Chapter Eleven Alina’s POV #2
“Hi, Alina,” he greeted, taking my hand. “I’m Mikhail. It’s nice to meet you.”
Before I could say anything, he went on, “And the other brother you’ve not met before, the one that was too proud to introduce himself, that’s Viktor.”
“Thanks for doing the honors,” Viktor told Mikhail.
I can’t believe this.
It was hard to believe the Bratva powers that dominated Manhattan just gave me a warm welcome.
Roman’s friendliness wasn’t so surprising since I lived in his house as Liza’s nurse for a year, but, honestly, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d been hostile to me considering the position Vitya put me in.
I knew men like these didn’t compromise when it came to their work.
History didn’t matter when one was on the other side of their business. But he welcomed me like an old friend.
I had never met Mikhail, so his warm and even playful welcome was more than surprising. He didn’t look like someone who played a lot, so it all felt wonderful.
But Viktor’s genuine welcome was what stunned me the most. He was the absolute leader of the Bratva for goodness’ sake!
He was the one who ordered my abduction for Konstantin to interrogate me.
So, the fact that he was now welcoming me as a family member, despite not being sure I was still Vitya’s partner in crime, was amazing.
I knew their welcome didn’t mean I was off the hook. Bratva men were nothing if not thorough. Still, their warmth was surprising, and it wasn’t bad at all. As a matter of fact, I was slightly grateful.
“We’ll be heading to Boss’ house in a minute,” the bald man announced, suddenly appearing beside me.
The four brothers were huddled together to the far left, clearly in a conversation.
“Okay.”
I didn’t have the time to delve back into my thoughts as they approached again.
“We’ll leave you guys to go rest at home,” Viktor told me.
“Bye, Alina,” Mikhail uttered.
“We’ll be seeing you soon,” Roman said.
“Bye!” I responded.
As they retreated, Konstantin turned to me. “Let’s go.”
A minute later, we were side-by-side in the back of a black car that was a part of the motorcade as we all left the hangar.
Soon, the city of Manhattan rose around us as we sliced through the winter traffic. The faint smell of snow, the faces of strangers who walked hurriedly on walkways, and the beautiful lights reminded me of how much I’d missed the city.
I glanced towards Konstantin, and his stormy silence remained, just like on the plane. Not that I would have wanted it any other way.
Right?
I looked out the window again. The motorcade began to disperse gradually. Four of five of the black cars ahead of us took a right turn, clearly headed for a different part of the city.
The buzz of Konstantin’s phone drew my attention back to him. He turned the phone over in his lap instead of picking up the call. His hand was flexing against his knee.
Something is bothering him.
And why should it bother me that something is bothering him?
Resisting the stupid urge to ask if everything was fine with him, I returned my attention to the window. I realized it was just our car and two others; one in front of us and one behind us.
Right in the middle of Manhattan, we swerved off the road we were on and then took another turn. Then we were driving through the open gates of a red brick manor.
Russie didn’t tell me it was an actual brick manor!
The manor was beautiful and stately. The pitched roof was a dark contrast to the color of the building, while the white doors and exterior window ledges were bright. I was so busy staring at the house that I didn’t notice the car had stopped until I heard Konstantin open the door and step out.
I was pulling my jacket closer to myself and was about to open the door on my side when he opened it for me.
“Thanks,” I said, my voice soft.
He responded with a nod before shutting the door again.
I couldn’t help but look around at the beautiful greenery around the house as we walked to the front entrance together.
He opened the door and gestured for me to go in before him.
Just as I stepped in, I heard someone say, “Finally.”
“Liza?!” I squealed without thinking as my eyes landed on her.
She threw her arms around me, and I hugged her back.
She was in a red dress, and her bob was as sleek as ever.
“I’ve missed you so much,” she revealed, grinning as she released me from the hug, still holding my arms. “I’m so happy you’re now a part of the family!”
“I’ve missed you, too,” I told her.
My gaze fell on Konstantin, who was staring at us from the doorway, and the ease I felt seemed to float away. It didn’t matter that I’d been reunited with Liza and her adorable baby; I was still married to Konstantin, the man who killed Siroc and scarred me for life.
“Did you hear me at all?” Liza asked, bringing me back to the present.
“Sorry,” I apologized, chuckling.
“Let’s go meet Mitya,” she uttered, pulling me towards a car seat on the couch in the living room.
“Oh, my God,” I practically squealed, almost tearing up. “ I wish I could carry her, but I can’t disturb her sleep. She’s so big. It’s been so long.”
“You can say that. Feels like she’s sucking me dry most days,” Liza uttered, sitting on the next couch as I gazed at the baby. The baby I delivered just a year ago.
“Same thing you said the last time I saw you,” Konstantin replied from the foot of the stairs.
“And is it untrue?” she joked “Hello to you, too, by the way.”
Chuckling, he went up the stairs.
Liza caught me looking around the interior of the manor.
“Gorgeous, isn’t it?
“I still remember the one time I was here. I asked him how he could leave this beauty for anywhere else in the world.”
“You've only been here once?” I asked, sitting beside her on the two-seater couch.
“Yes,” she revealed. “He's never around, you know.”
“I thought he was based in Manhattan.”
“He is. But Konstantin is always out and about. Even when he's here in Manhattan, he’s not always present. He could hole up for weeks,” she revealed, giggling. Then she pulled me into another hug. “It's so good to have you here. And with the iconic Konstantin at that.”
I sighed.
There was no point in acting fine like any other new bride. This was Liza; she definitely knew the real status.
“When they arrested that bastard ex of yours, Roman told me it was bad, for you and for the Bratva. But when we heard yesterday that you guys got married, I knew things wouldn’t be that bad.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” I answered.
“I know. It’s fucking hard to just accept such a massive life change.
But now you’re a part of the family, you’re protected from the real bad guys out there.
Trust me, Konstantin might not be the best person in the world, but he won’t let harm come near you.
That’s the most important thing right now. Your safety.”
“Yeah,” I uttered weakly.
“And you have me for the fun part,” she added, smiling.
“That’s the good part, I guess.”
“There are better parts, you'll see,” she pointed out, her eyes darting to the stairs like she was checking to be sure Konstantin wasn’t there.
“I just…I don’t know what to look forward to, you know. I don’t know what the future holds for me.”
“Take it one day at a time,” she advised, her tone sure. “The future is now.”