Page 2 of Darkest Love
“I know your wife is Sasha Petrov. And Mikhail’s wife is Natalya, the oldest of them. And Liam is married to Irina. But from my understanding… there’s a fourth sister, yes?”
“Anastasia. She’s the youngest.”
“How old is she?”
“She’s twenty now.”
“So, legal.”
Nico stares at me with a hard expression. “You want to marry Ana? Seriously? You?”
“I don’t care about love. I want to marry her for power. It’s obvious that you, Mikhail, and Liam have gained so much power in these past few years. You cover all the basis. You’re the Italian mafia. Mikhail is the Bratva. And Liam is the Irish mob. So where does that leave me? I’m all the way in Paris doing my business. We can make so much money by going international. But I won’t always be here in New York to make sure you three have my best interests at heart. So I need a guarantee that I will be included in decisions. That I will not be pushed to the side of this deal. And the only way to ensure that is to marry me to Anastasia, the last of the Petrov sisters to be unmarried.” I pause. “She is single, yes?”
Nico sighs. “Yes. She hasn’t been allowed to date for her own safety. I know she’s been itching for it though. She has a rebellious nature to her. But so far, the guards around Mikhail’s house has stopped her from getting into too much trouble.”
“A feisty one then. I like feisty women. They’re always more fun.”
“I’d have to talk about this with Mikhail and Liam. I can’t just make the decision myself. That won’t go over well.”
“So, talk it through with them. But I’m sure you will all agree that it’s the best decision you can make. She’s unmarried. And I know how mafia girls are here in America. They’re raised for marriage. So marry her to me and we can have our alliance. I will never break my word to you and Anastasia will be a guarantee that you will never break my word to me.”
“I’ll talk to Mikhail and Liam and get back to you.”
I wink. “You do that. As for me, I’m going to find the best club in this city and find a woman I can fuck for the night.”
“You do realize that if Mikhail and Liam agree to the marriage between you and Ana that you won’t be able to continue seeing other women.”
“Why not? It’s a marriage for political gains. Not love. You know me, Nico. I have no desire to settle down. This is purely for power.”
“My wife isn’t going to be happy if I agree to marry her baby sister off to a man who won’t even be faithful to her.”
“Your wife, your problem. Not mine. You want to make a deal with me, Nico? Then this is what it will take. Or I am walking away and we can say goodbye to all the money we could have made together.”
Nico shakes his head and shoots me an annoyed look. “You’re not making this easy on me.”
“When have I ever?”
I leave Nico to contemplate my offer and go to the nightclub called Desire. It’s not owned by Nico, Mikhail, or Liam. I don’t want to cause any waves with them until I know for sure I have a deal with all three of them.
I walk into the nightclub like I own the place. Multiple women – and men – look in my direction. I’ve always taken good care of my appearance. Slicked back black hair. Stubble that is trimmed to perfection. My black suit that fits my body perfectly. It’s not surprising at all that I draw the kind of attention I do.
In fact, I crave it. I stalk my prey with it.
My eyes land on a pretty blonde, dancing with her friends. She will do.
I walk right over to her and ask if she wants to dance.
She looks me over and blushes before giving me her hand. That was easy. It helps looking the way I do. Most women can’t resist me.
Which is why I don’t intend to give up my womanizer ways after I’m married to Anastasia. I don’t believe in love and neither should the woman I marry.
Anastasia
I try sneaking out my bedroom window but the guard on the other side promptly spots me.
“Ana,” Tom says. He’s been one of Mikhail’s guards for the past few years. “You know you can’t leave. Get back inside the house.”
With a sigh, I crawl back through my window and slam it shut. I was held prisoner by my controlling uncle when I was a teenager before he let me go when I was seventeen. I thought I would get more freedom when I moved into my oldest sister, Natalya’s, house but so far, I haven’t gotten anything of the sort.
