Arranged Bratva Love

Andrei

The news of Ivan’s death startled me.

The man who was the head of the Volkov Bratva was a pain in the ass, but he was worth fighting for. He was worth being loyal to, and to hear he was dead angered me.

There was a pain inside my chest, and it didn’t ease, not for a long time. All that kept me going were Ivan’s words to me. He told me something was going to happen, and he needed me to keep fighting.

The news of his death had spread like wildfire, and it shouldn’t have, however, it brought repercussions. When Ivan originally took over from the Bratva, he forged deals, pushed other players out. My city was once owned by part of the Italian mafia, but he’d pushed them back until they had a small state to call their own, as well as Evil Savages MC. For the longest time, I’d been dealing with them, and now I had news of them entering one of my nightclubs and burning it to the ground.

That was where I stood right now, on the outskirts of one of my best nightclubs. The firefighters had been too late to the blaze, and I knew it was because of the Evil Savages Prez, Demon.

“Sir?” Leo asked.

I had already handled the police. They had wanted a report of my whereabouts. The fire marshal had also given him an assessment. To rebuild was going to cost me a small fortune.

“Round up the men,” I said. “We’re going hunting.”

This was an outright attack. I also had my men piling up, and it was time I ended this.

Ivan Volkov might be dead, but my city wasn’t going to burn without a fucking fight. I turn away from the smoking embers, pulling out my cell phone to see Ive Yahontov calling me.

“What?” I asked, not in the mood to make small talk.

“The Cartel have taken the product,” Ive said.

I cursed.

Ive’s territory held a port that was once known for smuggling drugs and women into the country. With Ivan’s death, the Cartel were now attempting to take their turf back.

“This is a war. You have no choice but to play fire with fire. Destroy them. Do not take any prisoners. They think the Volkov Bratva has fallen, you make them aware that it will never fall.” I hang up my cell phone.

So far, the only one who had been able to keep order within his state was Oleg, which I didn’t like. It meant something wasn’t quite right. He’d also handled the news of Ivan’s death, easily. I would have to talk to Slavik and arrange a visit to Oleg’s territory.

My cell phone rang and I saw it was from an unknown number. It wasn’t unusual for me to get calls from people I didn’t know. I hovered over the red symbol to end the noise. Instead, I pressed the button to accept.

“Hello, Belov.”

I wasn’t a fool. It was the MC Prez, Demon.

“Do you like your present?”

I don’t respond, keeping my thoughts and opinions to myself. He’s known for wanting to rile people up. He wants me angry so I’ll do something stupid and attack him without thought. He doesn’t have the first clue who he’s dealing with.

Laughter rang down the line. “This is only the beginning, Belov. I’m going to burn your city down to a fucking crisp and bask in the bloodshed.”

His threats bored me.

I hung up my cell phone and walked toward my car. Leo was already waiting for me. As I climbed in, I told him to head to my penthouse. I’d not taken Adelaide out since that day. I’d also not left unless it was to attend to important business like today.

She hated my presence. I sensed her anger and disappointment. Her day at the shelter had gone so well. I’d surprised her with how much I loved dogs. It had been too long since I had a dog of my own. In fact, after my father’s dogs had died of old age, one by one, I hadn’t replaced them. Their passing had been the worst kind of feeling I’d ever experienced in my life. I missed them so much, but as with all passing, time had helped. I’d not gotten another dog.

Love and emotion were weakness. I didn’t have time for weakness.

My cell phone rings again. Glancing down, I see it’s an unknown number. Gritting my teeth, I end the call. This happens, two, three, four, and five more times, until I finally accept the call.

“What the fuck do you want?” I asked.

“To say surprise.”

I tensed up.

“Ivan?”

“The one and only, back from the dead.”

“But … you’re supposed to be dead.” I sound so fucking stupid.

“I know, and hopefully, you’re very happy to hear from me.”

“I … yes, of course.” I was happy. Fuck me, I was.

“Tell me what’s going on.”

I explain everything. How my territory has the MC back, trying to fight for turf as well as the mafia. My section of mafia is not the same as Slavik’s. Aurora was the daughter of one of their head guys. The whole arrangement had been organized by Ivan. As it happened, the guys from my territory were enemies of Slavik’s guys. They fought amongst themselves rather than band together. That’s how Ivan had brought about his power. He’d made sure to bind us, to make us stronger.

I told him about Ive’s Cartel issue. How Victor had an uprising amongst the soldiers, Peter’s issue with the law, and then Oleg’s perfectly organized territory.

“I fucking knew it,” Ivan said.

“Are you going to tell me what is going on?”

“One day, but for now, my sudden rise from the dead will be a secret. What are your plans for Demon?”

“He has a daughter,” I said. “I think it’s only fair that we take from him what he considers the most precious.”

Ivan laughed. “I like this. Make the arrangements. I’ll call you soon.”

I hung up my cell phone and smiled. I have no idea what is going on, but Ivan would tell me what I needed. This was his job as the boss. I could only imagine he was sniffing out a snake. Was Oleg his target? I had no idea.

Leo followed me up to my penthouse suite when we arrived in the building. Opening my front door, I paused at the sound of music playing way too loud. This was new. Adelaide rarely made any sound.

Reaching for my gun, I saw Leo do the same, out of the corner of my eye. We close the door quietly, and move through the penthouse, and I come to a stop when I catch sight of Adelaide. She’s not under attack from anything other than liquor.

She’d never been in my office before, but it would seem since I left, she had decided to go and sneak inside. There was nothing there for her to find.

The music blasted too loud, and she held the whiskey bottle in her fist. Her eyes were closed as she swung her head, left to right, jumping up and down like a crazy person.

Looking back at Leo, I nod for him to leave.

Adelaide still hadn’t seen me so I reach for the remote, and press “pause” on the music, sending the whole room into silence.

“What the fuck?” Adelaide asked.

She whirled around to look at me, and she was a little unsteady on her feet.

“Liquor does that.” I nodded at the bottle.

“Oh, please, this is the best feeling I’ve ever had. The taste is so damn nasty. I don’t know why anyone drinks it but then I got to thinking, maybe that’s what can keep me locked up in here. Drinking and partying.” She stumbled toward me and reached for the remote. I hold it out of her reach. “Stop being a stupid party pooper. It’s not like you care about what I’m doing, or who with.” She giggled like a little schoolgirl. “That is so funny to think of you even caring. No, you leave that to Bethany. She got to have whatever she wanted. I bet she didn’t have to kiss you for it.” She tilted her head to the side. “Nah, she probably did a whole lot more than that, and was even good to you in bed.” She wrinkled her nose. “Gross. I have to have sex with a man who put his dick in my sister first.”

I had no idea Adelaide could be so free with speech. The drink was having the effect. She’d spent a great deal of time ignoring me. Rather than find her outburst annoying, I thought it rather refreshing and cute. She swayed to whatever music played inside her head.NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.

“We don’t have to have sex. We didn’t on our wedding night. We’re not having a honeymoon. You have to come up with some lame excuse to force yourself to kiss me.” She laughed a little more. “This is so ridiculous.” She covered her mouth with her hand, as if she understood the joke. “I’m married to one of the scariest men alive and I’ve got to have sex with you. I bet you don’t want to have sex with me at all.” She put her hand on her waist. “I’ve been told enough times I’m not as good as Bethany.” She dropped the bottle to the floor and I watched as it smashed. Adelaide bent forward laughing.

Anyone else, I’d have found this outburst annoying, but watching her, listening to her, I found her utterly enchanting. She snatched at the too-large shirt, ripping it over her head.

The only issue I had was the broken glass and her tender feet.

“Adelaide,” I said.

“No, no, no, you don’t get to come near me unless it’s to grant me a divorce.” She threw her shirt to the floor. I watched as she stumbled, stepping on broken glass. Adelaide cried out each time she did, and I went toward her, but she would only move away. As we did this dance, she removed her clothes until she stood before me in a pair of sexy white lingerie. All silk and lace, and so fucking sexy against her pale skin.

If I wasn’t so worried about her hurting herself, I’d give into the pleasure of being aroused, but watching those tender feet of hers, I felt fear. Her feet were already bleeding and I had to wonder about the amount of alcohol she’d consumed. She giggled again.

“You see, I’m nothing like Bethany. I am everything she hates. I don’t mind. I love my body,” she said. “But this is not what you want.”

She had no idea what she was talking about.

“Divorce me,” she said.

“Not going to happen.”

“You hate me! You can’t stand me. This is what you want, isn’t it? To find a reason to get rid of me so you don’t have to be near me. It’s why we haven’t consummated this marriage.” She lifted her hands into the air to give air quotes.

She stumbled, and this time I couldn’t stand to see her fall. Capturing her in my arms, I cradle her head against my chest, wanting to hold onto her. I breathed in her strawberry cream scent that was soon replaced as she bent forward and vomited all over my trousers and shoes. I should have expected that. Adelaide wasn’t a drinker.

Lifting her up into my arms, I realized she was a lot bigger than Bethany, but I didn’t care. I loved the feel of her in my arms. This, to me, felt right. She was perfect. She attempted to wriggle in my grasp, but I refused to let her go.

I went straight to the shower, where I dumped her on the floor and turned the shower on. I let the cold jets hit my back, covering her body so she wasn’t cold. Kicking off my sodden shoes and tearing my clothes away, I stood before her in a pair of boxers.

I lifted Adelaide up into my arms. “What do I have to do to get you to like me?”

I didn’t answer. Silence was the best.

The drink was making her weak, so I started washing her, taking my time, soaping her body, and then her hair. When she was clean, I held her in my arms. She still had on the bra and panties, and I wasn’t ready to take them off. She looked so good in them.

With a towel wrapped around her, the last of her energy was zapped away. I quickly dried her, and then took her through to our bedroom where I settled her into bed.

“My feet hurt,” she said.

Her eyes were already drooping. This is why I loved whiskey. The good stuff had a way of numbing any kind of pain. When I was sure she was out cold, the soft snores coming from her lips made me smile.

Returning to the bathroom, I cleaned up the blood from her feet, grabbed the first aid kit, and got to work at removing the shards of broken glass. Piece by piece. I didn’t need a doctor to look at my handiwork. Adelaide had been lucky as she’d only stepped on a couple of pieces. Her feet would sting, but there would be no lasting damage. Gripping her ankle, I lay a kiss to each one of her feet, and wondered if she would one day know the complete truth.