7. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
Inessa
V iktor catches me.
I gasp and grip his arms. They feel so nice around me, which is a thought I should not be having.
“Inessa?” His eyes search my face. There’s worry in them. It warms my heart that he cares enough about me to be worried.
But it also hits me with guilt since I’m flat out lying to him about who I really am.
“Sorry,” I whisper. “Just… the blood. I got woozy.”
“Here. Let’s clean that up. Bandage it.”
Natasha’s eye roll is the biggest one yet. “She’s fine, Viktor.”
“Clearly she’s not fine. She almost passed out.” Then Viktor does something that surprises me to my core: he lifts me into his arms.
“She can walk.”
Viktor ignores Natasha and carries me into the bathroom and sets me on the toilet lid. “You’re bleeding all over the place.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. I’m sure you didn’t mean to get cut.” He grabs a first aid kit from under the sink. Using an alcohol swab, he daps it against my skin, making me wince. My leg jerks back. “Careful. I’m not trying to hurt you.”
“I can do this myself.”
“I know.” He doesn’t give me any other response. I try to keep the smile off my face but it’s impossible. Viktor gives me a curious look. “You rarely smile.”
“I’m always working.”
“Still. It’s nice to see you smile. You have a beautiful one.”
“You rarely smile yourself.”
His head is bent over my leg as he bandages it so I can’t make out his expression. “I don’t have much to smile about.”
“That’s sad.”
“I guess it is.” He doesn’t look at me as he puts the first aid kit away. “There. The cut wasn’t deep and there was no glass in your skin. You got lucky.”
“Thank you.”
“Now, we should return to Natasha. There’s something I need to ask you both.”
My heart begins to pound as I follow him back to Natasha. She’s still by the broken plates, trying to pick up the pieces. I’m shocked, actually, that she would do that after she broke them in the first place.
“Can someone explain how these ended up broken?” Viktor demands.
“She just threw them right onto the ground,” Natasha says before I can speak. “It was shocking, Viktor. I’m not sure how you can even keep her as a maid.”
“Why would Inessa purposely drop expensive fine china onto the ground when she knows it’s valuable?”
Natasha shrugs. “You have to ask her.”
He sets his intense eyes on me, making me want to shrivel into a hole and disappear forever. “Inessa?”
“I didn’t drop them, sir. I was just cleaning them. I know they’re valuable.”
“So, how did they end up broken?” When neither Natasha or I speak, Viktor sighs. “Someone tell me. Because I’m starting to see that there’s a lot of ‘she said, she said’ going on with you two. I don’t like it. When something goes wrong, it involves both of you.”
“Why aren’t you taking my side?” Natasha asks. “I’m your fiancée.”
“Not yet.”
Her eyes widen. “But we’ve been dating. We’ll be married someday.”
“I haven’t asked you to be my wife yet, Natasha. But that’s not important right now. What’s important is figuring out how these got broken.” He points to the glass on the floor. “I need to know.”
“And I told you. Your little maid broke them.”
“But why? That doesn’t make sense.”
“For your attention. She breaks them, she gets cut. You whisk her away to save her from her wound. Don’t you see what’s going on, Viktor? She does these things to get you to feel bad for her.”
I want to defend myself but it’s not my place. I’m not the one with any power here.
“Inessa? Is this true?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“Then what happened?”
I look at Natasha and she glares right back at me. It would be so easy to tell Viktor that Natasha deliberately broke the plates just to make me look bad. But Viktor made a point of saying that it’s a ‘she said, she said’ situation.
So I lie once more.
“Natasha startled me when I was cleaning the plates. I accidently dropped it. I didn’t mean for it to happen..”
His eyes tighten, like he doesn’t believe me, but what else can Viktor do? He wasn’t here to witness the situation.
Natasha’s lips part in surprise. She keeps trying to throw me under the bus and I’m not going to do the same. I’m going to be better.
But I’m not going to let her drag me down with her.
“That really happened?” he asks.
“Yes. It was all an accident.”
“Well, if you startled that easily, I’ll have Mrs. Green clean the china from now on. And Natasha, don’t sneak up on Inessa when she’s cleaning something so valuable. Or cleaning anything, really. Understood?”
“But-,” Natasha starts to say but Viktor holds up a hand.
“Understood? You will show my staff respect.”
Natasha points at me. “She doesn’t show me any respect.”
“Natasha, do you understand? If you’re going to be my wife someday, you have to know how to treat my staff accordingly.”
All I can think about is last night when Viktor and I were in his office. I’m not sure he acted ‘accordingly’ towards me then. But I wasn’t complaining then and I’m not complaining now.
I like Viktor’s attention, I will admit. It makes my stomach flutter in a way it never has before. But he’s not mine and he never will be. Getting a crush on my boss, and the man who wants my dad dead, is not ideal. In fact, it’s stupid. But I can’t help how I feel.
“Natasha?”
Her shoulders slump as she nods. “Yes. I will treat your staff accordingly. I’ll treat them how they treat me.”
“No. You’ll treat them with respect.”
“But what if they don’t respect me? Your little maid sure doesn’t.”
“Inessa is just doing her job. Now, let’s drop this. I’m getting tired of it. Since I don’t want you getting hurt again, Inessa, I’m going to have Mrs. Green clean this up. The bathrooms need tending to.”
With a nod, I hurry away, even though I can feel Natasha glaring a hole into my back until I round the corner.
Viktor
I’m not surprised when Erik Koslov walks into my gentleman’s club. I did just steal one of his gun shipments a few days ago. Finn has been proving to be an efficient worker. I’ve already made a couple million dollars from the guns. This war is making me richer than ever.
Erik would be an intimidating man to most people but he’s not to me.
“Viktor,” he snaps, storming over to my booth. My two guards stationed by my table block Erik’s path.
“Search him and then let him sit down.”
They find a gun on Erik, then let him on through. Erik doesn’t stop glaring at me even as he sits down. Even when I order him a drink. Even when that drink arrives.
“Not happy with me, I take it?” I say, sipping my old fashioned.
“You keep stealing my guns. I’m out money because of you.”
“That’s how it works in a war.”
He runs his hand down his face. “Viktor, we were once friends.”
“No. We were once allies. And then you went and fucked me over. There’s a difference there.”
“I didn’t fuck you over.”
“You chose that fucking Italian over me. You let him marry Nadia. I could have married her. It didn’t matter to me if she wasn’t a virgin any longer. I could have married her. We would have been allies.”
“And then we would have been at war with Dante Moretti,” he says. “I saw an opportunity to make amends with Dante. To become allies with him. It was a smart plan. You have to agree with that.”
I don’t say a word.
“But you’re right. You did get fucked when Elena fell in love with Aiden. I should have made her marry you.”
“I didn’t want a woman who was so unwilling to marry me. She loved that fucking hitman and there was no denying it. But my pride was hurt. She never should have fallen in love with him in the first place. We should have kept her safe.”
Erik nods. “I agree. And I tried to get you married to her. I tried to keep my promise. I really did. But it all blew up in my face when she fell for him. I couldn’t have predicted that.”
“I know you couldn’t. And I know you tried, Erik. I know you did. I don’t hate you for that.”
“Then why this war? It’s been going on nearly a year now. Let’s make another truce. Let’s be allies again.”
I only take a sip of my drink.
“I heard you sent your sister away,” he says. “You could bring her back home if this war was done. If we were allied again.”
“You make a good point, Erik. You really do. But my pride was hurt when you started working with Dante Moretti. When you chose him over your own Bratva brother. Now, I’m going to make you pay for that.”
“By working with Finn Murphy? He’s a mad man.”
“He’s angry with his brother for falling in love with Elena. He wants to hurt Aiden. I’m fine giving him that since I want Aiden to hurt too. He stole the woman I was going to marry. I want Dante to hurt for the same reason.”
“You didn’t love either of those women.”
“Doesn’t matter whether I loved them or not. They were promised to me and then they were ripped away from me. They were ripped away by men who couldn’t keep their fucking hands to themselves. I want them to suffer for it. And you’re going to suffer for it too, Erik. When you side with them, you face the consequences with them.”
“Viktor, think about this. We could be allies again. End this war. Everyone is safe. Your sister will be safe. My wife will be safe.”
“I have no intention of going after Anya, trust me. I don’t hurt innocent women.”
“But Finn does.”
His words chill me to my core. Finn is a madman to be sure and he’s fucking reckless and who knows what else he’ll do? But so far, he’s been loyal to me this past year. That’s more than I can say about anyone else.
“Finn tried to kill Elena just because he could,” Erik reminds me. “What’s the stop him from going after Anya? Or Nadia?”
“Nothing.”
“Exactly. So, I propose a new deal. You kill Finn. You become an ally with me again. And we put this all behind us.”
“You work with Aiden now. How is he going to feel when he finds out you made a deal with me over his brother’s life?”
“Aiden wouldn’t need to know. Finn could have died in a multitude of ways.”
“So, more lies.” I scoff and throw back my drink. “That’s why I can’t trust you, Erik. You’re willing to lie to achieve your goals. But I’m done with deception. Done with it. So, no deal. I’m going to make you suffer for siding with Dante Moretti.”
“When will you be satisfied? Your pride will always be hurt if you let it.”
I slam my hands on the table and lean over it to get right in his face. “Don’t fucking lecture me about pride. Not when you’re one of the most prideful men I’ve ever met.”
Erik eyes me over cooly. “Fine. I can see that coming here was a waste of my time. But you should know, Viktor. This war only ends in one way: your death.”
“Or it ends with yours.”
He pushes his drink to the side and stands up. “I’ll need my gun back.”
“You have enough guns. Go. Before I kill you right here, right now.”
“I feel sorry for you, Viktor. You’re all alone.”
I don’t give him the satisfaction of a reply, even though his words shake me more than I’d like to admit.
“Why did you bring me here?” Natasha asks as we stand outside the botanical garden.
“Because I thought it would make for a nice date idea.”
“Oh, Viktor. I never told you. I find staring at plants to be boring.”
“Right. I didn’t know.” I try to push aside the sting of annoyance I feel for Natasha. If she doesn’t like flowers, then she doesn’t like them. I’m not going to fault her for that.
But the issue is she never really likes any of the date ideas I come up with.
If she weren’t rich, I would have moved on from her by now. But she would make for a good wife given her connections and I cannot forget that. I never planned on marrying for love.
Love makes everything more complicated.
But with Natasha, I find myself wondering if I even like her as a person. I don’t need love but I would like companionship. I would like to at least like the person I’ll be married to.
“Let’s just go to a nice restaurant,” she says, guiding me away from the gardens. “Somewhere expensive. Nothing but the best for us.”
“Of course.”
“So, Viktor, any idea of when we might get married?”
“Not yet. I’m still… figuring things out.”
“You were the one who wanted a wife, I thought. And I’m in need of a husband. We could make a powerful couple. You know that. So why are you resisting?”
“I’m not resisting.” Maybe a little. And maybe it has something to do with my maid who I can’t seem to stop thinking about.
“Is this because of Inessa?”
I stop in my tracks. “Inessa?”
“Do you like her?”
“She’s my maid.”
“And that’s not an answer.”
I pull away from Natasha. “This date wasn’t a good idea. You’re not in a good mood and I’m distracted with work.” Distracted with what Erik said to me. “Let’s call it a day.”
“But we had a date planned.”
“You can come over tomorrow.” I hail a taxi for her. “Sound good?”
She huffs. “I mean… I guess. I just don’t want to feel like I’m losing you.”
That’s funny – seeing as Natasha never really had me at all.
Inessa
Mrs. Green is angry with me for dropping the plates. I don’t have the courage to tell her it was Natasha trying to hurt me again. She has it out for me but I’m not going to let her win. I’m keeping this job, even if it kills me.
“Just stay out of trouble,” Mrs. Green snaps as I’m vacuuming the guest bedroom.
“Just doing my job, Mrs. Green.”
“And stay out of trouble. Mr. Smirnov is inviting his girlfriend back over today. So be mindful of her.”
I always am.
I’m in the living room, sweeping the floor, when Natasha arrives. The sight of her makes my stomach drop to my feet. What is she going to do to me this time?
“We’re trying to have a date,” Natasha says to me as she and Viktor enter the living room. Viktor catches my eye and I quickly look away. “You should leave.”
“Of course. If you need anything, just let me know.” I’m more than glad to be away from Natasha but once I reach the hallway, I hear someone behind me. It’s Viktor. “Sir?”
“We haven’t had a chance to talk since…” He motions to my bandage leg. “I just wanted to say that what happened cannot happen again.”
“I understand.”
He takes a step closer to me. “And what happened in my office cannot happen again.”
A heat flares in my lower stomach. The way he touched my thighs was intense and electric. I haven’t been able to stop thinking of it ever since.
“I understand.”
“Good. Because I have… Natasha.” He says it like he’s trying to convince himself.
“Of course. I am just your maid. And she is your girlfriend. She’s the one you should spend time with. Not me.”
“Yes. I just wanted to make that clear.”
“Perfectly.” I can’t stop the blush on my cheeks from coming through. I know Viktor notices.
With a nod, Viktor walks away.
God, he’s a confusing man. I’ve caught him watching me sometimes. And after what happened in his office and how he helped me with my leg, I can’t help but wonder how much I’m on his mind.
Because I know he’s on my mind all the time.
I’m in the middle of taking the laundry out of the washer and putting it in the dryer when Natasha appears in the doorway.
“Did you need something?”
She quickly corners me against the washing machine. “I want you to leave Viktor alone.”
“I’m his maid. I work here. I live here. I don’t know what you want me to do. I’m not quitting.”
“You really should.” She brings her hand up and it’s then I notice the small steak knife in her palm.
I squeak when she brings it to my neck. “I’m sorry.”
“I could so easily get you out of my life. I belong to a world with so much death and destruction. You don’t even know what I’m talking about.”
“I know Viktor works for the Russian Mafia.”
Her eyes widen before a smirk crosses her features. “So, you do know then. But do you know that I’m a high ranking woman? That I have a lot of power?”
I want to snap and tell her that the highest ranking woman is Anya Koslov, Erik Koslov’s wife. But I’m not supposed to know that.
Besides, I had never heard of Natasha before but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have power. Not everyone in the Bratva knows each other.
“What are you saying?” I whisper.
“I’m saying I have the power to hurt you. I can hire anyone to kill you. You leave this house, you’re dead. Even if you don’t, I can hire any of Viktor’s guards to hurt you. It would be so easy for me to do. I have the money to sway anyone. You understand?”
“Are you going to kill me?”
“No.” She steps back, lowering the knife. “Because Viktor would never marry me then. For some reason, he has a soft spot for you. But I want you to know that I have the power to hurt you. So if you try anything with Viktor, you’re dead. Understood?”
I nod because that’s the reaction she expects and I’m not going to argue with her when she has a knife in her hands and the only thing I have is a bedsheet.
“Good. I’m glad we understand each other.” With a wink, she leaves the laundry room.
My legs buckle out from under me. Natasha is truly unhinged. I know the Bratva can make people ruthless. Viktor tried to kill my dad after he tried to kill him. That’s the life I live.
But now it’s coming after me and I have to be careful.
Natasha stays for dinner that night. Mrs. Green makes the majority of the meal since I’m still shaken after Natasha threatened me. I haven’t told anyone. I’m too distracted to help much. Mrs. Green only scolds me more, saying how hard she works and I barely do anything. I don’t bother correcting her that I do more work than she does. Arguing gets you nowhere.
“At least serve the wine,” she mutters, pulling the roast out of the oven.
I hold the red wine tight in my hand as I walk into the dining room. Viktor’s eyes find mine right away but I avert my gaze. Natasha is watching my every move.
I pour Viktor’s glass first, then move on to Natasha.
She lifts her glass up and I pour the wine and then she tips her hand back…
Spilling the wine all down my white shirt.
“Whoops,” she says, barely holding back her laugh. “I am so sorry. My hand slipped.”
The red wine is seeping right through my shirt, showcasing my bra.
“I should go change,” I mumble, practically running from the room.
“You need to be more careful,” I hear Viktor tell Natasha but I don’t stay around to listen to her response.
“What did you do now?” Mrs. Green asks as I run past her. Her eyes fall on my stained shirt. “God, child. You’re a mess.”
I hurry to my room and find a new shirt to wear. I slip my old shirt off but before I can put my new one on, I hear a creak behind me.
When I whirl around, I come face to face with Viktor, standing in my doorway.
I gasp and cover my chest with my clean shirt.
“I apologize,” he says, but he doesn’t turn around. He’s never been in my room before. That’s a line that can never be crossed. “I just wanted to make sure you were ok.”
“I’m ok,” I whisper. “It was just a stain. I’ll soak the shirt, then wash it. It should come out.”
“Of course. If it doesn’t work, I can always take it to the cleaners. They’re great at getting stains out.”
“That’s a little expensive.” I can’t waste my money on the cleaners. I need as much as I can get to afford my own place one day.
His lips twitch. “I can pay for it. I pay for everything else. Money is of no concern for me.”
“Right.” A blush forms on my cheeks. “Right.”
“Natasha said it was an accident.”
“I assume it was. She’s not a bad person, you know,” I lie. This is just to save myself. I cannot have Natasha trying to kill me.
“I know. But I think she’s a little jealous.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t be in my room then.”
“You’re right,” he says, his voice gruff. “I shouldn’t be.” Yet, he doesn’t make any move to leave.
I feel my arms moving of their own accord and I drop the shirt to the ground, exposing my bra-cladded chest to him.
Viktor’s eyes soak me in and I let him. This really shouldn’t be happening. It’s wrong on all kinds of levels.
But it’s also wrong that I’m lying to him about who I really am. It’s wrong that he belongs to the Bratva. It’s wrong, it’s wrong, it’s wrong. So many wrongs that I don’t even care about this moment being wrong.
Because it feels right.
“You should put your shirt on,” he says.
“Ok.” But I don’t make a move to pick it up.
“I should go back out there. Leave you to change.”
“You should.”
“Fuck.” He runs his hand down his face. “What are you doing to me, Inessa?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Are you?”
“I am. I don’t know why I feel this way. I know I shouldn’t and for that, I’m sorry.”
“If you only knew what I was really thinking…”
I inhale sharply. “Maybe you shouldn’t tell me that.”
“You’re right. I shouldn’t.” His eyes rake over my body once more before he turns away abruptly. “I need to get back down there.”
“Viktor,” I say before he can leave. “I just want you to know that… I feel safe with you.”
He looks over his shoulder at me with soft eyes. It only makes me like him more. “I’m glad.”
“You’ll keep me safe?”
“Do you feel like you’re in danger?”
Natasha’s face flashes to my mind. “No. I just want to know.”
He nods once. “I’ll always keep you safe.” Then he finally walks away and I put my new shirt on and we both pretend that what happened didn’t happen.