Page 5

Lev

I gaze into Valentina’s incredibly clear blue eyes as I stroll by the window, and my heart skips a beat. I control my reaction so as not to draw the Soldier’s attention, but I lower my glasses as I look at her. I then cross the street and enter the BMW SUV that Czar is driving.

“Damn, she’s beautiful,” Czar says, looking at her through the window.

“What did I tell you? Let’s get going,” I hiss, looking at her.

“Da, but what do you think? Did you like her,” Czar asks, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

“Da, I do. I’m glad that I’m going after her. Conti will think it’s just for the alliance.”

“Da, that’s what he wants.”

“When I meet him, I’m going to ask him to allow her to go out so I can talk to her.”

“Yeah, that would be good, but why don’t you meet her at her home?”

“Nyet, I want to meet her away from Conti.”

“Da.”

“I ordered some food while you were doing your scouting, so I’m going to stop and get it.”

“Da, I hope you ordered enough for everyone.”

“Of course I did.”

“Indeed.”

Czar and I return to the office carrying bags of food. Ivan has returned from his outing, but he didn’t fucking bring the food. Da, he’s up to something and I don’t think that I’m going to like it when I find out.

Ivan looks at me and pushes me off his chair.

“It’s unfucking believable; you went out and didn’t bother to wait for me,” Ivan grunts, crossing his arms.

“Ivan, chill, I have tons of shit to do, and I can’t wait around on you. You’re supposed to be on my schedule, got it,” I hiss, staring at him.

“Da,” Ivan grunts, looking annoyed.

I place the food on the table and walk over to sit next to Anatoly, raising my brow.

“I have an appointment with Conti,” Anatoly says.

“For today?”

“Nyet. Conti wants the meeting to take place tomorrow at four because he wants to email the contract and ask for you to review it. Conti appears interested,” Anatoly informs me, leaning against the chair.

“Fuck, this is moving so fast,” Czar says, sitting on the chair, crossing his arms.

“Da, and you’ve said enough.”

“Da,” Czar hums, shrugging.

“What are you planning,” Ivan asks, falling onto the chair with a plate of food.

“I’m forging an alliance with the Italian Mafia.”

I push off the chair to grab some food. I love Chinese food, and this place is fabulous. I take a few bites, and then I grab the cold soda.

“What for? We don’t need them,” Ivan huffs, shaking his head.

I look at him, rub my temple, and nod. That’s why he’s only my right-hand man, for doing the Bratva’s unspeakable work.

“We do need the alliance, and I’m going to talk to him,” I say, taking a drink.

“Da, I’m coming with you,” Ivan says, looking at me.

“I want all of you to come with me, but I don’t want any of you to interrupt my negotiations. I want this to go down airtight,” I tell them, looking at each one.

“Da,” Anatoly hums, nodding.

“Got it,” Czar says, shoving more food into his mouth.

“Da,” Ivan says, looking at me.

“I’m going to my office to review the file, and I want you to keep on digging up more information on Conti,” I say looking at Anatoly.

“Da,” Anatoly says, typing on the keyboard.

“I’ll work on the Brigadier's numbers,” Czar says, grabbing his laptop.

“Ivan, get the Soldiers ready for the meeting with Conti.”

“Da,” Ivan says, lifting his chin.

I walk to my office because I want to learn everything about Conti and Valentina. I don’t want surprises; in fact, I detest surprises.

I place the plate and my drink on the desk and turn on my PC. I click on the files, review everything about Conti, and then review Valentina’s file, taking my time. I want to know everything about her.

As I review her file, I chuckle when I see amusing incidents that happened at the boarding school. The school emailed through details of each incident to Conti.

Valentina didn’t take any shit from the girls that were bullying her. She took care of the problem. I love her photos at the boarding school because Conti did not take many, like two or three. But it pleases me to learn that no men are or have been in her life. Awesome, she has an accounting degree.

The next day.

“Hurry, she’s at the shopping mall, and I want to talk to her.”

“Da, but the cars are moving slowly; it’s rush hour.”

“I don’t give a fuck, figure it out,” I hiss, looking at Ivan.

“Da.”

“You’re so damn crazy,” Czar sighs, shaking his head.

“I don’t think it’s a great idea that we all continue going on these errands together without Soldiers,” Anatoly says.

“Da, so keep your ass in the SUV, and I’ll go inside alone.”

“Nyet, I’m going with you,” Ivan hisses, shaking his head.

Ivan figures it out, and we arrive at the shopping mall. He pulls into the parking garage. It takes me a few minutes to track Valentina.

I take strides, following the GPS on my cell, and then I stop when I see her. She’s walking into a store with Mia.

Fuck, I feel like a crazy stalker. I need to get my shit together. This is not right, nor healthy. I need to meet her, like now.

I walk into the store after them and wait for the perfect opportunity to bump into her.

That’s all I want. A moment of contact and to know that she sees me.

“Oh my god, look at this dress,” Valentina squeals, touching the fabric on the mannequin.

“Yes, you need to try it on, but I know it will be perfect on you,” Mia says, turning the mannequin.

“Yes, I will. Mia, I’m happy that Don Elio is allowing us to come shopping,” Valentina says, grabbing the dress off the rack.

It’s a black dress with thin straps that cross down the back. Just imagining her in the dress has me so damn hard.

I walk away feeling awful about spying on her. I stop to look at the stack of sweaters on the table. I grab a black and gray sweater. I turn to go and pay for them, bumping into someone. It all happens so quickly; I stare at her, dropping the sweater and reaching for Valentina before she falls, wrapping her in my arms.

“I’m sorry,” Valentina yelps, blinking and holding onto my arms.

She looks at me wide-eyed, and I know that she’s looking at me. I think that she remembers me from the other day.

“No worries,” I say, gazing into her eyes.

Her fresh floral scent invades my senses; she feels so soft in my arms. I don’t want to let her go.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry,” Valentina says, pushing out of my arms.

“No worries, I hope you’re okay,” I say.

“I’m good, uh, thank you for saving me from falling,” She says, smiling.

“You’re welcome,” I say, nodding.

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

Valentin walks away from me and goes to the fitting room. I pick up the sweater from the floor and place it on the table.

“Don Conti is in his office; please follow me,” the Soldier says at the door.

My Brats and I enter and follow the Soldier down the long hall. Of course, I didn’t expect anything less than this mansion from the Mafia Don. The Soldier stops at the open door and looks inside.

“Don Conti, your guests are here.”

“Bene,” Don Conti says, nodding as he looks at us.

We stop at the door as Conti walks to us.

“Welcome, Kravtsov; please have a seat,” Conti says, waving his hand.

“Conti,” I say, lifting my chin.

I take a seat in one of the overstuffed black leather chairs, and my Brats and Ivan take a seat on the sofa. Conti sits in the other chair and looks at his Soldier.

“Ciro, serve our guests some Vodka,” Conti hums.

The Soldier Ciro walks over to the bar, grabs the Vodka bottle, and opens it. I know that my Brats will closely monitor Ciro.

I look at Conti and I start the negotiations, anxious to have the contract executed.

“I’m interested in forging the alliance with marriage. It’s to our benefit to be united since the Irish are making moves on the Kravtsov Bratva turf. I’m also aware that they’re doing the same to you, Don Conti,” I say, resting my hand on the armchair.

Ciro brings us a glass of Vodka. I take the glass from the Soldier, bring it to my lips, and take a drink. Then I look at Conti, waiting for him to reply.

“That’s correct, and I’m glad that you’re interested in forging an alliance. I want to ensure that the alliance is beneficial to both and by marrying my niece Valentina, it will fortify the association,” Conti says, looking at me.

“I don’t have any doubts about the alliance since the Bratva and Mafia are both formidable and will be a power to fear. I want the marriage to take place immediately,” I say, looking at him.

“Splendid, that’s what I want,” Conti says, nodding.

“I’ve reviewed the contract that you sent, made some adjustments, and returned it.”

“Yes, I did review the adjustments, and I’m agreeable to the terms,” Conti says, nodding.

“Excellent, let’s sign the contracts,” I say, looking at Conti.

“I have the copy at my desk,” Conti says, pushing off the chair.

I follow him and watch him sign the contract. Then he hands the contract to me. I review it to ensure that it’s the same contract with the adjustments, and then I sign it.

My heart skips a beat and then pounds faster. I’m so thrilled and anxious to see her. But I have to take it slow for now. Conti can’t be aware of my interest in Valentina because I don’t want to give him that power.

“The wedding will take place in three weeks, and I want the engagement party this weekend.”

“That’s reasonable,” Conti says, nodding.

“Splendid. One more thing, I would like you to allow Valentina to attend the opening of our new club, Hellion, tomorrow.”

“That won’t be a problem, but she will attend with her cousin Mia and her guards,” Conti says, turning up his lips.

“That’s good; she has to be protected since she’s now a target,” I say, nodding.