5. Konstantin
KONSTANTIN
E verything was in place.
Tatiana would be mine after this event.
My eyes conveyed there’d be no more delays. Then to ensure there were no misunderstandings, I sent her a message. The words I’d given her when I left her in the hospital. I promised I’d be back when she was ready for me.
She was ready for me!
Her body was rigid, her graceful back in full view as she entered The Den of Sin. The dress fit her perfectly, her frame was no longer too thin. It enhanced her elegance. Her beauty. And the way she moved befit a queen.
Yes, she was a pawn in Adrian’s revenge, but she came out of it a queen.
Once she disappeared inside, I caught Amon from the corner of my eye. His eyes weren’t on me, but on the building next to the wedding reception. He started walking, his eyes never wavering on the building while I kept mine on The Den of Sin.
Amon just about reached me. He stopped in front of me, kneeled, then pretended to tie his shoelaces. He never glanced my way as he muttered under his breath, “They’re going after her when she comes out.”
Over my dead body.
“Make sure it doesn’t happen before,” I hissed.
Tatiana deserved this moment with her brother. Sasha might be an arrogant, psycho prick but the two were close. This was her moment with her family. Were my feelings hurt that I didn't get an invite?
Fuck no.
Would I crash the event so I could have moya luna in my sights? Fuck yes.
Amon rose to his full height, leaving a single ticket on the ground. He left without another word as I typed a message to my men to ensure all the shit was in place. Then I picked up the ticket off the ground and headed to the event.
I entered the venue, dropping a million dollar check as a gift to the bride and groom and signed it as Illias and Tatiana Konstantin. It’d lead the Nikolaev brothers straight to my door but fuck it.
Once my ring was on her finger, there was nothing they could do.
Vasili spotted me first. Keeping his smile on his face, he marched toward me. He could fool most of the people that he was being a happy host right now but the ice in his pale blue eyes was a warning to anyone with a brain.
“Konstantin, I don’t–”
His wife must have picked up on Vasili’s vibes because she rushed to us with her baby girl in her arms before Vasili could even finish his statement.
“Hey, babe, can you help me with Marietta?” Before her husband could even respond, she pretty much shoved the little girl into his arms. Vasili’s eyes lowered and instantly the ice melted. Interesting.
His wife smiled smugly, then flicked me a cautious look. “You’re welcome to stay, but let’s all keep it civilized. Including you, Vasili. Okay?”
I didn’t peg Isabella Nikolaev for the manipulative type but clearly she knew how to handle her husband.
“As you wish, Mrs. Nikolaev,” I agreed. I didn’t care about anything but keeping my eye on Tatiana and keeping her safe. Yes, she’d be safe inside The Den of Sin, but the fact of the matter was if Amon was able to secure an entrance ticket, so could the enemy.
“I’m too old for this shit,” Vasili muttered. “Right, Marietta? You won’t be giving Papa a hard time like your mama and aunt.”
Isabella snorted, but she smiled softly at her husband. “You know our kids will be even worse than we were, right?”
He sighed, pressing a kiss on little Marietta, who looked about a year old. The kid looked like a rag doll in Vasili’s arms but she grinned wide, clearly content to be in her father’s arms. I wondered if my child would look at me that way.
My father was my hero until he wasn’t. After the day he executed my mother, he was the Pakhan and only that.
It was hard to form and maintain a bond with a man who was never there for you once he took your mother away.
He whored around, made every woman - whore or not - pay for the sins of the woman who betrayed him
So while he wallowed, I observed and studied. I’d learned what technology worked and what didn’t. I’d learned the enemies’ weaknesses and exploited them. I expanded our territory and portfolio until it became one of the largest ones.
I sought out Tatiana, thankful I towered over most guests and found her standing with her brother and his bride in the far corner of the room. She smiled while the newest Mrs. Nikolaev spoke animatedly, then pointed to Sasha’s chest. She mimicked something that looked like stabbing her husband.
Would our baby look like her mama? I hoped so.
I couldn’t decide whether I’d dreamt of a boy or a girl first. Maybe a boy so he’d keep everyone away from his little sister.
Although it was tempting to see Tatiana with our little girl.
She’d dress her in the latest fashion and parade her all over the world.
“For fuck’s sake, Konstantin.” Vasili’s growl pulled me away from gawking at my favorite woman. “I swear if you force her to marry you or–”
“Vasili, babe, can you go check on the kitchen staff?” Vasili’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline. I’d imagine he never had to check on kitchen staff before. “Please, babe. Then let’s check that back room to ensure it is intact.”
She winked and Vasili already turned, heading to wherever. Then as if he remembered something, he narrowed his eyes on me. “I mean it, Konstantin.” His gaze darted to Tatiana, then back to me. He gave me a hard look. “She’s off limits.”
I leaned back on my heel. “I see that’s worked out with you and your brothers,” I retorted dryly. “If I remember right, you bribed your wife’s boyfriend then chased him out of the city. Your brother kidnapped his bride.”
“Maybe I’ll just marry her off today,” he baited.
“You can try.” My voice was dark and I clenched my teeth. “And you’ll see how fast your empire crumbles.”
Vasili opened his mouth but his wife stopped him before he could say another word. “Vasili, not today.” Her voice was soft as she nudged her husband forward.
She stayed behind though and I cocked my eyebrow, waiting for her to say what she clearly wanted to.
Once her husband was out of earshot, she turned to me. She tilted her head as she studied me.
I held her gaze. It was peculiar that she and Tatiana were best friends, considering how different the two women were. But then maybe that was what made it work for them.
“You’re inviting trouble,” Isabella said softly, tilting her head. “But then you already know that.”
My gaze flickered to the blonde hair. The group around her grew larger. She must have been entertaining with a story because the crowd grew louder and rowdier.
“She’s always been the social butterfly,” Isabella remarked. “Miss Popularity. She even won the title at Georgetown.”
“Remarkable,” I noted wryly. If only the men would clear away from her. I pondered whether it would be going too far killing any man in her vicinity with the exception of family. I didn’t think so, but my thinking might be skewed when it came to the woman carrying my child.
“How is her pregnancy progressing?” I asked her. “Is the baby healthy?”
Isabella stiffened, then gave me a cautious look. But the truth lingered in those brown eyes.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she remarked slowly. “And even if I did, doctor-patient privilege and all that.”
A corner of my lips lifted and satisfaction ran hot through my blood. My chest grew full as I thought about becoming a father soon. Fuck, it couldn’t come soon enough.
I smiled. “Thank you, Isabella.”
“For what.”
“You just gave me all the answers I needed.”