Second Best (Volkov Bratva 1)

I’d heard the rumors of just how deadly this man was. He was feared far and wide. The women gossiped about how he had the ability to tear apart a man with his bare hands.

I didn’t even know if that was possible. Fear ran down my back, and I tried to ignore it.

Ivan’s words rang in my head about how men liked to have a woman who talked back. Not in my experience they didn’t. They liked a quiet, submissive woman who was pretty and spat out sons. There, I’d said it, albeit in my head.

“What was Volkov talking to you about?” Slavik asked.

“I’m sorry?”

“You heard me.”

I did, but I was buying time. This wasn’t a conversation I wished to have with my husband. How did I get out of this?

“He talked about the party.”

“And?”

“Nothing more.” I wasn’t about to tell him the man’s advice.

Slavik’s hand tightened at my waist. I didn’t know if he was trying to warn me, or if he just had to hold me a little tighter.

“How are you enjoying the party?” I asked.

“It’s a fucking party, Aurora. How do you think?”

His harsh tone had me flinching. Of course. I was being treated like a fucking dumb woman. Rather than look into his dark, almost black eyes, I went back to staring at his chest. Had Ivan given me that advice on purpose?

Either way, I wasn’t going to use it.

Once the dance ended, Slavik told me that my driver, Sergei, was going to take me home.

Without another word, Slavik kissed my cheek and handed me to Sergei. No doubt he was going to be fucking the woman who had been hanging off his arm.

Against my better judgment, I looked toward Ivan, who watched me. He raised his glass in my direction, and I offered him a smile.

Staring down at the floor, I followed Sergei out to the waiting car. He held open the back passenger door, and I slid inside. The noise from the building seemed to grow louder, but I ignored it.

Parties had never been my thing. The fear of something bad happening always lingered in the air.

I was growing tired of living in fear. Resting my head back against the car seat, I didn’t bother looking back to see the building. Instead, I stared out the window at the passing scenery.

The city in darkness always seemed to offer a sense of freedom. There were more shadows, places to hide. It would be so nice to run, to escape.

Now that I was married, my chances were gone. I was trapped in a loveless marriage to a man who clearly couldn’t stand me. My days were numbered. Pressing my fingers to my temples, I tried to massage the pain that began to build.

Showing weakness would get me killed.

Being strong and loyal, that was what I needed to do.

To survive.

To one day earn my freedom.

I had a plan, I just hoped I knew what I was doing.

****

Slavik

The party had long ago ended. Wives were gone. Children were nowhere to be seen. The only people left were men, available women, and whores. Ivan sat at the head, looking like a king, which was exactly what he was. In front of him was the woman who had been hanging off me earlier.

Dana was her name, and he had proof of her treachery. No one could outrun the Volkov Bratva and they certainly couldn’t betray it. There were many enemies of Ivan’s wanting to take over. They didn’t like the new era we all worked within. The treaties he built. The places he ran. The rules he implemented.

I did.

I was loyal to him.

My life was in his hands.

I’d die for this man. I owed him everything, and he knew I’d do anything for him. The moment he told me to marry Aurora Fredo, I’d done so without argument. My wife was different. The truth was in marrying Aurora to me, her father had given us the greatest of insults.

It was known far and wide the second daughter wasn’t perfect. To many, she was the ugly, fat let-down. The real prize was her sister.

What Fredo didn’t know was Ivan had wanted Aurora from the start. Again, I had no idea why he wanted her, only that he did. What I didn’t like tonight was seeing them together.

I didn’t love my wife.

Our wedding night had been a fucked-up mess.

My order from Ivan had been clear: consummate the marriage and produce the bloody sheets as per tradition in Aurora’s family. I’d done that, and even the memory of it grated on my nerves.

She’d been terrified but duty-bound.

The moment I touched her, I found her so fucking dry, it didn’t matter what way I’d taken her, she’d have been hurt. Getting it over with had been a challenge. I’d moistened her up with my saliva, pretending I was getting my dick ready as I’d done it.