Chapter 18
Viktor~
“Jesus Christ, that woman is something else,” Kasimir muttered, and dealing with Aurora really did feel like an ongoing war at times.
“She’s as smart as she is beautiful, but she’s also damn maddening,” I said before running a hand through my hair in frustration.
“Moreso than what we just saw?” Kasimir asked, still looking a bit shellshocked.
“She won’t eat anything in the house, and when I do take her to go get something to eat, she has to watch them prepare it,” I informed them.
“She also limits her time to our bedroom and bathroom, even though I’ve given her a tour of the house and have made it clear that she has free reign to do as she pleases as long as she stays within the property limits. ”
“Well, I suppose that’s to be expected,” my father said. “I imagine that it’ll take quite some time for her to trust us, if ever. Yours is not a love match, so one can hardly blame her for being cautious.”
“Do you think the men will appreciate her running the girls?” Kasimir asked. “I mean, even if the majority don’t care in a general sense, Aurora running anything is going to ruffle some feathers.”
Looking at my brother, I asked, “And what about yours?”
His back immediately straightened. “What about me?”
“Whether you like it or not, she’s my wife,” I reminded him. “She’s my wife, making me related to the Marchettis in a way that binds us all. Your interaction with Stefano Marchetti at the church can’t continue to happen, Kasimir.”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing that they’ll be staying on their side of the fence, and us on ours,” he fired back.
“If you cannot grasp the concept of this alliance, then you will stay away from the Marchettis completely, and that includes my wife,” I said, making my stance as clear as I could without outright choosing between them.
Kasimir’s chin lifted, and I knew that look. “So, now you’re choosing the Marchettis over your own blood?”
“No,” I quickly corrected. “I’m choosing my blood over everything else, which is why I married Aurora in the first place. Do not forget, there is a bigger picture at play here, Kasimir.”
“He’s right, son,” my father said, siding with me. “If it gets out that you’re bumping dicks with the Marchettis, then no one will believe that this alliance is real.”
“You say that as if we’re going to be having Sunday dinners with them on a regular basis,” Kasimir snapped. “Who gives a fuck if me and Stefano Marchetti exchange words?”
“I give a fuck,” my father snapped back. “I did not sacrifice my eldest son for nothing.”
The way that my father phrased it did not sit well with me. While I hadn’t signed up for this in the beginning, being married to Aurora didn’t feel like a sacrifice. Yes, I’d done my duty, but it no longer felt that way. I was obsessed with my wife, and it was only getting worse by the day.
Stepping forward, Kasimir said, “I don’t give two fucks about the Marchettis, let me be clear about that. However, I know what’s at stake here, so do not insult me again.”
“Kasimir-”
“Fuck off, Viktor,” he spat, and I knew that we were going to have to give him some time to cool down. Kasimir wasn’t reachable when he got to the point where he was cussing out me or our father.
“Kasimir, that’s enough,” my father said, though his voice no longer held a bite to it. “We’re just telling you that you have to play nice. You’ve no choice.”
“And so, what’s the plan?” he asked. “Since you don’t trust me around your wife, who’s set to protect her once she starts this new job of hers?”
“Knock it the fuck off,” I ordered. “I never said that I didn’t trust you around my wife, Kasimir. This is about optics, and if you can’t behave yourself around any of the Marchettis, then it’s best if you avoid them altogether.”
“You still didn’t answer my question,” he bit out, ignoring everything that I’d just said. “Who are you assigning to her?”
“Isaak and Dima,” I finally answered. “They’re the best that we have, apart from you and me.”
After a few seconds, he said, “Well, before you allow Aurora to venture out on her own, you should probably know that Dushenka is spreading a rumor that you’re still seeing her, and that you were just with her two nights ago.”
“And you’re barely telling me this now?” I snapped, the anger immediate.
“I didn’t think it was important since no one believes her,” he replied coolly. “Plus, it’s not like your wife can’t kick her ass on her own.”
“That’s beside the point,” I told him. “I do not need Aurora inconvenienced with Dushenka’s hate-filled nonsense.”
Kasimir just shrugged. “Well, since everyone hates your wife, my guess is that she better get used to some static in her life because you can’t control everyone, Viktor.”
“Watch me,” I shot back, his words pissing me off more than they should when you considered that I already knew how everyone felt about my wife.
“That’s enough,” my father said. “Dushenka will be taken care of, and we’ll make sure to do it in such a way that others get the point.”
“Well, I guess I’ll just leave you to your domestic matters and continue doing what I do,” Kasimir remarked, clearly still offended. “After all, it seems as if you have everyone who you need in your corner.”
“Knock it off,” I repeated. “The most important people in my life are in this room, and you damn well know it.”
“I used to know it,” he replied. “However, it seems as if your wife’s pussy-”
My fist swung faster than it’d ever had before, but instead of fighting back, Kasimir let out a dark laugh, taking the hit like he’d been expecting it, which he probably had been.
For all of his crazy ways, my brother was still very intelligent, and being as close as we were, he was able to see right through me just as I was able to do with him.
Wiping the blood from his lip, he said, “Never thought I’d ever see the day when we’d come to blows over a Marchetti. Once upon a time, I would have bet my life against those odds.”
“This isn’t about Aurora,” I lied. “This is about respecting the hierarchy in this family, even if you are my only brother. No matter that we’re behind closed doors, your disrespect still has limits.”
With his eyes alive with a madness that should scare most people, Kasimir said, “She’ll never love you, Viktor. Never.”
“That’s enough,” my father said, already knowing how I felt about her. “I will not have my sons at each other’s throats over a situation that cannot be undone.”
“Oh, it can be undone,” Kasimir huffed, and I knew exactly what he meant.
“You will stay away from your brother’s wife,” my father instructed. “If you cannot get a handle on your hate for the Marchettis, then you will stay away from Aurora completely, and that is your Pakhan speaking to you, Kasimir.”
My brother shot my father a hate-filled look. “Will that be all, Pakhan?”
“You are dismissed,” he said, and without another word, my brother walked out of the office, and the only thing that I was grateful for was that he wasn’t singing that damn song.
“What do you think?” my father asked as soon as the door slammed shut.
“He’ll be fine,” I sighed, hoping that I was right. “He wasn’t singing, so that’s a good sign.”
“What is it with that damn song?” my father muttered as he sat back down in his chair.
“Not sure, but it’s helpful when trying to determine his state of mind,” I replied positively.
“Maybe this was a bad idea after all,” my father sighed. “Maybe we should have taken our chances with-”
“None of that matters now,” I said as I turned to face him fully. “Like I’ve said before, my marriage is forever. I will never grant Aurora the freedom to live without me. Never.”
My father eyed me from across his desk. “Be careful, son. You’re beginning to sound like a man in love.”
“I sound like a husband,” I clarified. “One who has given his word to our family and to the church.”
He waved away that statement, asking, “So, what do you think of her proposal for the working girls?”
“We probably need to work on the details a bit more, but what she’s proposing sounds like it could bring in more revenue, though we really don’t need it,” I answered honestly. “However, it sounds more like she’s trying to take care of these women more than she’s trying to make money off them.”
“That was the same impression that I got,” my father admitted.
“It’s your call,” I said, even though we’d both always known that.
“I’ll think on it, then let you know,” he said. “Right now, I need a drink.”
So did I, even if it was only ten in the morning.