Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
LUKYAN VOLKOV
“Surprise!”
I clutched my chest, gasping in pretend shock at the cluster of people standing in my backyard; my siblings, my father, Autumn, Tatiana, Drea, Arturo, his brother, Vincenzo, their two younger siblings, Lucian and Theodora, Christian, Luca, and about a dozen other people whose names I couldn’t remember.
“Oh my God! What is this?” I asked with a laugh. But, I knew exactly what it was.
For the past few weeks, my siblings had been meticulously planning a surprise going-away party for me. I’d found out about it pretty much as soon as the idea came to light because they sucked at keeping a secret.
Individually, they were fine. But when they had a secret to keep as a collective, one they were all in on together, it was a completely different story.
From the shifty looks to the way conversations would just cease when I entered the room, it was plainly obvious those idiots were hiding something. Planning something I wasn’t allowed to know about.
And me, being the nosy little fucker I was, needed to know exactly what it was they were keeping from me.
Arms encircled me in loving hugs as I made my way down the porch steps, everyone patting me on the back and making me the center of attention.
Which, let’s be honest…I fucking loved.
Light R’n’B music drifted through the air, and the scents of all of my favorite foods hit my nose. Meat, pastries, sweets. The fuckers had thought of everything.
I slowly made my way through the crowd of people, greeting them with that classic Lukyan charm. Wink here. Sly smile there. Inappropriate joke to finish.
The Lukyan Trifecta.
My family all stood together, side by side. Father and Autumn, arms linked—he dressed in his usual three-piece suit, looking as stoic as ever, and she with a friendly smile on her face and hair like fucking fire, red and blazing.
Aleksandr and Drea—my brother, the carbon copy of our father, right down to that same grumpy-as-fuck look on his face, and his wife, the complete and total polar opposite.
She was short, covered head to toe in tattoos and piercings, and while Aleksandr always dressed plainly in dark, perfectly fitted clothing, Drea always had a gothic vibe to her attire.
Ripped jeans, heavy metal band T-shirts, combat boots.
It suited her and her personality to a tee.
Nikolai and Tatiana, the lovebirds—the couple that were so disgustingly in love with each other, you couldn’t help but be happy for them and jealous of them at the same time.
My brother was dressed nicely, which I could only assume was thanks to his fashion major fiancé.
Tatiana was wearing a long, loose maxi dress, her belly big and round.
I knew that was not something you were meant to say about a pregnant woman, but it was true.
She was carrying not one baby, but two, and they were Volkovs. We were big babies.
Last but not least, Illayana and Arturo—Arty, I sometimes liked to call him, just because it pissed him off.
While Aleksandr was the carbon copy of our father, Illayana was the carbon copy of our mother.
Tall. Long dark hair. Bright blue eyes. Soft face yet fierce heart.
And Arty? Well, I’ll admit, I hadn’t really liked him when I first met him.
Still kinda didn’t, if I was being honest, because of his somewhat dickish personality.
He made my sister happy, though, so I was willing to let that dickishness slide.
Gracious of me, I know.
They were all there, and while I loved having everyone there to celebrate moi, it only showcased how I was the odd one out now. All of my family members had found their someone special.
“What do you think?! What do you think?! Do you like it?! Were you surprised?!” Illayana shrieked, her excitement overwhelming. She jumped up and down on the spot, hands clasped together in what I assumed was hopefulness, like her entire mood would hinge on my answer.
Arturo stared me down, eyes hard, brows creased in warning.
I got the message. Say I was surprised and loved it. Otherwise, he’d pummel me because he allowed nothing to upset his wife. My sister had him wrapped around her fucking finger.
I put on a ten-thousand-watt smile. “So surprised. I had no idea.”
“Yes!” She thumped Nikolai on the arm. “See! I told you it was going to work.”
Nikolai slapped her in the arm with the back of his hand in retaliation. “Don’t hit me,” he grunted.
“Don’t be such a baby. I barely touched you.”
Drea stepped forward and hugged me. “Your sister worked very hard on the party.”
“Yes, I’m sure she did.” I chuckled, returning the hug. Usually, I would have been down to fuck with Illayana because it was fun. But I knew how much she wanted to give me a good, fun going-away shindig, so I didn’t have the heart to tell her I had known about it from the beginning.
Tatiana hugged me next. Her hand was still clasped firmly in Nikolai’s as she stretched forward, as if he didn’t want to let her go for even a second.
I was careful not to put too much pressure on her growing belly.
“You’re a good brother,” she whispered in my ear.
Tatiana must have known I was putting on a front.
“I know.” I sighed as if the task was draining. “It’s utterly exhausting,” I joked. “Oh, I have a present for you.”
“For me?” she frowned, stepping back. “We’re the ones who are meant to get you a gift.”
“Okay, it’s not for you. It’s for my future niece and nephew. I’ll give it to you later.” I winked.
“Don’t think that you can buy their affections. You’re not going to be the favorite. I am,” Illayana declared, standing tall.
I scoffed. “Please. We all know who their favorite is going to be, and it ain’t gonna be you.”
I had every intention of getting Favorite Uncle status. It wouldn’t be hard. My only competition was Aleksandr, and he was big and grumpy. He was liable to make the babies burst into tears the moment they saw him.
“Don’t you think it will be Aleksandr?” Autumn asked, a mischievous smile on her face. “One of the twins is named after him, after all.”
I pointed a finger at her. “That’s yet to be decided.”
Tatiana laughed. “Sorry, Lukyan. It has definitely been decided.”
“Fine. Lukyan works for a girl too.”
“I’m not naming my daughter Lukyan,” Nikolai blustered.
“What about Luky?” I countered.
“No.”
“Lukinda?”
“No.”
“Lukyana? A combination of Lukyan and Illayana?”
“I like that one.” Illayana nodded.
“Drea’s a good name too!” Drea cut in.
“Well, if we’re throwing names out there—” Autumn began.
“What Tatiana and I decide to name our daughter will be between Tatiana and I,” Nikolai declared.
“I kind of like the name Lukinda. It has a nice ring to it,” Tatiana said, a cheeky smirk on her face.
Nikolai’s eyes widened in fear and disbelief. His jaw clenched, and his next words came out strained, as if it pained him to utter them. “Really?”
Tatiana burst out in laughter. “No.”
His shoulders slumped in relief. “Thank God.”
I locked eyes with Arturo. Because I was a loveable, sociable chap, I stuck my hand out toward him. “Arty. Nice to see you.”
His eyes narrowed. He placed his hand in mine and squeezed. Hard. Fucking ouch. “I wish I could say the same.”
Illayana rammed an elbow into his ribs and gave him a scathing look. He rolled his eyes and mumbled, “Nice to see you too.”
I smiled brightly. “I know you like me. Deep, deep down. I make you laugh. Admit it.”
“I’ll do no such thing.”
I didn’t need him to admit it. I reminded him of his own brother, and because of that, I would always have a special place in his heart.
Speaking of which, Vincenzo was standing just outside of our little circle, waiting to offer his own greeting. “I’m gonna go mingle. Catch up with you crazy lot later.”
At Vincenzo’s side were his younger siblings, Lucian on his left and Theodora on his right, their little hands in his. I smiled broadly, clasping his forearm. “You sneaky fucker. I didn’t know you’d be here.”
Standing at 6’3, he was tall, lean, with short dark hair styled in a meticulous way that looked both neat and messy at the same time.
His emerald eyes were a big hit with the ladies.
And the men, if we’re being honest. Coupled with the sharp jaw, high cheekbones, and dimples, he was almost attractive enough to give me a run for my money.
Almost.
Vin laughed. “I take it the party didn’t come as such a surprise then?”
I snorted, releasing him. I looked over my shoulder to make sure Illayana was no longer in earshot. “My sister loves to plan a surprise party, but she sucks at it. Remember Arturo’s thirtieth birthday?” I asked, arching a brow.
His body shook with a chuckle. “Oh, yeah. She just can’t help but give it away.”
“Exactly.” I looked at the two small children at his feet. “Miss Theodora,” I greeted, giving her a gallant bow.
She giggled and hid behind Vin’s leg, her cheeks stained red.
I straightened and held out a closed fist. “Lucian, my man.” He smiled and bumped his fist against mine. We both mimicked an explosion, our hands blowing up into the air.
Eleven years old and cute as buttons, the De Luca twins were already forces to be reckoned with.
When I’d first moved to New York with Illayana, Theodora and Lucian lived in the family home with their parents, Alessandro, the former Don of La Cosa Nostra, and his wife, Isabella.
After Arturo assumed control, they moved out, wanting to give their newly married son and daughter-in-law some privacy.
They still visited every week, though, maintaining their tradition of Sunday night family dinner.
“What have you ragamuffins been up to? Staying in trouble, I hope.” I winked.
They both nodded enthusiastically. “I put salt in the sugar bowl this morning, and Dad put it in his coffee!” Lucian announced excitedly.
“Nice!”
“And I punched Lucian so hard in the arm I made him bruise!” Theodora added proudly, her head held high.