Page 52 of Auctioned to the Bratva

I rose and reached out. As Ivan folded his fingers around mine, Roman stepped closer. “I’d be careful who I shake hands with within the family,” he said grinning.

Raising my eyebrows, I wanted to ask why but then I felt my fingers being forced into each other. Shock filled me as I looked up at Ivan. His smile broadened as he kept squeezing. I tried to return his solid grip, but the giant of a man was pure brute strength.

I felt my knees grow weak as my fingers turned to mush in his hand. Just before I started going down, Ivan let go and pulled me up by the shoulders.

Ivan and Roman smiled at each other before taking their place at the table. I sat back down rubbing my fingers softly.

“Right then,” Oleg said as he rose and picked up his glass. Silence filled the backyard as everyone turned toward him. “No business today, it’s family time.” He said waving his glass around.

“Morozov,” the family replied in unison before continuing with what they were doing. I grinned glancing around. There were so many people, and I didn’t know more than half of them.

Oleg introduced me as his long-lost son to everyone present. I shook more hands and shared hugs and kisses on the cheek with more people than I thought could be done in one day. Once the introductions were finally done, we could sit down and get to know each other.

Leo and Samantha came over and sat with us. Leo told the story of how I saved his life in the warehouse. I tried to deny it as I didn’t want the attention all on me. But he wouldn’t let it go until I agreed with him.

Oleg beamed at me, “You make me proud already,” he said raising his glass. “Long live our sons,” he added. Everyone cheered and Leo thanked me once again.

As we shook hands, the people around us insisted on a speech as they all cheered, “Speech, speech, speech.”

Oleg beamed at me as I rose to my feet. “Okay, okay,” I said, lifting my glass into the air.

“Starting out, I didn’t want to be part of this family,” I said staring at Roman. “But, after everything we have been through. After seeing and living the life this family offers,” I said, swallowing hard. Glancing at the faces around me, I saw compassion and kindness.

“I have learned so much in the last couple of months. And I have to thank each and every one of you. I am honored to bepart of such a great loving family. Salute,” I ended my speech by lifting my glass higher.

The air filled with ‘salutes’ and everyone made sure to congratulate me on joining the family.

After sharing some snacks, drinks, and childhood stories some of the family started leaving. The day had passed quite quickly, and I had other plans for the evening. But I wasn’t quite ready to leave.

Spending the day with my father and family turned out to be relaxing. I loved hearing about their lives and the excitement they lived. Ivan’s wife Reina took Irina and me on a magnificent tour of their lovely home.

After most of the extended family had left, about twelve men, brothers, and cousins with their wives and kids were present. We pulled some tables together and gathered in a big circle.

Before I knew it Roman had spat out the news about me wanting to marry Irina. Blushing, I shook my head at him. Glancing over to Irina, I noticed her cherry cheeks as we hadn’t made anything known. We didn’t want to be influenced or pressured into something.

Now, with the news out in the open, the family started in on us. Ivan, Nikolai, and Roman ganged up on me as they poured our drinks.

“Thinking about something and not doing it is like winking at a girl in the dark,” Ivan said, grinning at me.

“Well,” Roman added. “He actually sat in the dark when he first saw her.”

“Were you stalking her?” Nikolai asked.

The family laughed as Yuri stepped closer and tapped me on the shoulder.

“Did little Irina scare you?” Yuri asked.

Glancing at him I shook my head as I rose from the table.

“No,” I started but Irina jumped in and answered for me.

“It’s coming, okay.” Irina blurted out grinning at me. “Just not yet, keep your horses in check.” She spoke glancing around at everyone.

“So, Irina, we can start planning the wedding then?” Evelina added to the conversation.

Karine, Samantha, and Reina all rose and walked over to Irina.

“Irina,” Sam said as she went down on one knee with Karine and Reina at her sides. Flinging her arms into the air, she added, “Marry me.”

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