1. Chapter One #2
She shoots me a look. “You can read.” She shoves the book in my face and I push it away before standing up.
“Yes, there’s lots of things to do around the house. Tons of hobbies I can take up. But that’s not the point, Mom. The point is I want to be out there.” I motion towards the front door. “I want to have real life experiences. Date and have a boyfriend.”
“I know you want that, Ana, but it’s not going to happen.”
“Why? Because my goal in life is to be married? Fine. So marry me off! Let Mikhail and Nico and Liam make a marriage deal for me. It would at least be more interesting than being cooped up in this house all day.”
“You’re so different from your sisters. They all feared getting married. But you? You seem desperate for it.”
“Of course I am. I’m desperate for anything. If having a husband brought excitement to my life, I’ll take it. I want to know what it’s like. To be in love.”
She turns back to her book. “Just because they’ll choose a husband for you at some point, doesn’t mean you’ll love him. I didn’t love your father when I was married to him.”
“But you eventually did. And you have four kids. You were happy.”
She hesitates and sets the book back down.
“For the most part, yes. I did eventually find love with your father but it took a while. And it was never the burn I was hoping for. But I was content and happy enough. I loved having my four girls. But I don’t want you to think that being married is all it’s cracked up to be.
It might offer you some amusement from your boring life now but what if Mikhail, Nico, and Liam decide to marry you off to a man who abuses you?
Who controls you? It’s possible. And you’ll be more miserable than you are now. ”
I don’t even want to consider that a possibility. Natalya and Sasha and Irina are all happy with their husbands. I just figured I would be too someday.
“So, my only options are prisoner in this home or stuck with an abusive husband for the rest of my life? There’s no in between?”
“Of course there is. And I’ll make sure to put in a word with Mikhail, Nico, and Liam about what kind of man you should marry.
I don’t want them choosing a bad man for you.
I’ll fight them if they do that. But once you’re married, I won’t have as much say over your life.
You’ll belong to your husband then and I’ll lose my last little girl.
My baby. And frankly, I’m not ready for that yet. ”
“Can you convince them to marry me to a handsome man who will treat me great and give me a ton of control in my life? One that I can love and live an exciting life with? Because that’s what I want. Love and adventure. I want the chance for it.”
She gives me a soft smile. “I want that for you too. But you know how this world works. Mafia men are not known for their kindness. I just want you to be careful. It’s why I’m protecting you now. So you don’t get hurt.”
“But you and Natalya and Mikahil and all of his guards are making it so that I can’t have any fun. You don’t want me to get hurt but Mom, you have to allow some things to happen to me.”
“I know.” She stands up and cups my cheek. “But I’m just scared that you’ve been so sheltered, you’re not fully ready for what life has to offer.”
I pull away from her. “But if I was given more freedom, then I would be better prepared.”
“It’s not going to happen. Now, go. I’m trying to read.”
There’s no point in arguing with my mom. It never gets anywhere.
I find Natalya in the kitchen, making cupcakes.
She’s so domestic and happy. Her large pregnant belly also adds to the domesticity of everything.
At twenty-six, she’s finally having her first kid.
I was shocked that she and Mikhail didn’t have kids sooner but they wanted a few years to just enjoy being married before they brought kids into the mix.
My other sister, Sasha, has stated many times that she doesn’t want kids any time soon, if ever. As for Irina, who’s only two years older than me, will probably pop out a baby in a year or so. She’s always been one for motherhood.
As for me? I just want to experience love first before I even think about kids, though kids at least would be something different. Something interesting.
“Bored?” Natalya asks me, placing the cupcakes in the oven.
“Like always,” I groan, sliding into the chair at the kitchen table.
She offers me a pitying smile as she sits across from me. “I know you hate being stuck inside all day. But it’s for your own –,”
“Safety,” I finish for her. “I know. Doesn’t make it any easier to deal with.”
“I’m sure Mikhail will marry you off to someone soon.
I know he’s always trying to make deals with more men to gain power.
But I always remind him that it has to be someone who will treat you with respect.
I will not see you married to a man who would harm you.
I told Mikhail to kill any man who did that. ”
“I can’t make my own decisions in life. You were my age when you married Mikhail. Why don’t I get the same courtesy?”
“Well… it’s because you’re the baby. The youngest out of all of us. We all just want to protect you.”
I groan as I slump in my seat. “This sucks. I can’t help that I’m the youngest. Why won’t anyone see me as an adult?”
“You look like an adult to me,” a male voice says behind me. A French accent, I notice. Deep and warm. Turning around, I see an incredibly intense handsome man in the kitchen doorway. He looks like he stepped off the cover of GQ magazine. And he’s looking right at me .
I can’t deny it. My heart flutters a little bit.
“Who are you?” Natalya demands, pushing herself to her feet.
“Don’t stand up on my account. Sit, sit.”
Natalya scowls like she’s annoyed that this man has the audacity to tell her what to do in her own home. “Like I asked: who are you?”
“This is Adrien Dubois,” Mikhail says, coming into the kitchen. Nico follows after. I don’t see Liam but he’s probably off spending time with Irina. Those two cannot get enough of each other.
“And what’s he doing in my kitchen?” Natalya asks.
“Be polite,” Mikhail murmurs to her and she ducks her head. “Adrien is here because…”
Adrien looks right at me. “Because I am going to be your husband.”