Chapter 7 - Avit
“Where the hell have you been?” Pyotr demanded from the sofa the second I stepped into my office at Drakon. “You’re hardly home. Are you drinking again? Is that why you’re avoiding us?”
“Well, good morning to you too,” I muttered as I slipped behind my chair and powered on my laptop. “And no, I’m not drinking again. I just have a shitload of work to get done.”
“Avit, seriously, if you don’t stop, you’re going to crash,” Pyotr said, leaning forward, elbows on his knees.
“I’m almost through the files from the past three years.”
“I spoke to Lev about it.”
My spine went rigid. “About what?”
I tried to keep my voice steady, but my pulse quickened.
“I told him you’re burning the candle at both ends. Trying to ensure the books are in order.”
“You told Lev that I’m trying to ensure the books are in order?”
“Yes.”
“What the fuck, Pyotr?” My hand slammed against the table before I could stop myself.
If Lev started digging, he’d start asking questions. Questions I couldn’t afford for him to ask.
“I don’t see the problem,” Pyotr said defensively.
“You’ll make Lev think I can’t do my job, that’s the damn problem.”
“No one doubts you can do your job, Avit. What the hell is eating at you?”
“Nothing,” I snapped. “I’m fine.”
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “Lev is having a get-together at their place tomorrow. Will you be there?”
“Sorry.” I began to pull files from my desk drawer, avoiding his haze. “Can’t make it. I have a meeting.”
“I haven’t even told you what time we’re heading over.”
I exhaled sharply and met his gaze. “Pyotr, what are you trying to say?”
“Avit, you’re the most reliable guy I know. If anyone needs anything, you’re there. You check on everyone. You never skip out. But these last few weeks? You’ve been MIA. And I’m not the only one who’s noticing.”
“Is it wrong to want time for myself?” I glared at him. “Since I’m the one always checking in, maybe someone else should take the reins. Or is everyone else allowed to have a life outside of business except me?”
Pyotr opened his mouth to argue, but I cut him off before he got a word out.
“Here’s a thought, why don’t you start checking in? Be there for everyone for once, instead of chasing those dumb chickenhead girls you’re always fucking.”
The hurt flashed across his face before he could hide it.
“Pyotr…shit. I didn’t mean that.”
He stood, his concerned expression wiped clean. “It’s fine. You’re right.”
“Pyotr….”
But he was already walking out, closing the door behind him.
“Fuck!”
I swept the stack of files off my desk, the papers scattering across the floor before I stormed out of the office. I headed down to the bar, hoping Pyotr was there, but he wasn’t.
I grabbed a bottle of whiskey, a glass, scribbled a note for the bartender, and made my way back upstairs.
I tried calling Pyotr, but it went straight to voicemail.
I poured myself a drink, fingers clenching around the glass until the tension burned my knuckles. Leaning back in my chair, I closed my eyes…
And the first image that hit me was her.
I'd only set up a laptop for her next to mine, not because I doubted her skills, but because I wanted to spend time with her. I wanted her next to me. I missed her more than I cared to admit.
And when Sienna was pressed against the bookshelf in the home office, her pulse fluttering at her neck, her hands on my chest.
Fuck, I wanted to kiss her then. Wanted to taste that sound she made when her lips parted…
…and then she shoved me off.
And the fear in her eyes…it hadn’t left me since. It was the same look in her eyes when I stepped into her room the day after we had gotten married.
That shit happened three days ago.
Three days of avoiding her.
Three days of not trusting myself around her.
I was late today because I’d followed her and Wexler this morning to the campus, just to get a glimpse of her.
This wasn’t how any of this was supposed to go.
When the hell did I become so pathetic over a woman?
I lifted the glass halfway to my lips when a knock echoed through my office and Marten stepped inside.
He glanced at the papers scattered across the floor, then at the drink in my hand. Without saying a word, he sat on the sofa and just…stared.
I let out a long breath and got up. I took the whiskey bottle and the glass into the office bathroom, dumped the alcohol into the sink, and tossed the bottle in the trash. When I stepped back out, Marten had already gathered the papers into a neat stack on the desk.
“Spill it,” he said gruffly.
“There's nothing to spill,” I muttered as I sat behind my desk and placed the glass on a coaster.
“Bullshit.”
I knew if I didn’t tell Marten something, he’d never leave.
“I’m dealing with a situation with the books.”
He lifted a brow. “Working on getting it under control?”
“I am.”
“And if you need help, you’ll let me know?”
“I will.”
He rose to his feet. “And if the urge to drink hits, call me. Any time. Got it?”
I nodded. He gave me a curt nod in return and left.
The rest of the day, my focus was shot. Calls and messages to Pyotr went unanswered. We'd had our disputes before, usually settled in a few hours. But today wasn't one of those days.
By six, I was rolling up to the house, and my heart plummeted at the sight of familiar vehicles scattered across the yard.
“Fuck,” I muttered.
Part of me wanted to slam the car into reverse and get the hell out of there. But they'd show up again, or worse, think I was hiding something, which I was. I wasn’t ready to tell them about Sienna. I needed to get them the hell out of here.
I eased my car to a stop next to Marten’s truck.
The doors of the vehicles swung open, and my sisters, brothers and their wives, kids, and their security details—Rocco, Tomas, Calder and Ruslan—spilled out.
But what the hell could I tell them that they’d believe? They were probably just waiting for any excuse I threw their way. If they found this place after I bought it using a fucking alias…shit.
A knock on the driver’s window made me jump. I glanced over. It was Lev.
Fucking hell.
I slipped out of the car and closed the door, meeting Lev’s gaze. “Hey. What are you guys doing here?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
“Seeing that you can't be where we are, we came to you. Is that a problem?”
“Just picking up some files,” I said, glancing at my watch. “I wasn’t planning to stay. Got a shipment that needs checking in thirty minutes.”
“Marten,” Lev called. Marten strode over.
“We need someone to check a shipment tonight for Avit,” Lev said, looking at me. “What are the details so Marten can get it handled?”
Before I could come up with a lie, Sienna stepped out from the side of the house.
What the hell was she doing outside? Of all days! Fucking hell!
She froze, her eyes frantically darting around at everyone. Our eyes locked for a second, then she spun on her heel and practically ran into the house.
“I guess that explains a lot of things,” Lev said, amusement in his voice.
I sighed. “Do you guys want to stay for dinner?”
“Luckily for you, the women cooked. And yes, we have enough for one extra,” Lev said, patting my shoulder with a chuckle.
We headed into the house. I kissed the kids, and the women hugged me briefly before heading to the kitchen, Ruslan, Tomas, Rocco, and Calder in tow, carrying trays and bowls.
That just left my brothers. I turned to Pyotr before anyone could speak. “I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I didn’t mean it.”
Pyotr smirked. “Yeah, you did. Probably didn’t mean for it to come out the way it did, but…you’re right. I need to start pulling my weight, especially with Mariya, since you clearly now have a life outside business. So…who’s the girl?”
“She's my wife.”
“Your what?” Mariya asked from behind me.
I turned around and saw all the women with the kids standing there. The bodyguards made their way back out of the house silently.
“I didn't know you were dating anyone,” Jaroslav said, his face blank.
“I didn't know I needed your permission,” I shot back.
“You got married without telling us?” Lev's black eyes narrowed.
“She isn't Bratva, so there wasn't any need for negotiations.”
Katya came up to me and hugged me, Alexi latched onto her hip. “I, for one, am happy that the reason he isn't around is because he's married. Now, you go and tell your wife that your loving family wants to meet her.”
“You guys aren't going to run her off, are you?” I lifted a brow.
“Stop stalling, Avit,” Vera said, handing Evie to Jaroslav. “You go bring her down, and we'll serve the food.”
“Okay.” I turned to make my way to the stairs.
“And Avit, don't start anything you can't finish, or we're gonna knock,” Ninel called out, and I couldn't help but chuckle.
When I reached Sienna’s room, I inhaled and knocked. The door creaked open, and her wide blue eyes peeked through the crack.
“My family’s here for dinner. They’d like to meet my wife.”
“Your…mafia family?” she whispered.
“Yes. You’re safe,” I said. “I promise no one’s going to hurt you.”
She didn’t move. I could tell letting her meet all of them at once might be too much.
“If you don’t want to come down, it's fine. I’ll just tell them…” I trailed off.
She shook her head, looking down. “It’s not that. I just…don’t do well in social situations. And you’d probably want me to change, and I’d just be more awkward. I just…”
I cupped the side of her face, lifting her chin. “You don’t have to change. And if you need a break, just tell them you’ve got to study, which probably isn't a lie,” I said with a smile.
She chuckled softly. “Okay. I’d like to meet them.”
She stepped out, closing the door behind her. I placed my hand on the small of her back as we walked toward the dining area, and a small part of me hoped they'd accept Sienna.
When we stepped into the dining room, the women were placing the dishes on the table. At least I’d had the foresight to order a fourteen-seater, which took up most of the space in the small dining area.