Slipping into the Dark Side (Morozov Mafia)

12. Surrender

Chapter twelve

Surrender

T he assassination attempt of Yakov Morozov was the talk at all the gatherings for the days that followed.

And Fedor was the spotlight.

Tatianna held onto his arm with a proud grin, more than willing to expose her fiancée’s bravery with embellished words and exaggerated explanations. It was her duty to do such a thing, especially this night, a gratitude dinner held in Fedor’s honor.

“I didn’t really do anything,” Fedor defended as he looked around at all the exaggerated decorations.

“What are you talking about? You took a bullet for him.” She gestured to his cast, but he swatted her away as if it were nothing.

When Yakov entered the room, all her emotions were churning in a chaotic tornado. He walked right up to Fedor and shook his hand. Pictures were snapped, and a round of applause ignited the crowd. Afterward, Yakov gave a speech about Fedor’s quick movements that saved his life, and as a gesture of gratitude, Fedor was now his right-hand man. The shock on Fedor’s face was comical, but he came up and thanked him.

“I did what any one of us would have done for you, Mr. Mozorov.”

“Yakov,” Yakov corrected. “Please.”

“Yakov,” Fedor smiled as he did so. “I know this is forward of me, but I would be honored if you were a witness at my wedding.”

Tatianna kept her dutiful smile and clapped with the crowd. There was nothing that Yakov could do but accept, and a clamp pinched her heart, nearly derailing her facade of happiness.

It was only moments later, when everyone was drinking and eating at the elaborate buffet, that Tatianna fought her way to the lady’s room and locked herself in a cubicle.

Tatianna slapped a hand against her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut, begging to be anywhere else.

The guilt was strangling her. The night of the assassination attempt, before Tatianna had gotten a call from her father, she was working on how she was going to leave Fedor. There were papers strewn all over her floor in pathetic attempts to come up with excuses before she had settled on the one in her hand.

Now, all the letters were burned in the fireplace.

And like the letters that turned to ash, so had her chance.

Tatainna never saw herself as a terribly selfish person. There were morals she kept even when she did bad things. But this was too much for her. To betray Fedor would haunt her. She couldn’t do it.

It took too long to get her back in the right headspace. Someone had come look for her. Tatianna cleaned her face and pushed through the rest of the night without meeting’s Yakov’s gaze once, and she was determined never to meet his gaze again.

But that wasn’t possible, was it? Now that Fedor was Yakov’s right hand, the very next day Fedor and her were driving to his house. “Why do I have to come?” Tatianna fought.

Fedor kept hold of her hand, kissing her knuckles. “Yakov said his sister wanted to talk to you about the wedding.” A smile on his lips made her concerned, and with only a stare, he broke. “Yakov wants to fund the wedding!” he laughed as he said it. “I’m sorry, it was supposed to be a surprise, but I know how you hate surprises.”

“You can’t let him!”

“The hell I can’t. A hundred thousand dollars is pennies to this man. Now you can get the roses and dress you want! But you have many more invitations to send out and much more work to do, but I figured you wouldn’t mind. No more boring afternoons.”

“How many more people? We’ve invited over a hundred.”

“Yakov has brought us into his world, darling. No one can be slighted. I think he mentioned two to three hundred–

“What? Of people I’ve never met?”

“You are going to get a fairytale wedding! Take some negatives with these amazing positives. I’m shooting up the ladder. This is what we’ve dreamed.”

Tatianna sat back, her eyes out the window. The anger didn’t fade even after they arrived at the Morozov residence. Fedor was checked at the door for a weapon, but she found it humorous that Yakov’s security skipped over her as if she couldn’t possibly hide a knife anywhere.

When Yakov greeted them, she was short with her reply, keeping a stiff chin. She felt his stare steadying her, but she refused to engage.

“Fedor,” Luerna greeted and reached for his arm. “I have a surprise, could you come with me?”

“A surprise for me?” With a gleeful smile, Fedor kissed Tatianna’s cheek and left her.

Yakov stood with his hands behind his back, waiting for Tatianna to acknowledge him. But then she did something he hadn’t expected. She straightened her back and stomped away. He didn’t chase her. He wasn’t in the mood. He lit a cigarette, breathed in deeply, and blew out the smoke.

Then, promptly followed her.

She was getting lost again, and she went through the wrong door and ended up in a hallway full of pricy paintings, but it was a dead end, and Yakov closed the door behind him as she stumbled along like a lost mouse.

Tatianna faced him. “Why are you doing this? You’re making this so much harder. You’re playing with me. You’re playing with him. You are a terribly cruel man. Do you have no sense of honor?”

“With certain things,” he replied carelessly, flicking the ash off his cigarette before stuffing it back in his pocket.

“We can’t do this, Yakov.”

His name on her lips was full of desperation. Didn’t she know he could hear it in her voice? Something had changed. Her resolve had changed. She was giving in, and this was the last act of rebellion. Yakov was slow as he stepped toward her, explaining as he went, “I wanted to see you more. Your father is against us, and that could cause problems with what my plans are so–”

“You staged the assassination attempt.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t realize that.”

Tatianna reached for a chair to steady herself as her thoughts went through everything. “You needed to promote Fedor as your right hand because you want his corporation, but you don’t want the other families to know what you’re doing.”

“And to get more opportunities to see you.”

She shook her head.

Yakov was behind her now. His breath on her bare shoulder. His fingers graced the tips of hers, a soft, subtle move. “I am a cruel man. There is nothing I won’t do to get what I want. I want to avoid a scandal so early in my career, but I am impulsive. And I’m tired of waiting.”

Tatianna turned to him, her heart pounding, her desire building with every second he was near. “Fedor doesn’t deserve this.”

“He’ll never know.”

“Are you saying–”

“Be his wife,” Yakov whispered as he leaned in, touching his lips against her jaw. She leaned her back, revealing her neck for his tongue. “Have his children.” He kissed her wild pulse. “Be the dutiful daughter you want to be.” Yakov gripped her arms harshly, yanking her body to his, and her gasp sounded in his ear. “But belong to me.”

She panted as his nose traced her ear, brushing her hair. She was sinking into him, his touch, his passion, and his world. And there was no stopping it.