Chapter 3
Chapter
Three
VIKTORIYA
T he party is still buzzing after Damien’s exit. I’ve never seen Mikhail look so shaken before. He’s the one who is supposed to protect us—it worries me someone could upset him like that.
I want to go into his office and demand that everything will be all right, but that’s not my job. It’s Sofiya’s. Mikhail is her husband. She’s the one married to the head of the Bratva.
Whereas I … am only a woman, unmarried, with no power. All I have is my father’s last name. Morozova. And not even that has kept me safe.
Gleb walks over to me, and I can’t hurry away in time. “How are you faring, Viktoriya?”
“Why would you ask?”
“Because I’m here to make sure you’re all right.”
“Oh, yeah, as my father figure. Completely forgot.”
He chuckles, and it grates on my ears. “Not exactly a bright one, are we?”
I bring my teeth together to keep from snapping at him. I should have gotten something stronger to drink than just water to get through this evening, but I don’t want to let my defenses down around all these men. Now that Mikhail isn’t in the room, more of them are looking my way.
I glance around for Mila, but I don’t see her anymore.
An older man—probably in his sixties—approaches us, speaking in Russian. That’s the thing, even though my family is Russian, we’re Russian-American. My father never felt the need to teach us any language other than English. I don’t know how Sofiya has survived this long being in a different country where she doesn’t even know the language. Part of my power is being smarter than anyone else in the room, but I can’t do that when I can’t understand what people are saying.
Gleb, surprisingly, responds to the man back in Russian. I didn’t realize he knew any, being American himself.
The man looks me over in a way that I hate. If I could just slap him …
“What is your name?” the man asks me in a super heavy Russian accent.
“Viktoriya Morozova.”
“Ah. I’ve heard of your father. He is dead, no?”
“Y-yes, he’s dead.” I hate how my voice wavers. I just wasn’t expecting to deal with questions about my father’s death tonight. Unlike Sofiya, who had a close relationship with our mother, and unlike Mila, who was always doted on by our father, I never really had either of my parents. I was expected to be perfect and, thus, was never allowed to be soft like my sisters. Mother only loved soft things, and Father only loved innocent things.
Even though I’m still a virgin, I’m not innocent. Not to the ways of this world anyway. My father wanted me to be his little angel, and when I wasn’t that, he turned his sights onto Sofiya, and when she proved to be softer and our mother bonded with her, Father then looked to Mila to be his princess. His angel. She was.
I never was.
“My mother, too,” I say, regaining my composure. “Care to talk about that?”
He looks taken aback. “It was just a question.”
“A pretty rude question, no?” I mock.
He turns to Gleb and says something sharp in Russian with a shake of his head and stalks off.
“Viktoriya,” Gleb hisses. “You need to show some respect to these men. One of them could make a good husband for you.”
“Did I say I wanted a husband?” Let’s be real—I want a husband. I’m just not desperate enough to subject myself to just any man.
“You’ll need protection.”
“I thought that’s what you were for.” I grab a champagne glass from a passing tray and smirk as I walk away, enjoying the gob-smacked look on Gleb’s face.
I wander deeper into the room, keeping my eyes on the men around me. I’m not about to be made a fool like the last time I was at one of Mikhail’s parties.
The crowd part likes the Red Sea, and a younger man—in his twenties, I assume—comes up to me. “You look like you could get a refill.” He nods at my drink. I look down at it and take in the almost full champagne glass.
“No, it doesn’t.”
Just like the older man, this young one looks taken aback. He was trying to flirt with me. Flirting doesn’t work—I’m not a child easily seduced by candy.
“I’m …” He starts to say, holding his hand out until I cut him off.
“I don’t care what your name is. I don’t care who you are. You look too young to be in any real position of power, so I doubt you’re high-status enough for me. But what you can do is tell me more about the man who was just in here—Damien Petrov.”
“Why do you want to know who Damien Petrov is?” Aleksander’s voice cuts through the crowd.
With a sigh, I turn to face him, ignoring the young man, who eventually walks away, looking confused. “Why are you still talking to me?”
Aleksander smirks as he crosses his arms. “Am I not allowed to?”
“I told you exactly that a moment ago. In the kitchen. Remember? Or are you just too dense to remember? Got dropped on your head as a baby, perhaps?”
“So far, within the span of just a few minutes, I’ve seen you scorn both Igor Sokolov and Arkadi Stepanov, both men who have more wealth in their pinky finger alone than most people have in their entire lives. And yet, you brushed them both off. Why is that?”
“I didn’t think they were good enough.”
“You barely spoke to them.”
“And within the span of just a few minutes, I knew they weren’t good enough for me. I don’t need to have a lengthy conversation with someone to know whether they’re good enough for me. Now, answer my question. Who is Damien Petrov?”
Aleksander never breaks eye contact as he answers. “He was born into Bratva royalty as the son of Ivan Petrov. When Ivan died, Damien went into hiding, but in the last year, he’s started making a name for himself by using his father’s old contacts. He’s quickly amassed wealth and status. He’s easily a rival to Mikhail. Does it please you to hear that?”
“It does, in fact.” If Damien is a man with status and wealth, then just maybe he’s a man worthy of me. The question is—how will I go about talking to him? Mikhail made it clear I can’t make him angry, and I’m sure talking to his enemy will do just that.
If I’m being honest, though, I don’t give a damn what Mikhail thinks. He’s not my husband. He may own Sofiya, but he doesn’t own me.
No man does, and no man ever will, even after I’m married.
Aleksander steps closer to me, and I step back. “How dare you almost touch me,” I say
“I won’t touch you without your permission, Viktoriya. But there’s nothing keeping me from looking at you. You are beautiful.” He raises his hand and just barely touches my hair. It’s like I’m in a trance, unable to move.
Until he starts to drop his hand. I take the opportunity to smack his hand even farther away.
“Such a shame you have the personality you do,” he says.
“Such a shame you have the personality you do,” I snap back.
“You’re going to learn eventually, Viktoriya, that you are not the boss here. Someone is going to put you in your place.”
“Is that a threat?” I don’t even realize I’m standing so close to him until I smell his cologne.
“Do you want it to be? Because I love making women submit to me. Don’t tempt me.”
“I would never in a million years. A man like you”—I look him up and down, then turn my nose up to him— “who was born into poverty is not worthy of me. You will never be. So, you’re wasting my time talking to me. I have things to do.” I flip my hair over my shoulder.
“Things,” he says, drawing the word out slowly. “What kind of things?”
“Things like … talking to other men. I’m still on the hunt for a husband.”
“But you reject any man who tries talking to you. How does that work?”
I force myself to back away from him. “I don’t have to explain myself to you. Now, leave me alone. You answered my questions, so thank you for that. But now I have no need of you.”
His lips twitch in a way I don’t like. “I could make you dance before all these men again if I wanted to. Other than Mikhail, I’m the most powerful man in this room.”
I narrow my eyes. “You wouldn’t dare.” I hate to admit it, but my heart begins to beat faster. I remember when he tried humiliating me at the last party at Mikhail’s house. I remember how my ankle was even weaker than it is now, yet he made me dance for the entire room full of men. The only reason I got out of there was because of Sofiya.
“Don’t test me, Viktoriya. Learn some manners.” He starts to turn away, but I grab his arm, forcing him to look back at me. When he glances down at my hand, I immediately pull it away.
“You are not a good man, Aleksander,” I tell him. “You think you’re better than me because you’re a man and you’ve had to work harder than me when it comes to money. But I don’t take kindly to men bossing me around. That’s one thing you should know about me.”
“If I were your husband, I could put you in your place all day.”
“Then it’s a good thing you’re not my husband.” I turn away from him before he gets the chance to do it to me.
I run straight into Gleb’s chest. The impact almost knocks me back.
“Woah.” He grabs my arms, steadying me.
“Watch where you’re going,” I mutter.
“You seemed like you were enjoying talking to that man.”
I tense and glance behind me. Aleksander has moved on and is now speaking to another man in Russian. For just a second, I wish I could know what he was saying.
But only for a second.
“I was not,” I say hotly.
“Well, that’s good. Because I’m not sure he’d make a good husband for you.”
I groan subtly. “Gleb, I told you. I’m not interested in finding a husband unless it’s on my own terms.” I pause, considering what he said. “Wait. Why don’t you think Aleksander would make a good husband?”
He shrugs. “I just don’t think he would.” There’s a flash in his eyes I don’t understand. Some hidden emotion.
Honestly, I don’t care enough.
“I’m going to find Mila.” I walk away before Gleb can force me into another awkward conversation.
After looking around the house and evading the men as best I can, I eventually find Mila in the guest bedroom she used before.
“There you are,” I say, shutting the door behind me.
“Yeah. It was just too overwhelming down there.”
“Didn’t see any men who stroked your fancy?”
She gives me a look before laughing. “I can’t believe you just said that. I doubt I’ll find my prince charming with those men. They’re all so scary. The man who’ll be my husband will be kind and polite and sweet.” Her face turns dreamy.
“You deserve that, Mila.”
She snaps back to reality and smiles up at me. “You deserve that, too.”
I know she means well, but for some reason, her words hit me. I’m not sure I do deserve a kind husband.
And it scares me that I would even think that way.
SOFIYA
I find Mikhail in his office, sitting in his chair, his head bent over and in his hands.
“Hey,” I say softly, rubbing my hand over his back. “Are you ok?” Maybe it’s a silly question, but it’s one I need to ask. Mikhail and I have been through a lot as a couple. He knows he can be honest and open with me.
“I knew Damien came back. I never got my revenge on his father. The worst part of it all is I can’t even get revenge on Damien because he wasn’t responsible for my son’s death. So, he just exists in this world, and there’s nothing I can do.”
“I know his father hurt you. More than anyone should go through. But maybe it’s time to let the need for revenge go. You have me now. I know you miss your son. Alexei will always be here. I just don’t want to lose you to Damien.”
He lifts his head and meets my eyes. Those intense, normally scary eyes are now open and vulnerable. “You won’t lose me.”
Before I can reply, the door bursts open, and Aleksander walks in.
“Do you need something?” Mikhail asks, wrapping his hands around my waist. He’s very territorial.
“Yes.” His eyes flick to me and back to my husband. I don’t trust it. “Can I talk to you alone?”
Mikhail nods. “I’ll be out in a bit,” he tells me.
“All right.” I give him a small kiss before walking away. Aleksander doesn’t look at me as I leave. He has his gaze locked on Mikhail.
Something in my gut tells me that what he wants to talk about has nothing to do with business. And when I reenter the party and don’t see Viktoriya anywhere, my worry grows even more.
ALEKSANDER
I’m saying the words before I even have time to think about them. “I want Viktoriya to be my wife.”
Mikhail sits straighter in his chair and stares at me until he scoffs. “Alek, you can’t be serious.”
“I am. She … amuses me.” I think back to our conversations. God, going toe-to-toe with Viktoriya is exhilarating. I’ve never had a woman challenge me like she does.
“Amusement doesn’t make for a marriage.”
“She’s a challenge, Mikhail. You know I’ve been working hard my entire life. I never say no to a challenge.”
“Well, if you want to marry her, then don’t let me get in your way. I think you’re insane to want to marry a woman like that, but go ahead. You have my permission.”
“Thank you.”
Mikhail’s lips quirk up. “Something tells me she won’t be happy about this. If there’s one thing I know about Viktoriya, she hates being told what to do.”
“Which is why I need your help. I can’t force her to marry me. But if you made her, then she would do it.”
“Why do you want to marry a woman who doesn’t want anything to do with you?”
“That’s exactly it.” My body thrums at the idea. “Viktoriya needs a stern hand, but I can’t touch her unless she’s my wife. I know your wife wouldn’t approve. And you know I would never risk upsetting you. You’re my boss and friend. I have respect for you, Mikhail. I’m exactly what Viktoriya needs. She just doesn’t know it.”
After a moment, Mikhail nods. “All right. I’ll tell her she has to marry you if she wants my protection. I don’t fully trust Viktoriya, so if you say you can keep her in line, then be my guest. I commend you, Alek. She won’t be easy.”
“I need you to make the announcement.”
“We can do it right now.”
We leave his office and head back to the party. Except Viktoriya is nowhere to be found.
My eyes land on Sofiya, and I approach her. “Where’s your sister?”
“Why?”
“Where’s Viktoriya?” Mikhail asks.
Sofiya sighs and points upstairs. Without a backward glance, I head upstairs, with Mikhail and Sofiya following. It’s not until I reach the top floor I realize Gleb joined us as well.
“What’s he doing here?” I ask.
Gleb puffs his chest out. “It’s my job to protect Viktoriya and Mila. I need to know what’s going on.”
Mikhail knocks on the bedroom door, and after a beat, Viktoriya answers. “What’s … going on?”
“Viktoriya,” Mikhail begins, “you will marry Aleksander.”
She freezes as Sofiya gasps.
“What?” Sofiya asks, whirling around on Mikhail. “What?”
“If she is to stay here, she will marry Aleksander.”
“Why?” Viktoriya asks. “What have I done?”
“I need to make sure you stay out of trouble,” Mikhail tells her. “This is the best way to ensure that. Aleksander asked me for your hand, and I have granted it.”
Viktoriya turns her heated eyes onto me. “That was fast.”
“I want you, Viktoriya,” I tell her. Somehow, she tenses even more. “You’ve shown me within the span of less than an hour that you need a stern hand. Being my wife will be the best thing for you.”
“You can’t tell me what to do!” she says.
“He can’t,” Mikhail says. “But I can. I’m the leader of the Bratva. You belong to the Bratva. And what I say goes. I’ve given Aleksander my permission to marry you. This is final.”
“Not so fast,” Gleb interrupts. “I have another proposition. Viktoriya can marry me.”
I scoff. “You’re joking.”
“You never said you wanted to marry me,” Viktoriya tells him. “You said you were like a father figure.”
Gleb shrugs. “I changed my mind. And you’re wrong,” he says to Mikhail. “You may be the leader of the Bratva, but I’m in charge of Viktoriya. So, when it comes to her, you’ll need my permission for anyone to marry her. And I’m saying I’ll marry her. There’s no one better. Definitely not …” He looks me over. “You.”
I stand up straighter. “What’s wrong with me?”
“I don’t want to marry any of you!” Viktoriya snaps.
“Vik,” Sofiya says softly, reaching out for her.
“No!” She backs away. “I should have a say in who I marry. I have that right.”
Mikhail sighs deeply and turns to Gleb. “You want to marry Viktoriya?”
“Yes.”
“This is bullshit,” I mutter.
“Then I think Viktoriya should have the choice,” Mikhail continues. “It’s either Gleb or Aleksander. But make a choice soon, Viktoriya. I don’t want you here causing trouble. Does that satisfy everyone?”
Viktoriya slams the door shut. Clearly, she gave her answer.
But I’m not satisfied. “Mikhail.” I follow him down the hallway, Gleb and Sofiya trailing behind. “You promised me her hand.”
“I know I did, but that was before I found out Gleb was interested, too. He has a point. He’s in charge of her. You know how the Bratva is with women. There’s always a man in charge, and he’s that for Viktoriya. So, he has the ultimate say in what happens to her. But I’m giving Viktoriya a choice.”
“You can’t,” Sofiya says. “I know Vik. She’ll just leave when backed into a corner.”
Mikhail shrugs. “Then she leaves. She’s a grown woman, Sofiya. I have offered her my protection, but I’m not better than what a husband can be for her. She can either leave or make a choice. It’s better than what a lot of women get. It’s better than what you got.”
She flinches. “You decided for me.”
“Exactly. And I’ve learned from that. Which is why I’m giving Viktoriya a choice. Given the fact I don’t like her, I would consider that the best option. Now, I’ve spent enough time on this. There are other things I need to deal with.” He leaves the lot of us standing there.
I turn to Gleb. “Why are you suddenly interested in Viktoriya? Mikhail told me you said you wanted to be seen as a father figure to her. Fathers don’t go around marrying their daughters.”
“I changed my mind,” Gleb says simply. “I didn’t realize I wanted Viktoriya before, but now, I do.”
It hits me like a piano falling on my head. “You never thought any man would want her with her attitude. But the minute you found out I wanted her, you wanted her for yourself. Why? Why do you like her?”
Gleb sniffs and turns away from me. “I don’t have to explain myself to you.” He walks away.
Sofiya is glaring at me when I look down at her. “My sister won’t easily bend to you, Aleksander. Don’t break her.”
But that’s just the thing—I want to break Viktoriya.
I want to make that woman fall onto her knees for me.
VIKTORIYA
“I need to leave,” I say, grabbing my suitcase. Thanks to the housekeeper, my things are already in the room, and because I haven’t had the chance to unpack yet, it makes escaping that much easier.
“You can’t,” Mila says. “I heard everything, Vik. I know you’re scared, but maybe this is a good thing. I don’t think either man is ugly. They both look like princes to me.”
“Oh, for god’s sake, Mila,” I mutter. “There’s no such thing as a prince charming.”
She flinches, and her eyes begin to water. “Sorry.”
I sigh and slump onto the bed, pulling her into my arms. “I didn’t mean to snap. But you have to know not everything is about looks. Gleb and Aleksander may be handsome, but I don’t trust either of them. Neither is worthy of me. I need a man who will marry me and be worthy of me.”
“So, where are you going to find that man?”
I already know.
The moment I saw Damien, I knew he’d make a good choice for a husband. Wealth and status. And he has the reputation as Mikhail’s rival now. That’s more than good enough for me.
I just need to find him and convince him to marry me before I’m forced to choose between Gleb and Aleksander.
“I’m going out,” I say, standing up. Mila jerks back.
“What? Going where?”
“I’m not sure yet. But I’ll find out.”
I wait until the party is over and all the men have left, including Aleksander. I can’t believe him. Trying to force me to marry him. I didn’t even think he liked me.
I know Gleb is staying with us, just down the hallway. I heard him go into one of the guest bedrooms while I was waiting. I also can’t believe him. If I thought Aleksander didn’t like me, I really thought Gleb didn’t like me.
But who cares about them?
I’m going to find a man much more worthy.
It’s not hard to leave. The guard stationed outside the penthouse isn’t worried about me. Mikhail isn’t my husband. I just smile at the guard and keep walking.
With a quick internet search, I find a club Damien Petrov owns. Seems he’s not in the shadows as some other Bratva men are.
Using the money I brought with me, I take a cab to the club. Once I enter it, I doubt for a second if I’m doing the right thing. The club is packed with people dancing. I hate it. Sweaty people and loud music. Ugh.
But I refuse to let any man dictate my life, so that’s why I’m doing this.
My eyes land on Damien near the back of the club. He’s almost on some sort of stage, sitting in a chair, overlooking the clubgoers below.
I march right up to him but get stopped by a guard before I can reach him. “Damien?” I yell.
He gives me a lazy glance before looking back at the dancers. “Yes?”
“I’m Viktoriya Morozova. Sofiya Ivanov is my sister.”
That gets his attention, and he looks at me more closely. “I saw you at Mikhail’s house.”
“Yes. I was there.”
“I saw a pretty blonde I liked. Wasn’t you.”
I try not to flinch. “I have two sisters.”
“Must have been one of your sisters, then.”
This is not going as I planned. “I need to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“I’m looking for a husband.”
“Good for you.”
I sigh and try again. “I am the eldest daughter of Denis Morozova. I am a great catch. Any man would be lucky to marry me. Maybe even a man who’s looking to grow his enterprise. Maybe a man like you.”
“I’ll admit; you’ve piqued my interest. And you make a good point. A woman like you would make a good alliance for me.”
“Great. So?—”
“But,” he cuts me off. “I’m not interested in you.”
I blink. The guard beside me smirks. “But … Why not?”
“I have no intentions of marrying. Ever. I don’t need a woman to do my job for me. So, you can go now.” He waves a dismissive hand at me.
The guard grabs my shoulders and gently pushes me toward the door. “Watch it,” I grumble. He ignores me as he walks me out of the club.
I stand there on a silent street late at night in a city I barely know after getting rejected.
Me, Viktoriya Morozova, just got rejected.
I walk over to the side of the building, jam my fingers down my throat, and force myself to throw up. Just like before, it hurts, but then it feels good.
My choices are to try to make it on my own or be forced into a marriage with someone I don’t want.
All because the men I want don’t want me.
I want to fall onto the floor and cry, but I have too much pride. So, I wipe the vomit from my chin, stand up tall, and hail a cab, all so I can go back to Mikhail’s house and figure out what the hell I’m going to do.