Chapter 23 - Dimitri
DIMITRI
Maxim sprawled across the bed in the plane’s back room. I gave him a dirty look, and he threw his hands in the air. “All your pacing is making me tired.”
Muttered curses slipped from my lips as I walked the length of the room again. “We need a plan. I have a wife.”
Maxim sat up, unable to hide his smirk. “Something happening that you didn’t carefully plan? This must be fucking killing you.”
I had no comeback to offer, so I flipped him off. “What’s done is done.”
“Right. So...what is the plan?”
“Sienna and I came to an...agreement,” I started. I hadn’t told him yet about our conversation in the library, but he needed to know. “After the baby is here, we will privately separate and share custody.”
Maxim’s eyebrows shot up. “Separate?”
“Not legally, obviously. But this is not a real relationship, and none of us can trust her. The house staff and our soldiers need to be on their guard.”
Oh, like you were in Paris? I’d never let my guard down like I had with her, and that made her dangerous.
“The men will need to respect her as your wife,” Maxim said, a hard edge to his voice. He was particularly protective of Bratva women after watching his mother endure decades of abuse that eventually ended her life.
“They will respect her,” I snapped. “But they will also keep their distance, which is why I want you to be her bodyguard.”
Maxim groaned and threw his arm over his face. “No, you can’t do this to me. I will die of boredom.”
I waved off his complaint. “She won’t be leaving the house much, so you won’t need to guard her often.
Aleksei is doing a comprehensive background check”—using the correct name this time—“and monitoring her phone and computer activity. I will ask Polina to set up whatever medical care she needs for the baby.”
“So, I’m her bodyguard. Polina will handle her medical care…what is your role in all of this?”
“My role is to be the Pakhan.”
He let out a slow breath. When he stood from the bed and put his hands on my shoulders, it took all my control not to shove him off.
“One day, you will have to let people in.” He squeezed my shoulders and headed out of the room, leaving me alone with a snarl on my face and a pounding heart.
Sofiya had said something similar to me when we said goodbye outside City Hall. They didn’t understand that my main priority was protecting those closest to me, and sometimes safety required holding them at arm’s length.
I stayed in the bedroom, using the time to discuss the soldiers’ instructions with Sergey.
We had known each other for years and he had been the easy choice when deciding who would be my enforcer.
I trusted him with my life, but also knew the soft spot he had for women.
There was a tightness around his mouth when I told him all our soldiers stationed in and around the house needed to keep their distance from Sienna, including keeping up a pretense that none of them spoke English.
Once Sergey returned to the main cabin, I messaged Polina with my orders for the household staff, only emerging from the back room once we were making our descent into Chicago.
I sat down in the seat across from Sienna. “When we get to the house, I will introduce you to my staff. You are not to leave the house without my permission. If I’m not around to ask, you will ask Maxim. He will be your guard anytime you leave the house. Do you understand?”
“What am I supposed to do with my time?”
With her family gone, her mask had fallen. Her expression was hard, guarded, and she no longer wore a bright smile. She must have changed in the bathroom at some point. Instead of her sparkly wedding dress, she wore a pair of painted-on jeans and a cream color sweater that concealed her small bump.
“You can do whatever you want as long as you stay on my property, follow the rules, and do not interfere with any Bratva business.”
She sighed. “I have no interest in interfering with Bratva business.”
I lifted my chin. “Good.” Either she was on a mission to infiltrate our ranks and report back to Rossi, or she wasn’t. Either way, it was better if I acted like I believed her. Lulling her into a false sense of security made it more likely that she would slip up.
She turned back to the window and I did the same, watching the runway grow closer. I was on my feet the moment we touched down.
I caught Maxim and Sergey’s attention. “We will go to the house first to drop her off,” I said in Russian. “Remember, only you two and Aleksei will speak to her in English. No one else. And tell the captains to meet us at the club. They will need to be told the news.”
The Bratva wasn’t as hierarchical as the Italians were, but it was still unusual for the Pakhan to marry without the approval of the captains.
I gritted my teeth when I realized I’d have to tell them Sienna was pregnant.
Having a wife and child made me vulnerable.
My enemies would try to use them against me, and if I failed to protect them, I would look weak.
I glanced at the woman in question. She stood on the opposite side of the aisle, staring straight ahead.
The flight attendant opened the plane door, and orange light from the sunset streamed inside and bounced off Sienna’s dark hair.
Something about the lighting reminded me of our second day in Paris when we’d eaten eclairs at Eloise’s small bakery.
In a different world, in a different life, maybe we could be Declan and Emma again.
With a shake of my head, I headed to the door.
Sergey parked in front of my house and Maxim got out to open Sienna’s door.
He had made small talk with her the entire ride back to the airport while I kept my eyes fixed on my phone, trying and failing to tune them out.
Apparently, they played the same asinine computer game.
Sienna had leaned forward as she spoke to Maxim from the back seat.
I had no fucking clue what the game was, but it was impossible to ignore how Sienna’s eyes lit up during the conversation.
She grew increasingly animated, rapid words tumbling from her as she described the latest expansion pack.
“Thank you.” She hopped out of the armored SUV and flashed Maxim a smile, which he fucking returned. This was exactly what I’d been afraid of—my men and staff succumbing to Sienna’s magnetic personality and letting their guards down around her. I scowled at Maxim, but his smile was unrepentant.
“We should—” Sienna’s words cut off as she finally noticed the house, which was currently covered with tarps and scaffolding.
“Holy shit. I’m guessing by your calm expression that this”—she waved her hand at the house—“is intentional and not because a demolition crew was accidentally sent here while you were gone.”
“It is undergoing renovation. Come on. I have a meeting to attend, but I’ll introduce you to the staff before I go.” I strode up the walkway to the front door, where two of my men waited.
“This is my wife, Sienna Ivanova,” I said in Russian. “You will not speak to her or let her know you understand English. Report any suspicious activity directly to Sergey or Maxim.”
“Yes, Pakhan,” they responded.
Sienna greeted the guards before joining me in the entryway. I was satisfied when they stayed silent.
We passed through the foyer into the main living space.
I hated this house. Bloody memories dripped from walls…
walls that had witnessed my abuse, that had broken under my furious fists when I couldn’t turn my anger towards those who deserved it.
When I became Pakhan, I’d strongly considered burning it down.
The idea of watching the structure incinerate was tempting, but after speaking to an architect, I’d learned it would take too long to rebuild from the ground up.
They suggested stripping everything down to their studs and starting over, which was what we had done.
My office, bedroom, kitchen, and a select number of bathrooms were the only rooms that were finished.
“Oh no, the demolition crew stole all your furniture, too!” Sienna quipped with the same sassiness she’d shown in Paris.
I rolled my eyes. “Come on.”
Past the empty living room was the kitchen, where Polina and Sveta were sitting at a small table to the side. They immediately jumped up when we entered, staring at Sienna with curiosity.
I met Polina almost a decade ago when we were both living in the hellhole that was the compound.
I had just been promoted to enforcer, and she was my reward—a barely legal orphan who showed up beaten and terrified.
I’d made it clear that I would never abuse her or sleep with her, and told her she could leave if she wanted.
But she had asked to stay—my apartment was safer than the alternative.
I agreed with the promise that I would get her out someday.
It had taken eight years, but I’d stayed true to my word.
I’d found Sveta last year in one of our raids on the remaining Albanian sex trafficking houses after I became Pakhan.
She was nineteen—the same age Polina had been when I first met her—and had been lured from Ukraine with promises of a good job in America.
The two of them had bonded right away, and Sveta had asked to stay in my home as Polina’s assistant.
“Dima, what is going on?” Polina asked in Russian. “This is your wife? Why did you get married? Was this planned? And why can’t we speak to her?”
“Good fucking question,” Maxim muttered as he rounded the large island and cut himself a huge slice of sharlotka and took a bite. “Did you make this, Sveta?” She blushed and gave him a slight nod. “Absolute perfection,” he said with a wink.
“Wait, is that cake?” Sienna asked, her hand going to the slight curve of her belly.
Maxim grinned and responded in English. “Fuck yeah. Apple cake. You want some?”
She quickly rounded the island. “Yes, please. The baby is starving.”
Polina’s jaw dropped and Sveta’s eyes grew wide. Luckily, Sienna was too preoccupied with the cake to notice them reacting to words they weren’t supposed to understand.
I scrubbed my hand down my face. “If this is an example of your acting skills, we’re fucked.”
“Did she say baby?” Polina blurted out, ignoring me completely.
Exhaustion dragged at me, but it wasn’t just the lack of sleep—it was everything. My whole life spiraling as I tried to claw back control.
I braced myself. “Sienna is the Don’s sister. The child is mine. Please make sure she has everything she needs for a healthy pregnancy.”
“How am I supposed to do that if I’m not allowed to talk to her?” Polina crossed her arms.
“There is no need for you to talk with her. Anything you need her to know, tell Maxim and he can relay it.” I hesitated for a moment before adding, “She is a guest here, but is not to be trusted.” I ignored Maxim’s glare. “Do I have your agreement?”
Sveta nodded right away, but Polina hesitated. We’d spent years as roommates and friends—equals in the compound. It didn’t matter that I was Pakhan now; she was not used to me giving her orders.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” she muttered.
“I have your agreement?”
She pursed her lips but lifted her chin in assent.
“Sienna,” I said, switching to English. “This is Polina and Svetlana. They manage the house, including the cooking, cleaning, and managing the other staff. You will show them the respect they deserve.”
Her brow furrowed. “Of course, I will.” She turned to the women. “It’s really nice to meet you.”
They didn’t respond.
“They don’t speak English,” I said. They could be as unhappy about that as they wanted to. People let a lot slip when they thought those around them couldn’t understand what they were saying.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Umm, then I guess I should say privet.” I cocked an eyebrow. Her Russian accent was good. Sienna glanced up at me. “I’ve learned a few words hanging out with Sofiya and Clementine, but I guess I need to practice if I’m living here.”
“There’s no reason for you to speak to the staff,” I said, an irritation I didn’t understand clawing my insides. “I have work to do. Sveta will show you to your room.”
“Ideally one with walls,” Sienna muttered.
Maxim snorted out a laugh, earning a glare from me.
If I cared at all about putting her at ease, this would be the point where I would say something encouraging, like make yourself at home. But that was the opposite of what I wanted, so I said nothing.
Her lips twisted but before she could say anything else, I turned on my heel and headed towards the door.
“Am I coming with you or staying to protect the prisoner?” Maxim asked, following me.
“She’s not a prisoner. She just doesn’t have permission to leave. So yes, you’re fucking coming with me.”
I walked out of the house, not looking back.