11. Chapter Eleven
Chapter Eleven
Inessa
I don’t feel any pain when I open my eyes. The sight of the hospital room around me reminds me of what just happened. Natasha. Those two men. Getting beaten.
Almost raped.
My eyes land on a bag of… something next to me. An IV sticks out of my arm. Morphine, probably. To help with the pain I remember. That pain was excruciating.
Viktor enters my hospital room. “Inessa.”
He saved me. I wasn’t sure if anyone would come for me but he did. That makes tears well up in my eyes.
“Oh, baby. You don’t need to cry. You’re safe now.”
“What happened?”
“What do you remember?”
“That room… and those men. And Natasha. You came for me. After that…”
“I brought you here. They fixed you right up. You have a broken nose but it will heal. It will just be sore and tender for a while. Otherwise, you got lucky. No other broken bones.”
“The pain…”
He grips my hand. “I know. I killed the men who did this to you. But you asked me to spare Natasha’s life. Why? When she was the one behind your kidnapping.”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “It just seemed… wrong. You were going to marry her at one point. It didn’t seem right to kill her. I just want to move on from her. I’ll make sure I’m more careful now.”
“Where were you taken?”
I hesitate. “Uh… the motel that I pay for my father to stay at. She must have sent men to follow me.”
“Well, you won’t be going there ever again. You’re always going to have someone with you at all times when you’re not in my house. Either me or a guard.”
“Doesn’t that seem excessive?”
He frowns. “Inessa, you were almost murdered. Nothing is too excessive.”
“But…”
“But what?”
“It doesn’t feel like I’ll have my own freedom.”
“You can still go wherever you want. You’ll just have a guard with you, keeping you safe.”
“I like to spend time with my dad alone. He can be a little paranoid. He might not like that I have a guard with me when I go to see him.”
“Well, I’ll go with you. You were taken at that motel. From now on, we’ll go together.”
Oh no. How can I pay for my dad’s room with Viktor there? He will quickly put two and two together when he sees my dad.
“Viktor, I appreciate you trying to protect me. I really do. But I don’t want to be followed around at all times. I have the right to do what I want. I have the right to refuse your help.”
“You’re being irrational.”
“And you’re being controlling.”
His hand loosens on mine. “I’m just trying to make sure that what happened tonight doesn’t happen again.”
“I know,” I sigh. “And I’m grateful that you want to keep me safe. I just don’t want to feel smothered.”
“I… understand. How about this: I will go with you to the motel when you need to see your dad but I’ll stay in the car. I won’t interfere. How does that sound?”
“You won’t come inside to meet him?”
“Do you not want me to meet him?”
My mouth opens and closes for an answer. “It’s not that I don’t want you to meet him. It’s more that… he doesn’t even know where I work. I was worried he would try to ruin it for me somehow. Try to steal my money.”
“That doesn’t sound like a good father.”
“He’s just desperate. He doesn’t know that… you’re the Russian Mafia.”
“I would hope not. I told you not to tell anyone.”
“And I haven’t,” I say. “But if he meets you, then he might suspect something. I’m not sure what. But I think it’s better you don’t meet him. Can you understand that?”
Viktor nods once. “I can understand that. But I don’t like not knowing anything about you. About your home life, I mean.”
“Well, my home is with you now. I live at your house. It’s just me and my dad since my mom passed away a few years ago. A car crash. She didn’t make it. My father spiraled after that. Turned to gambling. It’s partly why I needed this job so much. To make sure I could survive.”
“It’s complicated, is what you’re saying. I get it. I have a complicated family history too. My parents had my sister when I was already sixteen. Then they died when I was in my early twenties and I had to become a father to my sister, Julia.”
“I would love to meet her one day.”
“She’ll come back from France eventually. I just want to make sure she stays safe until this war with Erik and Dante is over.”
“But, Viktor, why does it matter if we know each other’s families? You’re just my boss and I’m just your maid.”
“I know. But when you were hurt in my arms, all I could think about was how I can’t lose you. I can’t lose you, Inessa.”
I turn my face away. “You shouldn’t say that to me. We don’t have a future, Viktor.”
“We could.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying… you could marry me.”
I gasp and look back at him. His face is completely earnest and serious. “You mean that?”
“I do. I know it’s sudden and we’ve only known each other for a month. But you could marry me, Inessa. I could keep you safe that way. You’d have my protection as my wife.”
“But… you’re a Bratva man. I can’t marry you.” What if we have a wedding and people come and recognize me? Then everything I’ve worked so hard for would be over.
“Why not?”
“I thought you wanted to marry Natasha for her money and connections? I don’t have either.”
“I thought I wanted to marry a woman for those reasons. I was engaged twice before for connection sake. There was never any love between me and my fiancées. You see, arranged marriages are common in the Bratva. But they fell for other men. My pride was hurt. My heart wasn’t. I vowed to marry a woman without emotion because I believed it would be easier. And then I met you.”
His smile is soft as he gazes down at me.
“And you’re all I can think about,” he continues. “I dream of you. I’m distracted by you. Fuck, Inessa, I want to touch you so bad. And when your body is healed, I’m going to do exactly that.”
I inhale sharply. “You really mean all of this.”
“I do. You mean a lot to me. I didn’t plan for it. I didn’t ask for it but it happened. And I’m tired of denying my feelings.”
“But what about money or…”
“I have enough money. I can make connections and allies through different means. It doesn’t have to be through marriage. Marriage is just a more convenient way to make all of that happen but it’s not necessary.”
“You want to marry me?” I ask, feeling breathless. I’m not sure if it’s because of Viktor’s words or because I’m physically hurt. Could be both.
“I want to marry you. I see no point in waiting any longer. I care for you. I care for you more than I have any other woman. We already live together. Nothing would have to change.”
“Would I still be your maid?”
“No. You would be in charge of the household. In charge of Mrs. Green in fact.”
“She won’t like that,” I mutter.
“No, I don’t think she would. But she can either accept it or quit. You mean more to me than anything.”
This scary, intimidating Bratva man is pouring his heart out to me. I never saw this coming.
“You sound so vulnerable right now,” I say.
His lips twitch. “I’m rarely like this. But seeing you get hurt changed something in me. It awoke something in me. And I know I can’t lose you. Marrying you will protect you.”
“Is that the only reason?” I ask, feeling my heart deflate a little. “You just want to marry me to protect me?”
“No. I also care for you. You’re all I think about. Because every time you enter a room, I follow you with my eyes. Every time I’m around you, I want to consume you. Make you mine.”
“Wow.”
“I know it’s a lot. Don’t give me an answer right now. The nurse told me you should stay here for the night. Just to make sure nothing happens. We can talk more about this when you get back home. When you’re healed.”
“Ok,” I whisper. I’m grateful for that because I have no idea what to say. I have no idea even what to feel.
Warmth for Viktor for wanting to keep me safe. Love for him that he cares so much about me.
But also fear. If we marry and he finds out I deceived him this entire time about who I really am and who my father really is, I’ll be killed for sure. Viktor felt betrayed by Nadia and Elena when they fell in love with Dante and Aiden.
What I’m doing is a lot worse.
Because I haven’t fallen in love with a different man. I know I’m falling in love with Viktor. I might already be.
And yet, I’m still deceiving him. If we marry and he finds out, I’ll be breaking his heart and betraying him in the worst way possible. I’m not sure he could ever come back from that.
I’m not sure I could either.
Viktor takes me home and gets me set up in my bedroom. Neither of us speak about the topic of marriage. I’m too hurt to even consider it right now.
Mrs. Green rushes into my room. “What happened? Oh my god. You poor thing.”
“She was kidnapped by two men Natasha sent after her. They hurt her. But she spent the night at the hospital and will heal.”
“Thank god.” Mrs. Green’s hands flutter around me until they settle down at her sides. “Can I speak to Inessa alone?”
“Of course.”
Once Viktor is gone, Mrs. Green turns to me. “I am so sorry, child.”
“What for?”
“You were gone all night and I thought…”
“What?” I sink deeper into the mattress. It really is the softest mattress I have ever slept on.
“I thought that you and Mr. Smirnov were…”
“What?” I need to hear her say it.
Mrs. Green blushes. “Having an affair.”
Now is not the time to tell her about the marriage proposal Viktor gave me.
“No,” I say flatly. “I was held in a cage for hours and punched and kicked and almost raped.”
Her eyes grow large as she grips my hand. “I am so sorry. I assumed the worst of you and Mr. Smirnov. That will never happen again.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Green. But I need to rest now.”
“Of course. You do that.” She stands up and hesitates by the door.
“What is it?”
“It’s just… while you rest, who’s going to clean the entire house?”
“Are you seriously asking me that?”
“It’s a valid question, child. I’m fifty. I can’t be bending over to scrub the toilets.”
“Then talk to Viktor about it. I can’t do that right now. I’m too sore.”
“Of course.” She finally leaves the room and I can get a moment of rest.
But I know that nothing will ever be the same, not if I accept Viktor’s marriage proposal. Mrs. Green will be angry but I can deal with her.
The uncertainty of everything is too much to handle right now, so I close my eyes and let sleep take me.
Viktor and I don’t speak about the marriage topic while my body heals. In fact, we don’t really talk at all. He puts himself into his work and I focus on resting and getting better. Mrs. Green is bitter with me as she has to take on my chores for the two weeks I’m healing. Doctor’s orders.
After two weeks, my nose is no longer broken and all of the swelling has gone down. I’m no longer covered in bruises and it doesn’t ache to walk around the house.
I’m feeling like myself again.
During these two weeks, I wasn’t able to pay for my dad’s motel room as I had to remain at home, resting.
First order of business is making sure he’s all right.
I go to the motel first – with a guard since Viktor needs to work and he wants to make sure I’m safe.
I make the guard wait in the car as I talk to the front clerk. “Is my father still in his room or…”
“I kicked him out. He couldn’t pay. Left this number for you in case you came around.” He slides over a card with a number written on it.
“Thanks.” I quickly call my dad. “You changed your number?”
“I couldn’t pay for my last phone any longer so I had to get a cheap burner phone. Where have you been, Inessa?”
“I’ve been sick,” I lie. “I wasn’t able to come. Where are you?”
“I’m staying with a friend who graciously took me in. He’s actually helping me get back on my feet, unlike some people.”
I wince. “I’m sorry, Dad. I wanted to come. I swear. I just… couldn’t. But I can start paying for the room again. You can come back. How does that sound?”
“I might take you up on that offer. But that doesn’t make it ok that you just disappeared off the face of the earth. I don’t even know where you live and work, Inessa. What kind of daughter doesn’t tell her father that?”
What kind of father leaves the burden of finances on their daughter? I want to snap back but I don’t. I’m never one to argue.
“I’ll pay for the room for the next two weeks. Please, come back. I want to see you again.”
“All right.”
I make a promise to see him in a few days, then hang up and pay for his room. “Thanks again,” I say to the clerk.
He only sighs and takes the money and turns back to his phone screen.
The guard Viktor hired to take me to the motel doesn’t ask me any questions, for which I’m glad. The less anyone knows, the better.
Except, now Viktor will know exactly what motel my father is staying at. If he wanted to, he could find my father for himself and learn that I’ve been lying to him.
Mrs. Green rushes to my side the moment I return. “Mr. Smirnov wants to see you in his office.”
“For what?”
“He didn’t say. I’m just glad you’re finally up on your feet again. Now you can return to your normal chores.”
Of course. I give Mrs. Green a tight smile before going to see Viktor.
“You’re up,” he says, smiling at me, and walking around the desk to pull me into a hug.
“I am. I’m no longer in pain, for which I’m grateful. Thank you for letting me rest so I could heal.”
“Inessa, you never have to thank me for that. Now, you’ve had the past two weeks to think about my offer. You know how I feel. You know how I care for you. I want to ask formally.” He takes a small box out of his desk drawer and gets on one knee before me.
“Inessa, will you marry me?” Inside the box is nestled the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
I did think about what I would say in this moment over the past two weeks. My brain is telling me to say no. That I can’t take such a huge risk in marrying Viktor.
But my heart…
My heart speaks for me.
“Yes,” I say before I can stop myself. Viktor’s smile lights up his face. It’s something I so rarely see him do. He slides the ring on my finger.
“A perfect fit.”
A huge gust of breath leaves me and I stumble back. Viktor quickly stands and rights me.
“Are you ok?”
“I’m fine,” I say. “Just… this is a lot. I never imagined this would happen. You have to believe me, Viktor. I never took this job for this to happen.”
“I know. You’re an innocent. I care for you, Inessa. I know there’s no one else I want to marry. And I’ve been denying myself happiness for the past year and I’m done with it. I’m going to be happy and it’s going to be with you.” He cups my face and gives me a tender kiss.
It only lasts a moment.
“I care for you too,” I admit. I might even love him but it feels too intimate to say, despite the proposal. How can I love the man who tried to murder my father? How can I love the man I’ve been deceiving for the past month and a half?
“I’m glad to hear it. We’ll have a happy marriage. I’m sure of it. You’ll no longer be my maid. I’ll hire someone else right away. I’ve been looking at different prospects these past couple of weeks in case you said yes.”
“And if I didn’t say yes? Would I have continued to be your maid?”
“You would have. I wouldn’t have fired you just because you said no. Things would have been awkward, I’m sure, but I would not have punished you.”
I rest my hands on his chest. His heart is beating fast. “You know, you’re not as scary as people make you out to be.”
“Who has said I’m scary?”
Shoot. I’m thinking of Elena and other Bratva girls who have said Viktor is a stern, cold man. And while he is those things, he also has a warm heart to him.
He just can’t know any of this. Am I to lie to my husband for our entire marriage?
I’ll have to tell him the truth eventually. I just don’t know when.
“Uh, Mrs. Green,” I lie. “She thinks you can be a little scary.”
He chuckles as he draws me in closer to him. “Well, Mrs. Green will have to get used to you no longer being my maid.”
“She won’t be happy.”
“I don’t really care what Mrs. Green thinks of me. Neither should you. Let’s just be happy together.” He lets me go. “Now, I don’t think we should wait long. We could get married in a few months.”
“So fast.”
“Is that a problem?”
“No. The opposite, actually. I want to be married to you.” Even though my heart is breaking knowing I’m lying to him.
“You’re engaged? To Mr. Smirnov?” Mrs. Green gapes down at my ring on my finger. “How did this happen? When did this happen?”
“Just a few minutes ago. He asked and I said yes.”
She eyes me over with suspicion as she sets her pen and paper down. Written on it is next week’s groceries. “So, you have been having a secret affair with him?”
“We haven’t slept together,” I admit.
“Really? Somehow I don’t believe that.”
“We haven’t, Mrs. Green. We did do… other things.” The memory of his mouth between my legs makes my stomach tighten. “But we haven’t slept together. We just care for each other. That’s all. And when you know, you know.”
It’s ironic: my father kept me from other Bratva men because he didn’t want me to get hurt. And now I’m going to be marrying one of the most powerful Bratva men in the entire city. My father would have a heart attack if he found out.
Or he might just be proud of me for once.
The only problem is being married to Viktor will thrust me into the spotlight. That’s a problem for another day though.
For now, I just want to feel happy in my excitement.
“And you know you want to marry him,” Mrs. Green says.
“I know I want to marry him. He makes me happy. He makes me… excited.”
“Mmm. Well, you’ll need a dress, won’t you? We can go shopping for once together. How does that sound?”
“You would go dress shopping with me? I figured you wouldn’t approve of me and Viktor.”
“Oh, I don’t approve. I think he’s taken advantage of you. You’re much younger and much more innocent. But you seem dead set on this and I know Mr. Smirnov is not a man to change his mind. He is my boss and it’s not my place to object to what he does. So, if he wants to marry you and you want to marry him, who am I to say no? I want you to look your best on your day. We’ll go wedding dress shopping tomorrow.”
Without even thinking about it, I throw my arms around Mrs. Green. “Thank you. For being understanding.”
Flustered, she hugs me back. “You’re very welcome. I know you don’t have your mother any more, child. I can fill that place for you.”
I blink back my tears before they can fall. “Thank you.”
For the first time in weeks, I feel truly happy.
No amount of anxiety is going to ruin this moment for me.
The bridal boutique is filled with so much white, it’s almost blinding to my eyes.
But Mrs. Green seems to know exactly what she’s doing and she walks right up to the sales associate and tells her we’re here to try on dresses for my upcoming wedding.
The three of us go through the shop, looking at dresses for me to try on. As I do this, all I can think about is how I wish my mom could be here for me. She’s been gone for five years now and I still miss her all the time. She won’t be at my wedding. She isn’t here to help me try on dresses.
I can’t even invite Elena to come with me because Viktor knows exactly who she is. He was engaged to her at one point!
It dawns on me just how alone I really am. I can’t trust anyone with my true secrets or it might end with me dying.
“Are you ok?” Mrs. Green asks.
I quickly wipe away my tears. “I’m fine. Just missing my mom.”
“I know. Here. Why don’t we try this on?” She hands me an off shoulder flowy gown with layers and lace to it. Flowers are embedded into the silk.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathe out.
“I saw it and knew it would look beautiful on you. You already have an ethereal quality to you. It’s not surprising Mr. Smirnov would fall in love with you.”
“Mrs. Green…”
She holds up a hand. “I’m not judging. I’m just pointing that out. Now, try this on.”
I do as she says and once I’m in the dress, I can barely believe my eyes. It was made for me. It does have a fairy princess quality to it. It’s perfect.
I show Mrs. Green the dress. “Well? How does it look?”
“You look beautiful. Mr. Smirnov will die when he sees you walking down the aisle towards him in this dress.”
I twirl around in it and let myself laugh and smile. I let myself believe that I am deserving of a fairytale ending.
Until the bell over the door jingles with a new customer.
And when I look over, I see that Natasha has entered the boutique.
And she’s coming right towards me with a glare on her face.