Chapter 23 - Valentin
I step aside and pick up the call when I see it’s the head of security at Club Volkov. He usually only reports to me on the weekends, so my body already goes on alert.
“Boss?”
“What’s happening?”
He begins to tell me where my darling sister Nadya is and the situation at hand, and by the end of it, I’m far more than annoyed, to say the least.
“I'll be there in twenty,” I growl and hang up.
Gela gently touches my shoulder. “What is it?”
“Nadya went to one of our clubs tonight without any bodyguards and got into some sort of altercation. She’s with our head of security now.” I shake my head in disappointment.
Apparently, the fight caused tons of damage, and my daredevil of a sister was obviously in the middle of it.
“Do you want me to come with you?”
I shake my head. “No. Stay here, please. I hate to ask this of you, but would you mind keeping an eye on Leonid for me?” I run a hand through my hair in frustration and groan.
“Of all the nights for this to happen, of course it had to be tonight. God damn it, Nadya…”
“Go, go.” Gela gently shoves me in the direction of the door. “I’ve got it handled here. You take care of Nadya.”
“You sure?” I look at her again, feeling guilty as hell.
“Positive. You don’t worry about a thing here, okay? I’ve got Leonid.”
“Thank you, Gela,” I say softly, meaning every word. Her support tonight makes things far easier than she realizes. “We'll finish our talk when I get back.”
“Be careful.” She smiles and waves me goodbye.
I grab my keys and head out to my car. My hands still have Leonid's blood drying on them, and now I've got to go deal with my reckless sister, who has no idea what kind of hell we've been through tonight because she was far too busy creating her own mess to give a damn.
I drive to the club as quickly as I can. At a red light, I call Gela just to see how things are going, and she puts my mind at ease, telling me not to call back until I have Nadya.
I can hear the worry in her voice, and when we finish speaking, I still keep thinking of Gela and how she stepped up tonight by defending me to my brothers. It wasn’t something I expected from her, and not something I’ll forget anytime soon.
Just because of Gela, I realize, tonight seems to be something I can handle. I’m still wired and on edge, but just knowing she’s there makes every next step easier.
I immediately chuck the keys into the valet’s hands when I reach the club and storm inside. It’s a busy night tonight at Club Volkov, and I head straight to the VIP section where I know Nadya caused a ruckus.
I spot her immediately, sitting in a plush booth, flanked by two of our security guys. There's a cut above her eyebrow and mascara streaking down her cheeks. When she sees me, she stands like she’s ready to fight to the death.
But she can’t get herself out of this. The minute we’re out of here, I’m going to give her a piece of my goddamn mind.
“Let's go.” I slam my hand on the table and glare at her.
“Val—”
“Now, Nadya,” I scream at her over the sound of the music.
She rolls her eyes but slides out of the booth, stumbling like she’s drunk. That gets me even more annoyed. I grab her elbow to steady her, and mumble a thank you to the security guards as we leave.
Once outside, I lead her toward the car.
“Stop digging into me,” she screeches and yanks her arm away.
“Then stop getting so drunk that you can’t walk straight,” I glower at her.
“I’m not that fucking drunk,” she hisses. “You try walking in heels!”
I roll my eyes. “Just get in the car.”
She huffs when she enters and slams the door to my Audi like a petulant teenager. I swear, if she damages my car in anger, I’m going to make her pay for it.
“What the hell happened in there?” I demand the minute I pull away from the curb.
“Nothing. Just some guy who couldn't take no for an answer.” She stares out the window. “Security handled it.”
“That's not what I heard. I heard there was glass everywhere, and you were right in the middle of it.”
“So? I'm fine. It's not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal? Do you have any idea what happened tonight while you were out partying?” I glare at her from the corner of my eye.
She goes quiet then, and I finally see her noticing my disheveled appearance and the blood on my shirt. “What's going on, Val?”
“Well, since you suddenly care to know, Leonid was shot tonight.”
“What?” Her voice quivers.
“He's at the house with a bullet wound because we got caught with the Zakharovs after they caused trouble for Gela. And where were you? Getting drunk and starting fights?”
“I didn't start anything!” she protests, but her voice is small now. “Is Leo okay?”
“He'll live.”
A tense silence falls between us. I can hear Nadya's breathing turn shaky as she processes what I've just told her.
“I'm sorry, Val,” she finally says. “I didn't know.”
“You never do, Nadya. That's the problem. You're off doing whatever the hell you want, while the rest of us are fighting a war.”
“That's not fair.” Her voice hardens. “You and Trifon never let me be part of anything. You always keep me in the dark and treat me like I'm still twelve years old. What am I supposed to do? Sit at home and knit while you all risk your lives?”
I grip the wheel tighter. “We're trying to protect you.”
“I don't need your protection!” She turns to face me fully now. “I need your respect. I need to be treated like I'm actually part of this family, not some... child who you don’t trust.”
“So getting drunk at clubs is your way of proving you're an adult?”
“No!” She hisses. “It's my way of having some semblance of a life when I'm trapped in this very stifling life you've built around me.
You won't let me work with you, you track my every move, and you decide who I can and can't see. And for what? So I can be perfectly safe, but my life remains the same? Nothing ever changes, Val. You all go out there and do things, and I’m just…stuck. The same day, on repeat, like a fucking loop.”
I go quiet, my breathing still hard, but something about this rut she describes hits me in the worst way possible. For the first time, I really hear what she's saying.
“I hate feeling useless,” she continues. “Darya gets to run the legitimate businesses while I'm treated like a baby. I hate that I have all these skills and intelligence that no one will let me use. Do you know what that feels like, Val? To be sidelined in your own life?”
I realize I’ve heard these words before because it's exactly how Gela's been feeling since she came into my line. How many times has she fought me, and I misunderstood because I didn’t realize I had stolen her independence in the name of keeping her safe?
“It feels like suffocation,” I say quietly.
Nadya looks at me and whispers. “Yes. Exactly.”
I slow down as we turn onto our street. “I never thought of it that way.”
“Because you've never had to. You're the second-in-command. You make decisions. You have purpose.” She wipes at her eyes.
“All I'm asking for is a chance to be useful and the freedom to make my own choices. I’m bored out of my mind. Why else do you think I keep getting into trouble? I have nowhere to channel my energy!”
We pull through the gates of the estate, and I park the car, but don’t immediately get out. Besides me, Nadya keeps sitting too.
“I'll talk to Trifon about finding you a real role in the business. Hell, god knows you’re probably smarter than the rest of us. Might as well use that brain he gave you,” I say finally, adding a small smile.
Her eyes widen in surprise. “Really?”
“Yes, really,” I tease and lean over to ruffle her hair. “But you have to stop the reckless behavior. No more club brawls, no more putting yourself in dangerous situations. Deal?”
She beams and leans over to hug me. “Deal.”
We head inside, and the first person we see is Gela, who is sitting in the living room waiting up for us.
“Oh my god, are you okay?” she asks, rushing forward to hug Nadya.
Nadya nods, suddenly looking exhausted. “Just a rough night.”
“How's Leonid?” I ask Gela.
“I settled him upstairs, and he’s sleeping now. The doctor gave him something for the pain.”
She touches Nadya's arm gently. “Let me help you get cleaned up. You can use the guest room if you want—I just changed the sheets this morning.”
“That would be great,” Nadya says, looking exhausted. “Thanks, Gela.”
I catch Gela's eye as she leads Nadya toward the stairs, and mouth a silent thank you. She gives me a small, understanding smile and nod in return, and I realize we’ve become that couple that can speak without words.
Something about this moment, this exchange, feels more intimate than any of the times I’ve slept with her. Feels like we’re truly becoming a partnership.
But I wonder if she feels it too. I head to the bar and pour myself a whiskey, thinking over what Nadya said. She wasn’t wrong to say she’s stifled.
I might have my feelings for Gela, and I might feel disappointed when she doesn’t want the future I offer, because I never really made room for her in it. Not in the way she needs.
Something has to give, and my idea of what’s right for Gela is the first thing I need to let go of.
I just finished off the glass of scotch when I heard footsteps and turned to see Gela standing in the doorway.
“Hey.” She smiles. “Nadya's asleep. I gave her some painkillers and bandaged that cut.”
“Thank you,” I say. “Come sit with me?”
She closes the door to the living room behind her and comes and sits down on the couch, where I join her. “Are you okay?”
“Not really,” I sigh. “But I'm getting there.”
We sit there in silence for a while, then she’s the first to speak. For that, I am grateful because I don’t know where to start.
“I meant what I said downstairs,” she says softly. “I want to help with the Zakharovs. I can do this, Valentin.”
I look at her, and all I see is determination. She's not the same, terrified, innocent woman I once saved. She's so damn brave, and I haven’t been able to see that.
“I know you can,” I admit. “And I'll let you. But not because I don't care if you get hurt. It’s the opposite, actually.”
“What do you mean?” She tilts her head, urging me to carry on.
“When I said I wasn't letting you go, back when we fought, I didn't mean it the way it came out. I wasn't trying to control you or trap you here. I just... I can't imagine my life without you in it anymore, Gela. The thought of you walking away...” I shake my head, unable to finish.
Her eyes soften. “Valentin...”
“I'll never hold you prisoner, Gela. If you want to leave when this is all over, I won't stop you. But I hope you won't want to.” The words feel like they're being ripped from my chest, but it’s important for her to know.
She reaches over and takes my hand in hers. “I trust you, Valentin. I do. But I needed you to trust me, too. I got scared when I didn’t see that happening. Your fear for my safety overruled any logic and sense, you know? It got too heavy to be on the receiving end of.”
“I understand, and I do trust you,” I say, squeezing her hand. “Look, I promise, whatever happens with the Zakharovs, or after, the choice will be yours. You can have that office downtown if you want it. You can build your business, live your life however you choose.”
She's quiet for a long moment, studying my face. Then she moves, still holding my hand, and climbs into my lap.
I look up at her in surprise, feeling my heart calm at the sight of her steady eyes.
“What if I choose you?” she asks, her voice a caressing whisper. “What if I don't want that empty downtown loft anymore? What if I want to stay here, with you? Would that be okay?”
My heart slams into something that feels like it’s too good to be true. “Do you mean that?”
She nods. “I can't imagine my life without you either. These past months have been the first time I've felt like I belonged somewhere, with someone.”
I pull her closer and breathe in the scent of her hair. “So you’re going to stay with me, Gela Jones?”
She nestles her face in my neck. “Only because living alone sounds boring as hell.”
I laugh, and she does too, pulling back, and suddenly, tonight starts to feel like it’s going to go down as one of the happiest nights of my life.
“We’ll follow your plans for the Zakharovs first. Then, we’ll figure out the rest,” I whisper.
“Now that sounds like a plan I can come on board with.” She smiles before brushing her lips against mine.