Page 11

CHAPTER 11

DINARA

“Boris said your date was a success, yes?” Konstantin asks casually as he steps into the foyer, features laced with an unreadable expression.

He’s here at my place to drop off Gregory and Tatiana, and the air feels heavier as soon as he speaks.

Gregory hurries over to me, his small arms wrapping around me in a tight hug. I return it, my heart swelling with affection, before pulling Tatiana into my embrace.

“Yes, it was nice.” I keep my tone light, though inside, my feelings for Cillian are anything but casual. “I kind of like him.”

“Good.” Konstantin nods, his lips pulling into a thin line—a ghost of a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I look forward to meeting him.”

My stomach lurches. Meeting him? Oh God, I’m definitely not ready for that. Not yet.

Tatiana’s attention darts between us, her gaze sharp with curiosity. She knows I’ve met someone, but I haven’t told her much. I’m sure she’ll want every detail once Konstantin leaves.

“From what Boris has said,” Konstantin continues, “it seems he likes you as well.”

A blush rises to my cheeks. What exactly did Boris tell him? I really hope he didn’t mention everything .

Like my fucking session in the car…

“I think he does.” I quickly brush a lock of hair behind my ear. “He’s planning to take me to New York City for the weekend. That’s okay, right?”

Konstantin waves a hand dismissively. “You’re an adult. You do as you please. But of course, Boris will come with you.”

“Right.” I nod, the word falling flat. “Boris will stay in a hotel, though, right? Cillian has a penthouse.”

He chuckles, the sound almost cold. “Don’t worry. I’ll cover his stay.”

My face heats up as the embarrassment creeps in. Obviously, he knows we’re not planning on knitting together.

“I’m hungry,” Gregory pipes up, his big brown eyes watching me expectantly.

“Sonya has perogies waiting for us.” I attempt to regain my composure. “And she made a chocolate cake for dessert.”

Gregory’s face lights up with the kind of pure joy only a child can feel. I’m grateful for that innocence. He doesn’t have the cloud of Mom’s death still looming over him the way I do.

The scent of Sonya’s cooking in the kitchen only makes me miss her more. She’d always make those perogies for us when we were younger.

“Tatiana, take him to get something to eat,” Konstantin suddenly adds.

His eyes lock on to mine, intense and full of something unspoken. He doesn’t want to discuss whatever’s next in front of the children.

“Sure.” Tatiana takes Gregory’s hand. “Come on, buddy.”

They step out of sight, and as soon as they do, Konstantin’s posture stiffens, his expression turning darker.

“I don’t want you to worry, but…” His hand lands firmly on my forearm, and for a moment, I freeze. His gaze pins me in place, and the weight of his next words hits like a physical blow. “I hear rumblings. Your father and brother…they’re out for blood. Your blood, dorogaya.”

A cold shock sends a tremor through my body, panic shooting through my veins. My brother’s last text makes sense now, and I’m suddenly not sure if I want to hear any more.

Why can’t they just leave me alone?

I glance at Konstantin, the tension thick between us. If he could find my father, he’d be dead by now. Roman too. But they’re still out there, and they’re coming for me. They’re afraid of Konstantin, and they should be. But it doesn’t make it any easier to breathe.

“It will be okay. Don’t worry.” His voice is softer now, though the concern doesn’t leave his eyes. He squeezes my arm. “I’ve increased the security at your house, and I’ll have a second bodyguard assigned to you.”

My mind spins, trying to make sense of it all. “What about Gregory and Tatiana? Will they get more protection too?”

“Of course. No one will get to them. I’ll make sure of it.”

The tightness in my chest loosens slightly at the thought. My father wouldn’t hesitate to take them back just to punish me. He knows how much I love them, how far I’d go to protect them.

“Come,” Konstantin says. “Let’s eat.”

I stride beside him, my mind racing. If my father could, he’d kill me without hesitation. He’s never been subtle about how much he wants me gone. He’d do it with his bare hands if given the chance.

But I can’t let that happen. If he wants to get to me, he’ll have to get through Konstantin to do it.

* * *

After Konstantin leaves, Tatiana, Gregory, and I settle in to watch a movie. I sit between them, handing out popcorn while we try to distract ourselves.

My sister leans in, her voice barely a whisper. “I don’t understand why you live alone. You’re not married or anything.”

I shrug. “It’s what he wants.”

She sighs and rests her head on my shoulder. “I miss you. You should be with us.”

“I know.” I kiss the top of her head. “But I’m close, so you can come over whenever you want.”

She pulls back, her eyes wide and distant, and for a moment, I see a flicker of something. Fear, maybe?

“What’s wrong?” I ask softly.

She bites her lip, and I realize how much she’s been holding in. She may be younger, but I sometimes forget how quickly she had to grow up, just like I did. We saw too much. The abuse, the fear…it scarred us all. After Mom died, I knew I had to get us out.

“I’m scared,” she whispers.

“Of what?” I glance at Gregory, who’s intently watching the movie, his little body pressed against mine.

“Of Dad.” She swallows hard. “I heard what Konstantin said. About him wanting to…you know…” She breaks off, tears filling her eyes. “Please be careful. I don’t want you to die like Mama.”

My heart shatters. I draw her in, pressing a palm to her shoulder, trying to soothe her. “I promise I’ll be okay. Konstantin will protect us. That’s why I wanted us to live with him.”

“I know, but I’m still scared, Din.” She sniffles, her body trembling. “When I sleep, I see his face. The way he’d get angry, the way he hit you. Mama. Me.”

I hug her tighter, closing my eyes against the memory of it all. When Tatiana got older, he turned on her, too. Gregory was lucky; he was too young to remember any of it. At least that bastard didn’t touch him.

“Daddy is not scary,” Gregory says suddenly, looking up at me with wide, innocent eyes. He’s eating popcorn, oblivious to the conversation we’ve been having.

I gently ruffle his hair. “Of course not, buddy. Watch the movie.”

He nods and snuggles into my side. He was so young when we left. I don’t think he remembers what we went through, and I’m thankful for that. If not for the photos of Mom around Konstantin’s house, he wouldn’t even know what she looked like. I don’t ever want him to forget her. She loved him more than he’ll ever know.

We continue watching the TV in silence, but my phone buzzes in my lap, and I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips when I see Cillian’s name.

Tatiana leans over with a knowing grin. “It’s him, isn’t it? Your boyfriend?”

“Shh!” I giggle, trying to hide my phone while she playfully tries to grab it.

“When can I meet him? He sounds nice.”

“Soon, hopefully,” I reply, forcing my smile to stay hidden. “Now hush and watch the movie.”

She shakes her head, stuffing more popcorn in her mouth, while my pulse quickens, a grin threatening to break free.

Cillian

3 days until you’re mine for 48 hours.

Dinara

I’m packing tonight. Can’t wait.

We’ve already made plans. Boris will drive me to a small airport, where Cillian will be waiting with his private jet.

Cillian

Don’t pack much. Plan to have you naked most of the time. Maybe fuck you in my hot tub.

Heat floods my body at the thought.

Dinara

Behave. I’m with my younger siblings, and you’re making it hard to pretend I’m watching a movie.

Cillian

How old are they?

Dinara

My sister is 13 and my brother is 5. We’re close.

Cillian

That’s good. I’m close with my 4 siblings too. Family is important.

Dinara

Absolutely.

Except when part of your family is toxic as hell.

A chill runs through me. What if my father or Roman find out about Cillian? What if they try to use him against me?

The anxiety twists in my gut, but I shove the thought down. I don’t want to focus on the what-ifs. Right now, I’m talking to a guy who’s making me feel good. A guy who’s proving that maybe, just maybe, I deserve this.

Cillian

Enjoy your day, baby. I’ll talk to you later.

Dinara

You too. XO

I put my phone down and try to push away the unease in my chest. For the first time in a long while, it feels like it’s okay to want something good.

* * *

CILLIAN

Hours later, I’m still staring at her text, that XO she sent making me grin like a damn fool.

I’m already counting down the minutes until I see her again. The whole weekend is mapped out, and I wasn’t entirely joking about having her naked most of the time. But I do want to get to know her better. Take her out, show her the city. We’ll hit all the cheesy tourist traps first, then I’ll take her to my favorite spots. The hidden waterfall in Central Park, Belvedere Castle just as the sun dips below the skyline, and Little Italy, where the food’s as authentic as it gets.

But most of all, I just want to spend as much time as I can with her.

“You’re doing that thing again,” Fionn says from beside me, and I swear I forgot where I was for a moment.

“Doing what?” My eyes narrow as I shift in the seat at Tynan’s office, waiting for the Russians to arrive.

“Smiling.” He laughs. “It’s her, isn’t it? The girl from the club? What’s her name?”

“Fuck off.”

His grin widens. “Why are you keeping her a secret?”

“Because. I like it that way.”

He chuckles again just as Tynan passes a stern look between us. “I hope you both are being careful. Women are nothing but trouble.”

“Well, if you keep talking like that, you’re gonna die alone,” Fionn retorts.

Tynan definitely has no interest in relationships. In fact, he prefers solitude. Maybe it’s the loss of Mom and realizing that not everything lasts forever, or maybe he can't bring himself to trust anyone. Whatever the reason, his world revolves around Brody, our cousin’s son, whom he adopted after both of Brody’s parents died. Tynan constantly worries about him. The poor kid stopped talking after the tragedy. He was only six, just a baby. We all wish we could help, anything to make him talk again.

“I have Brody. I don't need anyone else.”

“One day, you’ll eat your words, brother.” Fionn folds his arms over his chest.

“Never gonna happen.”

A sharp knock on the door cuts through the tension, and we all rise in sync as the four Russian brothers walk in.

“Konstantin,” Tynan greets, shaking hands with the biggest of them all—a hulking presence, towering over everyone by a good few inches.

Konstantin moves with a calm, predatory air, his gaze never leaving us. He sits first, flanked by his brothers as they all settle on the sofa across from Fionn and me.

Tynan gestures toward the bar. “May I offer you all a drink?”

Konstantin's smile doesn't quite reach his gaze. “Vodka, please.”

Tynan’s attention flicks to the others. “And for you?”

“Same,” Kirill replies, his jaw clenched tight, the skull tattoo on his neck shifting as his muscles tense.

“Me too.” Aleksei nods, his expression as cold as his voice.

“Same for me,” Anton adds, leaning back into the sofa.

“And where is your drink?” Konstantin asks us.

Without waiting, he pours a shot for each of us and brings them over. I take mine reluctantly, but keep my face neutral.

“Nu davayti! Na zdorovie! To health, as we say in my country.”

We all raise our glasses, the burn of the liquor biting down my throat.

Tynan leans forward. “So, to what do we owe this pleasure?”

Konstantin settles back down.

“We need a favor.” His tone is smooth and deadly.

“What kind of favor?”

“Councilman Elias Rhodes. We want him dead,” Aleksei interrupts, his voice flat.

Elias isn’t a friend—more of a friend with benefits. We scratch his back, he scratches ours, so killing him is out of the question.

“Why?” I cut in, unable to hold back. “We still need him. Taking him out would hurt us more than you.”

Konstantin glances at his brother. “My brother’s a bit hasty.”

“No, not hasty.” He folds his arms over his chest. “Correct.”

Konstantin scoffs. “No one needs to die—not yet. Just talk to him. Make him understand we’re all friends. A big, happy family.”

Family? I’d rather watch the whole Marinov clan burn.

Tynan’s voice stays even. “What’s he done?”

Konstantin throws up his hands. “He’s blocking a land deal. We need permits. He’s refusing money and asking for more than we can give. You know how these corrupt politicians are.”

I’m the one to ask, “What’s in it for us?”

Konstantin chuckles, but it’s dry. “My gratitude isn’t enough?”

“No.” I hit him with a glare.

His grin widens. “You’re funny, Cillian. I like you.”

“It’s too bad the feeling’s not mutual.”

Kirill growls low, squeezing his shot glass until his knuckles turn white. I meet his gaze, unflinching.

Konstantin gives a thin smile, slapping his brother’s chest. “One day, we’ll all be good friends.”

“I doubt that.” My teeth grind.

Konstantin’s smile doesn’t waver. “We have a proverb in my country: Chto bylo, to proshló. It means ‘what’s done is done.’ Perhaps one day, you’ll see it that way. I’m a patient man.”

Tynan cuts in, trying to steer the conversation back. “We’ll talk to Elias. Tell him to accept your terms, or he loses us.”

Konstantin’s grin deepens. “Now this is what family is. I appreciate that. If you settle this, I’ll double your next order.”

He means weapons. The Bratva is unfortunately our gun supplier.

Tynan nods, his agreement clear.

Konstantin rises, his brothers following. “Let me know how the meeting goes.”

“We will.”

As they turn to leave, Konstantin pauses, his eyes locking with mine. “Ah, and the woman from my club? How is she?”

My pulse spikes.

Shit. He knows.

“It’s new. I don’t know yet.”

“I heard she’s Russian.” He smirks.

Aleksei chuckles low.

“I told you I could set you up with someone from my family. We could make this alliance official.”

“I don’t care that she’s Russian,” I bite out. “I just care that she’s not a Marinov.”

Anton’s nostrils flare. The others look like they want to rip me apart. Let them try.

“On suma saydot kakda on uznayit,” Kirill mutters, but it sounds more like a cryptic threat.

I definitely need to learn the language.

Konstantin chuckles dryly, eyes still on me. “We’ll see ourselves out. Have a good evening.”

Once they’re gone, I slam the door behind them. “We need a new supplier.”

“We’re not switching. The Russians are the best.”

I shake my head in disgust. “How the fuck can you work with them after what they did to our family?”

Tynan’s face hardens. “He’s not Sergey. He didn’t do it.”

“They’re all the damn same!” I dig my fist into the desk.

Without waiting for his response, I storm out, ignoring my brothers’ calls.

The Marinovs are pure evil. And I’d rather gouge my own eyes out than ever get involved with one of them, let alone marry one.