Married to the Mafia Boss

Evgenii

I stir slowly, feeling Shirley curled up in front of me. I’m spooning her and have to gently extract myself without waking her. The sun hasn’t quite risen yet as I shower and dress. An idea occurred to me as we were falling asleep, and I’m glad I still remembered it this morning.

I go to the kitchen and put the coffee machine on before going to my office. I quietly edit my proposal, lowering what I have to offer so that I can ensure that the Sorvinos, and therefore Shirley, win Staten Island.

I make sure to keep a copy of the original so that Shirley thinks I’m still matching her. I want to give this to her, though, and the only thing I have to do is get Ivan on board.

I know he isn’t going to be happy. Because of Ivan’s age and quietness, everyone thinks he’s gentle. He’s ruthless and constantly works toward advancing his family first. He will torture, murder, kidnap, and extort anyone to get what he wants. He’s just not as public about it as other families.

I hear the shower going, and I print everything, putting the original proposal in one folder and keeping it on my desk while placing the other in another folder and slipping it into my briefcase.

I answer some emails while she showers, and when she emerges, she looks a lot more sleepy than I expected. In fact, she looks exhausted. I get up, walk to her, place my hands on her butt cheeks, and pull her against me. “Good morning.”

“Hmmm, good morning.” She leans up and kisses me softly.

I sigh as I return the kiss, holding her firmly. Once we break the kiss, I grin. “Coffee should be ready. You can have some while I fry some eggs and bacon for breakfast.”

She rests her head on my chest for a moment, and I treasure it. My body feels as though I’m being inflated with happiness.

We eventually move to the kitchen. She sits at the island counter while I make breakfast and drink coffee. We enjoy the silence. It’s not awkward or strange-just a calm, peaceful silence.

I serve her breakfast and sit beside her. “Do you have any plans for today?”

“I want to see Alessandro to confirm everything in the proposal is fine,” she says between bites. I can’t help as my eyes trail down to her breasts, which seem to be straining under her top.

“Are you listening?”

I give her a goofy grin. “I am. Just. Everything about you turns me on.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

She rolls her eyes, and I chuckle. “Listen, with everything happening, at least take one of my guards with you. In fact, I insist because we don’t know if you were the main target of that bombing or not.”

She raises her eyebrow. “Uh, okay. That’s fine. I didn’t actually think of that.”

“I don’t want you to be scared, just sensible.” I go back to my breakfast.

My staff wash the dishes as we gather our things to leave. “I am going to Ivan to give him my copy of the proposal, so let me know once you’re done. Maybe we can do something.”

I lean down and kiss her on the lips, lingering for a moment before pulling away. “Please be safe.”

“You too,” she says, smiling at me.

She leaves just before me. I watch my guard Konstantin drive her out, and then I get in my car with Gregori. I practice what I’m going to say to Ivan over and over in my head until we pull up to his house, which is almost like a fortress now.

He’s in the office when I walk in, and I feel nervous. “Pakhan,” I greet him. “Where’s Tori and Roman?”

“Outside playing on his new playground thing,” he says, not looking up from his papers. “Did you find out who’s behind these attacks?”

“I’m working on it.” I have never been this nervous around Ivan. “But I have a draft of the proposal for Don Pacheco that I’d like you to review. Preferably with an open mind.”

That last sentence makes him look up, eyebrows furrowed. He holds his hand out, and I give him the folder from my briefcase, watching him sit back and read the paper.

His frown continues to deepen as he goes through the text. “This is a fucking terrible proposal,” he looks up at me angrily. “Ettore Pacheco will be insulted by this. Where is your brain?”

I take a deep breath and recite what I’ve been practicing. “Ivan, I haven’t asked you for anything. Nothing that I haven’t worked for in all the years I’ve loyally served you. But please give me this.”

Understanding dawns on his face, and he tosses the folder to his desk. “Are you insane?”

He stands up, and I flinch, sure he is going to strike me.

“What is it with this woman that you would want to give up one of the most prime run spots, already set up, already making money, to her family?”

He storms past me and to the window, where he pours himself a drink, sipping on it slowly. “Evgenii, you are my favorite cousin, everyone knows it, but I can’t let you be my second in command if you let your feelings rule your gut.”

I don’t say anything because I know the weight of what I’m asking him.

The silence is long and painful, and I know Ivan is trying to make a decision. I console myself with the fact I’m still alive, and he’s at least considering it

I see he’s staring off, and I follow his line of sight to where Tori is helping Rowan climb and slide down his little plastic slide. They’re laughing together.

My cousin sighs, and his shoulders fall. “Fine.”

I look at him optimistically.

“You deserve happiness, and I want you to be family. I do all this to ensure my family’s happiness and prosperity. Otherwise, there’s no point. But Evgenii Volkov,” he looks at me seriously, and a shiver runs down my back, “don’t turn this into a habit. I’m happy with our unity with the Sorvinos and our other allies, but it’s foolish to give them what is rightfully ours.”

I bow my head. “You are a great Pahkan, father, and cousin. Thank you, Ivan.”

“Get out of here before I change my mind,” he grumbles. “I have other things to attend to.”

Somehow I know he wants to spend time with his family.

I leave the house buoyant, knowing I can do this for Shirley. This could make up for how I used her, giving this to her family to make up for what I took.

I’m practically bouncing in the car on the way home, and Gregori seems amused. There’s a traffic jam a few miles from the house, and I settle back, looking out the window.

“Turn on the news. Maybe they are announcing what’s causing the backup,” I say.

Gregori turns the radio on and finds a station broadcasting the news.

The presenter simply says that the area is backed up for an unknown reason and to avoid going through those roads. I roll my eyes. “Americans. Why don’t they just say what’s happened? Always so mysterious.”

Gregori shrugs. “Maybe that’s the secret to their power.”

I chuckle. “Maybe.”

The traffic is backed up all the way to my road, which is closed off with police tape. My heart flops as Gregori pulls up and is approached by a patrolman. “You can’t go into an active crime scene, sir. Only residents are allowed through to their homes.”

Gregori points down the road. “We live down there, one of the larger gated houses.”

The patrolman nods and lifts the tape over the car as Gregori drives forward slowly. There are marked and unmarked vehicles outside my house, and I tell Gregori to park outside.

I get out and hurry toward the house. I recognize one of the detectives who immediately stops me. “Evgenii, they’re not going to let you in.”

“Where’s my sister?” I ask immediately. “Natalia. Where is she?”

The detective shakes his head. “They’re still going through the house.”

I pull out my phone and dial Nat’s number. As I call her, I stare at the bodies littering the yard. “Pick up. Pick up.”

My heart flutters when I hear her voice. “Hey, Ev, what’s up?”

“Natalia, where are you?” I ask immediately, my eyes darting from body to body.

I can hear the sound of people in the background as she speaks. “Shopping with Anastasia for a party she wants me to go to. We won’t be long.”

“Don’t come back to the house. Go to Ivan’s and…”

My eyes fall on Konstantin’s body, and I realize what this attack is about.

“Ev?”

I hang up and dial Shirley.

It goes straight to voice mail.

No. Not when I just got her back.

I dial her again, but it rings off.

My heart beats harder, and sweat forms on my face.

Donald, the detective, puts a hand on my back. “Don’t worry, I’ve made sure the case is getting no press, and the file will be conveniently lost. You don’t have to stress about anything. I owe you for getting my ass out of the fire last year.”

I nod mutely and say, “I should go so you can do your job.”

I don’t want to tell him about Shirley.

But I need to find her.