Page 99 of Savage Reign

“You remember, Vadim?” Niko asks.

“How could I forget? The cereal lover, right?”

Vadim makes a move to kiss the back of my hand. It’s about halfway to his lips when Niko scowls and clears his throat in warning.

“Nice to see you again,” he says, with a mischievous grin, letting my hand go. Vadim then introduces me to his friends, a blonde woman named Tatiana, and her sister, a redhead named Galina.

“Why don’t you take a seat? Vadim and I have a few people to talk business with first, but I’ll have champagne brought over. Loosen you up a bit before I introduce you to everyone.” He trails a hand down my arm, leaving little sparks in its wake.

As soon as we’re alone, both women give me their full attention.

“Okay, I've got to ask about you and Nikolai,” Galina says, leaning forward conspiratorially.

“Tell us everything. I mean, he’s been a confirmed bachelor for years, and then suddenly, he shows up with a wife? The sister-in-law of Roman Vasiliev, no less.” She rubs her hands together. “There's got to be a juicy tale there.”

Tatiana shoots her sister a look as glasses of champagne appear at our table. “Don’t be so nosy,” she scolds.

Galina rolls her eyes. “Give me a break. You know that’s all anyone here is talking about.”

Tatiana turns toward me. “I mean, we are curious, but I don’t want to pry into your business.”

I laugh. At least they’re being honest. “Let’s start with what you do know.”

“Not much,” Tatiana admits. “Nikolai went to Moscow and came home married to you. Everyone’s been tight-lipped, but I can assure you, all the single ladies in St. Petersburg had a good cry about it.”

My eyebrows hit my hairline. I’m surprised that’s all that’s known about us, but I guess when the pakhan wants people to keep their mouths shut, they do.

Before I can say anything, Galina jumps in, resting her chin in her palm. “I bet it was a whirlwind romance. Love at first sight, swept off your feet, all that fairy tale stuff, right?”

I nearly choke on my champagne. If only they knew how far from a fairy tale this marriage started—more like a horror story, complete with a villain who's all too real—one whom I fell head over heels for.

“Not exactly,” I say, taking a sip for liquid courage. “Niko and I started as an arrangement, of sorts. It’s… complicated.”

Galina's eyes widen as if I’m about to spill some juicy gossip. “Complicated how?”

I fiddle with the stem of my glass, choosing my words carefully. “Let's just say the marriage wasn’t my choice.” I peer across the room and see him standing, talking to a group of men. When his eyes catch mine, he gives me a little wink, and my stomach does a summersault. “I feel differently now.”

Tatiana nods thoughtfully. “That’s the case with most bratva marriages. You’re just lucky that your husband’s not some old fart twice your age and three times your weight.” She makes a face. “Like my betrothed.”

Galina smirks. “Well, Nikolai is three times your size… but in a good way.”

We share a laugh, but when I look over at Tatiana, she looks down. “But aren’t you here with Vadim?” I ask.

“He’s just my older brother’s best friend. That’s the guy my parents promised me to.” She nods toward an older man scolding a waiter, his face twisted in irritation as he waves an empty glass in the air.

“I’m sorry,” I say, not even trying to sugarcoat it. “You guys come from a bratva family?”

Galina frowns. “Unfortunately. Once Tatiana is married off, I’m next. That’s why I’m having as much fun as possible until my parents force me kicking and screaming into a wedding dress.”

A warm hand skims down my back, stealing my attention. Nikolai leans in, his breath tickling my ear. “Ready for me to introduce you?”

I’m feeling nervous, but I agree, anyhow, and excuse myself, allowing Nikolai to lead me across the room.

“I’m going to introduce you to the birthday boy, Stanislav.”

As we approach, Stanislav, a man in his early thirties with sharp cheekbones and a neatly trimmed beard, rises from his seat, as do a dozen or so of the men around him.

“Pakhan,” they say nearly in unison and bow their heads in a sign of respect.

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