Chapter 19
Nineteen
Aria
Snowflakes drift lazily outside the towering brownstone, casting a soft glow over the bustling city street. My heart pounds in anticipation as Maxim and I approach the grand entryway, my hand trembling in his firm grasp.
“You look stunning, Aria,” Maxim murmurs, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine. I straighten my shoulders, trying to quiet the fluttering nerves in my stomach.
“I’m a little nervous,” I admit, offering him a shaky smile.
It’s the first big event that I’ve been invited to from his parents, and even though I’ve married into their family—sometimes I still feel like I’m not supposed to be here.
He squeezes my hand reassuringly. “Don’t be. Everything will go great. Think of this as a way for them to get to know you a little more.”
Before I can respond, the large oak door swings open, revealing Vera, Maxim’s sister.
She’s sporting a mischievous grin, her medium-length blonde hair perfectly in place.
“Maxim! You made it.” She envelops him in a tight hug, then turns her sparkling gaze to me.
“I’m not going to lie. I thought the two of you would back out last minute and leave me to suffer alone. ”
“God, no. As soon as I heard about the invite I knew we had to come.” I laugh, because Maxim did try to talk me out of us attending, but we aren’t really given a choice.
Vera shakes her head and looks at her brother accusingly. “You little shit.” She waves a hand, ushering us in. “Please, step inside and get out of the cold. I’m so surprised it’s actually snowing. They said what, a thirty percent chance?”
I shrug, “I don’t know. I honestly didn’t even look.”
As we step into the grand foyer, I’m struck by the antique decor— dark hardwood floors, towering ceilings, and a sprawling crystal chandelier that casts a warm glow over the space, not to mention the wood paneling throughout the space.
It’s like the Volkolv family wanted to keep the original charm the brownstone had, while updating it slightly.
It’s beautiful, so beautiful it could be in an architectural magazine.
Vera chatters animatedly, leading us deeper into the gorgeous home.
“I have a feeling you and I are going to be great friends,” she says, casting me a sly grin.
I can't help but smile back, already charmed by her vibrant energy. But, at the same time I know she can be a bit spunky too. Maxim has told me stories, and I’m excited.
Vera leads Maxim and I through the lavish Volkolv family home, the walls adorned with priceless artwork and ornate tapestries. The air is thick with the scent of freshly baked pastries and the soft hum of Christmas music plays in the background.
“The lovebirds have arrived,” Vera calls out, guiding us into a grand living room where his father and mother are engaged in a deep conversation.
His father is in an exquisitely tailored suit, likely custom made for him.
The fabric a luxurious blend of silk and wool that moves with ease as he walks.
His mother, on the other hand, is adorned in a shimmering, form-fitting red gown that hugs her curves in all the right places.
It’s surprising to see her in such a bold fashion choice, but it accentuates her beauty and radiance.
The dress glimmers in the light, mirroring the sparkle in her eyes.
I really like the fact she’s wearing something that makes her feel beautiful. Tatiana would choose something like this, but she’d also want it to shove her boobs up, make her thinner, and just add a plastic element so to speak. Maxim’s mother seems different, as if she embraces her natural beauty.
She has to be in her early-sixties, and she has beautiful, long curly white hair with gray spread throughout it.
They both turn at the sound of Vera’s voice, their expressions lighting up when they see Maxim. “Maxim!” the woman exclaims, rushing over to embrace him tightly. “God, it’s been too long. How are things? It seems like you never have time to call me up and see how I’m doing.”
Maxim laughs lightly, “I apologize, Mom. Things have been a bit hectic in Chicago, but I’m here now.”
His mother releases him and comes over to me, pulling me in a soft hug. “It is so good to see you too, dear.”
“I thought you were going to chicken out.” Maxim’s father quips. “Wouldn’t be the first time you dipped out on a family event.”
I sense the jab his father is trying to make and interject before Maxim can. “Well, things are different now. Maxim is set to rule the Bratva, so skipping out on events like this are no longer an option. We must show unity within the family.”
His father seems impressed and nods at my words. “I see I picked well for you, son. Beauty and brains.”
“She’s the whole package, that’s for sure.” Maxim murmurs lightly.
As they usher us further into the room, I catch Maxim’s eye.
He gives me an encouraging nod, sensing my nerves.
I take a steadying breath, determined to make a good impression on his family.
The last time we did meet, I wanted nothing to do with Maxim, so hopefully they see I’m invested in my marriage with him.
Maxim’ s phone pierces the air with its shrill ring, startling him into searching for it in his pocket. He glances at the Caller ID and answers it quietly, his voice barely audible over the background noise. The conversation is brief and he loops his arm with mine, taking me over to a quiet corner.
With a subtle gesture, he links his arm through mine and guides me to a secluded corner of the room. “I have to step out for a bit, but I’ll be back within the hour.”
My eyes widen in disbelief. “You want to leave, right now?”
He wants to leave me alone with his parents and sister, at their family Christmas party.
He gives me a curt nod, “Yes, but it’s only for a bit. I have some business I need to tend to. Will you be all right?”
He’s asking me like I have a choice. I nod, “Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
Maxim doesn’t say a word to his family, he just walks out of the room to go deal with whatever that call was about. No one notices at first as his parents are caught in another deep conversation, while Vera comes over to me.
She arches a brow, “Off to handle something no doubt.”
I laugh lightheartedly, “At least you know how he is.”
She nods, staring off through the door he just walked through. “Any idea what it was about?”
I shake my head, “No, but I’m sure I’ll get some sort of explanation later. Sucks he left me here with everyone by myself.”
Vera offers me a soft smile, “Come on, we’re not that bad.”
I feel terrible. The last thing I want to do is insult her in some manner. “Shit, I didn’t mean it like that. I only mean that I didn’t expect him to leave me here when I’m still getting to know everyone. It’s not like we’ve had very much time to chat in the past.”
Vera nods in agreement. “True, but what better time than the present? We have all the time in the world you know, especially with Maxim taking over. I just wish Maxim was taking over sooner rather than later,” Vera’s eyes go distant for a brief moment as she gazes at the floor, losing the typical confidence I’ve noticed she has.
I debate digging, but ultimately choose to. “Is there a reason you want him to?”
Vera chuckles lightly. “Yeah, to put a nip in the bud on my arranged marriage. It’s something my father agreed to. It’s to appease the man your father pissed off. I’m the cherry on top of the sundae so to speak.”
My eyes go wide. I almost forgot about that.“That’s right, they’re marrying you to someone within the cartel.”
Vera closes her eyes briefly. “Yeah, a son or something like that.”
“Maybe your betrothed isn’t as bad as you think. Look at Maxim, he turned out to be better than I thought.” I try to lift up her spirits, but end up falling flat.
Vera shakes her head and licks her lips. “I’m afraid not. I know the reputation of the man I’m supposed to marry, and he doesn’t have a good one. So, I’m trying to put it off as much as I can. Maxim’s helping me, but on days like this I know I’m going to be hassled about it.”
“Champagne, anyone?” a man in an all black tux comes over to us.
Vera swipes one glass for her, and another for me.
She hands it over and mumbles her thanks to the man as he walks off toward her parents.
Before she speaks again, she takes a sip.
“Maxim is trying to push it off for as long as he can. Our hope is that he’ll end up nipping it in the bud, but who knows.
Our father doesn’t seem like he’s in a rush to hand over the Bratva to him…
but he should. Why else would he have him marry? ”
I have thought it’s a little odd Maxim doesn’t have the power yet, but I thought maybe I was missing something. After all, this world is so new to me and I’m learning as I go.
I do wonder when the transfer of power will commence, and what Maxim thinks about it.
I realize I haven’t replied to Vera and left her hanging. “To continue the line, maybe. That’s also important to him, right?”
Vera nods, “Oh, yes. One thousand percent. I’ll be damn certain Maxim has no intentions on discussing that with you until after he’s the leader, though. Why give our father something he wants before Maxim takes over, you know? He needs some sort of bargaining chip with the way things are going.”
“The way things are going,” I repeat, hoping for more context.
“Yeah,” she starts off. “His marriage to you was the big thing our father wanted, and now he hasn’t started the transfer process.
So, what is his game? What’s he playing at?
There’s some sort of reason for it. I just can’t figure it out.
He made it seem to the both of us like Maxim would be taking over sooner rather than later, and now he’s at a standstill. ”
Lina, Maxim’s mother, comes over and throws an arm around Vera, smiling brightly. “What on Earth are you two chatting about over here? Come on, let’s sit.”
Lina leads us to a plush seating area, gesturing for us to make ourselves comfortable. The room is a dazzling display of wealth and sophistication. It reminds me of my father’s house. There are ornate chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a grand piano in the corner.
Vera and I sit beside each other, sipping on our champagne as her mother chats with us. “Where did Maxim run off to? I just noticed he was gone a couple minutes ago.”
Licking my lips, I answer her quickly. “He had some business to tend to. Said he’d be about an hour and then he’d be back.” I notice his father is suddenly gone as well. Did they leave together? Did Maxim pull his father in to whatever the issue was? Who knows.
“Ah, I see. That’s something that will never get old.” Lina laughs, and for the next hour and a half the three of us women chat. We speak about trivial things and I get to know the women a bit better.
After a while, Maxim and his father walk back into the living room at the same time.
“Now where on Earth have the two of you been?” Lina asks, her brows furrowed. “We were told an hour, and it’s well past that now.”
I glance at Maxim, unsure of how to respond. He walks over to me and takes a seat beside me, running his hand over mine, he squeezes it. “Forgive me, Mother. There was a small matter I needed to attend to before coming back to enjoy the rest of the evening.”
Lina nods, though her expression remains slightly perplexed. “Well, at least you’re back now,” she pauses for a moment and looks at her husband. “I suppose you ran off after him?”
I’m just now remembering his father was speaking to Lina after Maxim had left, so he must have left the room at some point.
Maxim’s father chuckles, “No, I did some research and found out where he ran off to.”
Lina raises a brow, “Oh, and that was?”
Maxim’s hand grows firm on mine. “I caught wind Natalya’s father was in town, not too far from here, so I went and paid him a visit.”
I search his face, sensing the unspoken weight of his words. “Why would he be in New York?” I thought the Andreev family was in Chicago as well.
Maxim’s jaw tightens. “They come here around Christmas for a few weeks before heading back to Moscow to visit family. Only, this time he was alone so I pulled him aside to have a chat.”
Lina looks into her son’s eyes. “What kind of chat would that have been, dear?”
Maxim licks his lips, “The kind that warns him his daughter will die if she continues her antics. I already saw her a couple of weeks back and made her pay.”
This is the first I’m hearing about it. “What did you do?”
Maxim swallows hard, taking a few moments before answering. It’s almost like he doesn’t want to tell me. “She tried to take me from you, so I took something from her.”
The room grows eerily quiet as everyone waits for Maxim to fill us in. Vera’s the one to speak up, “What did you do, brother, take away her credit card? Everyone knows she’s a fashion freak.”
He swallows hard and locks his eyes on me. “No, I took away her ability to have children.”
“Jesus,” Vera comments, closing her eyes briefly. “Given the circumstances, I understand your choice. But, don’t you think that will only piss her off more?”
He shrugs, “It might, but it will also show others who doubt my cruelness that I am not the kind of man who fucks around. I need my enemies to know I will make them pay for any action taken against my family—by either taking something they desire, or their life.”
“Enough,” Maxim’s father smacks his hand down on an end table. “We can discuss business later, this night is for our family. Now, come into the dining area so we can eat.”
His father and mother leave the living area and walk off and as I rise, Maxim leans in and whispers, “They’re putting on a show for you. My mother is never this kind, Aria. Be careful what you tell her. She always has a hidden agenda.”
As he pulls away I give him a curt nod, understanding even more so now that deception is always lurking around us.