Page 1 of The Bratva's Plus-Size Bride

Chapter 1 - Anton

Control. Ownership. Respect. I need all three to feel alive. To feel complete. To feel like myself. I put my feet up on the huge desk and lean back in my chair, loosening my tie. The casino’s office is over-the-top ostentatious with a picture window overlooking the city, making it feel like a command center, and for the foreseeable future, it’s my territory. My office.

Luka, my cousin, has given me the reins to this casino while he’s away and I intend to make the most of my time here. Not just proving myself in the family business—no, that’s not enough—I intend to learn everything I can about running a place like this so that when I step out and open one for myself, there won’t be any missteps. My casino will be the crown jewel in the Milov family collection.

For now, though, I’m just one overworked guy, chugging coffee and trying to absorb everything there is to know about this place—from the day-to-day operations to the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the Milov family, my family, in power. I run a hand through my hair and stretch, feeling the sore muscles in my arms from this morning’s workout. A glance at my Rolex tells me that it was about thirteen hours ago. One long day.

Thankfully, starting tomorrow, I’ll have some help. Luka made sure to hire me an assistant before handing the place over, but I had yet to meet her, wanting to get familiar with the place myself before she stepped in. Hopefully, she’d be up to the task. If not, I had no qualms about firing her and finding someone better suited, and she’d better be aware of that.

My cellphone starts to ring. Luka. Speak of the devil and all that. I hit accept and brought the phone to my ear, spinning the Eames chair around to face the sunset-stained skyline.

“Hey, Anton. Everything in order over there?” Luka sounds more relaxed than I’ve heard him in a while. Family life suits him. “Anything on fire?”

I roll my eyes. “I should’ve called to tell you, actually, the whole place burnt down overnight. Sorry, dude, we’ve got to start over from scratch.”

He lets out a sarcastic laugh. “Very funny. I’ll take that as a yes; everything’s running smoothly, and it should be, because it was when I left. It’s about seven there, right? The calm before the storm.”

The casino is open around the clock, but business picks up after work hours when people want to unwind with a drink and a game, letting their worries fade away in our little gambler’s paradise. Soon, the place will be packed and the money will be rolling in.

“Yup, smooth sailing here. Starting to think the whole overworked thing was an act on your part. Seems easy enough to me. I just sit up in this ivory tower all day and sign some papers, right? Blow off some steam with one of the hostesses on my lunch break?”

“Something like that,” Luka says with more than just a hint of sarcasm. “Don’t forget, your new assistant will arrive at nine tomorrow morning, and you’ll need to get her up to speed.”

“Hopefully, she’s up to the job. She’s only twenty-two, right? Last thing I need is some sorority girl biting off more than she can chew here.”

“She can handle it,” Luka promises, and I hear some chatter in the background of his call, a feminine voice that I recognize. “Alright, Hannah is demanding that I get off the phone and let you sink or swim on your own.”

Hannah, Luka’s wife and mother to their twins, is probably the only person who can boss Luka around with any sort of success. “Tell her I’ll be swimming like Phelps over here.”

I let Luka go and decide I’ve had enough work for the day. A quick walk through the floor to make sure things are going as they should before I head out, and then it’s time to blow off some steam. I’m tired of being cooped up and acting like a respectable businessman all day. What I need is a stiff drink and a good fuck. Preferably with a woman who knows what she’s doing and isn't afraid to show those skills off.

The casino is bustling, and the chatter is music to my ears. Every roll of the dice is another dollar in our accounts. I swing by the security office on my way out and take a glance at the wall of cameras.

"All good?” I ask, catching the guard by surprise.

He spins around and gives me a thumbs-up. Alex, I think his name is. One of the new hires and one of the people I’ll be keeping an eye on, making sure their performance is up to snuff.

”All good, Boss,” Alex replies, glancing back at the screens like he can’t pull his attention away for a minute.

Good. I’d rather that than find him dicking around on his phone while there's a gunfight blazing in the background. Wouldn’t be the first gunfight to happen on our turf.

“Got my number?” I double-check. I plan on letting loose tonight, but I’ll keep my phone on me just in case shit starts going down.

He nods. “On speed dial. Seems like a calm night so far, though. Taking off?”

“Yup.” I’ve already got a car waiting for me outside, ready to take me back to my place. I’ll shower and change beforeheading out. “But if anything happens, and I don't care how small, give me a call. Got it? I’m the one you call now, not Luka.”

No way am I having Luka be the first to know if a fight breaks out in his casino while I’m off partying. I’d never hear the end of it.

I wait for Alex to nod before taking off, heading out the back door to where a black SUV is waiting. It's cold, see my breath fogging in the air sort of cold, and I hurry into the backseat. While we drive back to my place, I shoot a text to my twin brother, Viktor, to see what he's doing tonight.

Club tonight?

It takes a minute for him to text back. He’s got a lot on his plate now with his new wife, Riley, and all the shit that went down with the Vultures, so maybe he could use a night off, too.

Sorry, man, can't tonight. Date night with Riley. How was your first day with a big boy job?

Guess married life puts a damper on partying sometimes. He's wrong, anyway. I've been working my whole life, but I know what he means. Taking over for Luka and running one of these casinos feels like the big league. It’s why I’m feeling so agitated, even though I know I can handle it.

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