Ruthless Mafia King: A Dark Bratva Arranged Marriage Romance

I get out of the car first and walk around to open the door for Katarina. All the while, I keep an eye on our surroundings, but no one seems to notice or pay any heed to our presence. It’s doubtful that anyone will be foolish enough to attack me. Not when we’ve been asked here.

Igor’s the first one to come out, no doubt warned by the many men surrounding the house. The gun in his hand makes me frown in disgust. It makes him look unhinged.

“Is she here?” he asks, probably wanting to see Katarina coming out of the car rather than me.

“She is,” I inform him, and open the car door, offering her my hand.

Katarina’s fingers curl around mine as I help her out, and her eyes immediately snap to Igor.

“What happened?” she demands, no doubt taking in the many cuts and bruises on her brother’s face.

I move to take my place next to Katarina, shielding her, especially against her unpredictable brother. He’s a wild card if I ever saw one. His obsession with Gargarin’s daughter brought an entire army to Sokolov’s door, and it’s not something to be taken lightly.

“Glad you’re so worried about Father,” Igor comments dryly.

Katarina purses her lips. “Will you let me see him or not?”

Igor hesitates, his expression twisting as if he’s about to start an argument. Wisely, I step in.

“That’s why we’re here,” I interject. “We were invited, weren’t we?”

“He’s been asking for her,” Igor confirms with a nod, and addresses the both of us. “He’s in bed. Mother’s watching over him. Make it short because we don’t know how much longer he can hang in there.”

My expression remains blank and unyielding, and I hide the fury that’s coursing through my veins. I want nothing more than to put this punk in his place. But now’s not the time. I have to focus on Katarina. She needs this to go well.

“Let’s go,” I tell her, and place my hand on the small of her back.

“Not so fast,” Igor interjects, stepping in our way. “Father only wants to see her.”

“I’m not letting her go alone,” I say calmly, but with enough bite in my words for him to know I’m serious.

Katarina turns to me. She rests her hand on my chest, her green eyes pleading with mine. “We don’t have time for this, Nik. He’s not doing well. Your presence could make things even worse.”

“He can wait with Mikhail, Aleksander, and me,” Igor says. “We’ll be in the living room.”

“You promise that nothing will happen to him?” Katarina asks her brother, but her eyes are still on me. “You swear to me.”

“Nothing,” Igor hisses, and I appreciate the finality in his voice. “Now, can we please go inside? We don’t have all day.”

Katarina nods, and when I make a move to follow her inside, she stops me.

“It’s okay, Nik,” she whispers, and places a light kiss on my cheek. “They’ll keep their word. “

“It’s not me I’m worried about,” I whisper back, and put a protective hand over her midsection.

“It’ll be okay,” she says, trying to reassure herself just as much as me.

Igor didn’t ask to take my guns away. If they try to pull something on me, I’ll be taking as many of them with me as I can.

“Call out if you need anything,” I instruct her in a strained voice. “I’ll be close by.”

She nods and walks up the stairs, leaving me alone with Igor.

“This way,” Igor tells me, once Katarina is out of view.

I follow him to the spacious living room. Aleksander and Mikhail stand up when I enter, surprise evident on both their faces. The boys are young, still in their early twenties, with so much ahead, they have to survive a war their brother brought on their family.

“Nikolai,” Mikhail greets me, catching me by surprise and extending his hand for me to shake. It looks like the youngest brother has the best manners.

“I wish the circumstances were different,” I tell him as I shake his hand. “I’m sorry about what you’re going through.”

Igor mutters something under his breath, but I decide not to pay him any heed. No need to poke the angry bear.

“Sit with us,” Aleksander adds, his expression a mixture of emotions. “Please.”

“We appreciate you bringing Kata,” Mikhail says. “Father hasn’t stopped asking for her.”

“She’s not my prisoner anymore,” I tell them. “She decided to come.”

At those words, the three brothers exchange looks. My brows furrow, not liking their expressions but also unable to pinpoint what’s bothering me.

“I heard several versions of the story,” I start, glancing at Igor. “I’d like to know what happened.”

“And then you tell us what you want in return for Kata,” Mikhail ventures.

“But surely you won’t dare to ask for the sky,” Aleksander interjects.

I chuckle softly. “I don’t think you’ve heard me. Kata’s not my prisoner. She stays with me because she wants to. She’ll marry me of her own free will.”

“You mean your willing prisoner,” Igor interjects. “Was she even allowed to refuse you?”

“At the beginning, no,” I admit. “But things have changed.”

“Let’s not speak of this,” Mikhail comments, and gives his older brother a piercing look. “Igor, sit down. Behave. This is on you to begin with.”

I take my eyes off Igor, his scowl becoming more pronounced. The fact that Mikhail commands Igor makes me respect him a bit more. There’s potential in this young Sokolov.

“Long story short, Igor came across Anastasiya again, argued with her, got the attention of the Gargarins, brought the heat to our home, and involved Father in a shootout,” Aleksander summarizes, confirming the second version of the events I’d heard.

Mikhail stands up. “If Kata marries you, you’ll be family. Surely that means something to you.”

“I guess that depends on how much I like the members of said family,” I respond.

I’m impressed by their bravery. Most would tremble before me, knowing I’d beat everyone within an inch of their lives, but the Sokolov brothers refuse to back down.

Igor keeps his gaze firmly fixed on the ground. For what it’s worth, he at least has shame about his behavior. He may not have inherited his father’s good sense, but at least he can recognize his mistakes.

“Please, Nikolai,” Aleksander pleads. “We need your help. The Gargarins are regrouping as we speak. We should plan our next move.”

I watch all three Sokolov boys before me, recognizing the passion and fierceness in their eyes. Then there’s a more somber thought that brings me closer to seeing the brothers as men.

“Why did you try to have me killed?” I demand. “I wasn’t hunting you down, I wasn’t targeting any of you.”

The air is stagnant, and there’s not a sound to be heard. It’s almost as if we’re in a vacuum, or maybe just outside of time, as I wait for an answer.

After an agonizing silence, the oldest brother opens his mouth. “Everyone knew Katarina was off limits. I’m sure you knew it too, and yet, you went after her. You asked for her.”

“Father wasn’t going to allow it,” Aleksander confirms.

“But that’s changed now because, as you said, she’s not your prisoner anymore,” Mikhail adds. “If she chooses you, then there’s nothing any of us can do. No one will dare to stand in her way. Not even Father.”

I allow myself to exhale. Katarina wouldn’t want her family to get hurt. She’d never forgive me if I just stood by while the Gargarins finished them off one by one.

“Okay,” I say at last. “I’ll help you.”

The three brothers exchange looks again, but this time I recognize relief on their faces.

“But,” I add, before they can form their own ideas about what my help would entail. “I don’t plan on waging war with them. We’ll do everything we can to resolve it. Those are my terms.”

“And it’ll make her happy,” Mikhail observes, his brown eyes piercing. “Which will make you happy.”

I shrug at that. He’s not entirely wrong. I’m no fool to pass up an opportunity to earn brownie points with my bride-to-be. I also see the benefits of not having to look over my shoulder every time I leave the house.

“Do we have a deal?”

“We accept your terms,” Aleksander says with a nod of his head.

He meets my eyes and reaches his hand out for me to take. With my eyes on him and the two other brothers, I take it.

A sudden thought occurs to me.

If Katarina’s been playing me, I’ve walked straight into a trap.