Page 34 of Arranged Mafia Marriage

Oblivious to my crisis of guilt, she reaches into the bag. “Oh, you’re going to love this one.”

15

Felicity

Ipace the penthouse living room, glancing at the clock every few minutes. Kiril called this meeting with his captains, and I insisted on attending. He wasn’t thrilled about it, but he agreed after I reminded him he agreed to teach me about the business before holding me aloof from everything when we discovered the pregnancy. I have months before delivery and plenty of time to learn everything. When I pointed out a meeting in our penthouse is hardly dangerous, he finally conceded.

The elevator dings, and Anya strides in, her blonde hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail. She raises an eyebrow when she sees me. “Felicity. I didn’t expect to see you here. I thought you got bored playing Bratva.”

I straighten my spine at the implied criticism. “I was acclimating, but I’m part of this family now. I should be involved in these discussions.” We haven’t officially announced the pregnancy yet, though I’m sure Elena has guessed, so word will likely leak soon.

She looks skeptical but doesn’t argue. The other captains file in, filling the room with an air of tension. Kiril emerges from his office, his presence commanding everyone’s attention. “Let’s begin,” he says, taking a seat at the head of the table. I settle into a chair next to him, ignoring the curious glances from the others.

Kiril eases forward while looking at everyone in turn. “We’ve received intel about Damiano’s latest move. He’s partnered with the Colombians to establish a cocaine pipeline through New York.”

Whispers ripple through the room. I frown, recalling something from my conversations with Kiril. “Doesn’t that go against Santino’s no-drug policy?”

Anya’s eyes widen slightly, as if surprised by my astute question. Kiril nods, a hint of pride in his expression. “Exactly. Damiano is breaking with tradition, likely to increase his profits and power base.”

I bite my lip, thinking. “Won’t that upset the other families? If he’s going against established rules, it could destabilize the whole structure.”

Anya shifts forward, her interest piqued. “That’s a good point. The other families might see this as a threat to the status quo.”

Kiril nods. “It’s a risky move on Damiano’s part, but it also presents an opportunity for us.”

He outlines his plan to sabotage the operation by intercepting the next shipment and anonymously tipping off the DEA. It’s clever, maintaining their hands-off approach to drugs while undermining Damiano’s new venture.

I listen intently, absorbing every detail. When Kiril finishes, I speak up. “What about the fallout? If Damiano suspects our involvement, won’t he retaliate?”

The room goes quiet. Kiril looks at me with approval and a touch of surprise at my perceptiveness. “That’s precisely why we need to ensure our involvement remains hidden. We’ll use intermediaries and false leads to keep our hands clean.”

Anya nods, her initial skepticism about my presence fading. “We’ll need to be careful about who we trust with this information. One leak could blow the whole operation.”

As the discussion continues, I occasionally offer more suggestions and ask questions. The captains begin to include me in their conversations, no longer treating me as an outsider. Hours later, as the meeting winds down, I feel a sense of accomplishment. I’ve proven that I can contribute, that I’m not just Kiril’s trophy wife.

Kiril dismisses the captains but asks Anya to stay behind. Once we’re alone, he turns to me, his expression serious. “You did well today,” he says. “Your insights were valuable.”

I smile at the praise. He seems sincere. “Thank you. I want to be useful, not just a decoration.”

Anya clears her throat. “I have to admit, I was skeptical about your presence at first after you disappeared for a while, but you’ve shown you have a good head for this business.”

Her words mean more to me than I expected. I nod, acknowledging the compliment. I decide it’s time to spread the word and say, “I had to deal with some morning sickness, but I’m back and plan to be fully involved.” I don’t want to tell anyone that Kiril panicked and kept me out of the businessfor a bit after learning about the pregnancy. I won’t reveal any weakness if I can help it, or that I’m his weakness.

Her eyes widen. “Oh… congratulations. Both of you.”

“Thank you.” Kiril’s hand finds mine under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. “We’ll need to be careful moving forward. Damiano is unpredictable, and this operation carries risks.”

Anya stands, gathering her things. “I’ll start making arrangements for the operation. We’ll need to move quickly.”

“Oh, Anya, feel free to share our news,” I say, imagining she can rapidly deploy it through a vast network of Bratva associates. In one way, being pregnant makes me more vulnerable, but it also cements our relationship, and it makes it harder for anyone one, ally or enemy, to question if we’re truly a united front.

“I will if it comes up.”

I smile, wanting to roll my eyes. I’m sure she’ll tell her friends among the Bratva as soon as she leaves here. Not because she’s necessarily a gossip, she wouldn’t be a confidante of my husband’s if she couldn’t keep her mouth shut, but because it’s big news. It feels arrogant to think about it like that, but it’s the simple truth. I’m carrying Kiril’s heir, further cementing his legacy and control.

As she leaves, Kiril turns to me. “Are you sure about this, Felicity? Once you’re in deeper, there’s no going back.”

I don’t flinch or look away. “I’m already in, aren’t I?”

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