Chapter 19 - Lev
The ornate doors to the grand hall swing open and Pippa and I step into a cacophony of laughter and conversation. The high ceilings and marble floors amplify the sounds, making it feel like we're entering an opulent beehive.
I feel nervous as I scan the room for familiar faces, bracing myself for the inevitable judgments that are bound to come. Pippa insisted she wanted to come, since Ivan so kindly invited her, but I’m still wary.
I know my cousins. Sometimes, they can be a little too frank.
"Lev, Darling!" Audrey, Ivan's wife, calls out as she approaches us with their son in tow. Her warmth is a welcome relief from my racing thoughts. "And this must be Pippa! You're even more beautiful in person!"
“In person?” I ask quizzically.
Audrey blushes and links her arm through mine. “Well, we did do our research!”
“Audreyyyy…” I sing in warning.
Audrey playfully winks at us, and Pippa laughs.
Audrey takes a closer look at Pippa and chuckles, "Oh, Sweetheart, you're so young! I pray that our dear 30-something Lev here isn't boring you to death with his antics."
"Actually," Pippa grins, looking up at me with a playful glint in her eyes, "he's anything but boring."
I smirk at her response, feeling proud she took my side. Audrey’s fun. She always brings out the good side of a conversation, but despite it all, there's still the nagging worry of facing Ivan's scrutiny.
"Where are the brothers, anyway?" I ask, trying to sound casual.
"Oh, they’re around here somewhere," Audrey dismisses with a wave of her hand. "But don't you worry about him; just enjoy the evening."
As much as I'd like to take her advice, I know better than to let my guard down when it comes to my overbearing cousins.
***
Pippa stands beside me, the warm light from the chandeliers casting a golden glow on her dark brown curls. She's a vision in her elegant dress, her curvy figure both alluring and inviting. As my family members approach us, she greets each of them with poised confidence, offering polite hellos and soft kisses on their cheeks.
Damien, Boris, their wives, and Anoushka all watch from the corner, in amusement.
"Lev, you've outdone yourself this time," my cousin Sergei comments. “You finally convinced a girl to think you’re sane!”
Everyone around me bursts into cackles of laughter. Sergei’s sister, Vanya, whacks him on his shoulder, her silver bangles clanking as she does.
“Don’t be crude, Sergei,” she warns him. She comes and takes Pippa’s arm through her own. “Don’t mind him,” she scoffs in her brother’s direction.
Sergei shrugs and holds back laughter.
As if on cue, Ivan emerges from the shadows, his tall and imposing figure drawing attention like a magnet. His eyes zero in on Pippa, and I brace myself for the inevitable confrontation.
"Lev, you sly dog," he says, a thin smile spreading across his face as he looks at Pippa. "You've been keeping quite a secret. It’s a good thing Mikhail pointed out your little interaction at the office party."
“Wait, what?” Pippa looks confused. “I thought Lev told you about me.”
“Nope,” Mikhail’s wife Caterina chimes in. “I’m afraid they played you.”
“Caterina!” Mikhail playfully admonishes his wife, but she just winks at him. Their playful energy rubs off on Pippa, who leans in with curiosity and asks, "May I ask how you two met?"
"Of course," Caterina replies with a warm smile. "Our marriage was arranged by our families. Quite traditional for the Bratva."
Pippa's eyes widen, surprise etched across her features. "Really? That's quite fascinating."
Ivan, never one to let an opportunity pass him by, chimes in. "And what about you two lovebirds? How did your fairytale begin?"
I glance down at Pippa, silently urging her to play along, to weave a story that will satisfy Ivan's curiosity without revealing the truth of our twisted beginnings.
"Love at first sight," she answers, her voice steady and unwavering. She meets Ivan's gaze head-on, and I admire her unflinching courage to tell a lie with such a straight face.
"Really?" Ivan raises an eyebrow, a hint of skepticism creeping into his voice. "How very… romantic."
"Isn't it?" Pippa agrees, her tone light and playful. She turns to me, her chocolate brown eyes filled with mischief, and I can't help but grin back at her.
"Lev does have a way of sweeping women off their feet," Ivan concedes, his smile growing wider as he watches our exchange. "But then again, so do we all."
"True," I say, my heart swelling with pride as I watch Pippa effortlessly navigate the treacherous waters of my family's dynamics. "But there's something different about this one. Something special."
"Ah, the stuff of romantic legends," Ivan muses, though I can detect a hint of skepticism in his tone. "Tell me, Pippa, is it Lev's luxurious lifestyle that drew you in?"
A tense silence fills the room. Ivan really shouldn’t say everything that crosses his mind. I suck in a sharp gasp of air, ready to defend her, but Pippa holds my hand, stilling me into silence.
Pippa's eyes lock with Ivan's, and there's a fire in her chocolate brown eyes that I've never seen before. "I value Lev for who he is as a person," she says, her voice steady and firm. "Not his material possessions." She pauses, a defiant tilt to her chin.
"In fact, I've never taken a cent from him, nor will I ever. While Lev does have a certain charm, trust me, money isn’t one of them. It's his wit that truly won me over. Besides, he’s the cheapest man I know. Have you seen him argue over toll tax?” A playful smirk tugs at the corner of her lips.
I'm taken aback by the passion in Pippa's words, my heart thudding in my chest as I watch her stand up to Ivan. Against all odds, this innocent girl who I took hostage has become so much more than just a captive—she's become someone who can hold her own in a room full of Bratva members.
And now, it’s my time to help ease her burden.
"Really?" I quip, feigning offense. "All this time, I thought it was my dashing good looks and endless supply of vodka."
"Those are just added bonuses," Pippa retorts, her quick wit earning a round of laughter from my family members.
"Quite the catch, our young Lev," Mikhail says, patting me on the back. "Hold onto her."
"Trust me," I reply, my eyes never leaving Pippa's, "I fully intend to."
I look at the woman by my side with sheer admiration. Pippa Anderson can truly knock an insult pitched her way out of the park.
As I watch her, something stirs within me—an emotion I don’t believe I’ve ever felt before, one I think could be love, but I can’t be certain. What I know of love is that it’s complicated, messy, all-encompassing.
It’s something I’ve never thought about before.
It’s different, isn’t it? Being in love with someone and truly loving someone? In this moment, I wonder, have I crossed the line to the latter?
No. It can’t be.
So why is the thought now lingering, festering in my mind?
I’m pulled out of my thoughts when I hear my name.
"Lev must have done something right to win your loyalty," Ivan remarks, a hint of approval coloring his tone.
"Or maybe I just see him for who he truly is," Pippa counters with a small smile, her gaze flicking to mine for a moment before returning to Ivan. "A troublemaker with a soul.”
That simple statement sends a shiver down my spine, and I struggle to suppress the urge to pull her into my arms right here, right now.
"Ah, young love," Audrey sighs wistfully, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "It's so refreshing to see."
That darned word again.
"Indeed," I reply dryly, trying to reign in my emotions as I shoot her a teasing grin. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have some dancing to attend to."
As Pippa and I make our way to the dance floor, I can't help but steal glances at her, marveling at how effortlessly she has managed to win over my family, and with that, my admiration.