Page 28 of Possession of the Bratva

It wasn’t as fancy or flaunty as the others, but it was perfect for an evening meal. I was pinning my hair when Aleksandr entered the room. “Evening, dear,” he said, coming closer. “You look stunning like always.”

He kissed the top of my head and smiled at me in the mirror. “I’m just going to wash and change then we can go if you are ready,” he added as he walked to the bathroom.

“Sure,” I answered as I watched him in the mirror. He was a handsome man with the loyalty of all that knew him. Yet, I couldn’t accept it. Even though I hadn’t found much on him, I still felt sure I would find something.

Aleksandr came out wearing his dark blue suit. For a moment, it was like we were a real couple. Raising from my seat, he held out his hand. Placing mine in his, I felt a small fluttering in my stomach. “Ready,” he asked softly.

Smiling at him, I nodded.

The butler was ready with the door as we descended the stairs. The early evening breeze was welcoming on my suddenly hot skin. The drive to one of his other casinos was quick. The restaurant area was built onto the side of the building and not inside like the others. It provided an interesting look compared to the others.

Entering, I saw my family all seated at a table to the side. “Surprise,” Aleksandr said as I gasped. I had not expected to see them. Aleksandr was beaming at me as he leaned closer and whispered in my ear. “Mila, I genuinely want things to work between us.”

I appreciated the gesture but was still wary. He could have alternative motives for bringing them here. But I was ecstatic to see them. “Thank you,” I replied softly.

As we approached, they all rose. Taking turns hugging, kissing, and greeting me made my heart swell with love. I had missed them so much.

We sat down, had drinks, shared a three-course meal, and caught up on everything that was happening. I had missed quite a bit, but after two hours, it felt like I had never left. After our final round of drinks, Leon and Cindy were the first to leave. Shortly after, Piotr and Alyssa also departed.

Konstantin and Dahlia stayed a bit longer. Once they had left, we headed home. Back in our room, I used the bathroom first to change and get ready for bed. Coming out of the bathroom, I found Aleksandr staring out the window. “This was nice,” he mumbled.

Joining him at the window, I spoke softly. “Thank you, Aleksandr. I had a lovely evening.” I was a bit reluctant to thank him but had enjoyed the company of my siblings. Plus, he gave me my phone back and I now also have a laptop. It would give me more access to things.

Maybe he was really trying. I couldn’t be sure, but time would tell. Aleksandr turned to me, taking my hands in his. His touch was warm and tender. Looking up into his golden eyes, I felt my heart skipping a beat. “I would like to do this more regularly,” I added, smiling softly at him.

Stepping closer, Aleksandr smiled warmly. Our hands were the only obstacle between us. I could feel the heat his body was giving off. His tone was filled with tender care as he responded. “I think we can come to a new agreement. We can do this once a week, or more if time allows.”

My breath caught as he leaned in closer. “I would appreciate it,” I whispered, trying to steady my emotions. His stare was penetrating. It felt like I was floating on golden clouds. My stomach made a couple of tumbles as he slowly came closer.

“I will do my best to make it happen,” he replied, brushing my lips with his. Aleksandr lifted his face and kissed my forehead. He stepped back, let go of my hands, and headed to the bathroom.

Getting into bed, I wondered if I was wrong about him.

Chapter 15 - Aleksandr

Sitting in my office chair staring out the window, I reflected on the last couple of days. We have had two dinners with Mila’s siblings now and things were easing up a bit. We have been spending more time together getting to know one another.

I learned more about her younger days, her bond with the three men, and that she loves waterlilies. As we talked, I could pick up on her deep fear of losing her brothers due to a couple of close calls in their journey. She told me about their street days, creating the org, and her need for friends.

We spoke about food, shared our travels, and even vehicles. It has been eye-opening the last couple of days. She was happier and shared more easily as we spent more time with her siblings.

Today, I have invited them to my humble abode. Her brothers and their wives would be here around two. I also decided it was time to bring the two families together. I mentioned to Mila at breakfast that I had thought about it; she didn’t reject the idea. But I didn’t inform her that I had called them.

I was slightly worried about Anton, as he could sometimes be hard to understand. Konstantin also seemed to be hot-headed. I hoped the two of them didn’t get into it. I told my siblings to bring a friend so it wouldn’t seem too odd. The Smirnovs were all married, and we weren’t. I planned on settling her family first, so I asked mine to arrive a bit later.

Shaking my head, I glanced at the computer screen. I didn’t know how long I had been preoccupied, but there were three new emails. Once I started working again, it didn’t takelong for me to get absorbed. There were a couple of emails to send and orders to sort. I was concentrating so hard, I had to listen twice for the knock at the door.

Looking up, I waited to make sure. There it was again, a third knock. “Come in,” I called out, wondering if everything was okay. My staff knew not to bother unless in an emergency.

Mila poked her head around the door. Smiling, she spoke as softly as she had knocked. “My family’s here, are you joining us?”

Nodding, I replied with a soft smile. “In a moment, dear.” As I watched the door closing, I remembered that I had not informed her that my family would also be joining us. “Mila,” I called out.

She opened the door and looked at me with raised eyebrows. “Yes?”

“I invited my siblings to join us. I was going to inform you this morning, but I got so absorbed in my work. I just thought it was time for the two families to get to know each other.”

Mila nodded slowly. I was sure she was considering all the outcomes as I had done a million times. “Okay,” she said, smiling, and left.

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