I am not sure which is which, but their names are Raisa and Ruslana.

One of them is going to become my wife.

I’m not going to bother with negotiations and conversations with her brothers. I know their parents are dead. If I wanted to approach the head of their family it would be their oldest brother, Rodion. It would be the diplomatic way to enter into a marriage agreement. But fuck him—he didn’t act diplomatically when he arrived in this city and started stepping on toes right away. No. There will be nothing diplomatic about my solution.

This is going to be quick and dirty.

I’ll kidnap one of the Kuznetsov sisters and force her family into submission by marrying her. Our names will be tied together and they will have no choice but to align themselves with us. And it will stop my brothers from being able to use violence to resolve this mess.

The sooner I can do this, the better.

I’ll get my men to start tracking one of them. Then when the opportunity is right—I’ll take her.

I watch for a long time until they step out of the coffee shop and hug each other goodbye on the sidewalk. They are both beautiful girls, but I have to admit, one of them is drawing my attention more than the other.

It shouldn’t matter. It doesn’t matter.

This is a marriage of convenience—nothing more.

My window is rolled down and I can hear their chatter now.

“Are you celebrating tonight?” The other one asks.

“Of course, I passed. I’m so freaking excited. We’re going to Monstera. That club at the waterfront.” Her sister giggles.

“Ugh. I wish I could come with you, Raisa.” Her sister looks upset.

So, she is Raisa.She can’t be more than twenty-two.

At thirty-three, I am much older than her. But it’s inconsequential. This is a marriage of purpose. Nothing more.

“Don’t sulk, Ruslana. We’ll go for some champagne this weekend. Just you and me. I don’t mind celebrating twice. But please, remember that you promised to keep this all a secret. I really don’t need any of our brothers finding out—please?”

“I pinky promised—it’s a sin to break a pinky promise—I know how it works. Your secret is safe with me, Raisa.”

Raisa laughs and wraps her arms around her sister, hugging her tightly.

Her smile is infectious, lighting up her eyes. Whatever she is celebrating obviously means a lot to her.

I know Monstera. It’s a very upmarket club. I’ll call them and have a VIP table booked for tonight. I guess I am going clubbing.

I guess the perfect opportunity presented itself much sooner than I thought. Raisa has just become my primary target and if all goes according to plan tonight, she will be coming home with me.

Chapter 2 - Raisa

I wrap my arms around Ruslana’s neck, hugging her so tight she squirms to get away. I feel happier than I have felt in a very long time.

I can’t believe it’s all coming together—my dreams finally feel like a real possibility and not just some distant fantasy.

Coming to America was a massive step for my family. I know my brothers all think that this place is the perfect city to build our family business. Boston is known for its high energy and fast-paced living. It’s an ideal place for our family business to thrive.

But I don’t care about any of that Bratva shit. I want out. I want to get away from it. And it just so happens that coming to America allows me the opportunity to do that.

Back home I completed my studies and graduated college just before we left. My brothers think that I’ll be ready to start working in the family business now, but the truth is that the qualification I got was only the first step towards me reaching my dream of becoming a doctor.

Now, secretly, I have just passed the entrance exam and I have been accepted to a very prestigious university here in Boston.

I wish I could tell my brothers, but I know they will be disappointed. Besides—they have their hands full with setting up the new business here. Ruslana, my younger sister, is my best friend and biggest supporter.