“So, you’re a Bratva boss, is that it?” Vik asks. I can see the eagerness coming off her. Mikhail is exactly the type of man she would want to be with. Powerful, handsome, older.

It’s not lost on me how much older Mikhail is than me. It only makes me feel more vulnerable around him—like he can see inside me. A man with experience.

“I am.” Mikhail keeps his eyes on me as he speaks, which I can tell annoys Vik. “And I’m looking for a woman to join me in my ventures. A wife.”

I gulp. Why is my body tingling?

Boris wraps his arm around my shoulder. I can still taste the faint traces of vomit in my mouth.

“Our father was looking for a good marriage match for me,” Vik says. Me, I notice, she says. Not us. She makes a point of crossing her legs. She always had the best legs.

“And you think I’m that?” he says, still locking eyes with me.

Vik looks between Mikhail and me and huffs. “Well, why not? I’m the eldest daughter of a Bratva boss, and you’re a Bratva boss. It just makes sense.”

Finally, he looks at her. Vik perks up immediately. “It does make sense. But I’m not a man who takes suggestions from other people. I make up my own mind.” His eyes turn back to me. “I take what I want.”

I clamp my legs together and hold my hands tight in my lap. Why is Mikhail looking at me like he wants to eat me alive? I don’t want that. I just want to be left alone.

And yet, I want him to look at me. I can’t make up my mind. My mind can barely form thoughts as he locks his eyes with mine.

“Well, it was good of you to join us, Mikhail,” Boris says, standing up and extending his hand. Mikhail doesn’t take it. Awkwardly, Boris drops his hand. “But these girls just had a long night of dancing. I say we let them rest.”

Mikhail looks at Boris like he’s an amusing little fly that keeps hitting the window over and over again because it’s not smart enough to know how to get out. “Of course. It was nice to meet all of you.”

Vik stands quickly and gives Mikhail her hand. He ignores her and gives Mila a nod before turning to me. “Sofiya, it was a pleasure.” With that, he walks out of the room and our house.

Vik is stunned. No man has ever rejected her before.

Boris faces me, and I wish he wouldn’t. I don’t want Boris’s attention. Not one bit. “Sofiya, I’ll come back tomorrow to discuss wedding plans. I was thinking this weekend.”

I shoot off the couch. “What? This … weekend?”

“Yes. I’ve already picked out the dress you will wear. I’ll bring it over tomorrow for you to try it on. I can’t wait to see you in it.” He licks his lips, and my stomach churns.

I watch him leave our house. He can’t leave fast enough, in my opinion.

“I love weddings,” Mila says. “I can’t wait to dance.” She starts slowly dancing around the room, looking like a real Disney princess.

“You dance every day,” Vik mutters, slumping back into her seat.

“But not at weddings.”

“Vik,” I say. “You need to help me. I can’t marry Boris. I can’t. He’s revolting.”

“Can’t help you there, Sofiya. If Boris wants to marry you, he will. Besides, better you than me.”

My jaw drops. “How can you be so cold? So cruel?”

“Because I want Mikhail for myself. He’s the perfect husband for me. If you’re married to Boris, he can’t have you.”

“What makes you think Mikhail wants me?”

Vik looks at me like I’m an idiot. “He couldn’t take his eyes off you. I might not be experienced with men, but even I know that when a man can’t take his eyes off you, that means he likes you.”

“I knew that, too,” Mila says, still dancing around the room.

“But I can’t marry Boris.”

“If you don’t, he’ll try to marry Mila or me. And we can’t give Mila to that man, can we, Sofiya?”

There it is—Vik is playing on my protective mode for our youngest sister. She knows I would never let anything happen to Mila. So she’s willing to throw me under the bus so she and Mila are safe.

“You never liked me,” I say.

Vik sniffs and turns her nose up to me. “You’re putting words in my mouth again. I’m getting ready for bed. We have another show tomorrow night, and I don’t intend to miss it. I’m going to get my beauty sleep.” She walks gracefully out of the room.

Mila continues to dance as if nothing is wrong.

MIKHAIL

I wait outside for that spineless little fucker to leave the house. When he does, I’m waiting for him.

“Boris,” I say, making him jump.

“Mikhail. I was just on my way out. I don’t have time to talk.”

“With what car?”

Boris stops. “What?”

“With what car? You came here in the car the women own. You left yours back at the performing arts center. Let me take you.”

“Oh, that’s all right.” He fiddles with his tie. “I can walk.”

I step in front of him, so close I can see the tiny specks of green in his eyes. “I’ll take you.”

Boris gulps. “If you wish.”

I love intimidating people. It’s what makes me so suited for my job.

I open my car door for him to get inside. Boris slowly does, his eyes darting around for an escape route. I slam the door, and he jumps again.

After getting into the car and starting to drive, I finally talk. “So, you want to marry Sofiya.”

“I don’t want to marry her. We are getting married.”

“I see.”