Page 21 of Prince of Control
Of Benjamin Baranov and whatever his sinister plans are for me.
Chapter Six
Baron
“Here are the rings.” Lili holds out two tiny plastic bags, one containing a thin gold band and one with a thicker band.
Lili, Zoe, Anya, Leo, Phoenix, and Anders all gather in the living room of Baranov House where I told everyone who wanted to go to the courthouse to meet. “There are adjustable sizers inside for now until you get them properly sized. Or until you know your bride well enough to buy her something she would actually like. Where is your bride, by the way?”
I check the app on my phone that tracks her phone. “Almost here. Thank you, Lils.” I pull her in for a half-hug and kiss the top of her head.
“How was your first day at Thornecroft?” Zoe asks.
“Great. Except I think my math professor hates me for some reason.”
“Vasiliev?” I ask even though I already know her schedule and professors. Professor Vasiliev is the bane of my existence at Thornecroft.
She sends me a surprised glance. “Yes. I thought he might be nice to me since he’s obviously Russian. Is this your fault?”
I shrug. “No, but you’re fucked. I have him again this year for statistics. I think he knows we’re bratva and therefore believes we’re thugs. Dad doesn’t know him personally–I asked when I had him freshman year because I thought maybe they had a beef or something. Watch out–he will look for any excuse to dock points off your tests, so be meticulous.”
“Well, that sucks.”
“It does.”
“Lara made plans to meet some Russian mudak for a drink tomorrow at five,” Leo says.
I go still. As is my way, I show nothing on my face, while chaos rips my insides to shreds. “Who?”
Leo shows me the screen of his phone. It shows a photo snapped in the Modern Languages building of a short, nerdy guy talking to Lara. “This guy. They were speaking Russian. He says he’s a transfer student.”
“Send it to Anya,” I snap, turning to look at my hacker. “Anya, find out who he is and if he has any links to the Rostovs.”
“You got it, pakhan.”
“Don’t call me that,” I say reflexively, my mind still chewing on the new transfer student. It sounds like trouble to me. What are the chances that a Russian transfer student shows up right when Lara Turgeneva slips out of Brash Rostov’s clutches?
“Why not? We’re bratva. We’re basically our own cell, and you’re the boss.”
I ignore the question, frowning, still deep in thought when the door beeps with the electronic lock opening, and Lara walks in. Leo programmed her thumbprint to work this morning before she left for class.
Lara stops in the doorway and stares at us.
I’m sure we look like a mob waiting to attack her. I wish to fuck she wasn’t so sure I was the enemy.
I tip my head at the group. “They all wanted to come along for the ceremony. Is that okay with you?”
Her nostrils flare. “And if I say no?” she demands.
She’s testing me. She wants to see how restrictive her golden handcuffs really are. She tested me this morning when she stopped me from kissing her. Now she wants to know how much agency she has over how things go down.
I want to pass her test even though I think the experience will probably be better for both of us if my friends attend.
Lili reaches for Lara, touching her arm. “Hi! We haven’t met yet. I’m Lili Baranova, Ben’s sister.” She tilts her head to the side. “Soon to be your sister.”
“Oh.” Lara looks back at her without moving. I can tell she wants to hate Lili, too, but my sister is too sweet and innocent to hate.
“So this is kind of my fault.” Lili sweeps a hand at the gathering. “We both just found out about the sudden, um, acceleration of marital plans, and I told Ben I wanted to come. I mean, we’re going to be family.” She sends an apologetic look. “And once I said I wanted to go, everyone else jumped on the bandwagon. But if you don’t want us there, it’s okay. We can wait for you here with champagne.”
