Russian Roulette (Russkaya Mafiya) (51 page)

Sabrina hasn’t mentioned a word about it since we’ve gotten here. I wonder if it even bothers her that her older sister is dead? She was such a hateful thing; I would think Bina would be relieved in a way that Kendall is finally gone for good.

Drying my hands off on the kitchen towel, I turn toward Sabrina as she watches me—a small smile gracing her lips. “Want to swim?” I ask and nod toward the small window facing the lake that sits peacefully behind Viktor’s cabin.

“You swim, I’ll watch.” She stands, wiping her hands on her jeans and heads over to the large barn door to wait patiently for me to change into my swim trunks.

Every time it’s the same answer. I offered to get her a bathing suit and still she never agrees. I know for a fact that she can swim. We swam together as teenagers at Tate’s mansion in Russia. Back then she was only permitted to because her father was trying to settle a deal with Gizya.

Kristof had brought along Kendall and Sabrina hoping to entice Gizya and sweeten the pot. If he was interested in the girls, he thought perhaps he’d be able to weasel a contract on the docks with the older man. He hadn’t expected Tate’s mom to be right there. She was readily prepared for the younger women and gave them each swimsuits so the girls could accompany us to the pool, where we got to shamelessly flirt with them for hours. Tate’s mother had already dealt with Gizya’s wandering ways and was becoming better at thwarting them off onto her son’s. She was a force of her own to be reckoned with.

It’s weird, but I don’t get why Bina won’t give in and swim with me now, especially since it’s just the two of us.

I grab a bottled water for her and an extra towel so she has a barrier between her and the ground to sit on. I need to get a folding chair to take so she’ll be comfortable when we’re out there. I don’t know why I never thought of it before, she sits there sometimes for a good hour or two just watching me and drawing on the ground, sometimes she’ll read or look over a magazine, but I enjoy it the most when she watches me. I’ll have to ask Alexei, Viktor’s right hand man, if they have one around here.

Hurrying back upstairs, I quickly get changed into my favorite shorts, grab my straw hat and flip-flops, then collect the water and towels as I head to the front door.

Sabrina and I have been here for six months now and we’ve gotten into a small routine. I’ll admit, I’ve gotten used to it and I pride myself on not having any sort of set schedule. It’s safer with variety in the line of work I do. This new calmness in my life has me a bit stir-crazy to be honest.

I enjoy being here—being with her—and having some time off, but I’m growing more and more restless with each passing day. I don’t like to be away from Tate like this; we’re too close. I know he has other people to watch out for him and he’s able to protect himself, but he’s more than my Boss. He’s my best friend and brother. He’s become a piece of me basically after being around him for so long. Not only do I love him like a brother, but I love his sweet wife, Emily, and their dog, Muffin. They’ve all grown to be my family and I can’t wait until I can finally take Sabrina around them. Bina and Emily have never met, but I hope to change that soon.

Pulling the heavy barn door open, I’m met with Viktor’s girl—her hand up in the air ready to knock.

“Elaina?”

“Oh! Hi, Nikoli. I was just seeing if Sabrina still wanted to look at the wedding catalog with me.”

“Bina?” She’s waiting behind me so I scoot to the side. Both women are so short they couldn’t see each other with me in the way.

Sabrina’s still a little shy around Elaina, and I can’t blame her after what her sister pulled on Viktor. I’m so glad that we’ve had dinner with Viktor and Elaina a few times since we’ve been here. Elaina has finally started to thaw a little towards Sabrina, and I’m hoping they become even friendlier towards one another.

“Hi, Elaina. I was about to walk to the lake with Nikoli. When did you want to look?”

“Oh cool, I’ll just go with you, and we can look through them down there, if that’s okay? Niko swims in shorts, right?”

I chuckle and Sabrina looks at her puzzled.

Elaina smirks, shaking her head and hints, “You’ve seen Vik swim with no clothes on by now, haven’t you?”

Sabrina beams a bright smile, giggling, “No…”

Hell no, she hasn’t. I’ve made sure of it, because I’ve seen it many times and that’s plenty for the both of us. That’s why we swim at a certain time so she doesn’t see Viktor with his muscular swimmer’s body. I’m not like that; I’m big and bulky. I don’t want her comparing us and for me to fall short in any way.

“Great, then. I was scared you had been flashed by now.” Elaina’s eyes widen and they both laugh again. I stay silent and hold my breath to keep myself from growling.

“Ready?” I ask and start to close the door; it’s more of a suggestion than a question, but they both agree.

I trek along behind them, listening to their excited babble about Elaina’s wedding as we make our way to the beautiful, shimmering lake.

Sabrina

Elaina chatters about her wedding plans and I can’t
help but think that I wish she was the type of sister I’d had. She would have been perfect. Instead, I was tormented by the evil bitch who lived to make my existence hell for basically my entire life.

Here in front of me sits the one person who killed Kendall. She put an end to the abuse I had suffered at Kendall’s hand, yet she has no idea how truly grateful I am. When I first arrived here, she was worried I’d harm her or her boyfriend when, in reality, all I wanted to do was kiss her and express my undying gratitude. I didn’t do that, though; I just thanked them politely for having me and vowed to help in any way possible.

I’ve kept my distance, sticking next to Blondie’s side in hopes they’d realize—in time—I wasn’t any type of threat to either of them. Both of their guards even viewed me as a pariah at first. Over group dinners these past few months, Elaina has become friendlier and opened up to me and inviting me into her life. Even though we’re opposite in many ways, we seem to have much in common also.

I can’t remember a time I’ve been so happy and relaxed before. Maybe when I was a teenager, but even then my life was a constant struggle, fighting against my family. My mother was always griping at me to not eat, to look my absolute best, and do what I must to learn to be the finest wife possible.

She wanted her girls to marry someone powerful and with influence. She drove it deep and she wouldn’t accept anything less. It was my duty to seek out the most prime candidate and marry him as quickly as possible. I’ve always believed her to be nuts.

Once my family had met Tate and Viktor, Kendall and my father had their sights set. Viktor was heir to the Bratva title and it would have benefitted my papa the most for her to marry the head of the organization.

Papa soon found out after Tate had become a Russian Boss, that he would eventually be running the Mafiya. It was perfect to keep both organizations in the families, to continue having brothers run each side as they’ve done for generations, and in the end working together to rule the Russian crime life. Viktor Ginzenburg-Masterson and Tatkiv “Knees” Ginzenburg-Masterson were a goddamn gold mine and powerhouse together that my father became obsessed with.

You would have thought my father had hit the lottery. He was so strung up on Gizya having two sons and him having two daughters that he believed it was fate. He decided that even if it didn’t work as planned, at least one daughter was surely going to marry a Boss and give his trashy businesses the one up they needed to get ahead.

He became practically desperate, dressing us up like dolls and parading us to any function of theirs he could get an invite to. He eventually stooped to offering us both to Gizya himself, to do with whatever he pleased. My stupid mother stood right at his side through everything, claiming to do what was best for the family. It didn’t matter that she was ruining the lives of her own children. My sister sucked up all the attention she received, being ‘destined’ to be with Viktor and played their games—sometimes better than my own parents—crying to Viktor and pretending to want to be his friend. Nothing matters to any of them except making more money and becoming as powerful as they can. Thankfully, neither of the men succumbed to their schemes.

When my father told me he had traded me to the Bratva King and that I now belonged to Viktor to pay off Kendall’s debt for trying to kill him, I can’t say I was even a little bit surprised. Inside I had been expecting as much or something similar; he always did whatever he could to clean up her messes.

Papa had announced not too long ago—before trading me—how he’d found a suitable man for me to marry and he was setting it up. I didn’t have any say in it whatsoever. Learning I was the payment to Viktor instead, at least I would be going to someone I knew.

I wasn’t sure what he would do with me exactly, but everyone’s heard the rumor that he’s out of the sex trade business. We’ve also heard how he’s been quietly torturing and killing any of the bosses he finds selling women. It could just be talk, but it’s hard to say in this lifestyle.

That alone had made my stomach flip with joy. I didn’t care if I would be scrubbing his floors with a toothbrush if it would get me out of my parents’ house and away from my betrothed. That was payment enough for my eternal gratitude; throw in the death of my sister and it may as well have been Christmas.

I knew I would probably get to see my longtime friend Nikoli as well. My parents despised Nikoli. They wanted me to chase Tate, but I couldn’t. I saw Blondie when I was a young girl, and I couldn’t picture another man for me. He was so beautiful and smart. He had no trouble ever making me laugh or smile, and he was always kind to me and made me feel safe, like he wouldn’t ever let anyone make me uncomfortable, especially Kendall.

I’ve seen him around with a few women at functions, but he never touched them—never like he did with me anyway. Under my papa’s watchful eye, I didn’t get much alone time with him, but he would still manage to sneak a soft graze against my palm as he stood by me or tenderly squeeze my hip as he’d pass by. It was always just enough to quicken my breath and cause my heart to flutter excitedly. Never once, however, did he approach my father to ask to take me out.

Over the years I tried to understand why he wouldn’t come for me and shed many tears over it. Eventually, I realized he’s just a sweet guy and wanted only to be my friend. In my mind, those small touches were no longer from his interest in me, but just as a silent hello. Too bad my heart never got the message, because it still skipped a beat every single time.

I gave up on hopes that one day he would be mine and just concentrated on being his friend. Since then, we’ve always managed to find each other and we’ve gotten along great. Imagine my surprise when I arrived here and Viktor fills me in that not only will I live with Nikoli, but that I will belong to him and not Viktor. It was like being fed sweet torture with a spoon, knowing I would be around him all the time. After all, that’s what I had dreamed about for many years while growing up. The kicker was, I knew I’d be following him around like a love-sick puppy and would never receive the same affections from him.

This may all sound completely crazy to some people—the buying, selling, and trading of human beings—but it’s more normal than one would think. I’d much rather belong to a man I love inside, than to be sold to a man in the sex trade or wedded to a man I’ve barely met before.

I surprised everyone by being so grateful, but they had no idea of the fate they’d saved me from. I belong to the Russian Bratva and Mafiya now; my father will
never
go against that. I was thrown straight into the hands of the man he hated—straight into the arms of the man I love.

Elaina speaks up, pulling me from my thoughts, “What do you think of this?” she asks, pointing out a simple, elegant gown in one of the five bridal magazines she lugged down to the beach with us. Her private guard sits not far from her, quietly reading a paperback book.

The dress she shows me is understated elegance. You’d never guess Elaina grew up poor and was bounced around foster care. She has the taste of a seasoned rich woman.

“The simple cream gown with lace overlay is stunning; you would command everyone’s attention.”

She laughs a little nervously. “I don’t want everyone’s attention, just Viktor’s.”

“Then I’d say it’s perfect.” I smile and she turns to her guard.

“Spar? What do you think of this dress?”

He cocks his eyebrow, clearly not wanting to be in the conversation, but leans over anyhow. His eyes go a little wide for a second and he clears his throat, “Yep, he will love it.” He nods his approval and Elaina beams a bright smile.

She’s been complaining about the dresses all costing too much and her wedding is fast approaching. Elaina wanted simple, and the one she has finally found is simple yet gorgeous. I bet it will cost a small fortune and she has no idea. I don’t know why I find it amusing, but I do. Not maliciously, and I just bet Viktor will be very pleased thinking she’s embracing his wealth when she hasn’t a clue just how deep his pockets really are. His family is way more influential in Russia than most people know about. I’m privy to that tidbit from my father constantly attempting to dig up something on their family to use against them.

“Do you think I can wear my flip-flops?” She glances at me a little unsure, needing some guidance.

“Elaina, love, it’s
your
wedding. You can wear shorts and it won’t matter. Viktor will just be happy to see you at the altar,” I respond automatically and her guard looks over at me with—I don’t know—a little respect, maybe? He nods briefly and goes back to reading.

She’s clearly surrounded by people who love her, and I’m lucky enough to be brought into this tight group.

TWO

NIKOLI

ACCUSATIONS AND MARRIAGE

You don’t marry someone you can live with-

You marry the person who you cannot live without