Vittoria
I stand in front of the mirror and place my hands on my firm stomach. Falling pregnant wasn’t in my plans to get my revenge against Ivan. It was never the plan. I already know what is valuable to him and what isn’t, and I’ve let Alessandro have all those intimate details through reference books in the library.
I pull my shirt down and check that I have the latest information for Alessandro in my book bag before I leave with Aleks for the library.
I wander the sections for a long time until Aleks finds a place to sit down and says he’ll wait for me here while I browse for books. Taking the opportunity, I slip the note into the correct reference book and put it back on the shelf before browsing more psychology books to read.
I find them interesting. At least there’s that. I wonder about the tiny human growing inside of me. Is it a boy? Is it a girl? I’ve never really thought about whether or not I want children, but now that it’s happening, I’m even more confused.
Ivan put my father in the hospital. I don’t care who ordered the hit. He is ultimately responsible. I think of my father dying, and I have to stop and take a few deep breaths. They said there was no chance, but I’ve been praying. Surely God can hear me. If my father dies, he’ll never meet my child. The thought chills me to the bone, and an incredible sadness falls over me.
I compose myself and then meet back up with Aleks. “We can check these out.”
He follows me to where the librarian is, and we check out my books. I put them in my book bag and try to suppress the feeling of guilt building up inside of me.
Ivan is getting royally screwed over. I think as we walk back into the house. I instrumented that. He will lose so much, his family will lose so much, and I’ve made it look like they’re gaining a good deal. I rush to the bathroom and throw up. I don’t know if it’s the morning sickness starting or just the overwhelming emotions I feel. I flush the loo and wash my face, patting it dry with a towel.
I go to the home office and get back to work, setting the books on one side. I read the contracts carefully, wanting to make sure there was nothing that I missed. Somewhere in the house, I hear Ivan’s phone ring, and I perk up slightly, trying to hear what’s being said.
I can hear him talking excitedly, and then he goes quiet.
“Tori?” he calls, “you around?”
“In the office,” I call back, swinging my chair around to see him walk in. He smiles and holds a hand out, and I take it. I stand and look up at him. “Is something wrong?”
“Actually, something is very right,” he says to me, kissing my fingers. “I just got news from the hospital. I managed to pull some strings with the Russian specialists to look after your father again, and they’re confident he can recover fully. He’s going to be fine.”
I don’t know what I feel. Numb, I guess, and then panicked and overwhelmed. The tears begin to fall without me realizing they formed at all.
Ivan strokes my face. “I thought you’d be happy?”
“It’s your fault,” I sob, punching him in the chest. “It’s your fault he was ever there to begin with. Your men put him there, and he could have died. They said he was going to die. They said he wouldn’t make it.” I try to turn away, but he takes my hands.
“I’m so sorry, Tori. You are right, it is my fault this happened, but I’m glad he’s making a full recovery and that it brought you into my life,” his voice is soft and gentle, and I shake my head. I don’t know what to say back. Everything feels upside down, and I sob harder.
He wraps his strong arms around me and draws me against him, my head resting against his chest. I can hear his heartbeat through his chest, and the rhythm makes me feel better. I try to time my breaths with his breaths. I eventually stop sobbing, and once I’m calm enough, he lets me go, and I look up at him. His eyes are filled with regret. I can see it clear as day.
“I promise I will never let anything or anyone hurt you like that again,” he says softly. “I won’t let anyone you love get hurt.”
I swallow hard but don’t break eye contact with him because I believe him. I think he would kill anyone who broke my heart. And here I am, about to break his at any moment Alessandro decides.
“I should get back to work. The distraction will do me good,” I say quietly, and he steps back.
He looks down at me, then closes the distance again and kisses me deeply. I melt against him, returning the kiss passionately. I feel electricity charge through my body, my skin feels on fire, and there are butterflies in my belly.
Not to mention his child.
I pull away slowly and smile. “That’s also a good distraction.”
He chuckles and kisses my forehead. “I’ll leave you to work.”
We don’t talk much for the rest of the day. At dinner, I’m quiet while he and Anastasia discuss plans for her to change universities because she wants to study something different. They don’t ask my opinion, and I don’t offer it. I simply eat my food and excuse myself, going to shower.
I sit on the edge of the bed and slowly rub cream into my body, taking extra care of myself. I’m still emotional, but I can’t wait to see my father. Although I think he will flip when he finds out about our plan, he may want revenge too. I don’t know what to think.
I slide into the bed and curl up, hugging my pillow under my head. I don’t fall asleep, and Ivan is quiet as he cleans up and slides into bed. I turn over and curl up with my head on his chest. He wraps his arms around me and strokes my arm gently with one hand. It feels right.
This feels right.
I’ve never felt at home anywhere, constantly the odd one out. The overlooked one-the one who doesn’t matter. Here I feel treasured, as though I’ve finally found my place.
But Ivan is an evil man. There is no getting around that. Just like there is no denying Alessandro is evil, along with Katya, or Miguel.
There’s something more, though. I sense it. I think there’s more than meets the eye. More than what the families see.
Is love possible in families like ours? I mean, between enemies. I don’t know but what I do know is that right now, I feel safer than I’ve ever felt, and I close my eyes, starting to doze off to the sound of his heartbeat and the rhythm of his thumb stroking my arm.
Vittoria
I’m so damn nervous. In all the chaos, report checking, and dealmaking, I’ve had to work around planning Ivan’s grandmother’s birthday party. Well, not plan but oversee. I was handed the plan that had already been made, and I had to ensure it was all accounted for and sorted.
A lot of it was relatively normal, what you would expect at a fancy birthday party, but some of the more cultural elements threw me a little off guard.
Anastasia finishes curling my hair. “Perfect.”
I stand up, stare at the figure-hugging revealing dress in the mirror, and look at her pleadingly. “I’m basically nude.”
“You’re not. You look great,” she assures me. “Hair and makeup are on point, smoking hot sexy dress, and some nice flat shoes because you’ll be dancing a lot, trust me.”
I pout and look in the mirror. The dress is a v-line that makes my cleavage pop. My somewhat growing cleavage. My boobs are starting to get so tender I don’t know what to do with them.
It’s a backless number and reaches the floor, sweeping a little behind me. It’s dark red, a color I’m told Ivan is especially fond of on women, and the off-shoulder straps feel like they’re going to fall off. The whole dress feels like it’s just going to fall off.
Anastasia notices my panic and shakes her head. “It’s secure, don’t worry. You’re going to be the talk of the family.”
“I never was with mine, and now I’m not sure I ever want to be of anyone’s family,” I confess.
Ivan comes into the room, and Anastasia smiles. “She’s ready. Let me go touch up my makeup.”
It’s an excuse to leave, we all know it, but she hurries off, and Ivan ogles me.
“Do I look okay?” I ask quietly, clasping my hands in front of me. Unfortunately, I realize it makes my cleavage pop more, which I can tell from how Ivan’s eyebrows raise.
“You look magnificent, Tori,” he says, coming over and kissing me softly on the lips. “The most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.”
Knowing how much he loved Anastasia’s mother really tugs at my heart. I’m such a dog.
I try to push the thoughts out of my head as I take his arm. He leads me out of the house with Anastasia ahead of us and into the limousine.
I sit nervously, fidgeting with my fingers as we drive to the venue where everything is set up for the party.
“It’s going to be perfect,” Ivan says, placing his hand over mine to still my fidgeting. “We’re a big family, but everyone will love you.” “Except Leonid,” I can’t help but comment.
“He’ll come around,” Ivan says. “My brother is just hard-headed sometimes.”
Once we reach the venue, we’re expected, as the head of the family and hosts, to stand at the door and welcome all the guests. Ivan is to my left, Anastasia is to my right, and we greet everyone as they walk in. Ivan introduces every person to me, but I’m already struggling to pronounce some of the names, and I forget others. I’m pleased when Arina arrives, looking gorgeous in what looks like a longer version of a jazz-style dress right out of the musical Chicago.
She hugs me tightly and kisses my cheek. “You look radiant, my dear. I’m so glad to see you again.”
“I’m so happy to see you again, too,” I gush, giving her another hug before she moves over to embrace Anastasia.
I’m getting antsy with everyone still coming, and Anastasia must pick up on my nerves because she excuses us from her father and takes me to sit at our table.
“Thank you,” I say. “It’s a lot of people.”
“Some of them are just business partners or people who work for the family,” she says, pouring me a glass of ice-cold water. I sip it slowly.
“We get that too. Our families have a lot in common, actually,” I mention.
“I wish my mother were here,” she says wistfully. “She loved
Babushka Maria so much.”
I reach for her hand. “Your mother sounds like she was amazing.”
“She was. Always the life of the party and always the one to heal any rifts that happened. She was a peacemaker and tempered my father a lot. Many people didn’t like that. The guy who gave away our location the day it happened was my father’s best friend. My father trusted him over everyone else even though everyone warned him that Donald was up to no good. My father regretted trusting him so much.”
“My mother was also killed in a family-related incident,” I say gently, holding her hand. “So, on that front, I can empathize with you, but I want you to know I am in no way a replacement for your mom. I could never take her place. It would even be kind of weird if I tried.”
We both laugh nervously, and I continue, “But I am here if you need anything at all.”
“Thank you,” she squeezes my hand, and we sit back as Ivan joins us now that all the guests have arrived.
As we make our way through the meal, Anastasia, Arina, and I have a fun conversation about how men are all the same. We agree that they only want one thing. That the more ambitious they are, the more dangerous they are. They are all stubborn mules who never realize the women standing behind them get them so far in life.
Ivan raises his eyebrows at a few comments we giggle over, and I squeeze his hand.
The music starts, and everyone watches as Ivan takes his grandmother out for the first dance. Everyone applauds, and soon a few people join them.
I turn my attention back to Anastasia when I feel a tap on my shoulder and look up at Ivan.
“We should dance, as the head of the family,” he says.
“I can’t dance,” I say, worried. “Like I have three left feet and nine big toes and cannot dance.”
Ivan laughs heartedly, drawing more attention to us, but then he takes my hand. “We danced at the wedding. All you have to do is trust me and follow me.”
I swallow nervously as we walk into the center of the dance floor. A song starts, one I don’t know, but Ivan puts my hand on his shoulder and takes my other hand, placing his hand on my waist.
“Ready?” he whispers.
“Yes,” I say with a giggle.
He slowly starts to sweep me around. I lean against him, responding to the way he moves. I try my best at least, and several couples from the tables applaud.
“Look at me. Focus on me,” Ivan says, and I look into his loving eyes. He sweeps me around, and I feel like an absolute princess. It wasn’t until after the song ended that I realized everyone is watching us. I blush, but Ivan chuckles and takes me in his arms for another dance.
We spend the night dancing, talking, and laughing, and I get to know a few more of his family members who seem enamored with me. I thought my social awkwardness would be my undoing, but I find Ivan’s family easy to get along with.
We eventually get home, and I can’t help but admit that I’ve fallen for Ivan in a big way and that this is a very big problem. I wonder if I can stop Alessandro from screwing him. Maybe I can ask Alessandro to help me leave the country like Kira did, and I’ll raise our child overseas. The thought of leaving Ivan and raising our baby without a father makes my heart ache, and I don’t know what I’m going to do to fix this situation.