Chapter One
I sighed, double-checking my appearance in my mirror with the suit my father wanted me to wear.
If I cannot find my true queen to stand beside me within a year, we will meet with a family to discuss uniting through marriage.
I want nothing more in my life than to meet with a woman who will love me for me and not for my status and money as the next Russian Pakhan of the Bratva of my family.
“Synok, ty gotov (Son, are you ready)?”
I took my last look in the mirror, praying I could find my true queen to rule beside me before losing my freedom with the Liubov family.
“Da, otets (yes, father),” I stoically said, following my father to the car that would take us to a restaurant in Manhattan, New York.
I sat leaning on the back of the leather seat, knowing that this dinner would be hell and that Anastasia’s whiny voice would bother me.
I have been in New York City for a few months, attending university alongside my best friend and second-hand.
I have yet to find the woman of my dreams, seeing how Anastasia has been trying to keep all other women away from me, claiming we are together.
“Synok, yest’ prichina, po kotoroy ya vybral etot restoran, naberis’ terpeniya (Son, there is a reason why I chose this restaurant, be patient).” I stared my father in the eyes, wondering what this old man was planning.
“Pakhan, my priyekhali (we have arrived).”
I took in a deep, slow breath, readying myself for the next couple of hours of torture.
I stepped out of the car and followed my father into the small Italian restaurant.
The name caught my eye, and I wondered who the owner was.
We were seated, waiting for the other family to show up.
I looked around and saw someone coming out of the back swinging doors.
I could not breathe, seeing the little angel with her curly brown hair up in a messy bun, wearing the dark waiter’s uniform without any makeup covering her face.
I could not take my eyes off this little beauty and felt my hands sweating when she approached our table.
“Oh, back again, mister Katrova,”
I swear her voice was small, tiny church bells with how soft and airy they were, and I could not move with how close she was standing, so near.
“Hello, sweetheart. I hope you are not working too hard, my dear.”
I shook my head, hearing my father’s gentle voice with the angel before us.
“My dear Eliana, I want to introduce my son. This is Alexei, and I believe you both attend NYU.”
I heard the light tilt to my father’s voice, and I took a deep breath and heard her sweet laughter.
“Oh? Well, it is hard to find me most of the time since I am in the Culinary Arts program and mostly in the back of the canteen cooking.” My sweet angel giggled, showing me her soft smile, and I gently returned the smile, not wanting her to fear me.
“I am in my second year of business and still new to the campus,” I softly piped in, wanting to enjoy hearing her voice more.
“Oh, maybe I can help with that. I don’t usually have classes until Tuesday and Thursday, and I work at the campus canteen on Fridays during the lunch rush. Maybe I can help and show you around the campus?”
I stared at her beautiful face, wanting nothing more than to spend time with her.
That was why I agreed to have her meet me tomorrow to show me around the campus, and I gave her my number and saved her on my phone as moy angel (my angel).
“Synok, pozvol’ mne razobrat’sya s Lyubov’yu i yego docher’yu (Son, let me deal with Lyubov and his daughter).”
I nodded and left to see if Eliana was available after work so we could hang out and get to know each other better.
I saw her sitting at one of the back tables, and I carefully unbuttoned my suit jacket and draped it over the chair beside her.
“Eliana?” I called out immediately, watching her body freeze for a moment, then wipe her eyes as she looked up at me with a sweet smile, her eyes a little red from crying.
I pulled the chair next to her out, and I gently cupped her face into my hands, using my thumbs to wipe her tears.
“What is the matter, Krasivyy (Beautiful)?” I gently said, taking out my handkerchief and wiping her face with a kiss on her cheek.
“My brother became angry and started to yell at me as usual, seeing how his girlfriend was here, and she complained I had hurt her,” Eliana softly said, sniffling with unshed tears.
I gently pulled her into my arms, hugging her to my chest and rubbing her back to help her calm down.
I felt my blood begin to boil, not understanding how her flesh and blood would turn against her for some pizda(cunt) over his little sister.
“Shh, sweetheart. I have you and will never leave you,” I whispered, kissing her temple.
We sat like this for a few minutes in each other’s arms, which is what I want to do with Eliana for the rest of my life.
“Eliana, would you like to hang out with me when you are finished?” I asked, holding her on my lap, straddling me with her arms around my neck and her head resting against my chest.
“Sure, I would like that,” Eliana said with her sweet smile.
I kissed her forehead, patted her ass, and told her I would wait there for her when she got off work.
Not even a few minutes later, I watched my angel run over to me, and I quickly stood up, catching her in my arms and hefting her on my hip with her arms and legs wrapped around me.
I held her close to me, and I could hear her sniffles, with her tears against my warm neck, fueling my anger, knowing her dick of a brother was the cause of my angel’s tears.
“Shh, Moya lyubov’ (my love).” I cooed, grabbing my suit coat and wrapping it around Eliana, ensuring she was warm.
I carried her outside, seeing Ivan waiting outside with my car, and I carefully got into the back with my angel curled up on my lap.
“Is she okay?” I nodded at Ivan, telling him to go home, seeing how I would not let my angel deal with this alone.
“Ellie, sweetheart, would you be okay with us going to my place?” I asked, wanting her permission before we proceeded.
“Can we go to my place first? I need to grab my things.” I sighed, tightening my hold on her waist and telling Ivan to head toward her home.
We arrived, and I went inside with her, with Ivan standing guard outside, watching for any sign of anyone.
“Eliana, talk to me, sweetheart,” I gently said, coaxing her to talk to me.
“Valentino kicked me out, and now I need to figure out another place to live, seeing how this was the only other place I knew since our parents died when I was fourteen,” Eliana explained.
“I am sorry about your parents’ sweetheart and for how your brother has been treating you,” I said, kissing her head and leaving her to pack.
I quickly pulled my phone out, called my father and told him what I planned to do, seeing how I was not going to allow my sweet angel to live on the streets when anything could happen to her.
Synok, v chem delo (Son, what’s the matter)
Otets, ya perevozhu Eliannu v svoyu kvartiru, chtoby ona mogla byt’ v bezopasnosti i podal’she ot svoyego brata (Father, I’m moving Eliana to my apartment so she can be safe and away from her brother).
Eto normal’no, syn moy. Pozabot’sya o ney i skazhi yey pravdu, syn moy (It’s normal, my son. Take care of her and tell her the truth, my son).
Spasibo, otets (Thank you, Father).
I hung up the phone and slipped it back into my pocket, watching Eliana move around her small bedroom, gathering her belongings with trembling hands.
She pulled out a worn duffel bag from under her bed and began filling it with clothes, moving with quiet efficiency despite her obvious distress.
“Do you need help, angel?” I asked, stepping closer.
She shook her head, wiping away a stray tear with the back of her hand. “I’m used to packing quickly.”
The words hung heavy in the air between us. How many times had she been forced to do this? My jaw clenched at the thought of her brother treating her this way repeatedly.
“Eliana,” I said softly, approaching her as she zipped up the duffel. “You can stay with me as long as you need. I have plenty of space.”
She paused, looking up at me with uncertainty in her eyes. “I don’t know. I don’t want to be a burden.”
I reached out, carefully taking her hands in mine. “You could never be a burden to me. Never.”
Her eyes, still red-rimmed from crying, searched mine for any sign of deception. Finding none, her shoulders relaxed slightly.
“Are you sure?” she whispered.
“Certain,” I replied, gently squeezing her hands. “Let me help you with this.”
I took the duffle bag from her and slung it over my shoulder, then noticed her glancing around the room as if making sure she hadn’t forgotten anything important.
“Is there anything else you need?” I asked.
She hesitated, then walked to her small desk and pulled open the bottom drawer. From inside, she retrieved a worn leather-bound recipe book and a framed photograph. Even from where I stood, I could see it showed a younger Eliana with an older couple – her parents, no doubt.
“Alex, we need to leave now,” Ivan called out from down the hall.
“Just one more minute,” I called back, turning to Eliana, who was now clutching the recipe book and photo to her chest like precious treasures.
“Ready?” I asked softly.
She nodded, her chin raised slightly despite her trembling lips. My angel was stronger than she knew.
We hurried down the hallway, and I kept my arm protectively around her shoulders. As we approached the front door, Ivan’s expression told me everything I needed to know.
“Valentino is pulling up,” he said in a low voice.
Eliana stiffened beside me. “He wasn’t supposed to be back until later.”
“We’ll handle this,” I assured her, tightening my grip on her duffel bag. “Ivan, get the car ready.”
As Ivan moved quickly to the waiting vehicle, a black sedan screeched to a halt at the curb. A man who resembled Eliana stepped out with a bleached-blonde woman. “That is Sofia.”
“So that’s the bitch who wants you gone,” I muttered, positioning myself slightly in front of Eliana as Valentino and Sofia approached. I could feel Eliana trembling against my back, her fingers curling into my suit jacket.
Valentino’s eyes narrowed when he spotted us at the doorway. “What the hell is this?” he spat, his gaze darting between his sister and me. “Who the fuck are you?”
I straightened to my full height, letting him take in my tailored suit and the cold calculation in my eyes. “Alexei Katrova,” I said, my voice deliberately even. “I’m helping Eliana move her things.”
Sofia snorted, tossing her bleached hair. “Finally getting rid of the little leech? About time.”
I felt Eliana flinch at the words, and something primal and protective stirred in my veins when this bimbo spoke of my angel.
I stepped forward, positioning myself fully between Eliana and the couple. The temperature in my eyes dropped several degrees as I stared at Sofia.
“Watch your mouth when speaking about her,” I said, my voice low but carrying an unmistakable edge of danger.
Valentino’s face contorted with anger. “Who the fuck do you think you are, coming to my house and threatening us?”
“I’m the man who’s making sure Eliana has somewhere safe to go after you threw her out like garbage,” I replied coldly. “And I don’t make threats. I make promises.”
Sofia laughed, though it sounded forced. “Val, baby, who cares? Let her go with her sugar daddy. One less problem for us.”
I felt Eliana’s hand tighten on my jacket, and I reached back to give her fingers a reassuring squeeze.
“You should listen to your little whore.”
Valentino’s face darkened with rage. He took a step toward me, fists clenched. “What did you just call her?”
“Val, don’t,” Sofia hissed, grabbing his arm.
I didn’t move an inch, just stared him down with the cold calculation that was bred into me since childhood. Behind me, Eliana whispered, “Alexei, please. Let’s go.”
But Valentino wasn’t finished. He jabbed a finger in my direction. “You think I don’t know who the Katrovas are? Taking my sister under your wing—what’s your angle? Using her to get to me? To the restaurant?”
I almost laughed at his arrogance. “The restaurant? You think I give a shit about your little family business?”
“Alexei,” Eliana pleaded softly behind me.
I reached back, giving my angel my hand to squeeze, knowing this confrontation was not worth my time.
“We’re leaving,” I said firmly, taking Eliana’s hand and guiding her toward the waiting car. The way she trembled against me only heightened my resolve to get her away from here.
Valentino lunged forward, grabbing Eliana’s arm. “You’re not going anywhere with him! You think I don’t know what men like him want from girls like you?”
In one fluid motion, I had his wrist in my grip, applying just enough pressure to make him wince and release her. “Don’t. Touch. Her. Again.” Each word fell like ice between us.
