Page 18

The smell of fresh coffee and pastries fills my nostrils as I step into the secluded cafe, glancing around for Nikolai. I spot him near the back, nursing a cup of black coffee. His eyes meet mine, and he motions me over to his table.

"About time you showed up," he grumbles as I slide into the seat across from him. "I've been waiting here for ages."

"Sorry," I reply, trying to mask my annoyance. "What's so urgent that you had to drag me here? Why couldn’t we speak at the office itself?"

Nikolai looks uncomfortable, his eyes shifting away from mine before he speaks. "Listen, Dima…I don't know how to say this, but there's something you need to know. There's a video going around of Lara sneaking out and partying around in the past, and in some of these videos, she’s dancing with unknown men."

"What?" I ask through gritted teeth. To imagine that this secret Lara and I have tried to protect her from is now out there, ready to ruin her, makes me furious beyond belief. But of course, I can’t let Nikolai know I was in on it from before.

I need to protect Lara, and I would never have anyone, especially my family, thinking she used me for her benefit when all this while, this marriage was my idea.

"How did you find out about this?" I ask, trying to learn all I can about this very messy situation.

"Doesn't matter. What matters is that I've already stopped the circulation of the video and sent a gag order to all media channels and gossip websites. But I wanted you to be aware of it."

Nikolai's concern is genuine, and I appreciate his loyalty to me, and his sister-in-law.

"I might have had it removed from the internet. But the damage may be done." Nikolai meets my gaze, brow furrowed. "I wanted you to hear it from me first."

"Thank you. I'll handle this," I assure him, my mind racing with possibilities. “Do you have any idea who released the footage?”

“None,” he shakes his head. “I had my IT guys on it all night, but the person who uploaded it left no traces.”

"Be careful, Dima," Nikolai warns, finishing his coffee. "Whoever did this might have more up their sleeve."

With a nod, I leave the cafe, my thoughts a whirlwind of anger and confusion. Who could be behind this? And why now?

As I stride from the cafe to my car, possibilities swirl in my mind, and I can think of just one man who could be behind this. Marv. The smug fool who thought he could intimidate my wife. Is he testing me? Seeing how much I'll tolerate before snapping?

If so, he's dangerously close to finding out. Nobody threatens what's mine. I'll go to any lengths to protect Lara. And I'll make damn sure whoever is behind this video regrets the day they went after us.

I pull out my phone, and call Tony. "Find Marv's location, and send it to me ASAP. Put all our men on the ground if you need to. I want to have a little chat with him.”

Within minutes, my men deliver the information I need.

***

I drive toward the rundown apartment complex he calls home, pushing past all speed limits. I climb up to the third floor and take the right.

"Marv!" I shout, kicking open the door to the unit number I’ve received. Marv, sitting in front of the TV, smoking a bong, jumps from the tattered couch. His eyes widen with fear when they meet mine. Good. He should be afraid.

"Wh-what do you want, Dima?" he stammers, backing away slowly.

"Answers," I growl, closing the distance between us. "There's a video circulating that puts Lara in a bad light. I want to know if you're responsible."

"Wh-what video?" he asks, confusion flickering across his face. "I-I didn't spread any video, I swear. I don't even know what you're talking about!"

I grab his shirt, slamming him against the wall. "Don't lie to me! I know you're behind this."

Sweat drips down Marv's forehead. "I swear, I had nothing to do with it! I haven't made any moves against you or Lara, I promise! I wouldn’t want to mess with you, Man."

With a bellow, I pull out my gun and point it straight to his forehead. "Listen, Marv, you have two options," I say through gritted teeth, my grip tightening on the cold steel. "Tell me how you got that video online, or I will kill you right here and now. I promise you, I will make it look like an accident, and no one will even notice you're gone."

Marv's eyes widen in terror. Sweat pours from his forehead, and he grabs my wrist, pleading with me to calm down. "Dima, please, you don't want to do this. I didn't do anything! Look…just think about it. Why would I go up against you, an Orlov? When you told me she’s your fiancée, I backed off, Man. I made mistakes, but I’m not stupid enough to risk my own life."

As much as I want to disbelieve him, something in his expression tells me he's telling the truth, especially since he has a gun pointed at his head and is still unable to come up with the answers I need. Besides, I’d seen the fear in his eyes in the alley that night, the same fear he harbors now.

No. It is unlikely it was him.

But then, who?

I consider pressing further, but it feels like I'm chasing ghosts.

"Stay away from her," I warn him. "If I find out you're lying or if you ever try to harm her, there won't be anywhere you can hide."

With that, I storm out of Marv's apartment, the door slamming behind me. The drive back home is a blur, my mind filled with worry and unanswered questions. How am I going to protect Lara from an enemy I can't even identify?

My protective instincts are raging, unsatisfied. What kind of a husband am I, when I married my wife with a promise of protection, which I now can’t fulfill? My heart aches at the thought of Lara being hurt—and, by extension, our relationship suffering.

When I finally arrive home, my bad mood is palpable, darkening the atmosphere around me.

I step in through the front door and remove my coat. With a frown, I look out through the door before closing it, ensuring that the guards are stationed where they belong.

Then, I feel a tap on my shoulder. “Dima?” I turn to see Lara watching me with careful eyes. Her sight trails behind me and then reaches my eyes. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” I lie, without thinking, my natural instinct to protect her from the day’s happenings. But the minute I do, I curse myself. I had promised her I wouldn’t keep things from her like that time she overheard Sofia and me arguing. And here I am, lying again?

“You don’t seem fine,” she caresses my cheek. “I called out to you three times, and you looked like your mind was somewhere else.”

I stare at the floor, feeling the weight of my secrets pressing down on me. I can't keep hiding the truth from Lara—if we're going to face this together, like I promised her we would, she deserves to know everything.

"Come on, Dima. You can tell me what’s going on. Did something happen at one of the clubs?" she asks, her voice filled with concern. "What's wrong?"

Taking a deep breath, I meet her gaze and decide to come clean.

"Lara, there's something I need to tell you," I begin, my voice strained with emotion. "There are some videos of you sneaking around the Philadelphia party scene from before we got married…someone got their hands on it and tried to spread it around on the internet. I thought it was Marv and went saw him, but he said it wasn’t him."

Her eyes widen in shock, and she takes a step back, pale in the face. "Marv? If not Marv, then who…?"

“I don’t know,” I admit, the disappointment at myself crushing my voice. “I think we should sit and talk,” I say, the fatigue catching up with me.

She nods and takes my hand in her own, which I notice is trembling. She must be petrified, and I hate doing this to her, seeing her this way. Gently, she guides me up to my bedroom and sits on the bed, staring at the floor. I sit down beside her.

Lara reaches out and takes my hand. "Dima…I won’t lie. I’m terrified. If this gets out, it could ruin my reputation, not to mention I don’t know how my brothers would react. But I know you'll do everything in your power to protect me," she says softly, her eyes filled with unwavering trust.

“I will,” I say without skipping a beat, resting my head on her shoulder. "But I need to know what I'm dealing with. We need to find out who's behind this because right now, I’m at a dead end. And I want you to stay strong. You have nothing to be afraid of."

She takes a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "Alright, I'll do that. But I promise I'm not who they say I am. I've changed, Dima. I wouldn't do anything to put our marriage in jeopardy. And, I worry, what would your family think?”

“Hey,” I say, sitting up and gripping her face in my hands, forcing her to look into my eyes, our foreheads pressed together. “Don’t ever say you changed. You did nothing wrong, you hear me? Everyone has a right to party once in a while, Lara. As for my family, they will say nothing, for all that matters is that we’re loyal to one another. You’re their family, too, and they’d never let anyone attack that bond.”

She nods, but I can see the same look I’ve noticed in my own reflection just moments ago. She’s afraid and uncertain. The warmth of Lara's breath against my lips sends shivers down my spine as we sit there, our foreheads touching. Her hands find their way to the nape of my neck, playing with the short hairs there, sending a tingling sensation through me. I can't help but pull her closer, my own hands sliding around her waist.

"Hey," she whispers, looking up at me with those deep, trusting eyes. "We’re in this together, Dima. Nothing will ever change that."

Her words surround me like a blanket, making me forget the world. In this moment, I’m beyond proud of choosing to be honest with my wife. My brave, beautiful wife who over and over again surprises me with her poise and grace.

“Together,” I whisper, leaning down to claim her lips to mine.