Slavik’s hand tightened at my waist. I didn’t know if he was trying to warn me, or if he just had to hold me a little tighter.
“How are you enjoying the party?” I asked.
“It’s a fucking party, Aurora. How do you think?”
His harsh tone had me flinching. Of course. I was being treated like a fucking dumb woman. Rather than look into his dark, almost black eyes, I went back to staring at his chest. Had Ivan given me that advice on purpose?
Either way, I wasn’t going to use it.
Once the dance ended, Slavik told me that my driver, Sergei, was going to take me home.
Without another word, Slavik kissed my cheek and handed me to Sergei. No doubt he was going to be fucking the woman who had been hanging off his arm.
Against my better judgment, I looked toward Ivan, who watched me. He raised his glass in my direction, and I offered him a smile.
Staring down at the floor, I followed Sergei out to the waiting car. He held open the back passenger door, and I slid inside. The noise from the building seemed to grow louder, but I ignored it.
Parties had never been my thing. The fear of something bad happening always lingered in the air.
I was growing tired of living in fear. Resting my head back against the car seat, I didn’t bother looking back to see the building. Instead, I stared out the window at the passing scenery.
The city in darkness always seemed to offer a sense of freedom. There were more shadows, places to hide. It would be so nice to run, to escape.
Now that I was married, my chances were gone. I was trapped in a loveless marriage to a man who clearly couldn’t stand me. My days were numbered. Pressing my fingers to my temples, I tried to massage the pain that began to build.
Showing weakness would get me killed.
Being strong and loyal, that was what I needed to do.
To survive.
To one day earn my freedom.
I had a plan, I just hoped I knew what I was doing.
****
Slavik
The party had long ago ended. Wives were gone. Children were nowhere to be seen. The only people left were men, available women, and whores. Ivan sat at the head, looking like a king, which was exactly what he was. In front of him was the woman who had been hanging off me earlier.
Dana was her name, and he had proof of her treachery. No one could outrun the Volkov Bratva and they certainly couldn’t betray it. There were many enemies of Ivan’s wanting to take over. They didn’t like the new era we all worked within. The treaties he built. The places he ran. The rules he implemented.
I did.
I was loyal to him.
My life was in his hands.
I’d die for this man. I owed him everything, and he knew I’d do anything for him. The moment he told me to marry Aurora Fredo, I’d done so without argument. My wife was different. The truth was in marrying Aurora to me, her father had given us the greatest of insults.
It was known far and wide the second daughter wasn’t perfect. To many, she was the ugly, fat let-down. The real prize was her sister.
What Fredo didn’t know was Ivan had wanted Aurora from the start. Again, I had no idea why he wanted her, only that he did. What I didn’t like tonight was seeing them together.
I didn’t love my wife.
Our wedding night had been a fucked-up mess.
My order from Ivan had been clear: consummate the marriage and produce the bloody sheets as per tradition in Aurora’s family. I’d done that, and even the memory of it grated on my nerves.
She’d been terrified but duty-bound.
The moment I touched her, I found her so fucking dry, it didn’t matter what way I’d taken her, she’d have been hurt. Getting it over with had been a challenge. I’d moistened her up with my saliva, pretending I was getting my dick ready as I’d done it.
I hadn’t touched my wife in a week, and it wasn’t like she complained. She slept stiffly on her side of the bed, rarely moving. I had to wonder if she slept at all.
Some nights, I found myself watching her.
She had long brown hair, a temptation I didn’t allow myself to give in to. It would be so nice to run my fingers through the length, to wrap it around my fist, and to jerk her back against me as I fucked her long and hard. To show her what our wedding night should have been like.
Instead, I watched.
I craved.
But I didn’t give in.
That would be pointless. At this time, I didn’t even know if I liked my wife. We didn’t talk.
I stared at the scene before me, and the truth was my dick was not getting hard.
Dana’s face was already covered in cum. As per Ivan’s instructions, we’d created an orgy. Fuck to your heart’s content, and only when he had Dana where he wanted her would he strike.
That time was now.
One of the soldiers had his dick inside her ass. One of his hands gripped her hair, holding her head to the floor as he rode her anus. All the while, he had his gaze on Ivan, waiting for the signal.
The moment Ivan nodded, the soldier pulled her up against his chest, held her hair tightly, and placed the blade against her throat.
It took her several seconds to realize what was going on. Anger, fear, and sadness all danced across her eyes.
“Volkov, what is the meaning of this?”
“You think I wouldn’t find out? First you steal from me, then you hand it straight to our enemies, and now I’ve got their fucking shit running in my clubs. In my city. You fucking dirty slut. You should know that I would find out. Nothing is ever hidden from me. Nothing.”
“No, please. No. I don’t want to die. They made me do it.”
Ivan got up off his seat and walked down to where Dana knelt. Tears streamed from her eyes.
He got close. “You think I don’t know about the payment? How you’re a couple of mil up on takings?”
Dana’s eyes closed as the reality of what she’d done and been caught doing finally sank in.
The blade swiped across Dana’s neck, blood spilling from the wound. She cupped her neck as the soldier pulled out of her ass.
It was done. The deed was finished.
I watched, and I didn’t care.
Greed got people killed. Far too many people were lured into a trap by the green stuff. Dana had taken a bag of our coke, our own special blend that was worth so much more money than she sold it for. Once they got the chemist on it, they adapted it and changed the formula. We’d been made truly aware of the damage when ten people had been found overdosed in our clubs within one night.
This was a new part of Ivan Volkov’s era. He didn’t want people dead. Dead clients meant product didn’t move. He liked to keep people alive.
Again, a new first.
Ivan clicked his fingers, signaling the party was over. Dana’s body would be disposed of. Unclaimed. Dead and useless.
“You needed an elaborate party to do that?” I asked, following him out toward his car.
“No, I needed an elaborate party because it fucking entertains me.”
I only ever talked to him as a friend when we were alone. The moment we were surrounded by others, I was the loyal subject.
“You know your wife was so fucking bored tonight, don’t you?”
“Leave Aurora to me,” I said.
Ivan chuckled. “I think I made a mistake in allowing you to marry her. You clearly don’t see the wild woman waiting to be unleashed.”