Page 3 of Owned By the Russian

“She’d better not,” Fedya grinned, but there was a hint of venom coating his words. “I can’t promise not to forget my bullet in the skull of the bastard who tried to touch her.”

Viktor raised his glass. “Amen to that.”

Irina exchanged a glance with Val as if to say, ‘See what I have to go through every day?’

“Why is no one betting on Val?” A familiar voice asked, breaking their circle. Rhiannon waltzed in with a full grin, her black dress hugging her tall, lean body. It was hard to tell she just had a kid. “Val and I always do our things in sync. Now that I’m married, she’s next.”

Viktor snorted. “Valentina hates men.”

“Not all men,” Irina defended. “Just Ilya.”

“Can wenotmention his name?” Val frowned as she tackled her best friend in a bear hug. “My night is already going great.”

The siblings snickered as they dispersed, giving Rhi and Val the privacy they needed.

“Ugh,” Rhi groaned as she pulled back and grasped Val’s shoulders. “I could devour you in that dress, but Adrian would kill you first.”

Val laughed. “Twenty-five is quite a young age to die, and we don’t want my father raising a coup, do we?”

Rhi shook her head, laughing. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Val grinned. “I’m so happy for you, Rhi. I’m happy that I finally get to see you glow like the sun you are. I’m happy you don’t have to be crushed under your father’s heel anymore. I’m happy you’ve found someone you can live up to your full potential with. Someone who is as obsessed with you as you are with him. But most of all, I’m happy you’ve given me a kid. You may have birthed her, but we both know Cora has two mothers now.”

Rhi’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, sparkling under the glittery sheen of her makeup.

She dabbed her face softly with a napkin. “Don’t make me cry. I know this is all I’ve ever wished for, and I love it. I really do. But sometimes, being here feels overwhelming. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Nikolais, and they love me. And I don’t know if it’s because of how hard I had to work to prove myself back at home just to be disregarded, but sometimes being the wife of a Nikolai brother feels like I’ve got these massive shoes to fill.

“Adrian constantly tells me not to worry, and I pretend I don’t, but a few times, I feel like I may not be living up to what is expected of me here. Things are different here than at home. Everyone has a responsibility, and no one is left out. I’ve always wanted to be a part of something, and it’s finally happening. But it’s still so new to me. And with Cora recently coming along, my hormones are still all over the place.”

Valentina cupped Rhi’s cheeks. “You’re perfect, Rhi. And trust me, I completely understand your struggles. But I need you to remember that you’re not alone. You’re never alone here, Rhi. You have me and the entire Nikolai family ready to defend you in case anything comes up. You’re loved and cherished here. And with the way Adrian looks at you, I know you’re the best thing that has ever happened to him.

“You don’t need to worry about anything. You’ll be a great wife and a great mother to Cora. You’re the best thing that has happened to this family in a while, and I want you to own up to it.”

Rhi blushed. “Don’t flatter me.”

“I’m serious,” Val continued. “You’re a rare gem. Adrian knows that, and that’s why he knew never to let you go. Always remember that, okay?”

Rhi nodded, the uncertainty in her eyes dissolving into the confidence Val was used to. Rhiannon always went around with a tough exterior, but Val knew that she was as soft as goo on the inside.

“Mrs. Nikolai,” a voice called from behind them, firm but cautious. “My apologies for interrupting, but there’s a matter that requires your attention.”

Rhi nodded, turning to her best friend with a regretful smile. “I hate to leave you right now, but duty calls.”

Val shook her head. “It’s okay, Babe. I understand. Go do your thing.”

They exchanged air kisses on the cheek before Rhi confidently strutted off.

Now that the greetings were over, Val’s eyes narrowed on the food table at the other end of the room. But just as she was about to take her first step forward, a tall figure completely obscured the table from her view.

She looked up, muscles stiffening and eyes hardening as they landed on the six-foot-something man striding towards her with a champagne glass in one hand and an infuriating smirk on his pink, full lips.

Ilya Nikolai. The grade A asshole and absolute bane of her existence. The one Nikolai man she actually detested.

He made sure to ruin whatever good time she was having whenever they bumped into each other. And with the knowing smirk on his mouth as he approached her, she knew this night wouldn’t be any different.

Chapter 2 - Ilya

Ilya remembered the first time he met Valentina Romano like it had happened yesterday, even though it was fairly a year ago. The memory replayed in his mind, sharp and unyielding.

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