Chapter Twenty
Peter
I woke up the next day, and I had never been happier seeing my wife still beside me, and knowing last night hadn’t been a dream. I’d finally made love to my wife, and no, I hadn’t used a condom.
Niamh had a choice. She could have told me to use one, but she didn’t. I didn’t own them, but with Niamh, I didn’t want there to be anything between us. I knew that made me a selfish bastard, but for now I didn’t care. She had a choice.
After our first time, I had insisted on feeding her that lasagna. It hadn’t overbaked, and it was still warm when we got to it. We’d nearly demolished the entire tray. I didn’t want to look away from her. The start of our marriage hadn’t exactly gone according to plan. I stared at her.
Slowly, as if I willed her to wake up, she began to open her eyes. I didn’t know what to expect when she saw me staring at her, but it certainly wasn’t that beautiful smile.
“Morning,” she said.
“Good morning.”
“How long have you been awake?”
“A little while.”
“And you’ve not snuck off to work?”
“I don’t have to.”
This made her brows rise, which looked so cute. “You don’t?”
“In case you didn’t know, I am the boss.”
“Ah, you see, I did know that, but I was told there is no rest for a Brigadier. You’ve been busy, a lot, and you know, you’ve come back to me injured, which is never a good thing.” She gave this cute little tut, that I found totally adorable. This was fun.
“There is no rest.”
Niamh sighed. “Where exactly are you going?”
I looked at Niamh. I didn’t know what the other Brigadiers told their wives. Our business was private, but I looked at Niamh.
“Ivan’s dealing with all the associates that owe your father a favor.”
“My father?”
“Yes. It would seem over the course of Finn Byrne’s life, he has acquired quite a few people who are willing to go above and beyond to help him.”
“I had no idea.”
Someone like Finn didn’t get where he was today without making connections. I didn’t know why Ivan had such a vendetta against him. Unless he had taken issue to the way Niamh was treated, which I did understand. In Finn beating her, she had lost the baby. Another line for the Volkov Bratva.
Ivan was building an empir e— children, families, a future for generation s— and when it came to Ivan, I had a gut feeling this was more personal. There was only one other person I knew was close to Ivan growing up, and that was Slavik.
“So, I had some of the other Brigadiers come by yesterday. It would seem their wives would like to meet you. You met them at our wedding. Aurora, Adelaide, and Charlotte.”
“I remember them. They stood together, close to their husbands at all times.”
“That is how it’s meant to be when they’re in another man’s territory.”
“Oh,” Niamh said.
“They’re in mine.”
Niamh chuckled. “I already figured that out. I filled in the blanks.” She smiled at me and then stroked my cheek.
“Would you like to meet them? Get to know them?”
She tilted her head to the side, and looked at me. “Why?”
“I just … I want you to be comfortable here. I know it’s not going to be easy for you to make new friends, not being my wife, so those you can make, even long distance, would be important.”
“I’ve never been good at making friends,” Niamh said.
“I have a feeling you’ll find these ladies are … similar,” I said.
“Why?”
I took a deep breath. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but Ivan has a tendency to find broken, damaged women, who need … someone.”
“Oh,” Niamh said.
I already knew what was going through her mind, because with her circumstances and family, she fit the bill quite well.
“I, ugh, I kind of fall into that category as well, huh?”
I didn’t even answer that.
“My men, as well as their own guards, will be there. You won’t be alone, and I will make sure your men are aware that if you give them a signal, they should bring the meeting to an end.”
“A meeting?”
“I was thinking you and the ladies could do lunch today.”
“This is sudden,” Niamh said.
“I just want you to try and make some friends.” And with our wives out of the way, it meant I could talk to Slavik without any trouble. I knew it was a risk.
I had intended to spend today with Niamh, and to explore our newfound … closeness. I wanted every opportunity to spill my sperm deep inside her so I could get her pregnant again. Also, I did want her to have friends. Aurora, Adelaide, and Charlotte were good people.
And so, four hours later, while Niamh was with the wives, I arranged a different kind of meeting with Slavik. He was in a café enjoying a cup of coffee, when I went to join him.
“You used your wife so that you and I could have a meeting?” Slavik asked. “I will have to warn you, if this is in any way designed to terminate Ivan, then you will be dead within minutes.”
“My loyalty lies with Ivan Volkov. I give my life to the Volkov, and that will never change.” One of the inks right around my chest is the Volkov brand, the V with the ivy around each one. I had the mark inked around my chest so I would always remember my loyalty, my ties.
“Then, what could you possibly want from this meeting?” Slavik asked.
“What has Finn Byrne done to Ivan Volkov to make him remove every person helping him?”
I couldn’t quite connect the dots. Ivan was turning this into a hunt. He had the ability to kill Finn. Not only did he have the man’s son, he also had the man’s daughter, the woman with all the power of the Byrne name. Ivan hadn’t used any of it.
Also, he had The Beast and The Butcher at his disposal, and their reputations were not false. I had seen The Butcher at work, and I now saw why she was named as such.
Ivan had the power, and yet he was taking out everyone around Finn. Almost playing with him, taunting him. Not that I had an issue with how Ivan was dealing with him. We all dealt with our demons in different ways.
This was personal.
Slavik sat back.
Neither of us spoke.
“As far as I’m aware, Finn Byrne was nothing more than a thorn in Ivan’s side, but one he’d pulled out.”
“Yeah, well, now I have a feeling the little hole that thorn created is bleeding,” I said. “He’s taking out all the petty thugs, but only those with any connection to Byrne. Why?”
“Well, that is something you’re going to have to ask Ivan.”
****
Niamh
I was not good at making friends.
This was when the situation was normal.
We all had men, less than two feet away from us. I noticed Aurora only had one guard, as did Adelaide and Charlotte. All three of the women offered me a smile, as I had three men guarding me.
“It’s nice to meet you all,” I said.
Again, I was awkward. I didn’t know what to say. Where the three women appeared to be quite close, I was not used to embracing.
They hugged and looked so happy to see each other. I noticed that Charlotte flinched during the hugs, but she still gave them back, even though they clearly made her uncomfortable.
“This is strange, isn’t it?” Aurora said.
At least, I think it was Aurora.
I pressed my lips together, and gave a kind of smile, but it didn’t quite reach my eyes, and I wasn’t exactly sure if it was a smile or not.
“Apparently you all wanted to, uh, meet with me, I think that’s what Peter said. You didn’t have to do that. I know we’re not … like friends or anything. We won’t even be close, and…” I stopped because I wasn’t sure if I should say I had a choice about a potential divorce. Leaving the Volkov Bratva … and Peter.
It was hard to even think about right now. Last night had been amazing, and I didn’t want to leave, but I didn’t know if I could stay married to Peter. He didn’t do love and the truth was, all I wanted was love and a family, and to be … wanted.
Wow, how the fuck had I just realized that now? I mean, I knew I’d always wanted a family. That was no secret, but I didn’t know if I could have that with Peter. Did he even want to be a dad?
Pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind, I smiled at the women at the table, more thankful than ever, to have the waiter come to take our drink order. I was tempted to give the signal that would mean my guards got me away from this awkwardness, but I promised Peter I’d try.
“So, I think I should go first, because this is kind of awkward. I’m Aurora Ivanov. I’m married to Slavik, and even though our marriage didn’t have the best start, I am in love with my husband, and we have two children, and a third on the way. Oh, I was nearly killed as well, and framed for attempting to kill Ivan, but it wasn’t me. It was a woman he and Slavik were close to.”
This was news to me, but I looked at the other woman and forced a smile.
“I guess that goes to me, seeing as I was the next woman to be married to a Volkov Brigadier. I’m Adelaide Belov, and my sister was supposed to marry Andrei, only she kind of … well, she was sleeping around, and they needed a virgin, and someone who didn’t cause too much trouble, and that was me.” She held her hands out with a laugh. “Also, we have one baby, and hopefully we’ll have another one soon.”
I turned toward Charlotte, but the waiter chose that moment to bring over our drinks. I had gotten a glass of water.
The waiter left and Charlotte smiled.
“I was a giant mistake,” Charlotte said. “I was the wrong daughter that was taken in the hope of creating negotiations between my father’s MC and Ivan Volkov. The only problem is my dad hated my guts, and often used me as a punching bag. I have many scars to show for it, oh, and I once thought of myself as trash … so, good times.”
I was shocked by how honest Charlotte was. She wasn’t looking for pity either, she was merely stating facts.
“I’m now married to Ive, and we’re expecting our first child. Also, my husband is called Ivan, but seeing as Ivan Volkov is Ivan, my husband is now Ive.”
Charlotte lifted her glass, and we all toasted.
“Oh, my sister tried to have me killed,” Adelaide said.
They all turned toward me, and I glanced down at my water.
“I’m Naimh Orlov.” I stopped because I didn’t quite know how to form into words what I needed to say. The women had been open, and I knew they had more tales to tell. “My husband is Peter Orlov, and I met him in the small town of Pickle Quest, where I thought he was a personal trainer. It turned out he’d been sent with a mission of getting me pregnant, which he did. Only, my father found me because I had run away, and he beat me to the point that I lost the baby. Now, I’m married to Peter, and one day, I’m going to have to make a choice whether I stay married to him, or give him up and get my freedom.”
At my statement, all three women looked concerned.
“My vote is she is going to stay,” Ivan said, startling us all as he made an appearance at our table.
I hadn’t seen him since yesterday morning, and he cancelled last night, which I was happy about as I spent the night with Peter.
He smiled at all four of us, and then kissed Aurora’s cheek, Adelaide’s, and then Charlotte’s, before coming to me. He gave my shoulders a squeeze, and one of the guards was already grabbing a chair for him to sit down. The waiter came over and delivered him a drink.
“You do realize you’re intruding on a girls’ only event,” Charlotte said.
“I know, but I needed to make sure you’re all getting on well. You know how I pride myself in choosing the perfect brides for my men.” Ivan winked at the table.
This made me laugh.
“Ivan likes to think of himself as a matchmaker,” Aurora said.
“No, what Ivan likes to do is collect broken and damaged women, and give them a happy-ever-after,” Charlotte said.
I turned to look at Ivan.
Broken and damaged.
I had a feeling none of these women knew of Ivan’s past with another woman.
“Is there a reason you pay close attention to broken and damaged?” I asked, sipping at my water, and then knowing I couldn’t keep drinking water. All three of these women and now Iva n— I needed an actual drink. I was breaking all my rules, but I signaled the waiter and asked for a glass of something strong. I knew I was making a mistake when I asked for it.
Ivan looked toward me. “I have my reasons.”
“Care to share them?” I asked.
“No.”
Aurora chuckled. “One thing you will learn, Niamh, Ivan will only tell you his reasons when he’s good and ready.”
There was an agreement around the table.
The waiter came with the stiff drink, putting it in front of me. I averted my gaze from Ivan’s to look at the drink. I’d promised myself I would never drink. After going to the hospital too many times that I lost count to have my mother’s stomach pumped, I had vowed to never touch a drop of alcohol.
My life had changed a lot in the past few months. I was married to a man I loved, who didn’t love me back. According to Ivan, I was a wealthy woman, and when the threat against me was gone, I’d be able to make the choice to leave.
I found this so difficult. I loved Peter; those feelings hadn’t changed. I couldn’t just turn them off, even though I wanted to. But, I didn’t want to stay with a man who couldn’t love me back. That sounded like a nightmare, and not one I wanted to live.
Picking up the glass, I felt all of those years of abuse claw at me, threatening to get out, and then I ignored them and downed my drink, enjoying the hard, bitter burn as it slid down my throat.