Web of Lies

by Elizabeth Knox

  “You weren’t lying about the view,” Valentin says in my direction, but then looks to my father. “However, I can’t help but feel like this location is opportune for many of your enemies. How do you secure it?”

  My father smirks at Valentin, “I always have my men around my family and me, even in plain sight. You’d be smart to remember that, Volkolv.” If I’m not mistaken, my father just subtly threatened my fiancé.

  “I understand, now I hate to cut to the chase but we should probably get down to business. My father and I are only in town for a few hours before we leave.” I’m shocked at what Valentin has just said.

  “Really? Your flight had to have been long,” I say.

  “It was over thirteen hours. However, we have business to attend to tomorrow evening back in our home. Unfortunately, both of our meetings are high priorities to us, so we’re giving our immediate attention to both,” Valentin replies.

  “I understand. I appreciate you both coming out on such short notice,” my father says, but the way he says it gives me a weird feeling. I don’t know whether it’s my intuition or what exactly . . . but something in my gut doesn’t feel right.

  “Of course. It’s a pleasure. Now, your shipment will be here by eleven this evening. You have men prepared to pick it up and store it. Correct?” Valentin asks my father who nods.

  “Yes, and you’ll be sending a shipment every month as promised?”

  Valentin confirms, “Yes, that is the deal.”

  “Fabulous,” My father reaches out his hand to Valentin and they both shake on something. They barely said a thing and yet understood the other perfectly. “Now, we should move onto the other bit of business.”

  The distinctive sound of the sliding door opening and closing causes me to look to my left. I see another man who looks very similar to Valentin walking beside Carlos. They both come down to us and Carlos explains in our native tongue that Mr. Volkolv has arrived. “Ah, perfect timing. Your son and I just shook on our agreement. Now we’re ready to move onto the next event of the night,” my father states.

  I look to Valentin trying to gauge if he knows what’s going on, but he looks as confused as I do. My father sticks his hand up in the air and snaps his fingers, “Sofia, please come along with me. We have one last thing to do before I can officially hand you over to Valentin.”

  “O-okay,” I stutter out, wanting to trust my father but I can’t. Something within me is screaming at me to run but I don’t. Instead I follow my father as he walks back into the restaurant and I hear the footsteps of the Volkolv men closely behind us.

  We’re in the main part of the restaurant at this point continuing to the center of the room where there’s one table without any chairs on top of it. When the restaurant is closed they always have chairs on the top. It makes it easier for the cleaning crew to do their job. Why would the table be bare?

  I continue walking and stop when my father does. All of a sudden, I’m forced down onto the table with my jaw being shoved against the cloth. I’m fighting to understand what is happening right now. With a swift movement I feel a hand at my bum and my dress is being lifted while my underwear is being slid down. I thrash, moving in whatever way I can. “Get over here and help me hold her down!” my father orders out. Within seconds I feel multiple hands on me.

  “You want me to verify she isn’t deflowered, is this correct, Miguel?” a man’s voice asks. It’s one I don’t recognize.

  “What on Earth!?” I scream out, kicking my legs while I thrash my arms. More hands are placed on me and I feel a strong pressure entering inside me. It’s uncomfortable, tight and hurts. I bite my lip, immediately stop what I’m doing because I don’t want to move and hurt myself. As the thing inside me flutters I realize they’re fingers. He pushes in and out a couple of times.

  “I can confirm Sofia is still a virgin,” the voice states, removing his fingers from inside me.

  “Good. This deal wouldn’t have ever happened if we weren’t sure,” another voice says, but I notice the thick Russian accent which adorns it. This is Valentin’s father . . . he wanted this. I think that’s the worst bit, but I’m sadly mistaken as he continues. “If you want to fuck her now, you might as well.”

  “You ordered this?” Valentin sounds furious with his father.

  “Did you not hear me? Stick your cock in the girl and get it over with. If you’re lucky, we’ll have another Volkolv born soon.”

  “No. Not here,” Valentin hisses out. Within an instant my underwear is pulled up and my dress is covering my ass once again. “Everyone better get their hands off of my fiancée before I put a piece of lead in their fucking heads!” he roars, grabbing me by the hand.

  Valentin and I both share a silent look. He may not know it but I’m thanking him with my eyes. “We should get going. The plane leaves in a couple of hours and I’d rather us not spend more time here.”

  “Wait. What?” I ask, confused beyond measure.

  “Ugh, you foolish boy. You’re giving her the opportunity to make a fuss. You have so much to learn,” Valentin’s father says to him right as I feel a sharp prick in my arm.

  Suddenly, everything starts to feel fuzzy and I start to go down.

  Chapter Four

  If everybody likes you, you have a serious problem

  ~The Idealist

  Valentin

  A light knock comes to the door and I glance up to see it being slid to the left, revealing my father. “You have some nerve coming in here after what you did,” I say from my seat on the plane. Sofia is asleep on the bed in one of the two private rooms we have on my father’s jet.

  Shrugging his shoulders, he approaches me. “It’s obvious you don’t see it now, but one day you’ll understand. Women can’t ever be trusted, Valentin. However, they can be controlled. Of course, you made a grave mistake with both of those when it came to Anastasia. Didn’t you?”

  I struggle to refrain from clenching my jaw as he brings up my deceased wife’s name. I loathe her more than anyone else on this damn planet. In my eyes, she got what she deserved for betraying the family. Clearing my throat, I speak, “Not everyone is Anastasia.”

  My father chuckles, grazing his fingers over the built-in cabinets. “Ah, yes. Sofia here isn’t a street rat you were dead set on saving. Hopefully she’ll be smarter than the traitor you married. With any luck she’ll understand her place in our family and be an amazing stepmother to Aleksandr.”

  “And Aleksei,” I remind him, refusing to leave behind my stepson. While Anastasia was a despicable woman, I won’t punish her child for her actions. Anastasia had told me he was a product of rape. Of that I have no doubt. After her death my father told me I should turn him over to the orphanage but I couldn’t ever do that. He and Aleksandr are far too close. I would never break a bond like the one they share. Especially when I never had a sibling growing up. Their lives will be hard enough growing up without a mother, I couldn’t take away the only other comfort they had in one another.

  “Pfft, the lost cause. I still don’t understand why you’ve let that boy live under our roof,” my father gripes.

  “Because he is part of my family. He is the brother of your grandson and you will respect his place in our home.” I declare, not wanting to hear him complain about Aleksei’s presence again.

  “You have a soft heart, syn. If you don’t show our people you have a heart of stone, I’m afraid they’ll soon destroy you.” My father has instilled fear into every person who breathes in our country. They follow his commands because they’re terrified of the outcome if they don’t. When I take over the Bratva I won’t rule in the same way. I’ll bring back hope to the people of Russia.

  “I’m a Volkolv. They’d be wrong to even attempt such a thing,” I seethe, glaring at the old bastard. Instead of shooting back a reply or slapping me across the face he smiles, obviously approving of my attitude.

  “Now that my syn is how you should be acting. A true Volkolv you just were,” he states, sw
elling with pride.

  Redirecting my attention back over to Sofia I take in the soft features of her face. From her small, doting nose to her full lips. “What you did was completely unnecessary.”

  “Drugging her, or the examination?” he asks.

  “Both,” I hiss, standing up to challenge him. “She would’ve come with us regardless if her father had ordered it. Surely you understand that. Fuck, things haven’t changed much with the cartel and I doubt they ever will. Daughters will always look to their fathers for direction. And the examination . . .” I go quiet for a few moments, breathing in through my nose and out of my mouth in an attempt to calm myself down. “Regardless of whether or not she was a virgin, I’d still be marrying her. You know it as well as I do.”

  My father smirks, nodding once. “Da, you’re correct. However, you should be thanking me for what I did. Instead of you being the one she hates, it’ll be me. It’ll cause her to warm up to you quickly. It also showed her the Volkolvs are not a family where she can twist things to get her way.”

  Is he joking right now? He did this all to teach her a lesson? God, how I wish I could kill him on the spot. Unfortunately, I can’t do that. Not unless I want the Bratva to go over to my uncle. If that were to happen, everything would be far worse. Unlike the other mafias, the Bratva runs a bit differently. When the crime boss steps down it is in front of his commanders, as well as having the new boss in his presence, they have an official ceremony. If I kill my father, the Bratva automatically averts to my Uncle Oleg.

  “How long will it take for her to wake up?” I ask, wanting an answer to ensure she’ll be okay. I hope Sofia will be alright, but honestly I’m fearful the man she won’t trust is me. It is my family who did this to her after all. What reason is there for her to trust me?

  My father cocks his head to the side and gets a good look at her. “I might’ve put a little extra in the syringe than what was needed. We might be back in Moscow and in our home before she wakes. Fuck, you could probably screw her before she even wakes up.”

  God, he’s a sick bastard. That isn’t called screwing. It’s called rape and I refuse to be one of the men I hate the most. Then again, I’m staring at a man who rapes the women our family traffics just for shits and giggles. What outrages me even more is how my mother doesn’t say anything to him. She simply allows him to do whatever he pleases. However, that is what a good Russian bride should do. Open her mouth, pussy and ass for her husband to give him lots of children, stay silent and be beautiful.

  I take in a deep breath and get comfortable in my seat. While we may have six or so hours left on this flight I won’t be moving at all. There’s no way in hell I trust him around Sofia. The moment I walk away he’ll probably try to treat her just like a slave girl.

  Chapter Five

  Your future needs you. Your Past doesn’t

  ~M.R.

  Sofia

  I wake to the sounds of birds chirping. Upon opening my eyes I see I’m somewhere foreign to me. I’m in the same dress I was wearing back in the restaurant, but yet I’m tucked under a heavy white comforter with gold stitching around the edges. Looking around the room I see how simple and bland the interior is. The wall is a mulled down mixture of gold and green, reminding me of a dark sandy color. The headboard for the bed is the same gold on the stitching, while the nightstand and dressers match the overall look of the space with gold accents.

  Light shines in from the oval-shaped windows which must be seven or eight feet long. Throwing the comforter over my legs, I slide them around the edge of the bed and hop off, walking toward the window. I’m shocked by what is before my very eyes. No longer am I in the warmth of Mexico. Instead, I’m in snow central.

  Confusion runs rapidly through my mind, trying to figure this out. The last thing I remember was being examined by some type of doctor to verify I was still a virgin and Valentin sticking up for me, trying to get me out of there. He had taken my hand in his when I felt a prick in my arm. Then everything got dizzy and went black.

  My word. One of them drugged me, obviously causing me to pass out.

  I slide my fingertips through my hair baffled this actually happened. This is the type of thing I see in the movies, but never did I expect it to happen to me. Shaking my head, I know this couldn’t have happened unless my dear papá gave the approval. I was with him and the Volkolvs, so if I had to put my finger on it, I’d say I’m in Moscow.

  Rolling my eyes, I grunt out in frustration as I walk around the room. There’s a tall wardrobe directly across the bed and two doors to the right. One is on the alternate side of the bed, propped open with a tile floor. I head toward it and see a full-size bathroom.

  A creaking sound warns me someone has come inside through the other doorway, so I turn and come face-to-face with Valentin. His ice-blue eyes burn right through me while he dips a hand in the pocket of his trousers and leans to the side like a typical billionaire playboy. “I was wondering when you’d be awake. You had me worried,” he says in a husky tone, his accent overbearing and powerful.

  “I doubt you’ve been worried when you’re the one who jabbed me in the arm.” I discredit what he’s just stated, knowing this is probably a big charade to get me to fall for him.

  Valentin cocks a brow and purses his lips together looking furious. “I did not drug you, Sofia. You can thank my father for that. He seemed to think it would be easier getting you here. Not that he discussed his plan with me or anything.” The old man was right. I would’ve been kicking and screaming the entire way.

  “Don’t play the part of the innocent prodigal son. I know this story too well,” I tell Valentin, keeping my eyes focused on his. I want to see if he’s lying. My papá always taught me even the greatest of men have a tell. Now all I have to do is figure out what Valentin’s is.

  Valentin takes a step toward me, smirking like a cocky bastard and extends his hand. He runs his fingers over the side of my face, dipping down to my chin and forces me to look up at him. Surprisingly, his moves aren’t rough whatsoever. He moves slowly, in a sensual manner. “What you’ll come to realize Sofia Margarita Ramirez, is that I am nothing like my father.”

  “You sound like everyone I’ve ever spoken to in our world.” While I’ve never left the comforts of Mexico, I have been surrounded by a few prominent families before. My father almost had a marriage prepared between the heir to the Romanian Clans and me, however, something happened and he decided he wasn’t interested. He played the same card Valentin is, stating he isn’t anything like his father. I think it’s all a load of crap.

  Valentin cackles lowly, grazing his fingertips a bit lower. He moves at the pace of a turtle, sliding his fingertips down my throat. “In time you’ll come to discover the type of man I am. If I was my father I would’ve violated you there in front of everyone, not giving a care in the world on what foot we start our relationship out on. I, however, do not believe in raping my bride to be. When we do unite in a sexual way it will be on our own terms, not being forced like my father’s puppet.”

  I blink a few times processing what he just said. “Everything I’ve ever heard about you hasn’t been good.” There’s no point in hiding what I know. Maybe he can clarify a few things for me. But Alejandro’s voice keeps replaying in my mind. He warned me about this family for a reason. He wouldn’t have led me astray when it came to something like this.

  Valentin brings his face closer to mine, so close his hot and heavy breath hits my lips. “What have you heard, Sofia?” he growls as his eyes dart down to my lips.

  I think about retorting in some smartass way but Alejandro told me that wouldn’t fly here. I decide to heed my brother's warning and control my tongue. Not everyone is man enough to handle a Latina’s spirit. “Your entire family is dangerous. Rumor has it you’re the Ice King.”

  Valentin wiggles his eyebrows, “Ice King, what an honor. Sadly, I’m not as stone-cold as the street believes I am. Don’t blow up my spot though, alright? Now I’m sure you’
re hungry. You wanna go get some food? There’s a café a block away that has the best food.”

  I think about it for a moment, but what other choice do I have? “Sure, I’m starving.”

  Chapter Six

  We fall. We break. We fail. But then, We rise. We Heal. We Overcome

  ~Unknown

  Valentin

  I give Sofia a once over, “Surely you won’t be wearing that sundress. It’s only twenty degrees outside.”

  The little spitfire rolls her eyes at me, “Of course I am. I don’t have anything else to wear considering I didn’t have any time to pack.” Sofia is adorable when she wants to be, but what’s even cuter is the fact she thinks there isn’t a thing for her to wear.

  “Sofia, take a look in your wardrobe,” I direct her, motioning with my eyes for her to go inside. She steps around me, walks up to the closet and turns back in my direction. I take it upon myself to lean against the wall and kick up my left leg in a comfortable manner.

  “I didn’t think you would’ve prepared for my arrival. Thank you for making sure I had some suitable clothes here.”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t want you freezing. This time of year anyone can catch a chill and get sick. Plus, what kind of fiancé would I be without ensuring you felt like you were at home.”

  Sofia gives me a soft smile, “I’m afraid that will never happen. Not unless all the snow melts and somehow it gets to be around eighty degrees. Oh, and we’re on the beach.”

  I laugh at her remark, “Well, it won’t ever be like Mexico here. However, I promise to take you on a holiday where it’s even better than your country.”

  “You weren’t lying, were you?” she questions.