Page 16 of Bound to the Bratva
"I'm shocked and all, but something isn't adding up. How could the Volkolvs have some reach with the cartel, when Ruslan is marrying his own daughter off?"
I've done so much thinking over the past few days. So much thinking that I think I have this all figured out. "Dad agreed to marry me off to Maxim Volkolv because he was returning the favor to the Volkolvs for smoothing over the issue of the cartel's men being killed. The Volkolvs likely agreed to marry Vera off to his son in an offer of good faith, to help guarantee nothing would be done to us. Any of us."
Sasha chuckles, raising his brows. "Look at you, understanding so much about the Bratva and the leveraging of power."
I give him a tired smile, the weight of the day still heavy on my shoulders. "Well, when you're thrown into this kind of world, you learn to adapt pretty quickly. If I don't figure it out for myself, I never will."
Sasha leans back on the couch, his eyes fixed on mine. "And what are you planning to do about this arranged marriage?"
I let out a frustrated sigh, raking a hand through my hair. "Honestly, I have no idea. Marrying Maxim Volkolv is not something I ever imagined for myself. I always thought I'd fall in love and that Prince Charming would show up, but life hasn't worked out that way. Sasha, Maxim is horrible. He's a pompous, cocky asshole and I want to make his life hell. I cannot fucking stand him. "
My brother shakes his head, his voice filled with concern. "This isn't like you at all. Never in my life have I heard you say you hate someone. You're a positive, happy person. If you allow your anger to get the best of you, it could swallow you whole."
His words hit me like a gut punch. He's right. I'm not normally like this, but this whole situation is fucking with my head.
I am a happy person. I became a doctor to help others, to bring light into my patients' darkest moments. Marrying into the Bratva will only pull me further into the shadows. But, I don't have a choice.
"I know," I admit reluctantly. "This twisted arrangement is bringing out the worst in me. I'm frustrated, and so fucking angry all the time. I'm mad that my choice was taken away and there's nothing I can do to fix it."
Sasha reaches out and places a hand on mine, offering me the support I desperately need. "I could speak to Dad."
I nod gratefully, knowing that I can rely on my brother no matter what obstacles we face. The weight on my shoulders feels a little lighter with him by my side. "I appreciate the offer, but what good would it do?"
"I suppose you're right. It won't change anything. From what you're telling me, this is a done deal."
I nod, "It's very much a done deal. My only plan is to make sure Maxim hates me as much as I hate him. Maybe then I can still have some semblance of peace in my life."
"Do you really believe he's that awful, or are you mad because you're being forced into this?"
Wow. That's a deep question. "A little bit of both,"
Six
Maxim
It's been a few days since I met my fiancée. Since then, I've been speaking to her father quite a bit. It was revealed to her I'd be staying in Chicago and for the meantime, I've been staying in a suite at a luxury hotel downtown. Today, all of that will change.
I'm meeting with a real estate agent referred to me by Nikolai. She knows Chicago's neighborhoods very well and specializes in luxury real estate. I've been emailing with her back and forth over the last couple of days, trying to determine what I'm looking for.
The God's honest truth is that I don't know what I'm looking for. Whether it's a condo, townhome, or house on the outskirts of the city...I don't have a fucking clue. Nikolai did let me know that Aria lives in an apartment ten minutes away from the hospital, and I believe there's a rule that says doctors working for hospitals need to be within thirty minutes of it. So, I have given Katarina, the realtor, that information.
I told her as long as it's within thirty minutes of the hospital, to go through and see what she thinks would fit. I have a budget of six million, and would prefer two living spaces, and three to four bedrooms. Otherwise, I'm not overly picky.
Katarina and I blocked out the entire afternoon today so we can go house hunting. I'm supposed to meet her in about twenty minutes, so I head out.
I arrive at the designated meeting spot faster than I thought I would, a quaint little café nestled in the heart of downtown Chicago. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the sweet scent of pastries. The sound of chatter and clinking cutlery fills the cozy space as I scan the room for the woman who will undoubtedly get a large commission check.
Suddenly, a woman catches my eye. She exudes an air of confidence and sophistication as she gracefully makes her way toward me. Her cascading chestnut curls frame her face, accentuating her striking hazel eyes. Dressed in a tailored suit that hugs her curves in all the right places, Katarina's presence commands attention. Not surprising considering she's Russian.
"Maxim?" she smiles warmly, extending her hand toward me. "I'm Katarina, your real estate agent. It's a pleasure to finally put a face to the name."
I return her smile and shake her hand firmly. "Likewise, Katarina. Thank you for taking the time to show me around."
Katarina leads me outside where a sleek black car awaits us. With a graceful motion, she opens the door for me and I slide into the luxurious leather seat. As we embark on our journey, Katarina explains that our first stop is a magnificent mansion situated just outside the bustling city, but still conveniently within thirty minutes of the hospital.
As we drove along tree-lined streets, I can't help but be captivated by the beauty surrounding us. I didn't think Chicago would be anything good. I thought it was a dump of a tourist attraction, but I'm wrong. Stunning mansions peek out from behind meticulously manicured hedges, each one more impressive than the last. The sun casts a golden hue across the landscape, illuminating everything in its path.
Finally, we arrive at the first home. An immaculate mansion tucked away behind an eight foot stone wall surrounding the property. Katarina pulls up to iron gates and rolls down her window, inputting a key code in the keypad.
