Chapter 9
Chapter
Nine
Sage
“Pass the olives."
Freddie shoves the olives across my body straight to Nic, making me drop my cutlery onto my plate. Nic smirks at me and takes the offering, popping an olive in his smug mouth.
I absolutely hate these family dinners and he knows it. We haven't had one since before my father died. But alas, the arrival of my future husband appears to be cause for rolling out the good china.
"How was the drive across the city?" Anton politely asks, smiling curtly at Victor as his voice echoes in the space.
Since our formal dining room is a space large enough to seat twenty-four, we look absolutely ridiculous with only the six of us gathered at one end.
It, too, has been brought out like fine china for the Rushkoffs.
Not even a speck is allowed to taint the wooden floors, high ceiling or chandeliers, which light the room in a faint glow.
"Only took about two hours to reach you here. We made good time, especially with all those bloody security checkpoints you lot have in place," Victor says.
Freddie chuckles obnoxiously along with him. "You saying you don't have security checkpoints buried all around that lakeside mansion of yours, Victor?"
"Touché," Victor smirks, saluting Freddie with his fork.
I've never seen the Rushkoff part of Bradford before, so I have to assume this means Victor's home is on the outskirts of their part of the city, just as ours is.
"The lake is beautiful this time of year. Perhaps we can spend next Christmas there." Victor shoves a playful elbow into Anton's side and then shoots me a gentle smile that I return.
Victor is different from what I expected. If this is what's in store for me to secure my family's future, he's not the worst.
But he's not Nic.
Anton presses a hand to Victor's shoulder and squeezes.
"I will hold you to that invitation." With that, the two men laugh.
After a frosty reception, it seems they've found a way to get along.
It's kind of unsettling, and it's clear I'm not the only one who thinks so.
Nic is cutting his chicken so hard that the knife is making marks on the plate.
I definitely wasn't expecting Victor to be so charming. Not to me or my family. From him, I was expecting the kind of reception that his brother is giving me.
Alexei Rushkoff.
The god-like man who looks like the devil.
Despite our meeting, where our eyes locked so fiercely it stole my breath, he seems to have taken an instant disliking to...
well, everyone. But me especially. We've had a total of three interactions so far.
This one included. So I'm not sure why he's looking at me like I personally skinned his cat.
With my head down, I shift my eyes to sneak another look at him, only to find that his are on me again. Hatred rioting within them like jagged waves on a cliff's edge.
"And what do you think, Alexei?" Nic says.
I missed the question. Alexei falters for a moment, making me think that he has too. He drags his gaze away from me in a way that looks painful before he faces Nic.
"It wouldn't be my choice," Alexei says. He stretches out, arm resting up on the back of his chair, leaving his hand to drape loosely by his hip.
"Not a fan of the lake, Alexei?" Anton asks, popping a slice of chicken in his mouth with a political smile.
"I prefer the countryside."
Nobody misses the fact that our territory contains the countryside. A few throats clear, but no one pulls him up on it. I frown as I look down at the half eaten food on my plate, unable to believe that nobody is going to confront him. Is this man really that terrifying?
"And what's so appealing about the countryside to you?" I survey him up and down with purpose. "You don't seem like someone who enjoys picturesque rose gardens and a quieter pace of life."
Alexei sniffs, his upper lip twitching as he regards me. I chance a look at the rest of the table and find them watching me with quiet contemplation before they turn their synchronized attention back to Alexei for his rebuttal.
I don't give him the chance. "There's not a lot to be done out here other than ride. And you don't look like much of a rider. Though I wouldn't mind seeing you get tossed on your ass."
Alexei looks almost amused, though he's gripping the armrest so hard his knuckles are going white. He doesn't reply. Content to let me stew. The silence is rejecting. The lack of noise creates a ringing in my ears.
Victor shatters the sound-vortex, chuckling as he pats his brother on the shoulder. "She's got you pegged, brother." Victor gives me a wink and then jumps back into conversation with Anton.
Alexei spares only a sidewards glance for his brother before he looks back to me, sliding his arms from his relaxed perch and placing both elbows on the table as he leans toward me. He whispers for my ears only, "I'm an excellent rider."
I lean in too, surprise in my tone when I quietly reply. "You ride horses?"
He smirks at me until I get his double meaning. I gape back in shock, and a little disgust, before I narrow my eyes back on him. I lean forward a little further so that what I say next is for his ears only. "That does not impress nor intimidate me. I ride cock better than a fucking pornstar."
Alexei's eyes widen, his mouth parting slightly.
"Your brother's gonna be walking funny for a week after I'm done with him," I smirk and then raise my voice to say a little louder, "Just ask him." I lean back in my chair and pop a green bean in my mouth, tearing the strip off with my teeth.
"Oh, she's right," Victor agrees. Alexei's head jerks as if it's glitching, neck stiffening as he turns to his brother. "The range at the back of the property. Sage showed me there today. You'd love it."
In a huff of relief, Alexei drops his gaze, pursing his lips in what is either solace or annoyance.
Freddie leans over and chuckles softly in my ear. "Oh, bella, you are so lucky your uncle didn't hear you say that." He pulls away with a smile. "Someone else might've, though."
I follow his eye line and find that Nicholas is now eating with a fork that's bent. He should know that my brag was all truth.
Maybe playing with these boys is going to be a little fun.
After the lovely family dinner, Anton and Victor retired to the lounge to play a game of cards and shoot back whiskeys.
Or something. I'm not sure what men do when they go to the library.
But there's leather lounges, cigar holders and looks all man cave-y so I have to make a guess and that seems like a reasonable one.
I slipped away early, convincing everyone that it'd been a big day and I needed to get my beauty sleep. Victor saw me off with a kiss to the hand, which did, embarrassingly, make me blush. There were more than one set of eyes that followed me up the stairs to my bedroom.
I don't plan on staying in my room long, though.
I'm adept at sneaking through, around, and out of this mansion. It's a necessity when you're a mafia princess.
It's too dangerous, Sage.
You can't protect yourself, Sage.
Freedom cannot be afforded in this family.
These walls may be my home, a sanctuary for my family. But they're also my prison. Sure, just take someone with you, Sage, is the party line. But that sounds a lot like having a babysitter. And I'm twenty-two for the love of God. How many times does that bear repeating?
I shouldn't need someone around all the time. I don't need someone around all the time.
It's just after two in the morning when I slip out of bed and stand in front of my mirror to dress. I can't risk turning a light on, so I rely on the glow of the moon shining through my windows to guide me. I brush my hair and put on a speck of makeup.
I dress in a short dress that has long flowing sleeves, pairing it with red high heels and my white clutch bag. From the dresser to the door, I'm calculating with my steps, avoiding the creaks in the floor to get to the door and make sure it's locked.
It takes nothing to get out of the window, even in the heels, but I wince the whole way, hyperaware of every sound I make.
It's only been about a week since I've been able to get away, so my escape isn't dire.
But it soon will be, and I'm not sure how many opportunities I will have now that Nicholas is breathing down my neck hotter than usual.
Everyone in the house has even taken to calling him 'the bodyguard' as a tease for how close he's sticking to me. I can't decide if it's hot as fuck or makes him look like an absolute tool. Especially when he stands at attention in the corner of every room I'm in.
Sticking to the shadows, I trot from the edge of the house to the gardens.
When I'm on the lawn, I turn to look back at the property.
All four floors are lit up, even at this hour, which they haven't been in a long time.
I'm yet to decide what I think of Victor, and I know Alexei is a cunt, but I secretly like the bustle of people.
It makes the house feel fuller and more alive than it has in years.
I shake the thoughts away and trudge across the grass, getting to call a ride on my phone.
I'm halfway across the grass when someone grabs my wrist and pulls, heaving me backwards in a spin.
"Going somewhere?"
I slam into Nicholas's chest.
Fuck.
I snatch my wrist back from him and sigh as I put some distance between us. "How did you know I was down here?"
"I'm not giving up my secrets that easily, Sage," Nicholas smiles.
"I don't suppose you're going to wander back inside and pretend you never saw me here?"
Nicholas gives me an incredulous look and then shakes his head.
"Am I barred from leaving?" I straighten my spine.
"Alone? Yes. Yes, you are."
"Well, I don't want you to come where I'm going," I say, giving him my best brat face.
"Then we're going back inside."
I shake my head, unwilling to give in just yet. This isn't over. He's found me, but he hasn't caught me. Not yet. If I can just draw this out, lend myself a distraction, I can try to outrun him.