Page 11 of Bound to a Monster

The smile says,look at me, I’m happy and harmless.

Alex knows me better than that. We practically grew up together. He was my older brother’s best friend, back before Stepan died in a gunfight with a rival crime syndicate. After Step’s death, Alex and I got close.

Right up to the point where Alex married my sister, Natalya.

It’s fucking complicated.

But at least he’s a good husband. I can respect him for that. And once my sister gives birth, he’ll be a damn good father.

All because hecares. He cares so fucking much it drives him crazy. It turns him into an annoying perfectionist, and it nearly got him killed once already. But at least he cares.

That’s more than I can say about myself.

“Honestly, I thought you’d take some time off.” Alex slides a coffee over to me. I accept it with a nod and take a sip. “Given your situation.”

“I’m getting married. I’m not about to succumb to venereal disease.”

Alex’s eyebrows raise. “You sure about that? The disease, not the marriage.”

“Fuck off.” Little does he know, I’ve been totally celibate, with the exception of one incredible night.

“I’m just saying, you can take a break. You still haven’t even met your future wife yet.”

“Don’t even know her name.”

“That fucking kills me. Aren’t you curious?”

I shrug lightly. “Adriano said she’s pretty and loyal. That’s all I need to know.”

“Adriano doesn’t exactly have your best interests at heart, you know.”

“He fucking better.” The son of the Don of the Marino Famiglia’s the one who worked with me to set up this arranged marriage. It’s how our two families come together: Russian and Italian working in perfect harmony to import drugs through Canada and to make everyone rich.

But that deal is predicated on me getting hitched to one of his cousins.

My sister, Natalya, was supposed to be the one marrying an Italian, except she ran off, got knocked up, and said the vows with Alex instead. So now I’m taking her place as the sacrificial lamb.

That’s what I do for this family. Step died, and I took his place as heir. Nat fucked up, and I took her place at the marriage altar.

I hold this place together. That’s why it’s all going to be mine, sooner rather than later.

Sometimes I don’t even know why I want it.

A rotten family with a rotten business bleeding rotten blood all over this city.

Only that’s me: rotten deep down to the core.

“Look, take it from me as a married man?—”

“Married to my sister, so be careful about what you’re going to say.”

Alex laughs and shakes his head. “I just mean, you can either go into this and make your life hard, or you can go into it and make it easy. You know what I’m saying?”

“Not remotely.” I finish the display of Rolexes and step back to admire the display. “How’s this look?”

“I’m saying, have an open mind. You can struggle against your situation and act like a dick to the girl, or you can do your best to get along.”

“Are these things straight?” I frown and reach back in to adjust a few.

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