Page 52 of Savage Bratva King

“No harm done?” Victoria sucks in a deep breath and stares at the window as if she can’t bear to look at her two foolish brothers. “It would be no harm done if this was one of our escorts we’re talking about. This is Gianna Sedric. Xander Amory’s sister-in-law. Daughter of?—”

“I know who she is.” I cut her off.

I know exactly where Victoria is going with this, but she can’t tell me anything I haven’t already thought about. What worries me is that she’s already figured out that I won’t want to let Gianna go when this is all over.

“Okay, so perhaps you would care to explain what you intend to do about it, Leonid?” Victoria sits back and folds her arms across her chest. “I mean, we’re only your brother and sister, but we can’t protect you if we have no idea what’s going on.”

“Hold up.” Andrej tilts his head backwards, closes his eyes, and raises his palms to the ceiling. “Maybe we can consult with the spirits. They probably know more about our brother’s intentions than we do.”

“She will return to her family as planned.”

The words stick in my throat like dry pasta. Putting Gianna into a car and sending her home is the furthest thing from what I want right now, when all I can picture is her curled up in my bed asleep when I left this morning. Her hair tumbling over her naked shoulders. Her lips plump and moist.

“Okay.” Victoria pauses, choosing her words carefully. “Let’s assume for now that you’re happy to send her back when you’re finished with her.” She arches a perfectly groomed eyebrow, daring me to protest, and I remain silent. “What do you think will happen to Gianna then?”

“Her family will increase her security detail. She will get married as planned and lead the life that was chosen for her when she was born into a mafia family.” Even to my own ears it sounds like I’m reading from a script.

Victoria picks up the pen and taps it on the file in front of her as if the click-click-click is helping her to assemble her thoughts. “You don’t believe this, Leonid. You know how it works. You have stolen from her the only thing that a mafia printzessa has to offer. Even if her fiancé agrees to go through with the marriage, and she can convince him that she is still a virgin, she will have to live with that lie for the rest of her life.”

For once, even Andrej is quiet.

Victoria has always been the voice of reason, the family member who views our business as a game of chess, the game at which she excelled even as a child, with all our moves mapped out inside her head. The reason she is the best at what she does is because she can see both sides of the coin. But in this instance, she knows firsthand what it means to be a mafia daughter.

Her marriage to Aleksei was arranged by our father. Her husband treats her well, and she has never complained about having the choice taken away from her, but I’ve always known that something is missing from her life. There is no glimmer of excitement in her eyes whenever she looks at her husband. No sparks fly between them when they touch. I’m sure that she loves him, but it’s the kind of love that exists between friends who know each other well. It isn’t the love of two people who are unable to resist the magnetic pull of the other.

She’s right. I knew what I was taking from Gianna last night even when I gave her the choice. Because I’d made sure that she wouldn’t be able to refuse.

“What do you suggest?”

“You could always marry her.” Andrej gives our sister a sideways glance, gauging her reaction. “Kill two birds with one stone. Save her reputation and seal an alliance with the Sicilians.”

“No.” I’m back on my feet.

“Why not?” Victoria asks. “It isn’t such a bad suggestion.” She pointedly ignores Andrej’s wide grin. “Unless you would rather wait to find out who father has chosen for you.”

“I have no intention of getting married.”

“Ever?”

I can’t answer that. I only know that I vowed when I was a teenager never to drag the woman I love into this way of life. If I’m being honest with myself right now, I always envisaged married life as two people madly in love, creating a home with rosy-cheeked children and at least a couple of dogs.

As if reading my mind, Victoria says, “She is already a part of this world, Leonid. She understands the dangers. And you have always prided yourself on being authentic. A man of your word. At least think about it.”

I nod once; it’s all she’s getting. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have somewhere important to be.”

19

GIANNA

We’re alonein the kitchen.

I’ve been alone with Tamara before when she brings my food to the guest room, but this is different. This feels as though it has been manipulated so that she can cause trouble for me while Leonid isn’t around.

One thing is irrevocably certain: she knows exactly what has been going on. She doesn’t know the details—if she did, I’d be lying on this pristine kitchen floor in a puddle of my own blood—but her feathers have been ruffled, and she wants me out of the picture.

Only, I don’t trust her. Why would she help me when the consequences of getting caught in the act are worthy of the kind of horrific news headlines that make people keep their kids inside after dark and their doors locked.

“Maybe I don’t want to escape.”

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