Page 5 of The Bratva's Captive

Even if I weren’t so jaded and against the idea of committing to a woman, I wasn’t interested in the women in our circle. They were all the same, all full of themselves and out to secure whatever power and wealth they could. Each and every one of them had just as much of a chance to end up like my mother, and I refused to let anyone hurt my family again.

“And?” she asked, smiling with hope blossoming in her blue eyes.

“And they’re just as annoying as the next,” I replied, deadpan.

She huffed and shook her head.

“Let him be,” my father said. “It’s not like there is any rush.” He arched one brow at her, and she frowned and crossed her arms.

“He doesn’t even try, though. It’s not a bad idea to keep some options open for consideration,” she replied.

“I highly doubt that he’ll struggle to find a woman willing to be his wife,” my father argued dryly. “Even the dumbest of those whores would want to be chosen by an Ivanov boss.”

And whoever I choose will only be in it for the money and power. Nothing more.

“It’ll be a business transaction,” I quipped flippantly.

“Oh.” She perked up, even sarcastically, at that. “You mean you’re ready for us to arrange a marriage for you?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Hell no.”

She sighed again. “Then at leasttalkto a woman. Consider the options.”

“I am considering options. The option to stay single for as long as I can.” I smiled wolfishly at her.

“Oh…” She scowled. “None of you even try?—”

“Hey now.” Saul feigned a hurt expression. “I take my time to cultivate my fan club.”

I chuckled again. So did Damon. “Yes. By the time you’ll be expected to settle down, the rest of us would’ve already accomplished having heirs.”

He grinned. “And look at Nik.” He gestured at where our brother spoke with a woman near the bar. From this distance, it was hard to tell whether they were arguing or attempting small talk. My bet was on the former. Those two had been bickering since we were kids.

“Again?” I mused aloud.

Father looked in the direction of Katerina Kozlov as she seemed to make a snide reply to Nik. “They’ve always been like that.”

I nodded, drinking some more. They had. But back when Nik and Katerina were children—not yet expected to behave like adults within the Mafia—Father and Thomas Kozlov were friends. Since Thomas’s death, though, the Ivanov and Kozlov friendship had gotten rockier over the years.

Maybe he’s just spying, getting her to talk to learn what the Kozlovs are up to now.

On one hand, it was ridiculous to think of the Kozlovs trying to stir up trouble with us, but I couldn’t shake the idea that someone was doing just that.

Cringing and loosening my tie, I hated the feeling that this could very well be the calm before the storm. Something was happening. Perhaps a takeover was being plotted. Wars sprang up over less.

And Grandmother wants me to focus on settling down. Not staying alert for the enemy.I held in a huff of laughter at the stupidity of it all. We would always have enemies. As the most powerful Mafia organization in New York City, we could count on plenty of adversaries wanting to claim our power, our wealth, and our turf.

“You’re not getting any younger,” my grandmother reminded me, almost pouting. She glanced at Damon and Saul as well. “None of you are.”

“Relax, Mother,” my father repeated after meeting my gaze. “They’ll have plenty of time to find a woman and breed her.” He shrugged, showing how little he’d care about the process.

Now that she’d reminded me about her eagerness for me to start looking for a woman, I was the opposite of relaxed.

I ignored the stares of the group of Mafia daughters who strolled by. They could look and ogle all they wanted, but I wouldn’t be tempted.

Instead, I glanced at my watch, wondering how much longer I’d need to be seen here before I could get the hell away from this grand production of a wedding.

Whenever I had to take a wife, it wouldn’t be like this. I finished my drink and knew no one would talk me out of that. I’d find a fertile woman and knock her up as soon as possible so I could resume the life I enjoyed as a Mafia boss.

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