Chapter 8
Kazimir
I’ve just gotten off the phone with Chloe, and I find myself staring at my phone with a smile on my face. I don’t even realize how wide I’m smiling until the door to my office opens and Lev walks in.
“What the fuck is that?”
I look up at him. “What?”
“That smile.”
He walks farther into the room, looking at me like I’ve grown another head. “Is this what marriage does to Kazimir Sokolov?”
“Shut the fuck up, Lev.”
He drops into the chair opposite my desk, still grinning. “I’ve never seen you smile before.”
I shake my head, but I can’t stop the smile from returning. “What’s the update?” I ask, steering the conversation away from my marriage.
“Everything is on track. All you have to do is warm up to Olov and make sure you sign a big, fat check for his wife’s charity.”
Olov is the last council member whose vote I need. One more man standing behind me, and the position of Pakhan will be mine.
“We already have him leaning our way,” Lev continues. “He just needs to feel like he’s making the right choice.”
“He will.”
“And if he sees you at his charity gala with your new wife, even better. Chloe is coming right?”
“Of course she is. This will be our first outing together as husband and wife. Our first public appearance.”
“Perfect. Olov is a proud man. He’ll love the idea that you’re using his charity gala to introduce your wife.”
“And the bastard is all about family. Seeing you there with Chloe, showing her off as your wife, is going to warm his heart even more.”
“Then we’ll give him something to be happy about.”
We spend the next hour going over other business, the latest shipment, the clubs, a problem with one of the restaurants, and a few other matters that need my attention.
Eventually, Lev gets to his feet. “I’ll see you tonight.”
He reaches the door before turning around. “And try not to smile too much. You’re ruining your reputation.”
“Get the fuck out.”
He laughs as he leaves. The door closes behind him, and silence settles over the office again. I try to get some work done, but after a while, I can’t resist checking my watch. It’s been a few hours since I last saw my wife, and that’s a few hours too long.
So, I shut down my computer, grab my jacket, and head for the door. Two weeks. That’s how long Chloe has been my wife, and they have been the best two weeks of my life.
Every morning, I’m blessed with the sight of waking up to her in my arms, I could lie there for hours just watching her sleep. There is something fucking incredible about waking up beside the woman I love and knowing she is mine.
And at the end of every day, I look forward to coming home to her.
We have dinner together, argue playfully over what to watch, and end up watching whatever show she wants.
Then she stretches her legs across my lap, silently expecting me to rub her feet.
And I always oblige, those quiet moments with her are my favorite.
We’ve spent most of the last two weeks at home, enjoying our newly married life. We haven’t attended any events together yet, but that hasn’t stopped word from spreading. Everyone knows Kazimir Sokolov is married now.
Some of the families who had been hoping I would choose one of their daughters aren’t particularly pleased about it. But there’s nothing they can do. And now, everyone is curious about my wife. Tonight will give them their first real look at her.
I would have preferred to introduce Chloe on my own terms, at a party I hosted myself. But Lev was right about Olov. The man is proud, and he loves anything that makes him feel important. Using his charity gala to introduce Chloe as my wife will make him feel like he’s part of the occasion.
?????
By the time we arrive at the gala, the red carpet is already crowded. Paparazzi line both sides of the entrance, cameras flashing as we step out of the car. Reporters call my name from every direction, trying to get my attention.
“Mr. Sokolov! What made you finally settle down?”
“How long have you been together?”
I ignore every question. I have eyes only for the woman beside me. Chloe looks fucking radiant. Her blush-colored dress is strapless, hugging her body in all the right places. Her hair is swept into an elegant updo, exposing her neck and shoulders.
I place a hand at the small of her back as we pose for the cameras. Flash after flash goes off, Chloe smiles beside me, composed. After a few pictures, I guide her inside, the moment we’re through the doors, I feel the tension in her body.
“Relax,” I murmur near her ear.
“Easy for you to say. I’m the one who’s going to be under scrutiny.” She looks up at me, worry flickering in her eyes. “What if I don’t meet their expectations? What if—”
“Hey,” I cut in gently. “Everyone in this room wants to be on your good side. They’ll be seeking your favor before the night is over.”
She looks at me. “That is not helping.”
I smile and kiss her temple. “You’re a queen in this room, baby. Don’t carry yourself any less.”
She exhales. “I’ll try to remember that.”
I squeeze her hand. “You’ll be fine.”
We move through the room, greeting guests as I introduce her. People are clearly enamored with her. A few women shoot her dirty looks, but Chloe handles it all beautifully.
Not long after, Olov approaches us with his wife. He’s in his sixties, with neatly combed gray hair. His wife is around the same age.
“Kazimir,” Olov greets, extending his hand.
“Olov.”
We shake. Then his eyes move to Chloe. “So it is true. When I first heard the news, I thought someone was playing a joke on me.”
Chloe laughs softly. “No joke.”
Olov smiles broadly. “Well, fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.” He reaches for Chloe’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine.” She turns to me, “I going to get something to drink.” I nod, keeping her in my line of sight as she walks away.
Olov turns back to me. “I have to say, Kazimir, I’m glad to see this. You settled down.”
He continues before I can respond. “This is what true leadership looks like. A leader has to be able to lead himself first. Then his home. Only then can he truly lead others. If you have no home, you have no one holding you accountable. You live wild. That is not what we want for the next pakhan.”
He has no idea how wrong he is. Being married doesn’t automatically make a man responsible. A ring doesn’t suddenly give someone discipline, loyalty, or principles.
My father was married to my mother. He was also one of the most irresponsible men I’ve ever known. He manipulated my mother until she saw no other way out.
She took her own life. And that bastard eventually drank himself to death. I don’t tell him that marriage isn’t what made me responsible.
Olov claps my shoulder. “I’m pleased. It tells me you’re ready.”
Then he gives me exactly what I’ve been waiting for. “And you don’t have to worry about my vote. You have my vote, Kazimir.”
A ghost of a smile appears on my face. “That is music to my ears.”
As Olov walks away, I immediately spot some fucking jerk standing too close to my wife. My jaw tightens when I see his hand reach toward her, I cross the room before he can touch her and hear him say,
“How about we go somewhere quieter and talk?”
“How about you get your filthy hands off my wife?”
The imbecilic bastard turns, and the color drains from his face when he sees me. “I’m sorry. I had no idea—”
I grab him by the front of his shirt and pull him closer. “The ring on her fucking finger wasn't big enough? Are you fucking blind?”
“Kazimir,” Chloe says, touching my arm. “Please calm down.”
I force myself to let him go, but I don't take my eyes off him. I make a small gesture toward my men, as the man looks between us before taking off toward the exit. Everyone around us is staring, but I don't give a damn.
“We're leaving.”
Chloe's eyebrows pull together. “What? The party isn't even over.”
I take her hand and lead her outside. The moment we're inside the car, she turns toward me, clearly pissed. “What is wrong with you? Why did you have to do that?”
“No one touches my wife.”
“He was just talking to me.”
“He wanted to take you somewhere private, and he put his hands on you.”
“I was just about to tell him to fuck off,” she says, glaring at me. “If you had waited another few seconds, you would have heard me tell him exactly that.”
I look at her, my anger still simmering. “It’s a good thing I stepped in then, so you could save your breath.”
She stares at me for a moment before shaking her head. “You are—”
I pull her toward me and kiss her deeply, cutting off whatever she is about to say. When I finally pull back, she looks at me, breathless. “That guy…” Her eyes narrow. “You're going to do something to him, aren't you?”
I say nothing, and her expression changes immediately. “Kazimir.”
“Baby don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to.” She sighs, but before she can say anything else, I pull her back into my arms and kiss her again. Before sunrise, that cretin will be missing some of his fingers, if not all of them. No one touches my wife.
Two Days Later
The tension in the room is thick enough to cut with a knife. It’s time for the votes. I sit back in my chair, my eyes moving across the room until they settle on Vadim. He’s sitting directly across from me, and the look he’s giving me could cut through steel.
I notice as he keeps tapping his fingers against the table, the rhythm growing more restless by the second.
His leg bounces beneath it, never quite still.
He knows he’s losing. Our eyes meet, and I can’t help the small smile that pulls at my mouth.
Vadim’s face hardens into a scowl, and he looks away. Coward.
Olov clears his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Gentlemen, it’s time.”
Chairs scrape against the floor as everyone moves into position to cast their votes. One by one, the votes are cast. The room falls silent again as they’re counted. I watch Olov carefully as he goes through them. His expression doesn’t change. Then he looks up.
“It seems we have a unanimous decision.”
My heart gives one hard beat. Olov turns toward me. “Kazimir Sokolov is the new Pakhan.”
For a second, everything goes quiet. Then the room erupts. Men rise from their seats, shaking my hand, patting my shoulder, congratulating me. I accept every handshake with a smile. I did it. I’m the Pakhan.
“Bullshit!” Vadim’s voice cuts through the room.
He pushes himself to his feet, his face twisted with disbelief. “This isn’t possible!”
He looks around the room as if expecting someone to explain themselves. Such a sore loser, I slowly rise from my chair. “You should learn how to lose gracefully, Vadim.”
His eyes snap toward me as I take a step closer. “Now it’s time for you to back down.” I hold his gaze. “If you don’t quit, I’ll put a bullet in your head.”
The room goes completely still, Vadim stares at me for several seconds, then his mouth twists into a bitter smile. “This isn’t over, Sokolov.”
He turns and storms out. The moment he leaves, the room comes alive again, hands reach for mine, congratulations coming from every direction. I’m Pakhan. I finally have the position I’ve been fighting for.