Page 5

"Da," I said, nodding at the new fur coat in approval.

The worker immediately nodded, bowing her head for a long moment before she turned on her heel to go box up the expensive coat for me.

Meanwhile, the other one rolled the rack of fur coats out of the private room I was seated in while I drank a glass of my usual burning vodka.

At least until I took the last long sip left in the crystal glass, standing from the cushioned chair.

I didn't have to flash my black Amex card or drop any cash for the workers.

They simply put the fur coat on my tab and handed one of my men the large box to carry.

The air outside was so cold it burned—and considering it's October, snow was officially flurrying through the air in Moscow.

I tugged my fur jacket shut, walking in front of my two men toward the running Maybach.

But only to put my bags away so I could walk to the pharmacy nearby.

Normally, someone picks up my prescription Xanax for me, but I'm clean out and I need to take another before I go insane.

"Ah, Koslov," The usual pharmacist named Lev greeted me, his smile wide as he welcomed me into the warm pharmacy.

He had dark hair and a scruffy beard, his frame tall and slim as he wore his usual white coat.

"Very nice to see you again," Lev said as I approached him, walking past the different shelves of the sad dim pharmacy, "It's been a very long time no?"

I hummed as I stopped at the counter, "Very long time," I agreed with him, "I get lazy and my men fetch for me," I explained as he walked over to the shelves labeled in alphabetical order.

"I hear of your father's death—very good man," Lev told me, knowing better than to curse me with the words, sorry for your loss.

"Very good man," I said in agreement, watching as he sifted through the different packaged medicines, "He died an honorable death," I told him, glancing over when I heard the bells over the door chime.

And a young girl walked in.

Her hair was hidden under a brown knitted hood, wearing a black puffer jacket and matching leggings.

She looked around twelve or thirteen—

She also looks suspicious.

It was the way her green eyes avoided mine.

How she kept her shoulders stiff and her hands stuffed in her pockets.

So I turned around, pretending to not give her an ounce of my attention.

I smiled slightly, noticing the girl slipping a red Coke bottle under her jacket.

Lev was too busy grabbing my medication to notice her antics—much less her presence.

But I decided to let her carry on, noticing her swiping a bottle of pain medicine and a pair of mittens.

She also grabbed Tushonka—a canned meat that they eat here in Russia.

"Koslov—I have your medicine here," Lev suddenly cut into my thoughts.

I nodded, turning my attention back to him as I grabbed my wallet from my coat.

"Nyet, you already pay," Lev said, disliking the idea of me giving him money.

Yet I grabbed three 5,000 Rubles for him.

"To cover my friend over there," I said, motioning to the girl with sticky fingers.

Whose green eyes immediately snapped to me.

And had the nerve to narrow?

"I don't need your money," the girl said, her small voice rougher than I imagined.

I felt my lips twitch up, "Is that so?" I said, placing a hand on my hip, "Empty your pockets for me then."

The girl's eyes narrowed more, briefly glancing behind me before she—

Ran.

The bells chimed loudly as she slammed open the door, running out into the cold air.

I left the Rubble behind with Lev, calling out a brief goodbye so I could chase after the little girl.

Well... not me.

I sent my men after her considering how expensive my stilettos are.

I got in the backseat of the running Maybach and instructed my driver to follow them using the tracking device they both had.

The little girl surprisingly made it far.

Blocks actually.

Until we were in one of the worst run down neighborhoods of Moscow.

The buildings were dirty, the people naturally looked angry, and the snowy sidewalks were littered with garbage.

Yet there stood the little girl—held in place by two of my men on either side of her.

The view made me smile, especially seeing how angry she looked as I stepped out of my car.

"Ungrateful child," I spoke first, eyeing her from head to toe as she breathed roughly with each breath from previously running.

"I don't take money from strange women," the girl said, her tone full of distaste.

Even after my rare kindness.

I had never experienced such a thing.

People get on their knees and thank me when I show them an ounce of kindness.

This girl practically spit in my face.

"You take other things no?" I said, glancing down to her thick puffer jacket that I knew was filled with the things she stole.

The girl leveled her stare with mine, her green eyes narrowing even more as she parted her lips.

But before she could form a nasty rebuttal, a voice suddenly called out—

"Arina!"

My men didn't move an inch.

I turned my head, noticing the out-of-breath man approaching us.

He had matted grey hair and a rough scruffy beard—his thin jacket was visibly dirty and his pants were too big on his small frame.

He looked like the definition of weak and frail.

Especially with his wrinkled face and the bags under his green eyes.

The closer he got the sicker he looked, especially with his limping.

"I-I apologize for my granddaughter—she gets in trouble time and again," the old man told me, coughing roughly through his deep wheezing breaths.

I tilted my head, openly eyeing the older man, "Your name?" I asked him.

"Yury Orlova," he quickly said, glancing to the men holding the girl named Arina in place, "What did you do now Zayka?" he asked her, using the Russian word for little bunny.

"I grab things for me and you—and she chase me down," Arina said, her voice much softer with her grandfather.

It was the voice I had previously expected from her, compared to the rough and mean tone I witnessed prior.

"She stole things," I emphasized, breaking apart her lie.

Yury's dried lips parted, visibly disappointed by his granddaughter's actions, "Arina I taught you better—"

"You need more medicine and food," Arina argued his point, giving me the dirtiest stare for ratting her out.

But I didn't feel an ounce of empathy.

I never do.

Instead, I motioned my men to let the girl go.

Which was already kind of me.

"Learn to steal better or don't do it at all," I told Arina, my voice as serious as ever as I held her green eyes.

And before she could form a response, I turned away from her, walking with my men to the car that they slid into with me.

It was warm and I felt satisfied with the outcome of the situation.

Even if I unconsciously watched the older man limp back by Arina's side as we waited by the nearby stoplight.

Her small hands tried their best to steady the man, walking down the sidewalk to what I thought would be a run-down apartment building.

It was a tent instead.

I let out a rough sigh, shaking my head at the sudden selfless thought that popped into my mind.

It made my nose scrunch up and my jaw clench.

I felt bad.

And I hated it.

"Pull the car over to that tent," I suddenly called out to my driver, rubbing my temples as I tried to come to terms with what I was about to do.

I quite literally had to force myself out of the car, walking toward the tent with clear reluctance.

Yury unzipped the tent open as soon as I mumbled a brief Privet—the word hello in Russian.

"Oh no did Arina steal anything else from you?" the man asked, reaching into his tent for a worn-down wallet.

I immediately shook my head, "Nyet," I said, motioning his wallet away, "You both live with me."

The older man's light brows shot up, "I-I we couldn't, but we appreciate your offer—"

"You live in tent and need food and medical care," I pointed out, refusing to leave here with the answer no, "You come live with me—I take care of you both."

The older man remained silent for a moment, looking visibly shocked by my offer.

"Plenty of space," I emphasized, "New things too," I said, motioning to his tent and clothes.

The man's head lowered in embarrassment, "We have no way to repay you," he mumbled, avoiding my stare.

"Plenty of money too—no need to repay me," I assured him, extending a hand to help him stand.

Yury briefly glanced down to my hand for a moment before meeting my light eyes.

"Call me Via," I said my name, hoping that would form more trust.

Relief flooded through me as soon as a weak smile grew on his lips, "You are very kind Via," he said, placing his hand in mine so I could help him stand.

"Come on Arina," I mumbled to the girl inside.

Who still had the nerve to give me a narrowed look.

But she grabbed her stuffed bunny anyway, tugging her coat back on as she made her way out of the tent.

Considering the car I rode in—my men had to walk back to theirs parked near the pharmacy instead of us driving them.

The older man sat closest to the door with Arina between us.

The ride was stiffly silent, especially on Arina's end.

But Yury managed to thank me at least ten times.

Arina hated that.

"You are like our guardian angel," Yury said for the tenth time so far, glancing over to me with a weak smile.

I pursed my lips together, entirely unaccustomed to someone like him.

"We don't need angels," Arina subtly mumbled under her breath.

Yury laughed nervously, gently patting Arina's shoulder, "You really save us—we are very thankful," he said, beyond grateful for my actions, unlike Arina.

"We all need help sometimes," I said, glancing over to Arina with a raised brow.

Who only narrowed her eyes at me for a moment—before glancing away to the tinted window at the compound we approached, her grip tightening on her stuffed bunny.

The black iron gates immediately slid open as soon as we pulled up.

And almost immediately Yury's face fell, admiring the large compound.

Arina only tightened her jaw.

"Vau," Yury whispered the Russian word for wow under his breath, blinking a few times.

Arina only let out a long sigh, glancing away from the window with a tightened jaw as we approached the front steps.

Where my men came over to open my door for me, helping me out as Yury and Arina slid out of the car after me.

"I want rooms side by side for them both," I spoke to my men, standing in a line, "Also new clothes and I need a doctor here for him," I said, motioning to Yury who flashed them all a warm smile.

They didn't smile back.

Yet Yury's smile didn't dim once as he followed behind them, limping with Arina by his side.

And a small part of me felt at peace with my decision.

My father's deep voice echoed in my head, recalling the words he had said to me as he braided my hair for school.

"Family isn't blood—it's who you choose to protect. In our world, the strong take care of the vulnerable, because one day, even the strongest will need someone to stand by them."

It was a lesson he had taught me after I sided with a few of the girls at my school.

They were mean and the girl they preyed on was weak.

And after what my father said, I sat with her at lunch that day.

I also got into a fight with three of the girls that I ended up sending to the medical ward of the school.

But the weak girl I sided with was my friend and I was hers until she went off to study in Paris.

"I hear you take in strays now," Nikolai said as soon as I entered the usual formal living room where Ivan waited on me to play chess.

"My heart is cold but I do have one, Kol," I reluctantly said, adjusting the dress I wore as I sat down in the plush chair.

My usual glass of vodka and recently picked-up Xanax awaited me on the table.

I grabbed both.

"Your father would be proud Via," Nikolai told me as he fell onto the couch with a sigh.

I focused on the chess board, "He hates weakness, but he appreciates helping the ones that can't afford to do it themselves," I said, recalling all the men he offered jobs to.

It's why they'll always be loyal.

We rescued them from a terrible life and gave them purpose.

"He also appreciates the choices you make," Nikolai added as I watched Ivan make his move on the chess board, "He always did value your opinion."

I hummed dryly, taking a long sip of my burning vodka as I tried to push my father to the back of my head.

I would lose otherwise.

"We play chess and have dinner at six," I said, changing the topic as I moved my next piece.

"I'll let the kitchen know," Nikolai said, standing from the couch and leaving me with Ivan.

Who was quiet as usual.

Just what I needed after the weird day I had.