Second Best (Volkov Bratva Book 1) Read online

  Two of my men lifted him, holding him still as I pried open his mouth. He thrashed, trying to get away, but he was no match for our strength. I used the right tool for the job, and within seconds, held a very healthy-looking tooth.

  “Please, I’ll tell you anything.”

  “I’m listening.” I was sure to keep the sight of the tooth for him to see as a reminder. It worked. He told me all about the knowledge of our treaty. How the Italians had insulted us by granting us a marriage with a daughter they wanted to get rid of and how there was a rumor of a takeover.

  Now this was news to me.

  He continued to explain the gossip running rife about our enemies, how they were willing to band together with some MCs, and even the cartels had been seen coming and going through their turf.

  Once he was done, I had enough to work through, and so the death was clean, precise, and over with. He had given me far more work.

  We intended to take the turf away from the Italians. Any attack now would be suicide. I filled Ivan in on the details I’d gained, and along with it, I heard the new anger in his voice. We’d been aware of Aurora’s lack of desire, but this went beyond that. We couldn’t attack now, but we would be aware, gathering the necessary intel that would be required for us to completely wipe them off the face of the earth.

  “What do I do with Aurora?” I asked.

  “Simple. I have a feeling if she’s as expendable to them as everyone believes, they won’t care about her death. We keep her alive. You use her. Host several more of those family dinners. Find out everything we know and play the loving husband. We will hurt them for this.”

  I agreed and hung up.

  My biggest problem … I didn’t like the way they’d disregarded Aurora. She was my wife, and it was my duty, for now, to keep her alive, but I had a problem with how they treated her. From the moment the agreed treaty of a marriage was negotiated, I’d seen the way she was handled. How they pushed her to one side as if she didn’t matter. Not only that, but even the other night with those women at the dinner table. They couldn’t stand to be around her.

  I didn’t get it. Aurora was sweet. She was kind. I saw it in her eyes even though she tried to hide everything. What I also saw was acceptance. She lived with this, being constantly passed over, ignored.

  Arriving at my penthouse suite, I discovered it was empty. No sign of Aurora or Sergei, which pissed me off.

  I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Sergei.

  “Where are you?” I didn’t like this one bit.

  “We’re at the pool. Aurora wanted to do some laps.”

  “It’s Mrs. Ivanov,” I said, hanging up the phone.

  I was already heading toward the pool. In the elevator, I rubbed at my temple. I hadn’t slept in two days so far. Sleep rarely came to me. I had no trust in anyone around me, and right now between Cara’s problem, and now the Italian one, there was no way I was going to relax.

  You were killed if you let down your guard, and that was the last thing I was going to do.

  The elevator went down to the level with the gym and the pool. I saw the sign posted, stating the pool was closed for the time being.

  As I entered, I caught sight of my wife wearing a one-piece swimsuit. She had her arms crossed over the edge of the pool, and Sergei, as far as I was concerned, looked a little too cozy with my wife, which pissed me off.

  We’d been married a little over five months, and as I watched them, I didn’t like how close they seemed. Anger worked up my body as I stepped into view. The moment I did, the smile on Aurora’s lips fell and Sergei stood.

  He bowed his head to me. “Sir.”

  “You can leave,” I said.

  He nodded. Without another look at my wife, he left the room. Alone with my wife, I saw Aurora move back into the water. We looked at each other.

  She wasn’t a stunning beauty, but there was a beauty there. I’d had my fair share of fake beauty. There was something about Aurora that called to me.

  “I didn’t know you were coming home,” she said.

  “You never do.”

  Again, small talk wasn’t my strong suit.

  “It would be wise of you not to flirt with my men.”

  This had her frowning. “I wasn’t flirting.”

  “You think I didn’t see what you were doing?”

  She looked to where Sergei had left. “We were just talking. Not everything between a man and a woman has to be about … sex.”

  My cock twitched. I hadn’t gotten the pleasure of enjoying my wife. She’d moved toward the edge of the pool, and as she grabbed the side, I watched as she pulled herself out. I admired the curves of her body. The fullness of her ass. She grabbed a towel.

  “If you continue to flirt with Sergei and give him the wrong message, I will kill him.”

  She glared at him. “I wasn’t flirting with him. He’s my … friend.”

  This made me laugh. I couldn’t help it. Sergei wasn’t a friend. None of my men were her friends, and if given the order, they would turn on her at a moment’s notice.

  What I didn’t expect was the slap to the face. I captured her hand and pulled her against me. She began to wriggle, and with how close her body was, I had no problem with it. Not that I’d force her. Rape wasn’t something I wanted to ever experience.

  Staring into her eyes, I restrained her, making her pause with a single hand on her ass. I gripped her tightly, and tears filled her eyes.

  “Don’t ever fucking do that again.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t like being hit. I tend to hit back.”

  “Then don’t accuse me of doing something I never did. I don’t flirt. I wouldn’t even know how.”

  “My men know the rules. You’re a job to them, nothing more.”

  She wore a good mask, but I saw my words had struck her hard. “You think I don’t know that? It’s all I do know. I’m a job. It’s why I don’t flirt. Now let me go, or is there something else you want from me?”

  Her lips looked really tempting, but my anger was not in a good place. I released her, and without a backward glance, she left. The curves of her ass just begged for me to call her back and show her what real sex was all about. The two times I’d fucked her hadn’t been real. It had been mechanical, a necessity and then a release. I wanted her again, but not tonight. I never allowed my hormones to take charge. I was the one who held control over myself, no one else.

  Chapter Four

  Aurora

  For the next week, I stopped talking to Sergei, and I ignored Slavik when he decided to join me for dinner or anything else. We did end up going to two different dinner parties, but like the ones before, I was able to sit without saying a single word.

  Dinner invitations were offered, but I declined.

  I’d come to the conclusion I didn’t want to make friends with Slavik’s world. So by the second week after my decision, I sat on the sofa, bored out of my mind. I’d read so many books I couldn’t even remember a single title or author. The stories had been great but it was like I hadn’t really taken them in.

  There was nothing for me to do but stay here.

  Sergei stood a few feet away as I stared down at my feet.

  I’d already done my workout for the day. According to the scales today, I’d dropped another couple of pounds. Even as my stomach rumbled, I ignored the growl. Eating was done carefully and controlled.

  “You need to eat something,” Sergei said.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Starving yourself is not the answer.”

  I lifted my gaze. “You shouldn’t be talking to me.”

  “Come on, Aurora, don’t be like that.”

  “It’s Mrs. Ivanov,” I said. I heard him tut, and I glared at him. “Do you know what my husband thinks? He thinks I was flirting with you.” I laughed. “I’m not going to give him the satisfaction.”

  I hated him. He was an asshole.

  I was so fucking bored. Five months of married l
ife sucked. Not that being a daughter was any easy feat. Nope. Both sucked.

  “You do know he is probably with a mistress right now,” Sergei said after a short pause.

  This had me looking at Sergei. “What?”

  He moved closer into the room. I didn’t stop him as he sat down opposite me. I moved my feet out of his room. Sergei had never been like this before, and I quickly glanced around to make sure no one watched. I didn’t know why I did this. We weren’t breaking any rules, but all of a sudden, this felt way too intimate. Like I shouldn’t allow this. Did it make any sense?

  I wasn’t betraying Slavik, but with his accusations still ringing in my ear, I couldn’t help but feel like I was.

  Other than my family, I’d never sat down with a man. Rarely talked to one that wasn’t my husband or blood related. In fact, Sergei and Ivan were the only two men I’d spoken to in my life.

  Sergei put a hand on my foot, and I gritted my teeth, doing everything in my power not to pull away from his touch. My family had drilled into me at a young age that touch by anyone but my husband was bad.

  “A man like Slavik has needs. They’re important to him. He’s not the kind of man who is going to enjoy straight sex. He likes it dirty. He’ll find an outlet with a woman who is not his wife.”

  So my husband of five months was already cheating on me. I should have known. Why did it hurt so much?

  “Have you … met her?”

  “No. Men like Slavik are never at a loss for female company.”

  I didn’t like the way Sergei rubbed his thumb against my foot.

  Quickly, I moved, standing up. “Then I guess I should count my blessings that he’s finding his pleasures elsewhere. Excuse me.”

  I left the sitting room and entered our bedroom where we slept side by side most nights. I wrapped my arms around myself. With my back pressed against the closed door, I slid down and stared at the bed.

  Sex always sounded so good in the books, but in real life, I couldn’t imagine a woman enjoying herself. It was too … horrible and boring. After the two times I’d had sex, I didn’t care for a repeat performance. I hadn’t enjoyed it.

  Running fingers through my hair, I pulled my knees up to my chest, resting my chin on top.

  Time ticked by.

  The only passing I was aware of was the fading light in the window shining into the room. I didn’t move.

  My stomach had stopped growling, and the sickness had also faded.

  My marriage was already over. He was screwing someone else. Probably a whole lot of something elses. I shouldn’t care. In fact, I didn’t care.

  Then why the hell did my entire core feel like it was being torn in two? It made no sense. Slavik could go and do whatever the hell he wanted. I didn’t care.

  The bedroom door was pushed open, and the force had me falling forward. I caught myself before I face-planted the floor.

  Slavik entered. “What the fuck is going on here?”

  I’d started to notice his accent appeared more pronounced when he was angry.

  “Nothing.” I got to my feet and kept my back to him.

  I didn’t want him to see me like this. I had to get myself under control.

  When he grabbed my arm, I yelled and told him to leave me alone, spinning around to confront him. I wanted to hit him again, but the last time I did, there was a real threat there. This man killed people with his bare hands. I wasn’t a match for him.

  “What the fuck is your problem?” he asked.

  My hands clenched into fists. Had he been with a woman today? Had he fucked her? Had he enjoyed his time with her?

  “I don’t have a problem. Just don’t touch me,” I said.

  He glared and advanced toward me. I stepped back. I kept on doing this until the edge of the bed met my back and I stumbled, falling. I tried to get up, but Slavik grabbed my arms, pinning me down. “You are my wife. I will touch you if I damn well please!”

  I screamed and tried to pull away.

  Anger tore out of my throat, but I was no match for him. It would seem I’d never be a match for him as he held me down on the bed.

  “Let me go. Get your hands off me.”

  “Damn it, Aurora. Stop.”

  “I don’t want you touching me with hands that have been on your whore!” I yelled each word, hoping he’d get the hint and leave me the fuck alone. I didn’t even know why I was so angry. It wasn’t like we had a normal marriage. I didn’t know him, and I didn’t like the rumors I’d heard. When I’d been given to him, I’d heard what my father had said. He hadn’t wanted to give Isabella, his precious daughter, to this man, but me, he was more than happy to. All it did was drive in deep the hurt of not being enough. I never was.

  Now I wasn’t even good enough to use for sex.

  I felt so … humiliated. I wasn’t good enough at anything for anyone.

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” he asked.

  I cried out as he gripped me a little tighter than what I was used to. His touch had me pausing, trying to capture my breath. None of this made any sense to me. Not my anger or the sense of betrayal.

  Mistresses were common in our world. I knew for a fact my father had several. My mother never made a scene.

  Tears spilled down the corners of my eyes, and I closed them, hoping to stem the flow and to stop feeling like this. I hated all of this. The pain was more than I could bear.

  “Aurora.”

  “I know you have … women,” I said.

  “You do, do you?” he asked.

  With how he held my arms, I couldn’t cover my face. I couldn’t hide away, and at that moment, there was nothing I wanted more than to hide.

  He wouldn’t let me.

  “Please, get off me. Leave me alone.” I was in control now. I didn’t yell but spoke the words calmly.

  “No,” he said, and this made me open my eyes. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what the fuck that was all about.”

  Why did this have to happen? I felt so embarrassed.

  “Can we just forget the whole thing?”

  “First, I come home and see my wife has spent most of the day here. I open the door and you were leaning against it. I try to talk to you, and you freak out.”

  “I know … you have needs. I don’t want you touching me with the hands you touched her with.” I hated this woman so much. I didn’t even know who she was, but I despised her.

  “You are my wife. You will do as you’re told and submit to me. You don’t get a say, and if I decide to fuck other women, then you will do what all women do and learn to live with it.”

  His words shattered my being.

  They struck me more than any blow could.

  “I don’t know where you’re getting your information, Aurora, but I don’t have the time to fuck. Ever since we’ve been married, you’re the only woman I’ve been with.” He pulled away from me.

  “What?” I asked.

  “You heard me.”

  I rubbed at my temple, already feeling the headache start. “You haven’t been with any other woman?”

  Slavik merely glared at me. “And if I was with other women, you’d deal with it.”

  “So, I can take a lover as well?” I asked.

  He grabbed the back of my neck with a snarl and pulled me close. “No. No other man will ever touch you. If you so much as try, I will fucking kill him. Do you understand me? You do that and you’ll be signing his death sentence.”

  Slavik shoved me back, and I landed on the bed. He’d been so close, and it was crazy, but at that moment, all I could think about was the fact we’d never kissed. Not even after the priest pronounced us man and wife. He’d kissed me on the cheek. Even the lack of passion had been something to talk about on our day. People had laughed at how he couldn’t even stand to kiss me on the lips. He never had.

  Touching my lips, I couldn’t believe how I felt.

  I hated him, but I’d wanted him to kiss me.

  What the hel
l was wrong with me?

  Clearly, the pain and years of being neglected had gotten to me.

  How could I even want to be kissed by that kind of monster? Getting to my feet, I left the bedroom. With these thoughts running around my head, the last place I wanted to be was anywhere near when he’d finished in the bathroom.

  I hid in the spare bedroom and stayed there. He didn’t come to find me. For the rest of the night, I stayed in my special chair, wishing for a life that I knew would never come to me.

  ****

  Slavik

  I stood in the dance hall with my wife on my arm, and I stared around the room, checking for any possible attackers. Our enemies would be close. I wouldn’t put it past them to try to take Ivan out even while we were in a room full of civilians. Parties like these were unnecessary in my opinion. I saw no reason to mingle with the world who pretended the horrors taking place behind closed doors and in the cover of darkness didn’t occur.

  Ivan needed his top six men all in one place. This was a political ploy as Roger Hampton, an up-and-coming public figure, was trying to gain popularity by threatening people like Ivan. He promised the public he’d drive out the threat and stop the flow of illegal activities. How men and women would be able to walk the streets without fear.

  The truth was it would never happen. Anyone who offered that kind of freedom was a fucking idiot who didn’t know what they were dealing with.

  Aurora was tense on my arm, but I didn’t let her go.

  A passing waiter offered us some champagne, but I sent him off before she could reach for one.

  Ever since our confrontation about my possible mistress, it had been even more tense between us, which pissed me off. I had a feeling I knew who was responsible for filling her head with lies. The moment I caught him, Sergei would learn to keep his mouth shut. The very fact he’d tried to turn my wife against me made me want to kill him.

  My thirst for blood and violence was always close to the surface. All it took was a small switch to make it happen.

  “It’s a busy night,” Aurora said.

  We were in the watchful eye now. With the game constantly being played and the power at work, I had to make sure people saw only strength, no weakness. I was a man in control of his wife, the daughter of a Capo.