“Are you going to ask Lucian to help?” Carson asks.
I shake my head. “This is a family affair. He’s already helped enough.”
“Family affair?” Ariana asks, her big hazel eyes locked on me.
“You’re one of us now, and we look after our own,” Alexei says.
I see how Alexei’s statement hits her. Ariana’s eyes dart over the table, and then she swallows hard and lowers her gaze. Placing my hand on her thigh, I give her a squeeze, then I turn my attention back to the matter at hand.
“We’ll leave for Russia tomorrow.”
“How’s this going to play out?” Damien asks. “Are we attacking first or waiting for them to come to us?”
Alexei shakes his head. “We’ll attend the Bratva meeting and take it from there. If there’s going to be a show of power, I want it to happen at the meeting.”
“Why?” Carson asks, his eyes locked on his brother.
“Because they’ll either kneel to me as the new head of the Bratva or die,” Alexei says, his tone unyielding.
I’m glad to hear Alexei’s made a decision.
Alexei gestures at Ariana and me. “Demitri will take over Sergei’s business, and as always, he’ll be my right hand.”
Damien’s eyes snap to me. “You’re getting married?”
Ariana makes a choking sound, and then she begins to laugh nervously. “No.No.No. We’ve only known each other two weeks.”
Damien shrugs. “So?”
His marriage to Winter was arranged two weeks after they met, so my brother probably expects the same of Ariana and me.
“Ariana was raised differently than us,” I explain.
“Like Hailey?” Carson asks. His girlfriend isn’t from our world, as well.
“Yes.”
“So, are you just going to manage the business for Ariana?” Damien asks.
“For the time being.”
The corner of his mouth lifts when he reads between the lines.
Ariana will marry me.
ARIANA
When we got here, I had to suppress the urge to run back to the plane and hide. I’m still getting used to Alexei, and meeting Damien and Carson, who look just like their brothers, was intimidating as hell.
And then there’s Winter. Now that’s one woman I won’t be looking for trouble with. She moves like a jungle cat, her demeanor matching that of her husband’s.
Well, girl, you’re in the thick of it now.
As soon as the meeting was over, I sneaked out of the house. Demitri will probably scold me for leaving his side, but he said we’re safe here.
I walk toward a lining of trees, just needing a little time away from everyone. I’m used to being alone, and I haven’t had much of that since Alexei came to get us from the island.
My thoughts turn to what Alexei said, that I’m a part of their family now.
Am I really?
They’re all cut-throat killers… and then there’s me.
I hear leaves crunching behind me, and glancing over my shoulder, I see Winter coming toward me.
“Hey, I hope you don’t mind me exploring?”
“Not at all.” She falls into step next to me and gestures to her right. “Come this way. It leads to the shore.”
I walk with her, and I’m surprised when she doesn’t say anything. Reaching the shore, we sit down, and then a smile tugs at my mouth as we stare at the Finnish town in the distance.
After a while, Winter turns her gaze to me, and I’m surprised when she gives me a comforting smile. “It’s a lot to deal with, right?”
I nod and suck in a deep breath. “Honestly, I don’t know if I’m coming or going.”
“I’ve been there. You might not see it now, but you’re in good hands. The men will take care of everything.”
“They’ve already done so much for me,” I admit. “Even though Demitri kidnapped me and scared the living hell out of me, I know I can trust him.”
Winter lets out a chuckle. “He kidnapped you?” A smile filled with curiosity forms around her mouth. “This I have to hear.”
She doesn’t look as threatening anymore, and I relax next to her. Needing to talk to someone, I relay everything that’s happened, leaving out the part where I slept with Demitri.
“Talk about being overwhelmed.” Lifting her hand, she pats my back, and then she tells me how she met Damien.
I’m so engrossed in the story that everything around us fades away.
“When did you know you loved him?” I ask.
Winter thinks back to the past, then murmurs, “The Vetrovs are the best, and they’re not afraid of anything, but the moment Damien looked at me and I saw the fear of losing me in his eyes, I knew.”
“But you married him before you loved him, right?” I ask, enjoying getting to know Winter.
She nods. “Alexei arranged our marriage as an alliance.”
“How did you feel about it?”
Winter shrugs. “I always knew I’d marry to form an alliance. I was lucky with Damien because I was already attracted to him.”
A smile pulls at my lips. “You never regretted it?”