Page 103 of Claimed By Desire

It’ll never be me, no matter how hard I try.

Natalya taught me that I can strive to be a good man, but a perfect man?

That isn’t possible.

“I’m with you, brother,” I say.

And the smile Lev gives me is the first genuine one I’ve seen on him in a very long time.

“That’s a start,” Adriano says and knocks a knuckle on the desk. “Alright, Lev, this isn’t a bad deal. I’ll have to get my father on board, but I suspect he’ll be amenable.”

Lev stands and holds out a hand. Adriano gets up and shakes it.

“Here’s to the start of a good relationship then,” Lev says.

Adriano laughs and pulls Lev in, slapping his back. “Want to see the girl I have in mind for you? I think you’ll be happy.”

“No, that’s okay.” Lev turns away and heads to the door. “I have plans to make.”

I follow him. Back in the hall, we stop in the quiet shadow of a doorway, before we reach the second bouncer. “You sure about this?” I ask him. The only time I’ll let myself say it. Because I promised I’d trust him, and I will.

“It’s time,” he says. “I didn’t want to do it this way, but I couldn’t let my father get suspicious.”

“How long have you wanted this?”

That darkness again. It flits across his face. “A very, very long time. Come on, let’s get out of here before they start shoving Italian girls at me. Looks like you’re getting the truce you need, and I’m getting a wife.”

Chapter 40

Natalya

The garden behind the Zeitsev mansion is beautiful. Blue and purple flowers bloom around big, manicured bushes, and a huge oak tree casts shade across the patio. Their housekeeper Nikkita serves tea and sandwiches, and I spent most of the afternoon quietly chatting with Karine about being pregnant and having babies while Valentin and Alexander make polite small talk about fatherhood.

It’s strangely nice and normal. I expected a meeting with the Pakhan to be overly formal and a little scary, and while Valentin definitely has some murder-arson-torture sort of vibes, he’s also very charming and extremely devoted to his wife.

And fortunately, she’s basically his polar opposite. Where he’s hard and dark, she’s light and airy and quick with a smile or a joke.

“You know, I’ve always wanted to thank you,” she says to me as we walk slowly around the small paved path that winds through the manicured flower beds. It smells like honeysuckle and fresh dirt. “For running out on Valentin.”

“I’m glad it worked out for everyone. Honestly, it didn’t feel like a smart idea at the time. I was just desperate.”

“I know something about feeling desperate too.” Her gaze goes far away for a minute before she brings it back on me. She smiles big, her thick, dark hair shining with sunlight. I have to admit, she’s really pretty—I can see why Valentin married her.

“But look at you now. You’re a mom.”

“I know, it’s so weird. Did you know they just let you take the baby home? Nobody, like, checks to make sure you’re ready. You push it out and boom, you’re a parent, good luck with that.”

“Seems wrong. I thought there was a mandatory class? To like, ease us into it?”

“Nope, no class.” She laughs lightly, and I’m smiling too. “I think I’d be lost with Nikkita.”

“Think I can borrow her?”

“God, that woman is such a baby hog. She’d probably happily work for you guys for a while, but sorry, she’s already taken. But seriously, don’t feel bad about hiring help. Everyone needs an extra hand.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

We come around the bend and rejoin the boys. They seem at ease with each other, though I can tell Alex is sitting very stiff and feels uncomfortable around the Pakhan. That’s the soldier in him: even now, he defers to those in power.

---