by Mason, V. F.
After we came back from the trip to see Artur and discussed all the details of the upcoming event, I contacted Oliver from Arden’s phone and told him to keep a close eye on the brotherhoods back in the States and places he could expect a riot. He also notified Interpol and FSB about the activities, so they would be joining them all shortly. Aiden fell under international criminal status, so his case could be handled both ways, but I hoped FSB wouldn’t give us grief.
I raised on my toes and gave Arden a light peck on the cheek, grinning brightly. “Thank you, darling. You are handsome too.” Then I spun around and gasped in fake shock as Aiden raised his brow at me. “Father”—the word tasted bitter on my tongue, but I continued to call him that since he had insisted—“I didn’t see you. Hi.”
I leaned to give him two kisses as always, but instead he grabbed my hands rather painfully and forced me to swirl, as he said approvingly, “This taste in clothes suits your body, Edana. Too bad your parents are not here to witness it.” Rage and hatred burned inside me, and it took all the training I’d had in life to not tense or show it.
I just blinked away a tear, replying quietly, “I wish they were here.” He watched me closely but then motioned to the door. “Let’s go.” We trailed after him as I exhaled in relief that he didn’t notice the gun hidden under my dress. How the hell special agents operated in those freaking pencil dresses on a daily basis was beyond me!
Aleksei jerked his chin in greeting from inside the car, and I went to follow, when Aiden’s words halted my movements, and confusion washed over me. “This car is for you.”
“Arden and I aren’t riding with you?” In all our stays here, he mostly preferred us with him. What changed? With this guy, nothing happened just because.
“I spoke with Pakhan. He agreed women have no place there, so I thought it would be best for you to stay at headquarters.” The most ridiculous idea! I was sure he orchestrated the situation, and besides, wouldn’t it make more sense for me to stay here?
Why was he sending me to the enemy, so to speak?
“Father—” He shut Arden up with one drilling stare but kept the smile intact for my sake. “Edana, go. You will have fun with the women there. No one much to keep you company here.” This much was true, as Aleksei didn’t believe women should be respected or have any place in the brotherhood. Instead, he had a wife who lived in a different city, and the only women who frequented the place were whores.
Not that I minded their company compared to these pigs. “As you wish.” And then Arden ushered me into the Jeep, and as he leaned toward me, murmured, “This is not going according to plan.” He slipped a phone into my hands while giving me a light peck on the forehead. “Inform Yuri about the change of plans.”
“I think he knows.”
“Still. Better be prepared.” Nodding, I sat inside the vehicle and it instantly moved, and my back hit the leather seat harshly. “Careful,” I shouted, but the driver just grunted something in Russian, sounding a lot like cursing.
As I rested my head on the window, I couldn’t help but feel out of sorts, as if something wasn’t right.
As if I missed a vitally important detail, but my mind couldn’t catch it no matter how much I wished for it.
I was about to see my close friends again and spend time with my son, and Aiden soon would be behind bars… yet instead of feeling happiness…
I experienced dread.
Placing a hand on my chest, I hoped for the best, but prepared for the worst.
Life had a way of surprising me.
Yuri
Entering Dominic’s office, my brows rose as Vitya and Gleb stood around his table wearing murderous expressions. “What’s going on?”
They all shared a look and Vitya spoke. “Melissa is coming here.”
“I know. She sent me a message.”
“And you are okay with that?” Gleb asked carefully, watching my every expression, it seemed, with how much he drilled me with those green eyes of his.
“Mostly, yes.”
“Mostly?” Dominic wondered, and I rested my back on the door, hooking my thumbs in my pants pockets. “I don’t trust Aidan, or Arden for that matter.” A man who easily went against his brotherhood or father didn’t scream loyalty to me, but more importantly, how did he allow his daughter to be taken away from him? I never got an explanation on that one, and I had a feeling Arden hid something from us. My gut never proved me wrong. “If Aidan plans to kill us all, then it’s even more confusing unless he needs her safe for something.”
“Revenge?” Gleb supplied, and I shook my head.
“I don’t think it’s about revenge. He’s not stupid. He knows she didn’t lose her memory. But he allows her to play the game.” Aiden was an old dog, who ruled people through fear. I highly doubted he hadn’t recognized the traces of his son’s betrayal.
“So why are you mostly okay with it?” Vitya asked again, lighting up his cigarette.
“Because she will be protected here at all costs. For me, that’s better than for her to be next to him at the inn.”
“I have to agree,” said Dominic, but then he stood up, tucking a gun behind him while addressing us all. “They want me dead. I think that much is clear. So I want you all to promise not to try to save my ass. Okay?”
We stayed silent for a beat, and then we all burst out laughing, and the sounds of our amusement bounced off the walls, transferring us back to those moments in our teenage years where everything seemed so easy.
For the first time in ages, we truly shared a laugh that hadn’t been tainted with darkness, desperation, or sadness. “Joking, of course. Everyone have your eyes wide open. Radmir will join us there. He was on the phone with Dima.”
“The lawyer. Why?” And why wasn’t he here? He spent most of his days in the States, but whenever I asked, I just got weird looks.
Did he have a woman there or fucking what?
“He kind of took a liking to Sabrina.”
I blinked and then cocked my head to the side. “Don’s niece? As in—” Then I understood at once, and muttered, “Good luck to him.” At this point, I had to be glad no one took a liking to an Irish mob’s princess, because that would never be allowed.
Especially not after what awaited Aidan. This would forever taint the relationship between the brotherhoods. Whoever did fall in love would give new meaning to the couple Romeo and Juliet, as the truth of this night would forever be buried in Moscow. Arden already informed us he’d play the role of the wounded son who would need revenge.
That was the price one had to pay to destroy evil and still keep their mafia house.
It was all good though, as long as no one fell in love.
Dominic growled, “Good luck to me. The minute Don knows about it, he’ll bring me nothing but hell.”
“You’re not going to forbid it?” Dominic already got a lot of shit from his brotherhood when he didn’t marry into the “family,” so to speak, as only Gleb’s wife was Russian. The older generation demanded more alliances within the brotherhood, claiming their daughters didn’t have enough prospective marriage proposals.
“No. A man has the right to choose who he wants.” Then his phone beeped and he glanced at it, reading something as he motioned with his head. “We are leaving. Everyone is almost there.”
I turned around and opened the door, but paused as I felt a strong hand on my shoulder. “Glad to have you back, Yuri.” I patted Dom’s hand and nodded for him giving me acknowledgment of the sentiment, because I knew they welcomed me back as their friend who they could trust.
And that meant the world to me, even though not long ago I claimed I didn’t need anyone to survive.
Only with time, a person understands family is everything.
Chapter Eighteen
New York, New York
Melissa, 22 years old
Exhaling heavily, I ran through Central Park while music blasted in my ears and my feet pounded the concrete as I enjoyed the fact that the place was comp
letely empty.
The frigid air burned my lungs, but I welcomed the cold January weather, loving the dusting of snow coating the streets and creating the feeling of pureness.
I stumbled a little and glanced down, then groaned in exasperation when I noticed one of my laces was untied.
Huffing, I stopped and kneeled, quickly doing a knot, and that was when perfectly polished black boots came into view. My eyes trailed up, up, and up to meet a silver stare while the tip of the man’s mouth lifted up.
My eyes probably bulged out of their sockets as I got up quickly, scanning him from head to toe, especially all those scars he had from the fire that barely left any untouched skin. “Arden,” I exhaled, and he opened his arms wide, and without thinking, I jumped into them as he locked us in a strong embrace.
Finally, I leaned back, still grinning like a fool. “What are you doing here?” And then it hit me where we were. I stepped back, looking around. “Shit! We’re out in the open.”
He shrugged, still keeping his hold on me. “No one is after me. They think I’m chilling in Brooklyn with Jaxon MacAlister.”
My brows furrowed at this. “What kind of business do you have with him?”
He chuckled and lightly pinched my nose. “Now, agent, that wouldn’t be good to tell you, would it?” Closing my arms, I waited for him to spill the information and he sighed.
“Let’s say we have a new deal. And that’s all I’m going to say about this.”
“Smooth.”
“Anyway, answering your earlier question… I decided to see you.” He swept his gaze over me. “And I’m happy. You look good. Besides that god-awful black color. It makes you look sick,” he stated honestly, and my cheeks burned, although I knew he was right.
Dying my hair was exhausting and so not worth it, considering it added zero beauty to me, but those were necessarily precautions. I couldn’t risk someone seeing a redheaded agent with sparkling green eyes. So I had to wear contacts too.
Ex-fucking-hausting. “You know the rules,” I replied nonchalantly, because the last thing I needed was for him to get upset on my behalf.
His face darkened. “Right.” He made no secret of the fact that he hated the FBI, but since I was happy, he didn’t ask me to come to one of the brotherhoods. I knew the Russian Bratva and the MacAlister clan had offered me sanctuary; well, they didn’t know it was me, but still. Although this life was so far away from my dream, I felt useful and actually enjoyed catching criminals. I certainly didn’t need my family’s crime to follow me.
This life was lonely, but at least it had some meaning. And what would I do in the brotherhoods?
Suffocate to death.
“Melissa,” he addressed me, and it was odd hearing my new name on his lips, maybe because the Irish accent associated only with Edana in my head. They didn’t let me choose it, but I ended up liking it anyway. I didn’t think it described my character much, but then again… who cared? “If you ever need anything, I’m your family, okay? Remember that.” Warmth filled my chest and I hugged him again, while he rocked us for a bit before he stepped back. “I have to go.”
He’d just turned around to leave, when I called his name. He looked over his shoulder as I said, “The same goes for you, Arden.” We both had no one we could trust; his father made sure we would be as lonely as possibly. For how could you form any attachments when the deep fear of losing them settled in your veins?
“I know.”
Moscow, Russia
September 2018
Melissa
Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside headquarters and frowned as the only sound echoing through the space were my heels clicking on the marble floor.
No loud music? No booze or smoke greeting me? No Michael jumping around in excitement? Everyone was away, so the girls could have some fun.
The word shocked didn’t even begin to cover my surprise. “Um… hello?” I called. Not even Kostya was around. That guy never left the bar, at least not in my memory. Granted, such a talented sniper should never just serve drinks, but after the shit that had happened with him, no wonder he preferred the quiet life.
I dropped my purse on the couch and looked around, but it seemed like the freaking place was dead. I knew Dominic took most of the men with them and the recruits never hung out inside the main house without the pakhan present, especially if women were here. So what the ever-loving hell?
And then I heard voices coming from afar, reminding me a lot of arguing, but since all these voices were familiar to me, I didn’t worry. Instead, I quickly followed the sound and ended up in the doorway to the kitchen as my eyes widened in shock at the picture presented there.
Rosa chopped onions while humming to the music blasting from the radio, some Russia song I wasn’t familiar with.
Victoria stood next to the boiling pot as she put two spoons of salt in while Konstanciya peeled potatoes.
The one female sniper in the brotherhood peeled freaking potatoes!
Michael nagged over her shoulder. “This way and we’ll have only half potatoes. Peel them; don’t cut them.”
Konstanciya gave him a death glare and pointed a knife at him while he just rolled his eyes. “Then do it yourself. Why are you just giving orders here?”
He huffed. “Please. It’s my idea, so I have to make sure everything is perfect.”
Kostya, who just munched on an apple while watching them with a bored and brooding expression, spoke up. “How big of you.”
“You shut it, dude. Be grateful I’m not putting you on pancake duty.” The murderous expression on Kostya’s face was almost comical, and Konstanciya laughed, grabbing her stomach. “You’d look hot with an apron.”
“I’d look hot in anything.” Then his voice dropped low. “Especially for you.”
Michael snapped his fingers between them, ordering, “Kids, focus! She’ll be here any minute!”
She as in me?
“How do you even know she wants gorohovoi sup?” Victoria wondered, adding all the ingredients the women brought her to the pot. “I can’t stand this soup.”
“Well, first of all, it’s me.” He placed his hands on his chest and everyone groaned while I held back a laugh. Michael was truly one of a kind. “Second of all, she ate it all the fucking time when she was pregnant, claiming it was her favorite dish. So I think welcoming her back in Russian style would be good.”
“Serving soup is not welcoming her Russian style,” Rosa pointed out, and Kostya chuckled. “Should have served her karavai and salt.” As in bread and salt.
They all shared a laugh except Michael, who glared and spat, “I’m gonna kill you all if she doesn’t like the dish!”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I ate it so much the smell alone makes me sick now.” I decided to be honest and put them out of their misery, because even Michael couldn’t stand the taste.
Rosa gasped and everyone followed her, and all the commotion in the kitchen stopped as people focused their attention on me.
“Thank fuck!” they all said in unison as everyone rushed toward me. Oddly enough, I only spent time with them during problems that arose in the brotherhood and never was very close with anyone, but as they all hugged me tight and rocked me in their arms, telling me how much they had missed me, I’d never felt more at home.
Because, despite all the odds and lack of communication, these people were my family.
Michael was the last one to hold me in his strong arms, and I muttered, “Can’t breathe.” He loosened his hold but still didn’t let me go. “I’m so glad you’re okay. And alive,” he whispered, and I smiled, enjoying the hug a little more. I could never forget his kindness or how much support he offered me in a time when I thought a future between Yuri and me was impossible.
“Me too.”
He leaned back and palmed my face, kissing me on the nose soundly. “And you are pretty. Always said your temper was too wild for a dark-haired woman.” He twirled a lock of my hair around his finger. �
��You being a ginger certainly explains a lot.”
I punched him lightly in the stomach, and he flashed me a grin before musing out loud. “What about some booze? Need to celebrate this shit!”
Collective groans were quite hilarious, as I knew the man was something when he got drunk. I had firsthand experience with that. “Kids are here, Michael, so shut it,” Kostya advised.
But then I heard someone clearing their throat behind me, and I spun around to face a very pregnant Vivian holding Artur, who already raised his hands in my direction. I automatically picked him up, squeezing him in my arms. “Hey, baby.” He cooed something in return and then zeroed his gaze on the necklace around my neck. I hated the damn thing but had to wear it for Aiden’s sake since he gifted it to me. “Thank you so much for everything, Vivian,” I said softly, hoping that my voice truly reflected all the gratitude I felt for the woman who took care of my son when I couldn’t.
Yuri had told me all about it.
I knew Rosa from her father’s cases and Victoria trained under my direction. Konstanciya sort of came with the flow since she was always there during all operations when I was present in the Bratva. So we had to get along to understand each other. However, out of all the women, Vivian was the only one who stayed an enigma to me, as our paths never crossed much beside the culmination of her incident. Even then, I interacted only with Radmir.
She came closer and patted my back. “I’d hug you, but this girl kind of gets in the way,” she joked, and then Artur leaned forward, skimming his tiny hand over her belly, and I could see a light kick to the skin there. “I swear sometimes I feel like he interacts with her.”
“It’s a girl?”
“Yep. Due date is in a month, so they will share the year. Who knows, maybe they’ll be a couple?” she teased and kissed Artur’s palm as he smiled at her.
Yeah, even joking, I hoped this wouldn’t happen. Dating inside the brotherhood could bring a lot of catastrophic problems where loyalties would always be split. For the sake of their fathers, I wished for all our kids to find someone else to love.
