Chapter 4

Anya’s POV

I couldn’t believe my eyes, it was him! I could never forget that face, his sharp jawline, those very gray eyes had tormented me in my dreams for months.

“I will give you two a little space to get to know each other better,” my father said.

He turned to me and before leaving, said words with his eyes that anyone could understand; Fuck this up and you are done!

But right now I didn’t care about my father, nor did I care about this marriage, I was infuriated at the sight of the man before me.

As soon as my father left, he took a step closer to me. “Hello Love,” he said in a low cold voice that sent memories flashing through my mind.

“You bastard,” I crumpled my face and raised my hand to slap him, but he caught my hand mid-air and pulled me closer to him.

“You can hit me and scream at me all you want, but not here, not in front of these people, Anya.” He whispered to me in a threatening tone, still holding my wrist.

“Screw you!” I spat as I pulled my hand out his grasp and took to my heels, unable to stand the sight of him.

I can’t believe it, he was really here. After four years of MIA, he dares to come back. It wasn’t even about how long he was gone; it was how he left that I despised him for.

I ran out of the hall and didn’t stop till I was outside by the flowers. I stood there fighting back the tears in my eyes; I never expected that I would see him again.

Four years ago, that man had saved me from kidnappers. I still remember his protective gaze when he took me into the car and told me in Russian language that I was safe now.

That was the first time anyone had ever looked at me with affection. He took me to a safe place and cared for me until everything had died down. I still remember that night we shared, the way he made love to me.

He was my first, and the way he kissed me ruined it for every other man that looked my way. I thought I had been blessed with the perfect man, but I was wrong.

I woke up the next morning and he was gone, leaving nothing behind. Well not exactly, he did leave something behind—the man I only knew as Mikhail had left a child in me, his offspring, and our baby.

I hoped that one day he would come back, but I waited and waited, he never returned. He was a scum, just like every other man, he got what he wanted and he fled, abandoning me.

I was heartbroken. A future uncertain and a child on the way, I couldn’t let my family know, so I fled to New York where I had my baby. I kept my child’s existence a secret, no one but my family’s old Housekeeper knew about it. And my secret has remained safe, until now.

The man who ruined me was back, and my family wanted me to marry him.

“Running away already?” His voice shook me out of my reminisce

I turned back and saw him standing there, his face cold, his hands in his pocket, watching me with the same stillness I remembered.

“Why did you come back?” I asked in a whisper.

“To take over the family business,” he answered nonchalantly, perhaps the first truth he had ever told me.

I chuckled bitterly. “Right, Nikolia Vetrov. If I knew you were a fucking Vetrov, I wouldn’t have come a feet closer to you!” I spat in disgust.

He sighed. “Anya, I am not here to talk about the past, I have come to get my bride.”

“I am not your bride.” I retorted, anger in my eyes.

“You will be.” He replied coldly, and then he turned around and walked back into the party.

“I said I am not going to marry you!” I yelled at him but he didn’t turn back or spare me another glance.

Finally the tears flowed down my cheeks, my heart heavy. I was filled with pain and hatred and all I wanted was to run away.

But even that wasn’t an option. I could never run away from my father or the Bratva. I was betrothed to a high ranking member of the fucking Russian Mafia, they would find me anywhere in the world.

My only option was to stay and fight, and that was what I chose to do.

Later that day, I was sitting on my bed deep in thought when someone knocked on my door.

“Go away!” I screamed at the door.

“Now why would I do that?” Irina’s voice came through as she pushed the door open.

I felt better knowing it was her, she was the only one in my family who I didn’t hate.

Irina came and sat beside me on the bed, pulling me to her body.

“I can’t do it, Ire.” I cried onto her shoulders.

She slowly patted me on the shoulder, stroking my hair. “I understand how you feel, Anya. And I wish I haven’t come here to convince you, but it is the right thing to do.”

I looked up immediately, surprised. “What?”

“Yes, I know how this sounds, but I want you to marry him, Anya. Father is right, the threats are not something we can handle alone and the Brava cannot be bought. Our father might be powerful but he is a mere politician, our enemies are both Mafia and politicians. We need a stronghold in the brotherhood and that is what your marriage to Nikolia offers us.”

“But he is the devil,” I cried.

“He is a Vetrov, true. But you are a Sokolov, your father is a monster, I think you can survive the devil himself. Please Anya, if you don’t agree willingly, father has threatened to traffic you off to the islands.” She announced.

I scoffed. I am not surprised.

“You don’t want to be one of those unfortunate women forced into sex trades. If you marry this Vetrov man, you will be the wife of the most powerful Bratva Don in the whole of Moscow and you can influence decisions. It also helps with Diplomacy, ending an age-long conflict between the two families and giving us an edge over the Barinov family too.” she explained.

I sighed, beginning to see reasons with her. “I still don’t like this, but you are right… I don’t have a choice, to save our family, I must marry that monster.”

“So you will do it then?” Irina asked with a tone of excitement.

I swallowed hard and wiped the tears off my eyes. “Yes, I will marry Nikolia Vetrov.”

T. B. C!