Chapter Twenty-Three
Misha
Dimitri expected the Moretti family to make a move on Chiara. I doubted that her father would let it happen, but I met him at her parents’ house anyway. I’m so glad I did.
I have Nico Rossi’s arm twisted behind his back, and a gun to his head, when I order, “Move, you bastard, now!” He doesn’t even struggle or try to resist. I’ve already patted him down, and taken his gun. Even with a weapon, he’s not really a threat to me.
When we walk into the Rossi family dining room, I find Dimitri sitting at the head of the table, with four of his men standing around it, guns trained on Rossi’s family. I never realized how bad Chiara’s brother’s health really is. I didn’t expect men to have guns pointed at an eight year old in a wheelchair. Guilia’s reaction alternates between fear of the men pointing guns at her, and looking at Dimitri with lovesick puppy eyes. Chiara’s mother is trying her hardest to calm her son.
This is not what I thought would happen. This is like a nightmare.
“Sit,” I instruct Nico, and release his hand. He sits across the long, formal table from Dimitri.
Dimitri looks stoic, even with the chaotic scene around him. After several moments, he speaks. “I can see why you want your daughters to marry powerful men, Rossi. It appears your genes are not good.” Rossi’s lip curls up in disgust. “Maybe this is God’s way of punishing you for your multitude of sins.”
“You’re one to talk about sins, Federov. How about adultery? That’s in the top ten,” Rossi spits out.
Dimitri looks thrown by that statement, until I provide, “They think you’re seeing Chiara, because you were seen leaving her house.”
Dimitri chuckles, and glances at me. “Shall we tell them the truth, Misha?”
I knew Nico Rossi would eventually find out Chiara and I are together. I even expected it to happen while my gun was aimed at his head. What I didn’t expect was to be holding his entire family hostage as well.
Since I stand silently, Dimitri turns his attention back to Rossi. “I’ll inform you, then. I’m not sleeping with your daughter. But when you find out who is, you’ll wish it was me.”
Rossi looks like he doesn’t believe him for a moment. Then, he tears his eyes from Dimitri, and finally notices me. He really stares at me for several moments, until he asks, “Which Ivanovich son are you?”
“The most dangerous,” Dimitri tells him. “You’ve heard of the Bloody Ivanovich, I assume.” Dimitri’s eyes sparkle as he says it. He’s getting a thrill out of scaring Rossi, while using my reputation to do it.
Rossi’s eyes go wide as he takes in my appearance. Most men don’t get the chance to look beyond the barrel of my gun. Rossi seems adequately surprised, as he shakes his head.
“Boo!” Dimitri exclaims with a chuckle.
I finally get the chance to say everything I’ve wanted to say to Chiara’s dick of a father. The fear in his eyes is obvious. He’s even sweating now. “How could you?” I demand. Rossi sighs, and clears his throat. “How could you threaten Chiara, and manipulate her into marrying someone she doesn’t love? How could you threaten to marry Guilia off to a sick, cruel lunatic like Dante Moretti?”
Rossi breathes deeply through his nose, and avoids my eyes.
“I can tell you from experience, Rossi. Arranged marriages do not work,” Dimitri says, with eyes void of emotion.
“What I decide for my family is none of your business,” Rossi replies, harshly.
“What you decided for your family, without allowing your adult daughter to make her own decisions, is what brought us all here.” Dimitri glances over at me again. “With the Bloody Ivanovich standing in your dining room, ready to put a bullet between your eyes.” I roll my eyes, because he’s being way too over dramatic. “He could obliterate your entire family without blinking an eye.”
“We’re taking your daughters, Chiara and Guilia. When you decide to give Chiara her freedom, and Dante Moretti finds a suitable wife, we’ll return Guilia. They will be treated well, I will personally guarantee that. If you come after them…” I rack the slide and take the safety off the pistol. “My advice is this. Don’t come after them.”
Finally I look at Chiara’s mother. She’s still a beautiful woman. I see where Guilia gets her looks. She’s comforting Guilia, whispering in her ear. “Be a good girl for me, okay? These men won’t hurt you, Chiara will make sure of it.” Then she glares at me. The fire in her eyes makes me think of Chiara. Hesitantly, she nods at me. I assume that Chi has talked to her mother about me. “Take care of them,” she orders, as she glares at me.
“Yes, ma’am,” I reply.
Dimitri holds his hand out to Guilia, and her face lights up. She smiles, and blushes, and reaches out to take it. “I’m Dimitri, Guilia. We’re going to become good friends.”
I can see why Dante, or any other heterosexual man, could fall for Guilia. She’s gorgeous, and seems very sweet. But when she looks right at Dimitri, a man who threatened her family, and says, “You’re cute!” it’s obvious that she’s not quite right. She takes his hand, and looks at me. “You’re Chi’s boyfriend?”
I walk beside her, but I glance over my shoulder to make sure Nico doesn’t move. “Yes, Guilia, I’m in love with your sister.”
“She’s lucky. You’re cute,” she tells me, as she moves closer to Dimitri. I hope to God that he can resist her. I’d hate to have to kill him.
*****
I pull up to The Vodka Room, and quickly climb off the bike. I have no idea how long she’s been in there with them, but I know it’s been too long. I slam the door open with both hands, and look around. Chiara is standing near the table, with her arms crossed in front of her chest. My father is sipping vodka, and chatting with Natalya, while Anatoli and Ivan are trying their hardest not to get caught staring at Chi.
“What’s going on here?” I demand, as I make my way to my woman.
“We’re getting to know your new friend,” Anatoli says, with a glare at me.
I wrap my arms around her shoulders, and bring her into my body. “Are you okay?” She looks up at me with stormy blue eyes, and nods slightly.
“Your girlfriend is fine. We weren’t harsh with her,” my father says, with a gruff voice and angry accent. “If your Italian girlfriend can’t handle a few questions, she won’t fit in with a Russian family.”
“Stop right there,” I growl, as I stare my father down with all the emotions I’m feeling. I’m met with his empty eyes. At that point I realize that maybe I don’t fit in with a Russian family, either. I don’t want my eyes to be empty like my father’s anymore. I want something different, something better. I want love, and life, and hope. I want Chi.
“She was good enough when you wanted me to follow her and fall in love with her,” I remind him.
“That was when I needed something from her. I don’t need her anymore,” Ivan says and looks away, as if she means nothing.
“That’s all that’s important to you, isn’t it Papa? What you can get from someone. You needed a loyal assassin, and you had a spare son, so you made me a killer knowing that you could throw me away if I got in trouble.”
“Misha,” Natalya starts, but I give her a look that stops her.
“Don’t act like you care about me. I know you don’t,” I exclaim. “Like Papa, none of you really cared about anything except the family business. Ivan, you married a woman you didn’t love because Papa told you to.” Ivan glances at Chi, then turns away. “And Natalya, you decided not to go to college to work for the family.”
“I chose to work for the family,” she replies, but she avoids my eyes as well.
“We just want to live. We just want to be together, and try to make it work.” I rub my hand down Chi’s back, and she places her hand on my side. “I don’t want you to be an enemy, Papa. And you definitely don’t want me to be your enemy.”
My father looks me over, staring at the place where Chi’s hand is touching me. “You’re right, Misha. I don’t want you to be an enemy. I appreciate what you’ve done for me, and the family. I will protect you, and I expect you to continue to protect the family also.” He nods, and holds his glass of vodka up to me. “Have your Italian girlfriend. It changes nothing. You are still an Ivanovich. We will always be here for you.”
I’m not sure if I believe him or not. But I don’t want to start a fight here and now, with a crew of eight guards watching over my father and siblings.
“Thank you, Papa,” I reply, and kiss the top of Chi’s head. “Come on, Chi,” I whisper in her ear, then take her hand to lead her out of the bar.