Maria
Slowly, I notice a man alone across the room, seemingly engrossed in a display of armor in a tall case. But there’s something off about him. Each time I glance away from a display, he’s there in my periphery. Not close but visible, sending the occasional furtive glance in our direction. He never lingers too long in one spot or gets too close to the other visitors.
“Who is he?” I ask, my pulse quickening. “Are we in trouble?”
Mikhail hesitates, then leans in close so only I can hear. “Lanzzare.”
“Who?” I ask in confusion. I’ve never heard of a name like that.
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Why is he watching us?” I ask, trying to keep my voice low and steady. “Will he hurt us?”
“He won’t dare,” Mikhail reassures me. “Not here. But stay close, Maria.”
Mikhail touches his phone, and in a few minutes, our driver, Anton, appears. He lets the man see him. No words are exchanged, but the man gives a curt nod before he walks away. That’s when I realize he’s not alone.
Another man-one of Mikhail’s men who wears his long hair in a ponytail-trails behind him.
“Can we leave?” I whisper. Suddenly the allure of the museum is gone. And instead, all I can feel is the fear that we’re trapped.
Mikhail looks at me, and for a fearful moment, I’m afraid he’ll say no. But then, he nods and we make our way toward the exit.
As we near the museum exit, my heart pounds like a drum solo in a heavy metal ballad. I glance at Mikhail, who appears outwardly calm but alert. He tightens his grip on my hand, a silent reminder of his promise that he won’t let anything happen to me. The sun is sinking low in the sky as we walk out onto the steps. I resist the urge to glance behind me. Instead, I focus my gaze forward, trying to appear as if nothing is wrong.
“Who was that?” I whisper as we step closer to the car.
“Someone from the Lanzzare Mafia,” he explains, his grip on my hand tightening ever so slightly. “The Ivanov Bratva and Lanzzare Mafia have been rivals for generations. It all began when our families were involved in the same bootlegging business during Prohibition on the East Side. A territorial dispute led to a bitter feud that has lasted decades.”
He pauses for a moment. “Over the years, the rivalry has escalated into a full-blown war. Both sides constantly try to undermine each other, whether it’s sabotaging businesses or targeting family members. Brutal and relentless.” He pauses for a moment. “That man … I recognize him from a meeting we attended a few months back.”
A meeting. With guns, I bet.
Mikhail opens the door for me and I quickly step in. Relief floods through me when he joins me and shuts the door. Intuition tells me that the Lanzzare Mafia is probably worse-way worse-than Mikhail and the Ivanov Bratva.
The car moves quickly, even though we aren’t being chased. I would’ve stared out the windows on any other day, but right now, my attention is wrapped up in Mikhail and the Lanzzare threat that seems to have him so rattled.
“Are they coming after you?”
“Yes.” Mikhail nods. “But I’m worried about the family. Lara, Rurik, my men.” He pauses. “And soon, you.”
I sit back and look away. “But aren’t I part of the problem?”
“You’re not one of them, Maria.” He shakes his head, his grip never loosening around me. “Your father might be a traitor, but he is still one of us. We treat our own differently. I’ll protect you.”
“You can’t make a promise like that,” I argue. “You don’t have control over what these people do.”
“But I have control over what I can do,” he retorts. “And I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe. As long as you remain honest with me.” Mikhail turns toward me, and his voice softens. “Understand?”
I stare into his eyes, expecting it to be a trick as he pours his smooth charm all over me. But his expression is sincere. For the first time since I met him, Mikhail doesn’t look threatening or like the untouchable god that he is.
All I see is a man. A man with faults and fears. A man who held me close the other day and pressed his lips softly against mine in a kiss that set my heart ablaze.
A man who is capable of feeling, no matter how much he denies it.
I’m shocked that I can make him feel this way.
And I realize that I can hurt him if I really want to.