The Pakhan’s Auctioned Bride (West Coast Bratva Pakhans #5)

Chapter 1 - Kristopher

Emmanuil gestures towards the map projected onto the wall of the boardroom in my office building.

“Our territories are strong, and the past few months of working together have proven that it’s good for business. Profits have increased, and we’re able to move product faster and easier,” he says, then looks around the room at each of the men sitting at the table.

Nestor and Benedikt nod in agreement.

Five Bratva kings in one room, each offering incredible power to our alliance. Our territories are split across the West Coast, and we each run our own kingdoms as we see fit, respecting the others, but working together in many branches of our businesses.

I am the newest member of this alliance; my sister’s marriage opened the door for me and ended a long-time war between Emmanuil Belyayev’s family and mine.

“When were you planning on announcing the alliance, Kristopher?” Ardalion asks. I shift in my seat. I knew this was going to be asked at some point today.

It’s a fair question. But because I’ve only recently resolved major issues with Emmanuil, and our long-term disagreement, which was largely a misunderstanding, has been set aside, it’s still a very new partnership, and announcing it in an official capacity is going to stir disapproval from certain people.

The alliance strengthened my position in Phoenix by providing ties to San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Diego.

But for now, I am reluctant to make the alliance public, not fully or officially, until my father and his consistent interference are completely out of the picture.

Even after I announced that I was taking over as Pakhan in Phoenix, forcing my father to step down from his role as Bratva King, he hasn’t; he refuses to let go.

At the heart of it, I am running Phoenix and all of our businesses. But they are all still in his name, so he holds onto that power, and I want him fully removed from the situation before I start announcing alliances that will most certainly provoke him.

I’m not in the mood to deal with his tantrums, not when I’m so close to being fully, irrevocably in command.

“Soon,” I sigh, folding my arms across my chest and rolling my neck to the side to try to ease the tension sitting between my shoulder blades. “I just have a few issues to iron out before I poke the bear.”

Emmanuil chuckles. “Have you heard from your father since the event where he was rather publicly humiliated?”

“My intention wasn’t to humiliate him.”

“I know. It’s just how it had to happen, though,” Emmanuil shrugs, studying me.

“But to answer your question, yes, and no. Apart from a few annoying calls here and there, he’s been quiet. But I know he’s moving around in the background, and I can’t assume he’s given up his throne that easily.”

He hasn’t. There’s nothing to assume. He’s still playing for power.

Nestor stands, pulling his phone from his pocket and glancing at the screen. “I need to get going. This meeting went on a bit longer than planned, and I have my pilot waiting on the runway. I’ve got to get back to San Francisco.”

“Thanks for coming, all of you, I appreciate it,” I say, standing as well and picking my phone up off the table, slipping it into my pocket.

Ardalion and Benedikt stand. Ard stretches and yawns loudly. “My sisters are waiting to meet me for lunch,” he comments.

“Kira and Alya are in Phoenix?” Benedikt asks.

“Yes, they’re always somewhere, up to something, those two.”

We say goodbye, and everyone leaves except Emmanuil, who stands aside to let the others through the door.

When we’re alone in the boardroom, he cocks his head to the left and smiles. “Jess wanted me to bring her so she could visit.”

“Yeah, she’s been nagging me too, but I don’t want her in Phoenix until I have our father under control.”

“I agree. She’s safer at home with me in San Diego. But maybe when you get some free time, you can come visit her there?” he lifts his brows.

“Free time? There’s no such thing,” I chuckle.

His mouth curls into a smile. “Tell me about it.”

“But I will plan to see her soon. Send her my love, will you?”

“Will do. If you need anything, any help with your father, just holler.”

I pull my mouth tight, nodding curtly. “Of course,” I say, but I won’t. I hate asking for help from anyone, even my brother-in-law. Even my allies. It’s a sign of weakness, and it indebts you.

Or maybe I’m just stubborn, something I would have learned from my father, even though I don’t want to be anything like him.

Emmanuil walks out of the boardroom and I follow him to the elevator. “See you soon,” he says, stepping into the metal box. I smile, say goodbye, and once the doors slide closed on him, I head back to my office to finish up a few things before the day is over.

As I walk into my office, my mind drifts back to the question—when will you announce the alliance?

It’s a powerful move, one certain to provide an insurmountable support system for my position as the Bratva king of Phoenix.

I should’ve announced it already, but this is a problem with my father; the old man was always stubborn as all hell, power hungry and greedy, and he’s no different now.

But the position I’m in with this alliance, it could be exactly what I need to free myself from my father’s influence. His threats, his games…I want to finally walk away from all of it and never have to deal with his bullshit again.

I want a life. One that doesn’t include jumping to his every command as I’ve done in the past.

Those days are over, but my father refuses to accept that.

Sitting in my office chair, staring at my open laptop, my mind drifts to her. Georgie, my sister’s best friend.

I’ve memorized her face so perfectly that I can close my eyes and conjure an image of her in a second.

Her sweet innocence is dangerously alluring. Her golden honey eyes that perfectly match her golden honey hair, the way her eyes crinkle at the corners when she smiles, the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen. Her perfect lips, her perfect body.

Someone I’ve always wanted. Something I’ve longed for since the day I first set my eyes on her.

She’s always been nothing more than a wish, something I forced myself to let go of, but I never did.

I never could. No matter how hard I tried to ignore the intensity of my feelings towards her, I’ve never been able to get her out of my mind.

With my father out of the way, I might be able to claim her as my own.

She’s been a distant part of my life, someone I’ve kept a watchful eye on, but with walls between us. It was necessary to keep her safe from this world. My world.

But I’ve done whatever I can to make her life better.

I flick my finger across the trackpad on my laptop and scroll through my e-mails, trying to decide which one requires my immediate attention.

The loud thud of heavy footsteps pulls my attention away from the screen. I look up and see him standing in the doorway of my office—my father, Faiz Ilyin. The last person I want to see. Ever.

“Fuck,” I mutter beneath my breath, but clearly not as quietly as I’d intended.

“That’s not a very warm greeting, is it, son?

” my father says, stepping into my office.

He walks slowly towards my desk and stands in front of it, staring down at me like I'm some commoner he has a right to judge.

He purposefully tilts his chin up slightly so he can look down at me with an exaggerated power stance.

I used to hate it when he looked at me like that; it would evoke a deep need inside me to prove myself to him.

Lately, though, I feel no need to impress him. I have no desire to do anything other than get him out of my life.

“How’s business? Are you keeping things under control?” he asks.

I scoff, leaning back in my chair and folding my arms, refusing to let him intimidate me. Those days are over. He’ll learn that sooner or later.

For now, this is a sparring match that I have to ride out with caution.

“I’ve been taking care of this family and our businesses for years without your interest or help. Why would now be any different?”

My father snorts, pulling his mouth to the side in disapproval. “You’re getting cocky, son.”

“And you’re getting old, father,” I bite back.

He glares at me for a moment before he turns away and walks in a lazy stride around the office as though he's inspecting it.

I wait, getting impatient. I haven’t seen him in months. What the hell is he doing here now?

When he doesn’t volunteer that information, and I grow tired of waiting, I stand up and demand, “What is it that you want, Faiz?”

He turns to face me again, this time with a smug grin on his face.

“I’ve come to inform you of the marriage I’ve arranged on your behalf.”

“Marriage?” I scoff. “What are you talking about?”

My father has always been adamant that I should marry into an influential family. It was always the plan for my life. But it’s a topic he hasn’t mentioned in a very long time…so why now?

“You will be marrying Ali Koskos’s daughter.

He is a powerful Bratva leader, and an alliance with his family will bring power to our family and wealth to our businesses.

I’ve already made the arrangements. I will send you the details.

All you need to do is show up and sign the papers,” he explains, looking pleased with himself.

My lips curl into a sneer, and I shake my head.

Sure. A marriage that builds an alliance with Ali Koskos would be hugely beneficial to my status and business.

But I know better than that. This is my father’s play, not mine.

This will benefit him more than it will benefit me.

And something is definitely going on behind the obvious alliance we would gain from this; he’s got something up his sleeve.

He’s making moves to grab his throne back, to push me out of the control seat.

And because I’m not fully in control yet, not until his name is off the paperwork, he’s doing whatever he can to make sure he retains power and stops my progression.

“I won’t be marrying Ali’s daughter,” I state clearly. There isn’t even an option for negotiation here. I won’t marry a stranger. I won’t do as my father wants.

He’s proven too many times that everything he does, everything, is just another scheme. Another manipulation. I've finally come to understand that he doesn’t even care about his children; my sister and I have always just been tools to him.

That’s why it’s such a relief that she’s no longer in Phoenix. The fact that Jess is with Emmanuil, married to a powerful man who can actually protect her, takes a huge weight off my shoulders.

He’s keeping my father away from Jess, and it’s given me the opportunity to make bolder moves without worrying about how it will affect her safety.

So, no, I won’t be marrying some random girl at Faiz’s request.

Besides, the life I want is with her. The girl who has haunted my thoughts for years. And I plan to have what I want.

“Excuse me?” he snaps.

“I think you heard me perfectly fine. You can stop whatever negotiations you have with the Koskos family.”

“You are refusing my command?” my father asks coldly, his eyes growing darker as he squares his body towards mine in challenge.

“It’s been a long time coming, the day you realized I'm done complying with whatever you ask.”

I’m taller than him these days. Broader, stronger, bolder. But his ego is bigger than anyone's I know.

He stands quietly, observing me.

“I see,” he mutters, his eyes burning fire into mine.

“Was there anything else?” I say, getting ready to usher him out of my office. I know his usual tantrum is about to commence. His usual angry outburst, telling me he made me, without him, I am nothing…blah blah blah. I’m not in the mood.

“You’re making a mistake,” he growls quietly, an unnerving confidence edging his words.

I’m taken aback. Where’s the outburst? Where’s the uncontrolled shouting and throwing whatever is within his reach?

“No, I’m not,” I say calmly. But as I stare at him, I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking, what plan he has burning behind his eyes.

“You are, and let me say this before I leave: you should be careful what you wish for, son. That life you want… it might cost you everything.”

I cock my head to the side and narrow my eyes at him.

His warning suggests he knows my plans. My wishes. My dream of living completely free of him. With her. But how could he? I’m just being overly paranoid. He doesn’t know anything about how I feel towards her. I’ve kept her safe for years, out of his line of sight.

“I’ll take my chances,” I snap back.

He growls, a low, threatening sound that rumbles through his chest. Then he turns and walks out of the office, pausing at the doorway to glance over his shoulder.

“It’s your mistake to make, Kristopher,” he says ominously.

I say nothing, because there’s no point engaging.

But once he’s gone, I’m left with a sickening knot in the pit of my stomach.

He was too calm.