Page 17 of The Bratva's Plus-Size Bride

I grit my teeth and throw back my glass of champagne, tamping down the river of jealousy in my chest before it consumes me and I do something I will regret. “I understand. As you know, my family owns numerous properties in the United States. Branching out to overseas establishments is vital for creating my own name in this world, something I know your husband would have appreciated, despite his tragedy.”

The tragedy was his assassination at a resort in Mexico while in bed with another woman, a result of a shady deal gone wrong. Luckily, it cost him his life and not his fortune, whichhad so conveniently landed in the hands of Mrs. Kozlov. I had been courting Mr. Kozlov’s patronage prior to his death, but the old man was stubborn, refusing to do business with anyone not at the head of the family. Bastard. I had nothing to do with his death, obviously, but I wasn’t afraid to reap the benefits of it.

When I glance back at where Ella had been standing, she’s gone. I scan the room, searching for her and that distinctive red dress, and find her arm in arm with Anya. The venue is grand, a display of Neo-renaissance extravagance, and she looks perfectly at home among it. It's as if she’s made for this life, not the dreary one she’s been living. But she doesn’t know about the dark side of the Milov family. Not yet. When I tell her, will she run? I can’t let that happen. I can’t let her slip out of my life now that I’ve found her. I’ll do anything to keep her by my side.

“He did love to fly, my husband.” Mrs. Kozlov has emptied her fourth champagne glass and is hanging on my arm. She weighs as much as a bird, her thin frame lacking any of Ella’s lush softness, the curves that make my mouth run dry even from across the room.

I need to close this deal and get to Ella. I need to tell Viktor to take three steps back because he’s way too close to her, and I don’t care if Anya is between them. Too. Close.

“Then I’ll personally fly with you to the premier location,” I promise her, ready to promise her anything to bring this conversation to a close. “It would be my pleasure to give you the tour myself.”

That wins her over. I can see the deal is closed before she even opens her mouth to agree and tune her out so I can focus on Ella and Viktor. Anya is talking her ear off, I can tell that muchfrom here. I should be the one introducing her to the family, not Viktor.

“I think we should start with just the one.” Mrs. Kozlov is still clutching my arm like she’ll topple over if I move away, her fingers not-so-subtly fondling the muscles along my forearm. I feel a flash of pity for every attractive woman fielding similar advances from old men this evening, but her reluctance to commit to the entire venture keeps me from pulling my arm free.

Viktor is handing Ella another glass of champagne, and the trio raises their flutes in a toast. If I had had it my way, I would have gotten her jewelry to match tonight, but I knew she’d draw the line at that. Stubborn girl. Luckily, she hadn’t asked any questions about how I knew her dress and shoe sizes. She didn’t need to know that I have a growing file in my desk at home with every detail about her that I can gather.

“We need to dream big,” I insist. “Think of what your husband did when he was starting out. If you don’t take a risk, you don’t get the reward. I know Dimitri would want us to aim high, to believe in our own success, rather than give in to fear.”

It’s all a bunch of drivel, but it lights her up regardless, and this time, I think I’m finally in. Her eyes water, and her hand squeezes my arm. “You’re right, Anton, you’re absolutely right. He was a risk-taker. He had big dreams. Just like you.”

This is it. Finally, I’ll have the money I need to make the first move on my own resorts, to stake my claim on the Milov name. “I agree completely. I believe he wanted this for us, to find each other, to become a team.”

She nods eagerly and tears start to stream from her eyes, smudging her makeup. “He’s smiling down on us right now, telling me to go all in on you.”

“I’ll have the contract sent over to your home tomorrow,” I say, pressing a polite kiss to her soggy cheek.

“Lovely,” she replies, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. She laughs at herself. “Look at me, falling apart. Excuse me, Anton, I need to go collect myself.”

Finally, I wait for her to leave and then spin to find Ella and Viktor, but they’ve vanished again. Well, she has, and Anya with her. Viktor is still there, so I cross the room to him and punch him on the shoulder as a greeting.

“There you are,” Viktor says, rubbing his shoulder and giving me one back. “Seal the deal with the old vulture?”

“She’s notthatold.” While Dimitri Kozlov was practically geriatric, Mrs. Kozlov is only about fifteen years our senior and objectively still quite good-looking, even if she’s got nothing on my Ella. “And yes, she’s in, but you could’ve pulled that off. I didn’t need to be here.”

I could still be on the beach somewhere with Ella if Viktor hadn’t dragged me back for this event. Could still be wrapped around her in bed, even.

“I don’t know, man, I saw the way she was practically draped around you. Not happening. Riley would’ve skinned her.”

“Fair enough.” I wouldn’t want to get on Riley’s bad side either. “Where did Ella go?”

“She and Anya went to the bathroom. Speaking of Anya,” he says, suddenly serious. “She wants to shadow you. She’s pretty insistent on it, actually. You know how she gets. Says she’s been kept out of the family business too long.”

“That’s how it should be,” I argue. There’s no way I’m getting my little sister involved in all the shit that happens in the family business.

Viktor sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose like he’s had this argument way too many times to have it again. “I agree with you, but she’s not budging. So we let her tag along while you’re doing all your legitimate shit and keep her out of the other side.”

I hesitate. It sounds very similar to what I’m balancing with Ella right now, but at least Anya isn’t completely oblivious to the truth. The two of them spending that much time together could spell trouble for me if Anya spills the family secret.

“Is that a good idea?” I push back. “She could shadow you, too.”

“Are you worried she’ll get in the way of you and Ella?”

“What are you talking about?” I snap. “There’s no ‘me and Ella.’ She’s my assistant, and I didn’t even hire her; Luka did.”

He crosses his arms and gives me that cut-the-bullshit look I’m too familiar with. “And you can’t keep your eyes off of her. Think I didn’t catch you mean-mugging us all night when you were supposed to be charming, Mrs. Kozlov? Come off it.”

“Fine,” I bite out, cutting off his line of thinking. “Anya can shadow m,e but I get to decide when and where. This isn’t going to be every day all day.”

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