Page 54 of Forced By the Bratva Beast

“Right.” My jaw clicks as I take note of the all the cars in the parking lot.Goddamn it. The entire family is here, and it’s not what I expected or necessarily want. Maybe a smaller gathering where I can control who speaks to Sophia. I don’t want her to be fed lies and embarrassing childhood stories, which is what I fear, especially from my crazy aunts Bridget, Stephanie, or Arnette, but immediately, they are the first ones to wave enthusiastically at Sophia, and it appears that I’m fresh out of luck for my wish.

We walk into the cordoned-off area where a long trestle table sits with floral embroidered tablecloth covers, likely supplied by my aunts. It looks to be a traditional Russian design, and there are Russian sweets and treats spread out on the table as music plays softly in the background. The small area is fullof family, laughter, and loud voices speaking over each other, battling to be heard. Typical of the Utkin family. Before she can skip off, I will myself keep playing the fake marriage game, slipping my hand into hers. Subtly she rolls her eyes but puts on a smile as the aunts rush over, each one of them railroading Sophia.

“Oh hello! We’re sorry we couldn’t be at the wedding. Maybe you can have another one? Perhaps bigger and then everyone can join?” Arnette coaxes, her azure eyes pouncing on Sophia. Bewildered Sophia looks to me for guidance.

“No. We already had the wedding, Arnette, and you weren’t invited. That’s why we’re here today, to see everyone,” I advise, not as tactfully as I could have.

Bridget pretends to clutch at her heart, but I know better. All three of them like to stir up trouble, and I can see through the thin veneer of their shady attempts. They’re responsible for many Christmas blow-ups and break-ups of couples. “Oh, you are so mean, Nephew. Wait until I tell your mother.” The open threat does nothing but make me smile as I drop my hands in my pockets, but poor Sophia is none the wiser to the chaotic family dynamics.

“Um, nice to meet you all. Do you mind if I get something to drink first?” Sophia asks as I jump onto her request, walking over to the table and jostling with the aunts.

“Of course. You can tell us all about the baby, and when it’s due!” Stephanie’s eyes light up as Sophia glows, holding the mound of her stomach. Standing by her, I’m thankful when I see Fiona and Ruslan with Arina talking to one of our uncles. They look to be having a peaceful conversation, and that’s probably where we want to be.

“Why did you not tell us she’s so beautiful? Are you going to keep this one?” Arnette, the shit-stirrer asks, and I can feel the heat of gossip about to spill from her jabbering mouth.

“She is beautiful,” I reply in a clipped tone as she slaps my hand down.

“I can get the drink for her. You go mingle. Let us introduce her to the family. Shoo shoo!” There’s no point fighting it, but I still put my two cents worth in.

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I snap back in a dry tone, my uncle joining us at the table.

“Nothing to be afraid of. She’s in good hands.” Arnette winks, grabbing the drinks before I have a chance to say anything. My uncle cuts in to further distract me.

“Ah, you’ve arrived. I wanted to get a look at you. How’s things?” This is an uncle I like and respect, thankfully, so I’m more than happy to speak to him.

“Things are good,” I tell him, but I’m focused on Sophia as the aunts bombard her likely with a thousand questions, and I know any minute now, I’m going to have to save her from them.

“Good. Good. Come and speak with your father.” My father happened to be at our wedding, along with my mother. We speak for a few minutes, but then I return to Sophia’s side and make our way over to Fiona and Ruslan.

“You survived?” I ask on the short walk over to them.

“Phew. They are a handful, but they’re very funny people,” she replies.

“Not funny if you ask me. Pains in the ass, but hey, welcome to the Utkins.” I smirk, but there’s an underlying dread that maybe it won’t be enough after the birth of the child. Maybeshe won’t want to stay with me. I made the promise, but I don’t want it to be true.

Sophia’s face lights up as her arms open wide to her friend Fiona. They hug tightly.

“Oh my God. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. I’m so happy to be here with you!” Sophia says, bringing a grin to my face. It’s nice to see her reunited with her friend, and so happy.

Arina flaps her arms in between as I hug my cousin. “She’s getting big. How are you?”

Ruslan smiles, looking the most relaxed and content I’ve ever seen him. “Good. I’ve never been better. I see you’re following in our footsteps, and you’ve got one on the way.

Uneasy about where I stand with Sophia, I smile cautiously as she watches my reaction. “Yes. One on the way. A girl,” I announce, feeling like an absolute fraud, but it’s only because I haven’t told Sophia. Not the real unfiltered truth of how I feel.

“A girl!” Fiona and Sophia giggle together. “Did you hear that Arina? You can have play dates with your cousin. Won’t that be nice?”

“Yay! I want to play. Play, play, play,” she shouts, and when I look at them together, I can see the love between them, and it makes me envious. Sophia and I aren’t there yet.

Sophia smiles uncomfortably, changing the subject.I can’t let her go. No. I’ll find a way to keep her,I remind myself, but can I? The sunlight brightens her ginger hair, and the smattering of ginger freckles dotted across the bridge of her nose are highlighted under her makeup. Just like I love.

“It’s so bizarre how we ended up marrying cousins, isn’t it?” Sophia says, Fiona nodding in agreement.

“It is. I have to pinch myself to believe it as well,” she remarks.

Ruslan’s face splits into a playful grin. “That’s because we’re the best!” He flexes his bicep, kissing it as Fiona quickly yanks it down, laughing gleefully at him.

“Stop embarrassing me, but you are the best.” She beams, nodding and giving him a light kiss.

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