Page 9 of Darkest Sin

“I’m not sure Uncle Denis is going to offer us a choice,” I tell her.

As if on cue, he arrives at the house, strolling inside like he lives here (which he does not because Mom made sure of it). “Natalya, I want to introduce you to Antoni Ivanov.”

An older man walks into the house. He has to be in his fifties at least.

“Please to meet you,” he says, taking my hand before I can even process what’s happening. He kisses the back of it. I force my heartbeat to calm down. When he lets my hand go, I can’t un-feel the wet mark he left behind on my skin.

“What is this?” Tatiana asks. “This is Natalya’s father’s funeral. This is not the place to make a marriage deal.”

“It’s always the place,” Denis replies. “Now, Natalya. Come with me and Antoni so we can talk more in private.”

Mom steps in front of me. Other guests are beginning to arrive, making the room feel more and more claustrophobic. “You are not going to be alone with my daughter with a man I barely know.”

“Tatiana, we’ve met before,” Antoni says.

“Oh I know. But only once and I thought you had acted inappropriately. You touched my leg under the table without my consent. I don’t want you as a husband for my daughter. Denis, I am not allowing this.”

“You don’t get a say, Tatiana.” He speaks in such a condescending way. I’m surprised that Mom doesn’t smack him all over again.

I look to my right and see that the stranger has returned. He’s standing in the kitchen, conversing with a man and woman. As if he can sense me looking, he finds my eyes across the room and gives me a nod.

He’s the one I want to speak to.

“I have to use the bathroom,” I blurt out. “Sorry Uncle. Maybe some other time.” I hurry away before Denis can pull me into a private room and make me marry Antoni right then and there.

I walk past the stranger towards the bathroom, hoping he’ll follow. I have questions I need answered.

I go into the bathroom and shut the door, hanging my head low. This day is already chaos.

A knock on the door makes me stand up straighter.

“Who is it?” I ask.

“I think you know.” It’s the voice of the stranger.

I crack the door open. He’s so tall and broad shouldered, he takes up my entire view.

“Hello, Natalya.” His voice is like warm honey. It’s smooth and deep and makes me want to sink deeper into him.

“Who are you?” I demand. “You never gave me your name and now you’re here, at my father’s funeral. I thought you were just a fan of the show when we met the other night.”

“Let me in and I’ll explain.”

I hesitate. Should I let this man into the bathroom so he can be alone with me? He could do anything to me.

But how can it be worse than what my own uncle is trying to do to me?

With a deep breath, I open the door wider and motion him inside. He shuts the door behind him. It drowns out all the noise from the rest of the house, reminding me that I’m in a bathroom, alone with an intimidatingly handsome man, who knows my father. He’s dangerous.

“I’m Mikhail Novikoff.”

I don’t know the name but then again, I don’t know any of the men who worked with my dad.

“You knew my dad.”

“Yes. We ran in close circles.”

“So, you’re a Bratva member.”