Page 59

"Sevan," I laughed out as she pulled me back into her, "Breakfast is waiting," I reminded her.

"I know," Sevan murmured insinuatingly as we walked down the wide hallway.

I jokingly rolled my eyes, nudging her away, "We can not miss breakfast with Arina," I said, trying to sound stern.

Even if I couldn't help but smile slightly.

"Your efforts are very cute though, malyshka," I added, grabbing her hand to hold in mine.

"Cute enough to take you back to bed after breakfast?" she asked purposely, pulling me closer to her by my hand that she held back.

My smile grew wider, "After we handle business, da," I assured her.

Sevan hummed in approval, "I'll take it," she determined as we continued walking down the hallway toward the main dining room.

We had just finished getting ready only minutes ago—which took us over an hour.

We did however save water by showering together.

I never assumed water would be my concern, but now it is if it awards me the excuse to wash my girlfriend's body.

Luckily, she had her men bring her fresh clothes, which consisted of black dress pants and a button-down—wearing her loafers and usual silver jewelry.

I opted for a black turtleneck with a matching skirt and stockings—wearing my usual shiny black stilettos and my hair up in a bun with strands framing my face covered in light makeup.

I felt very good.

On top of the world as some might say.

"Good morning," I called out as soon as we entered the dining room where my two right men already sat with Arina and Yuri.

"Good... morning?" Nikolai said in confusion, clearly taken aback by how chipper I was.

Even I was taken aback by it.

But I have decided to flow with it instead of questioning it.

"Good morning, Via," Yuri said with his usual soft smile.

"Good morning love birdies," Arina mocked with an amused smile as Sevan walked beside me toward the end of the table.

"Love birdies," Sevan repeated her words, "I think I like that a lot—what do you think, Zi?"

I immediately nodded, "Very much," I said, agreeing with my girlfriend as I motioned over one of the men off to the side, "Put another chair beside mine—it stays there from here on out."

The man immediately nodded at my request, grabbing one of the nearest chairs and taking it over to sit beside mine.

"You like malyshka?" I asked Sevan with a proud smile, "We share breakfast every morning now."

Sevan's lips twitched up as she eyed my face for a moment, "I like it a lot, Zi," she didn't hesitate to assure me, pulling one of the chairs back so I could sit down first.

Which I did happily, settling myself at the table as Sevan sat down beside me.

And that's when I realized how quiet it was around us.

Along with everyone's attention that seemed to be placed purely on us.

"You think we are cute couple don't you?" I said almost jokingly, which made Arina roll her eyes while earning a laugh from Yuri.

Although, Nikolai and Ivan seemed to be left in the dark still, entirely unaware of Sevan's promotion.

And it seems my happiness and jokes throw them off as well.

"Sevan is my girlfriend now," I explained to them both, watching as Nikolai filled my cup with orange juice.

"That is very good news, Via," Nikolai didn't hesitate to say, "We are surprised—but still very happy for our princess."

I nodded happily, glancing down when Nikolai reached for my empty plate to make.

But Sevan had already beat him to it.

"I got it," she assured him, earning a respectful nod from my right-hand man as Sevan placed one fluffy pancake on my plate and then reached for the large spoon in the bowl of eggs.

"Sev, you tell them something about yourself," I told her as she continued to make my plate, "She is very nice to know," I told both Nikolai and Ivan.

Who both nodded as they focused on eating their food.

"I invest in all the local shops and restaurants in Colombia," Sevan told them, now putting pieces of bacon on my plate.

I nodded happily, "She is very generous," I said.

"Very nice," Nikolai added to my statement, earning a nod from Ivan.

"And kind," Yuri added as he stared between us with a softened expression.

"I suppose that is kind," Arina mumbled as she took a sip of her orange juice.

"Just like how you help out at library," I added, smiling at Arina.

Who only shrugged, "I think Sevan's acts are much nicer," she determined as she set her glass down, "I guess," she made sure to add.

Which immediately made an amused smile grow on my girlfriend's lips.

"I guess," Sevan purposely said back to her, setting my plate back down in front of me.

"Thank you makyska," I said happily, watching as she unraveled my silverware from the cloth napkin.

"Of course beautiful," she murmured, pressing a fleeting kiss to my temple as she handed me my silverware.

She even placed the cloth napkin in my lap.

"Please tell us more Cortez," Nikolai respectfully said, smiling at her curtly.

Which made me very happy.

Especially since Ivan seemed neutral.

Which was better than him seeming off-put by her.

"Call me Sevan," my girlfriend corrected Nikolai, "I don't like the formalities when it comes to Zinovia's family."

Nikolai immediately nodded, glancing over to me with a look that I could easily read.

He is very impressed by her.

And not out of respect for her title or the fear that her full name brings.

He genuinely likes her.

Which seemed to grow the more she talked, keeping the conversation very soft and lively with everyone.

Even Arina managed to laugh once, which was rare within itself.

Somehow Sevan had turned an already perfect morning even more perfect.

It made my brain grow fuzzy and my cheeks warm with the glow she brought out of me.

I was practically walking on sunshine even after breakfast.

But after saying our goodbyes to everyone and a short car ride, it was all slowly stripped from me.

And I was left with reality.

One where Nerissa Chernov still fucking existed.

Luckily we were able to find her at a brunch restaurant downtown.

She was seated in the very back away from everyone with only one man guarding her.

Pathetic.

She lost everything and still didn't find a way to build it all back.

"Come to join me?" Nerissa said as soon as she noticed us walking toward her table.

"More like kill you," I mumbled, reaching into my black fur coat for my gun.

"You don't want to do that," Nerissa said, calmly setting her silverware down with a gentle clatter, "I already have my source ready to spill this information to all the mafia's—killing me will not appeal to your case."

I lunged for her, "I do not care," I said, slipping the gun from my jacket.

At least until it was slipped from my hand.

By Sevan?

"I thought we—"

"We stay steps ahead," Sevan whispered in my ear, clearly specifying a new angle.

We do not kill her.

We find better way?

But her being dead sounds like best way...

I guess I trust Sevan instead.

"Honestly, you can kill me," Nerissa said, somehow making my irritation grow by her willingness to die, "We are going public with this information anyway."

I narrowed my eyes at her, parting my lips to do nothing but cuss her out, but Sevan had already beat me to it.

"You want something to stay quiet," Sevan determined, knowing there was more to this.

Nerissa hummed, "You are smart," she said, easily making my jaw clench at the compliment directed at my girlfriend, "I see why Koslov risked it for you."

I immediately took a firm step forward feeling nothing but angry at Nerissa's presence—but with Sevan's arm suddenly secured around my waist, I felt...

Calmer.

Much calmer.

"Stop fucking with my girlfriend," Sevan said, narrowing her eyes at Nerissa, "What do you want," she demanded, skipping past the pleasantries.

I would rather just kill her.

"For Koslov to step down and pass her power to me," Nerissa explicitly stated.

Which immediately made my brows raise.

And a laugh bubble in my throat?

No-no, this is very amusing actually.

Me?

Give up power?

Never.

"Or I go public," Nerissa added when I laughed yet again.

Yet she still couldn't meet my eyes.

Pathetic.

I shrugged, "I do not care if you go public," I determined bluntly, fancying a fight over giving anything of mine up, "Only Koslov's take place as head of Russian mafia," I added, pointing out the flaw in her demands.

It is Russian royalty only.

And Nerissa is nothing of the sort.

"I am half Koslov. Does that count?" Nerissa asked, picking up her half-empty mimosa glass.

I rolled my eyes, "You are nothing of the sort—lying will not get you power, nor will threats," I pointed out to her, desperately trying to focus on Sevan's presence beside me in order to remain grounded.

Or I really will kill Nerissa for claiming such a title.

"Why do you think I want your territory so much?" Nerissa pointed out, setting her glass down, "Why I married a man and killed him just to sit on some kind of throne?"

I shook my head, "You speak fucking nonsense," I said, feeling my face burn at what she was suggesting right now.

And I could tell Sevan picked up on my growing anger given her arm tightening protectively around my waist.

"Part of all this was owed to me—but nyet, I was bastard child your father had after sleeping with my mother when yours died," Nerissa mumbled in irritation.

I immediately lunged for her, not bothering to think any of it through as I tugged out of Sevan's arms.

But I really only had a chance to knock the table over—sending glass shattering and dishes spilling out onto the marble floors.

A scream mixed with a grunt spilled from my lips and echoed around us as I fought against Sevan.

Who carried me by my waist as she backed us away from Nerissa despite the numerous people now watching us in shock.

Meanwhile, Nerissa only held the most smug look on her face—one that I analyzed more closely.

Her green eyes mirrored mine.

Her jaw and nose were strong, almost in familiar way.

I kill her.

"I fucking kill you," I gritted as I kicked my feet, pushing against Sevan who quickly carried me further from Nerissa.

"You have thirty-six hours until I go public sestra," Nerissa called out, using the Russian word for sister.

Which made me fight Sevan even harder as she carried me further away from Nerissa.

I physically kicked and hit her all the way to the car, grunting and yelling at her to let me go.

Which she finally did.

Only once I was seated in the SUV with the doors locked.

And before I had the slightest chance to unlock them—the driver had already pulled away from the curb, driving us far away from the restaurant.

"Zinovia—"

"Do not talk to me," I immediately cut her short, facing away from her as I stared out of the window.

"Zi you have to understand—"

"I said do not fucking talk to me, Cortez," I cut her short yet again, this time with much more firmness.

Which was enough to keep her silent.

Although she had the nerve to gently grab one of my hands.

Which I immediately tugged away from her.

"I want you fucking away from me," I gritted, feeling nothing but angry by this entire situation.

By Sevan too.

"We have to play this a certain way Zinovia," Sevan tried to explain.

But I swear nothing she said mattered.

My father he...

He sleeps with other woman?

He has other daughter?

And... and he lies to me?

He lied to me this whole time.

"Zi, I promise we'll figure it out—"

"What is there to figure out Sevan?" I immediately asked, finally meeting her dark eyes, "My father he-he lies to me and..." I trailed off, suddenly realizing Nerissa's age.

How close together in age we are.

He sleeps with other woman right after my mother dies.

"Sevan go away," I forced out in a deep sigh, pushing her hands away as soon as she tried to pull me closer to her.

"Talk to me," Sevan said, her tone as soft as ever with me.

But I only shook my head, "I do not want to talk—I want to kill her," I gritted out, shaking my head as I glanced away from Sevan, "And I want to dig up my father and burn his corpse," I added, feeling nothing but anger for him.

Something that I had never felt for him.

Even when he would ground me as teenager.

"You don't mean that, Zinovia," Sevan said, her tone as cautious as ever with me.

Which only made me shake my head, "I mean it—I swear I fucking mean it," I said, stressfully running my hands over my face, "I need a Xanax... I need to feel better, calmer," I breathed out, shaking my head yet again as I tried to fight the terrible emotions latching onto me.

"Zinovia, baby, we need to process this in a healthier—"

"Nyet-nyet," I said, throwing my head back against the window as retaliation—I hurt myself until she gives me Xanax, "You only try to control me."

"Fucking stop," Sevan said with a clenched jaw, attempting to grab both of my arms.

But I only tugged against her, throwing my head back even harder against the glass that I assumed was bulletproof.

It will not break.

But I will.

Or perhaps I am already broke.

"Xanax," I mumbled, banging my head even harder against the glass, "I do not stop until I get Xanax," I forced out breathlessly, throwing my head back even harder.

Which earned a painful grunt from me, wincing as a pain surged at the back of my head.

But I still managed to fight Sevan's hands away, drowning everything out around me as I continued to hit my head.

Over and over again.

At least until I felt the car jerk to the side and come to a harsh halt.

And instead of reaching for my arms, Sevan grabbed my ankles—dragging me out of the car as the driver pulled the back door open for her.

So I began kicking and screaming, physically shaking as I tried to tug out of her grasp.

But it was too late.

My feet were already dropped onto the gravel and Sevan's arms were wrapped tightly around me—preventing me from moving.

"Let me go," I gritted, hitting her stomach as I tried to pull away from her.

Sevan only held me tighter.

She also had the audacity to remain silent.

So I pushed and hit her harder.

For an unmeasurable amount of minutes.

All I could hear were my heavy breaths and grunts around me.

Until eventually, I stalled against her, breathing heavily as I finally remained still for one moment.

And willingly let the world swallow me whole.

"I am... I am sorry," I forced out, squeezing my eyes shut as soon as I felt them burn.

I will not cry.

I do not cry.

It is not me.

"I am very sorry," I forced out in a whisper, drawing in deeper breaths and letting them out with hopes of fighting away every heavy feeling swallowing me whole.

"Don't apologize," Sevan whispered, resting her head on my shoulders, "Just hug me back."

I nodded almost rapidly, wrapping my arms around her waist and burying my face in her chest as I fought away the urge to cry.

But I had never endured such a hard fight.

I am very upset.

My father's actions are very upsetting.

"We'll figure this out," Sevan assured me, holding me even closer to her body, "It's going to be okay."

I shook my head, "It does not feel okay, Sevan. I-he, my father, he lies and he... he does that to my mother and—"

"Breathe," Sevan reminded me, drawing her hands up my back.

I furrowed my brows together as I processed my trembling hands and my burning face—and this constant pain in my chest and I just—

All I could do was scream, burying my face deeper in Sevan's chest as I physically shook in her arms.

The unfamiliar sound tore from my throat rippled around me.

It rippled around us.

And with each breath I drew in, I let it out with a painful scream—centering my breathing more and more each time.

Until I was left silent, unable to feel anything as I stood wrapped in Sevan's warm arms shielding me from the harsh cold.

For once, I am unsure.

Not just of one thing.

But everything.