Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“Ah, the doctors have me on a tight leash, that is true. But tonight is my birthday, and none of that matters.” He grins, but it fades when his brother approaches us.
Vadim Zarkov.
My father’s brother.
And thorn in my fucking side.
He has yet to make the move to overthrow me, but it’s coming.
Yet we play this game of tolerating each other until someone makes a move.
Boris doesn’t like Vadim. Not many people do.
He doesn’t usually come to family events, and his presence makes me wonder what he’s up to. The only time I see him is when the bratva meet at The Tea Room to discuss business and to vote on matters.
“Happy birthday, brother,” Vadim says to Boris.
Boris gives him a nod. But even my easy-natured uncle can’t hide his dissatisfaction that Vadim had the nerve to show his face.
Vadim notices Brooke as he turns his attention to me. “Nephew, are you not going to introduce us?”
My jaw tightens. I want Brooke on his radar as much as I want a bullet in the head. But I have little choice but to maintain niceties. “Vadim, this is Brooke.”
He slides his dark gaze to her, and the way he looks at her makes my fingers twitch at my sides.
“It’s a delight,” he says with a menacing drawl, and I notice Brooke flinch. “My nephew has been keeping you a secret from us.”
Brooke glances at me nervously, picking up on Vadim’s dark energy.
“If there’s something this family does well, it’s secrets, isn’t that right, Uncle?” I say.
Vadim turns to Boris and then brings his gaze back to me, chuckling darkly. “Some of us better than others.”
He doesn’t even hide his deceit.
I bite back my irritation. “I have to agree with you, Uncle.”
He offers me a snake-like smile. “Keep well, Nephew.”
He walks off, leaving a trail of foulness in the air.
“Well, if I didn’t need a drink before, I certainly need one now,” Boris says.
“You’ve been drinking champagne all night,” Maksim reminds him.
“I need something harder after that,” he says, watching his brother disappear into the crowd. “Crazy mudak showing his face here like he hasn’t been trying to crack the bratva from the inside out ever since poor Konstatin’s death. I need something with some fire to swallow down his bullshit.”
“Fine, I’ll get a vodka from the bar,” Maksim says, leaving us to get his father a drink.
Brooke touches my arm. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find the powder room.”
I nod, and she leaves me alone with Boris.
“She is stunning, Nephew,” Boris says, clamping his hand on my shoulder.
I follow his gaze and watch Brooke walking away from us. Her dress plunges to the small of her back, exposing her flawless skin.
Skin I ache to run my hands along.
“It’s unlike you to bring a date to anything, let alone a family gathering,” he says. “She must be special.”
“She’s something,” I mutter.
“Are you thinking of settling down?” he asks.
I glance at him. “I’m considering my options.”
He looks at Brooke moving through the crowd. “They look like pretty good options if you ask me.” He brings his focus back to me, his face sobering up as he says, “The bratva want you to marry. They want the heir in waiting.”
“So Feliks keeps reminding me.” I take a mouthful of champagne. “What do you think? Do I need a wife?”
“You’re asking me? The man who had two sons to two different women while at the same time trying to keep all my mistresses happy.” He chuckles. “Son, I say run a mile. Have fun. Fuck as many women as you can. This life is never a long one. Enjoy it while you can. Especially as pakhan.”
He laughs but stops when a beautiful woman in a dress with a low plunging neckline walks past. He grins. A similar grin to his son, Feliks. “If only I were younger,” he drools wistfully.
“And better looking,” I add.
“And not such a bastard,” he adds, laughing. But then his laughter fades, and a serious expression crosses his flushed face. “A bratva wife is a hard life for a woman. I advise you to choose wisely. If you choose at all. I don’t need you to be married or producing an heir to respect you as pakhan. You already have that.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
Maksim returns with three vodkas and hands them out.
Boris downs his in one mouthful. “Now, enough with business. It’s time to party. Let’s get another drink at the bar, and I’ll tell you all about the time I got too toasted on vodka and ended up buck naked on a ferry in Chicago…”
I join my cousin and uncle at the bar and try to focus on what Boris is saying, but I can’t. It’s been a while since Brooke left for the powder room.
I scan the room for her but can’t see her.