Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Intense relief washes over Tiana’s face, and as if she’s caught in a daze, she walks toward me to get to the door. I take hold of her hand, and leaning down, I whisper in her ear, “Go straight to Alek and Aurora. Stay with them until I come to get you.”
She nods before exiting the room.
Locking eyes with Makarova, Viktor mutters, “You’re a worthless piece of shit. What makes you think I’ll give you a bratva princess? You’ve been nothing but a thorn in my fucking side.” His eyes narrow on the man. “If I want your business, I’ll fucking take it.”
Viktor eyes swing to me, pinning me with an authoritative look. “What have you done to deserve Tiana?”
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
I take a step forward. “Give me an opportunity to earn Tiana Petrov, and I won’t disappoint you.”
I don’t miss the corner of Luca’s mouth lifting with pride.
Viktor tilts his head, stares at me momentarily, then nods. “The task will be sent to you via a secure message. You’ll have a week to get the job done.”
“Thank you, Mr. Vetrov.”
“This is unacceptable,” Makarova says as he rises to his feet. “Are you sure you want to give the girl to the boy? Once I leave this office, the offer is off the table.”
A smirk tugs at Viktor’s mouth. “The offer was never authorized by me. I’ll see you on the battlefield, Makarova. Watch your back when you leave the safety of St. Monarch’s.”
“You’ll regret this, Vetrov.” Makarova glares at Viktor, and as he walks to the door, his eyes meet mine.
I’ll see you once my bride is settled in her new home.
“For months, I worked to get the deal with Makarova. Tiana was a token of good faith between him and us,” Mr. Aslanhov complains.
Viktor shakes his head. “I’m disappointed in you, Vincent. My father spoke highly of you, but to allow a woman who’s under your care to be treated like an animal is not acceptable.”
It’s been ten years since Viktor took over as head of the bratva, but everyone knows his father is still active in the business. If you take on one Vetrov, you face the entire family and the Koslovs who they’re close with. And the Cotronis. Fuck, you’d be stupid to piss off Luca or Viktor.
Aslanhov’s jaw drops, and his eyes widen, but before he can say something, Viktor continues, “Makarova will never bend the knee. Did you really think giving him a woman would make him bow after a decade of war? If it were that easy, I’d have arranged a marriage a long time ago.”
Looking like he just had his ass handed to him, Aslanhov mutters, “I apologize for my mistake.”
“We’ll talk once I’m done cleaning this mess you’ve created. Leave.”
After Aslanhov exits the office and it’s just Misha, me, Luca, and Viktor, I let out a breath of relief.
That’s half the battle won.
“Thank you, sir,” Misha says, gratitude in his eyes. “My sister means the world to me.”
Viktor nods as he walks to the liquor cabinet, and pouring himself a shot of vodka, he says, “There’s nothing more important than family.” He throws the alcohol down his throat, then continues, “The wedding will be officiated as soon as Mr. De Santis has completed the job.”
Looking at Luca, I say, “There’s only three months of training left, sir. May I have early leave to do the job, marry Tiana, and return to work?”
Luca’s eyes search mine, then he nods. “Once you’ve succeeded in whatever task I have for you, you may leave St. Monarch’s.” He stands up, and closing the distance between us, he takes hold of my shoulder. “Don’t fail me.”
“I won’t.”
We look at each other for a moment, then he turns to Viktor. “I think we’re done here. Let’s go home to our wives.”
“Mr. Cotroni,” I say to get his attention. “Thank you for settling this issue for us.” My eyes move to Viktor. “I appreciate it.”
“Clearly, I have a soft spot when it comes to love,” Viktor chuckles, the sound deceptive. “But I hope, for your sake, this is the last time I have to leave my wife to clean your mess.”
I nod, and only after our bosses have left the office, do I look at Misha. “I’m taking Tiana home. To Venice.”
The corner of his mouth lifts in a smile, the tension of worrying over Tiana’s future draining from his face. “Thank you, brother.” Walking to me, he gives me a brotherly hug. “Tiana will be a good wife. All I want is for her to be happy.”
“I’ll do everything in my power to give her the life she deserves.”
We pull apart, and only then does it sink in – Tiana is mine.
Chapter 15
Tiana
I’m stunned out of my mind as I stare at the glass of water Alek ordered for me.