallen into furniture. The blow had caused me to catch the skin across my eyebrow. I still had the scar at the corner of my eyebrow. It had long faded, but if you looked closely, you’d see it. The slight imperfection. I had several marks from old punishments. All of which I had to take as my father wouldn’t dream of hurting his precious daughter. The beautiful one. Some would say I had every right to hate and resent my sister. I didn’t. I loved Isabella. It wasn’t her fault, but our family’s. She’d been raised to believe she was a princess who deserved all the attention, while I’d been taught to expect what I got and to be grateful for it.
With Slavik’s hand on my back, the other holding my hand, we danced. The tune was soft, not too slow that it required us to stand close to one another, but not fast enough to create a good distance. Being this close to him terrified me. I’d heard the rumors of just how deadly this man was. He was feared far and wide. The women gossiped about how he had the ability to tear apart a man with his hands. I didn’t even know if that was possible. Fear ran down my back, and I tried to ignore it. Ivan’s words rang in my head about how men liked to have a woman who talked back. Not in my experience they didn’t.
They liked a quiet, submissive woman who was pretty and spat out sons. There, I’d said it, albeit in my head. “What was Volkov talking to you about?” Slavik asked. “I’m sorry?” “You heard me.” I did, but I was buying time. This wasn’t a conversation I wished to have with my husband. How did I get out of this? “He talked about the party.” “And?” “Nothing more.” I wasn’t about to tell him the man’s advice. Slavik’s hand tightened at my waist. I didn’t know if he was trying to warn me, or if he just had to hold me a little tighter. “How are you enjoying the party?” I asked. “It’s a party, Aurora. How do you think?” His harsh tone had me flinching. Of course. I was being treated like a dumb woman. Rather than look into his dark, almost black eyes, I went back to staring at his chest. Had Ivan given me that advice on purpose? Either way, I wasn’t going to use it.
Once the dance ended, Slavik told me that my driver, Sergei, was going to take me home. Without another word, Slavik smooched my cheek and handed me to Sergei. No doubt he was going to be banging the woman who had been hanging off his arm. Against my better judgment, I looked toward Ivan, who watched me. He raised his glass in my direction, and I offered him a smile. Staring down at the floor, I followed Sergei out to the waiting car. He held open the back passenger door, and I slid inside. The noise from the building seemed to grow louder, but I ignored it. Parties had never been my thing. The fear of something bad happening always lingered in the air. I was growing tired of living in fear. Resting my head back against the car seat, I didn’t bother looking back to see the building. Instead, I stared out the window at the passing scenery.
The city in darkness always seemed to offer a sense of freedom. There were more shadows, places to hide. It would be so nice to run, to escape. Now that I was married, my chances were gone. I was trapped in a loveless marriage to a man who clearly couldn’t stand me. My days were numbered. Pressing my fingers to my temples, I tried to massage the pain that began to build. Showing weakness would get me killed. Being strong and loyal, that was what I needed to do. To survive. To one day earn my freedom. I had a plan, I just hoped I knew what I was doing. Slavik The party had long ago ended. Wives were gone. Children were nowhere to be seen. The only people left were men, available women, and whores. Ivan sat at the head, looking like a king, which was exactly what he was. In front of him was the woman who had been hanging off me earlier.
Dana was her name, and he had proof of her treachery. No one could outrun the Volkov Bratva and they certainly couldn’t betray it. There were many enemies of Ivan’s wanting to take over. They didn’t like the new era we all worked within. The treaties he built. The places he ran. The rules he implemented. I did. I was loyal to him. My life was in his hands. I’d die for this man. I owed him everything, and he knew I’d do anything for him. The moment he told me to marry Aurora Fredo, I’d done so without argument. My wife was different. The truth was in marrying Aurora to me, her father had given us the greatest of insults.
It was known far and wide the second daughter wasn’t perfect. To many, she was the ugly, fat let-down. The real prize was her sister. What Fredo didn’t know was Ivan had wanted Aurora from the start. Again, I had no idea why he wanted her, only that he did. What I didn’t like tonight was seeing them together. I didn’t love my wife. Our wedding night had been a screwed-up mess. My order from Ivan had been clear: consummate the marriage and produce the bloody sheets as per tradition in Aurora’s family. I’d done that, and even the memory of it grated on my nerves. She’d been terrified but duty-bound.
The moment I touched her, I found her so dry, it didn’t matter what way I’d taken her, she’d have been hurt. Getting it over with had been a challenge. I’d moistened her up with my saliva, pretending I was getting my shaft ready as I’d done it. I hadn’t touched my wife in a week, and it wasn’t like she complained. She slept stiffly on her side of the bed, rarely moving. I had to wonder if she slept at all. Some nights, I found myself watching her. She had long brown hair, a temptation I didn’t allow myself to give in to. It would be so nice to run my fingers through the length, to wrap it around my fist, and to jerk her back against me as I banged her long and hard. To show her what our wedding night should have been like. Instead, I watched. I craved.
But I didn’t give in. That would be pointless. At this time, I didn’t even know if I liked my wife. We didn’t talk. I stared at the scene before me, and the truth was my shaft was not getting hard. Dana’s face was already covered in semen. As per Ivan’s instructions, we’d created an orgy. Screw your heart’s content, and only when he had Dana where he wanted her would he strike. That time was now. One of the soldiers had his shaft inside her hip. One of his hands gripped her hair, holding her head to the floor as he rode her anus. All the while, he had his gaze on Ivan, waiting for the signal. The moment Ivan nodded, the soldier pulled her up against his chest, held her hair tightly, and placed the blade against her throat.
It took her several seconds to realize what was going on. Anger, fear, and sadness all danced across her eyes. “Volkov, what is the meaning of this?” “You think I wouldn’t find out? First you steal from me, then you hand it straight to our enemies, and now I’ve got their running in my clubs. In my city. You dirty hoe. You should know that I would find out. Nothing is ever hidden from me. Nothing.” “No, please. No. I don’t want to die. They made me do it.” Ivan got up off his seat and walked down to where Dana knelt. Tears streamed from her eyes. He got close. “You think I don’t know about the payment? How you’re a couple of mil up on takings?” Dana’s eyes closed as the reality of what she’d done and been caught doing finally sank in.
The blade swiped across Dana’s neck, blood spilling from the wound. She cupped her neck as the soldier pulled out of her hip. It was done. The deed was finished. I watched, and I didn’t care. Greed got people killed. Far too many people were lured into a trap by the green stuff. Dana had taken a bag of our coke, our own special blend that was worth so much more money than she sold it for. Once they got the chemist on it, they adapted it and changed the formula. We’d been made truly aware of the damage when ten people had been found overdosed in our clubs within one night. This was a new part of Ivan Volkov’s era. He didn’t want people dead. Dead clients meant product didn’t move. He liked to keep people alive. Again, a new first. Ivan clicked his fingers, signaling the party was over. Dana’s body would be disposed of. Unclaimed.
Dead and useless. “You needed an elaborate party to do that?” I asked, following him out toward his car. “No, I needed an elaborate party because it entertains me.” I only ever talked to him as a friend when we were alone. The moment we were surrounded by others, I was the loyal subject. “You know your wife was so bored tonight, don’t you?” “Leave Aurora to me,” I said. Ivan chuckled. “I think I made a mistake in allowing you to marry her. You clearly don’t see the wild woman waiting to be unleashed.” This did make me snort. The soldiers were a close enough distance away that I didn’t have to play any other role.
I could be myself. “Are you sure you’re looking at the same woman?” “Are you sure you’re even looking at the right woman?” This made me pause. “I know my wife. She’s submissive. That’s what they trained her for.” Ivan clicked his tongue. “There you go again. I have to wonder if I should demote you and keep that wife of yours. Look into her eyes, my friend. You will see.” He climbed into his car, bringing our conversation to a close. We’d been friends for a lifetime already. Together, we’d grown up on the streets. I’d saved him from being killed more times than I could count. We had a plan. A goal that would make this city ours. When we were kids, the Bratva were … hot tempered, and in truth, their vision wasn’t big enough.
They worked small. Petty criminals. They didn’t see the big picture. Ivan Volkov had. He was the big picture, and now, he ran half of the country, which he divided into six areas. I controlled area one. The biggest with the main cities all bowing down to my rule. Ivan only ever dealt with his brigadiers, his main men. I was aware of the men he sent out to all areas. The spies he used to control everyone. It was how he learned of betrayals, of the greed, and of course, the rats. Everyone was in his pocket. Even though he was considered the fiercest and most evil person around, he was also fair. If you didn’t cross him, you lived.
If you showed loyalty to him, then he took care of you. The moment you turned your back on him, betrayed, or stole from him, well, your days were numbered. Watching the car leave the parking lot, I stood there as the cleaning crew came. They nodded at me. I was on first-name terms with most people in Ivan’s control. I made it my business to know everyone. I’d always been a firm believer that knowledge was power, and when it came to keeping Ivan in control, I was willing to do whatever it took to keep him there, even marry a woman I didn’t trust. It was late when I arrived home. The guard I’d assigned to Aurora’s care stood at the door, waiting for my signal to leave. I gave it to him. There were always guards around. Soldiers. Men designed to help us gain power and to forever grow stronger. They rose up the ranks, claiming to be the best everyone had to offer.
After taking a quick shot of the finest whiskey, I headed to the bedroom. Aurora was still awake, but the moment I entered the bedroom, she closed the book she’d been reading. When all of her belongings arrived at my penthouse suite, I’d been surprised. She didn’t have many. Books. She’d had close to three hundred books. All in paperback. I’d gotten the designers in, and one of the spare bedrooms had been converted into a library for her. I’d also granted her a credit card in my name to which she’d not spent a single penny. We’d been married a week, and I’d known other men in my position had been near bankrupt in that time by how wild their wives’ spending could be. I glanced at my wife. She wore a silk negligee that showed off her full boobs.
I hadn’t given myself the pleasure of looking at her entirely, but one day soon, I intended to look to my heart’s content. Removing my jacket, I took my gun with me. I didn’t go anywhere without at least two guns and three blades. I was a precautious man. I’d survived this long with them, and I wasn’t about to ruin my chances by screwing it up and letting down my guard. I’d seen what happened firsthand to men who got sloppy. They ended up dead, and I knew because I’d been the one to kill them. Once inside the bathroom, I stripped off my clothes and stepped beneath the cold water of the shower. I didn’t like taking hot baths or showers. I liked the shock of the cold. It kept me alive and alert. Also, I didn’t linger too long doing one thing.
Men struck during these times. I’d lost count of the number of men I’d taken out while in the shower. I turned off the water, wrapped a towel around me, picked up my gun, and walked back into the bedroom. With my back to Aurora, I put the gun beside my bed and checked the time to see it was a little after three. “You need to be careful around Volkov,” I said. I had no idea why I was giving her the warning. If she died doing something stupid, it was on her. I wouldn’t take responsibility for her mistakes. She was the enemy. A foreigner to me. “I didn’t seek him out.” Her voice was so low, I only just made it out. I turned toward her, and she immediately shrank away. I didn’t need her fear. “Do as I say.” She nodded her head after a few seconds’ hesitation, which pissed me off. While I’d been in the shower, she’d already put the book down and had sunk beneath the covers.
My shaft was hard, but I was in no mood to bang an ice queen. I turned off my light, removed my towel, and climbed into bed. The bed shook a little. I was sure she cried, but it wasn’t my problem. I had a lot of things to do over the next few days, but sleep didn’t come to me. My eyes adjusted to the darkness, and I could make out her outline. A sniffle escaped her. Time ticked by, and she finally fell into a fitful sleep. It was while she slept that I moved in close. I didn’t touch her, but I felt her body heat and breathed in the heady scent of lemon. It was just one of the many parts of Aurora I found … intoxicating. Aurora There had to be some kind of survival in never seeing your husband. There had to be. The days turned into weeks, then months, and it wasn’t long before I’d been married for a grand total of three months and four days. Yay. I was still alive. Still alive.
Still ignored. But it was moments like now that I actually lived for. On rare occasions, Slavik would demand my presence at parties, social gatherings, and the necessary dinner at a restaurant. The latter was always the hardest. They tended to be the two of us. He’d look the part but spend the entire time either talking on his cell phone or to a guard. I’d sit and have to listen to his tones of Russian. I’d thought about starting to learn, but so far, I hadn’t pushed my luck. Now these occasions, where we sat for dinner with a group of people, I could get through them. Slavik sat beside me, ordered my dinner, and complimented me. Played the role, saying all the right things. For a short time, I could pretend this was normal.
At least at this dinner party, there were other women. Three of whom I sat close to. They were talking about their latest designer gowns. I had no idea who I wore but they seemed to. I nodded and smiled, laughed at the right points, and even told a few jokes. Sofia, Irina, and Amanda were all beautiful women. They were destined to be married to three of the other brigadiers under Ivan Volkov’s rule. I wasn’t sure who they were going to marry, but by the rocks on their fingers, it was a pretty big deal. “You know, I was thinking we could all do lunch,” I said. In the last four months, other than being with Slavik, I spent most of my time indoors, unless he ordered me to shop. It would be nice to make some friends in his world. No one called me from mine. No distant friends or cousins. Even my sister didn’t have time for me. I smiled as the women agreed. Feeling the need to use the bathroom, I excused myself, feeling happier than I had in a long time. This dinner could be the turning point, where I finally found some people. The bathroom was divided into two sections. One was lit, and the other was in darkness.
For some odd reason, I decided to go to the opposite side, shrouded in darkness. I used the toilet, flushed, and was washing my hands when I heard the giggling. “Can you believe her?” I recognized Amanda’s voice. I stepped back into the toilet stall. Who were they talking about? “My face hurts from smiling so much,” Sofia said. “Tell me about it. If Slavik wasn’t here, I would have been able to ignore her. Do you know what they call her?” Irina asked. “No, what?” Sofia and Amanda asked. “The fat Italian. Honestly. People feel sorry for Slavik. I don’t know how he puts up with her. He could do so much better. I know my dad tried to get me thrown at him, but Volkov decided the Fredo girl was more important.” The jealousy in Irina’s voice was clear to hear. So, where I thought I’d made a connection with these women, it was all an act. “Did you see the dress?” Amanda asked. “She looked like a cow. All Slavik has to do is say the word, and I’d do anything for him. I heard on her wedding night, Slavik had to cut himself because he couldn’t find her private part through the layers of fat.” It went on and on.
Between them using the bathroom, washing their hands, and applying makeup, they continued to insult me. Once they left, I stepped out of the stall. It wasn’t the first time this had happened. I stared at my reflection. My hair had been curled by the male hairstylist Slavik had hired. He’d wanted to cut my hair, but I refused, and so he curled it. Tonight … I thought I looked pretty. I guessed I was wrong. Tears shimmered in my eyes as I looked at my reflection, and my smile wobbled. “What did you expect?” I took a deep breath, calming down my nerves, and finally, the tears faded. Time to go and play a role. I stepped out of the bathroom and took my seat back at the table. My hand shook as I reached for the glass of water. Amanda, Sofia, and Irina were back at the table, and I kept my gaze forward. Slavik’s hand brushed mine. I turned toward him as I jerked my hand away from him.
My entire body shook. “What’s the matter?” he asked. “Nothing. I’m fine.” He didn’t need to know that another hope and dream had just been dashed. My pity party was my own. My heart raced and I sat back. I ignored the women at my side and stared across the table. Ivan stared right back at me. I didn’t know what to do, and so I looked down at where a slice of chocolate cake waited for me. It looked delicious with the dark frosting and the moist cake, but I felt sick. “I ordered dessert for you,” Slavik said. “Thank you, but I’m not hungry.” I sipped at my water. “I don’t suppose you’ve got some news to tell me?” Ivan asked, silencing the table as he talked. When he spoke, everyone else shut up. Heat filled my body, and I made sure not to look at Ivan.
“No news.” “So no little babies coming our way? The next generation of good strong men?” he asked. Babies. We’d have to be having intercourse to have babies, and that wasn’t happening. “No babies,” Slavik said. “Aw, Slavik, you break this poor man’s heart. I want to see more children.” This entire conversation was getting to me. “May I go home?” I asked. As I asked, I knew it was incredibly rude of me, but I needed to get away from here. I had to have a break and leave. The thought of staying here, well, I needed distance from the women, from Slavik, from duty. Gazes turned from me to Ivan, and he nodded. “Of course, my dear.” Slavik clicked his fingers, signaling Sergei, but Ivan tutted. “No, your wife is clearly feeling unwell. We’ll talk another time. Go with her.” Ivan’s word was law. So, together, we stood. I made my escape toward the exit.
Sergei already had my coat, which I took, grateful. Slavik came back and held out a small white card. “Amanda said you needed to organize a lunch together.” I stared at the card for several seconds before I reached out to grab it. Without question, I tore it up and threw it in the trash. I wasn’t going to make friends with people who talked behind my back like that. All my life I’d been alone, and I could continue to be so. Wrapping my arms around my body, I stood outside, waiting for the car. Slavik stood beside me. He was so much taller than me. Muscular as well. From the glimpse I’d gotten of him on my wedding night, I knew he was heavily inked, and he clearly worked out a lot. I gritted my teeth as the car came into view. Sliding into the back seat, I tried to hug myself against the door, but I couldn’t get close enough. Slavik was too close.
He pressed a button that raised the partition, separating us from the driver. We now had privacy. “Do you want to tell me what is going on?” he asked. “Nothing is going on. I didn’t need you to take me home. I was happy going with Sergei.” I sank my nails into my palm as I stared out the window. Slavik wrapped his fingers around my wrist and tugged me close. “I don’t like being ignored.” “You’re hurting me.” “And you’re starting to piss me off.” Tears filled my eyes. He could so easily break my wrist. I stayed perfectly still. “I just … I wanted to leave.” “You think I didn’t see a difference after you’d gone to use the bathroom? What was said? They went after you but came out first? Are you hiding a pregnancy from me? Tell me.”