Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Matteo
The weekend came faster than I expected, and so did Anya’s answer.
A tentative yes to spending time with me while I visited her father’s territory.
We decided to plan for a dinner meeting on Friday night since her family would be there, and if she felt up for it, she would come tour a house or two with me—Aunt Irina tagging along for added comfort.
I was able to school my excitement in the days leading up to leaving, but as soon as I got onto the private plane, nothing could distract me from thinking about the impending visit.
I couldn’t help it. I knew I only had five and half hours in the air, and then an hour or so in my hotel before I would make my way to Anton’s mansion for dinner.
Now sitting in my reclined seat, waiting for the last stretch of the flight to end, I realize that every time an hour passes by, my anticipation only grows stronger. I feel fucking wired, like a kid on Christmas who can’t fucking sleep thinking about Santa coming to town.
Anya
Have a nice flight.
I’ve been staring at that text on and off for nearly the entire trip, counting down the minutes to when I’ll hear her voice again.
It sounds ridiculous, but Anya through the phone doesn’t do her justice.
She’s meant to be seen and heard in person.
Though, I’ll take what I can get when it comes to her. Something is better than nothing.
I don’t know that I’d be able to go back to a life without her in it.
Maybe that’s too intense of a declaration for friends, but I don’t care.
If she needed to stop talking to me for her mental health, I’d accept it.
But I can’t deny that I would probably do something very stupid like becoming a stalker just to see that she’s okay and check in on her from afar.
Shaking off the dark thought, I have to remind myself that they have no place in my mind.
I won’t think of the worst, especially now that I feel the jiggle of plane wheels hitting the ground.
Rolling to a stop on the tarmac, I breathe out and start to gather my things.
The pilot and flight assistant both wait patiently for me to deboard and offer me wishes for a safe trip.
Planning to get a car and head to my hotel, I’m shocked as hell to see shadows standing mere feet away in the landing area.
I can’t make out what or who is waiting for me until my feet hit the asphalt.
Three men standing in front of a blacked-out SUV, surrounded by what seems to be four different teams of guards and even more cars meant for said groups of armed men.
“I didn’t expect an escort,” I say, closing the distance between us, pulling my shades up, and setting them at the top of my head.
Now that I’ve descended the plane stairs, the bright-ass California sun isn’t searing into my eyes. Blue eyes are pretty, until you feel the heat of the sun piercing into them. They’re sensitive little buggers.
“Mr. Morozov,” I greet when they don’t respond, dropping my duffle bag and extending my hand to be shaken. “I’d greet your brothers but saying three Mr. Morozovs sounds kind of silly, and I think your enforcer might try to strike me if I call him by his name.”
Anton sighs, clapping his hand harshly with mine. He squeezes it tightly, threateningly, but not so hard as to break the bones in my hand. “You can use their names. It’s not like there’s anything else to possibly call them.”
“Their names but not yours?” I chuckle, retracting his hand before he can squeeze it again.
“Correct.”
Message received.
“Well, as warm of a welcome as this is,” I say, looking between all of them. “I was planning to go to my hotel to settle in. Are you just here to see that I’ve arrived alone, or—”
“We take you to hotel,” Mikhail grunts. His voice is deeper and comes out with a thicker accent than either of his brothers. He almost reminds me of Anatoly.
“I’m flattered you went through the trouble,” I say, obviously teasing. “I could have just called an Uber, or rented a car.”
“You’re not old enough to rent a car,” Lev points out grumpily.
“I’m Matteo Moretti,” I return, lifting my chin. “I don’t have to be twenty-five to get a car. If they refused me, I could always just buy one.”
Or steal one.
Lev huffs. “Or steal one.”
Well, that was freaky.
“Stealing? In your neck of the woods?” I ask, sounding scandalized. “I would never.”
“I’m sure,” he drawls sarcastically.
“Is this all you brought?” Anton asks, nodding down to my plain black duffle.
Nodding, I confirm, “I don’t need much for a weekend.”
“You armed?”
“Always, Sir,” I answer honestly. “Is that a problem?”
“No,” he replies at the same time Lev says, “Yes.”
I lift a brow, expecting clarification.
Anton eyes me and shakes his head slowly. “Don’t let Anya see it. It makes her nervous.”
“Won’t be a problem,” I assure him. “It’s only going to be visible if we somehow end up under attack.”
“We won’t be.”
I sure hope that’s true.
“I don’t have the patience for any more small talk. Let’s go,” Lev mutters, turning on his heels toward the passenger side door.
Neither of his brothers seem to object to whatever grumpy hurry he’s in, so I take their cue and pick up my bag, following as they get into the vehicle.
Mikhail is the designated driver, and it seems that Anton will be sitting in the back with me.
It shouldn’t be surprising, bosses aren’t meant to drive or be in the front since it’s easier to be gunned down when the windshield is all that’s standing in the way of the whole front of your body.
The SUV jerks to a start as soon as my door shuts behind me, and I try not to be surprised by the abruptness of it.
Drumming my fingers on my jean-covered knees, I discreetly look around the small space.
Leather seats, not a crumb in sight, and cold air that smells like new car.
I’d almost guess that it’s brand new, but they likely just have staff keeping it clean—like we do.
For several minutes, nothing happens. The car is in complete silence, not even the radio or music playing to fill the air. It’s unsettling, so of course, I try to remedy that.
“Well, this isn’t awkward at all,” I pipe up, trying to sound cheerful.
“You didn’t have to come,” Lev replies snappishly, looking over his shoulder to hit me with a sneer.
“I mean, I did,” I disagree lightly. “My dad asked me to come here. It wasn’t just to meet up with Anya.”
That was just the cherry on top.
“You do everything your father asks you to?” Anton inquires, almost mumbling the question as he pretends to be busy on his phone.
“I don’t know how you want me to answer that,” I admit, scratching the back of my head shortly. “Do you want me to say yes so you think I’m a good, dutiful son? Or do you want me to say no so that you think I’m not just some Capo’s lap dog.”
“I want you to be honest,” he grunts.
Shrugging, I accept his request for the truth. “I do what my father needs, but to be completely honest, he doesn’t ask me for much. I have eight older brothers who fall in the line of responsibility before me.”
“So you lack ambition,” Lev decides, almost sounding angrily pleased. Like he’s happy to have found a flaw, but also upset that I may possess said flaw. Silently, I wonder if he’s going to be like this all night.
“I lack the need for it.” I shrug, watching his eyes meet mine in the review mirror.
“I don’t want to take my brothers’ places.
I’ve really been focusing on the family aspect of life, rather than the criminal side.
For now, at least. The twins are young, and some days it feels like Jade only just came to us. She needs a lot of support.”
“Dmitri is her support,” Lev says, though he sounds less grumpy as he does.
“He is,” I agree. “Ivan is too, and Anatoly as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if the twins end up learning three languages at once. They’re surrounded by Italians and Russians and English speakers alike. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t need me. She’s one of my best friends.”
A month ago, I might have called her my only best friend.
“It’s good,” Anton decides, voice full of approval that I didn’t know he was capable of. “Good that you care for your sister as a brother should.”
I don’t need his approval, especially where Jade is concerned, but it’s nice to hear something positive coming out of his mouth for once. Maybe he’ll come to respect my friendship with Anya after all.
“You know it’s good that we’re doing this now,” I muse, lips twitching. “Chances are I would have been coming along when Jade and Dmitri moved back here anyway.”
Lev scoffs, but Anton looks up from his phone, arching a brow.
“Is that so?”
“Yep,” I confirm, refusing to deny it. “Pretty sure everyone back home is already expecting it. It’s good that you’re getting to know me now, it should be less awkward later when the time comes.”
“You’re a rude little fucker.” Lev huffs. “Inviting yourself to live where you aren’t welcome.”
“My sister is your Koroleva, is she not?” I challenge, feeling smug. “Pretty sure I’m welcome wherever your queen invites me.”
Mikhail makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like laughter while Lev fumes wordlessly next to him.
Turning to Anton with a grin, I ask, “Did I pronounce that right?”
He can’t hide the hint of amusement on his face. “I’ve heard it pronounced worse.”
Satisfied, I hum to myself happily. “That’s a compliment coming from a Russian. I’ll work on it though. I tried to mimic Ivan’s accent. He doesn’t like to teach me Russian words, though. He says I tease too much. It’s not my fault that you all have some of the weirdest expressions I’ve ever heard.”
“Like?” Anton asks, not offended but sounding doubtful.