4.

ARIANA

I JUST FINISHED DRESSING UP, and I was running a comb through my hair when I heard a knock on the door. It was probably one of my brothers coming to check up on me. I knew how much they were worried that the latest turn of events would affect me.

I walked toward the door and pulled it open, bringing me face-to-face with the man who murdered my father.

Without thinking, I threw myself into his arms, squeezing the living daylight out of him.

He had no idea how much he’d relieved me after killing my father. I had tears in my eyes for the first time in years when I heard the news of Papà’s death. A burden had finally been lifted off my shoulders because of him.

His arms came around me a second later as a deep chuckle spilled from his lips. “Oh, I didn’t expect that.”

I only squeezed him tighter, and when I felt like I’d shown enough gratitude, I pulled back, stepping away from the doorway to usher him into my room.

He walked in, looking so out of place in my bedroom as he plopped down on the edge of my mattress. “I take it you’re not mad at me for killing Rocco?”

I shook my head vigorously, causing him to chuckle again.

Who’d be mad that he did the world some good by taking a despicable man like Rocco Rossi out of it?

“Good. Because I’m not sorry for killing him either.”

I almost laughed. He was ever the honest one.

“Giselle couldn’t make it. She’s still trying to come to terms with things. I didn’t think it’d be a good idea to bring her to the funeral.”

I grabbed my notepad and pen from my nightstand, scribbling a note down on it before turning it to face him, so he could read it. “I understand. I’d love to meet her someday.”

“Of course. Feel free to stop by in a week or two?”

I nodded. I scribbled on the notepad again. “Do you need anything?”

I had a feeling he wasn’t here to ask if I was okay with him killing my father.

“Who were those men?” I wrote again.

A weary sigh escaped his lips. “That’s what I’m here to talk to you about. Rocco fucked up.”

I rolled my eyes internally. When did he never?

“He made a deal with the Bratva. He signed a contract with the Pakhan’s son which states that he can take anything he wants from Rocco if he fails to hold up his end of the bargain. Your father is dead, so he can’t hold up his end of the bargain they struck. It’s a cunning move on Aleksei’s part, but we can’t fault him for using his brain.”

“What did he ask for?”

“Rocco’s shares in the family business.”

A gasp escaped my lips. “But that’s a lot.”

Back when Papà and I were close, he told me about his shares in the family business. As the eldest son, Uncle Jacopo took fifty-five percent of the shares. Papà, Uncle Luigi and Uncle Frederico split the remaining forty-five percent into three halves between each other.

When I asked him if that wasn’t too little, he’d burst into laughter, ruffling my hair in the process.

“Sure, I’m not the next Jacopo Rossi, but those shares are worth billions, Ari. Know what that means?” He grinned at me, tipping my chin up, so I looked up at him. “Papà can spoil you rotten with every single dime he has.”

I remembered telling him that I wouldn’t need his money because I’d own my own business, and make billions from it.

I suppressed the memories, ignoring the overwhelming emotions that clogged my throat. That version of him was a lie. It was merely a façade he put on around us.

Nicholas’ lips pressed into a flat line. “I know. As I said, he fucked up. But…” He trailed off.

“But what?”

“Aleksei made another choice.”

“What is it?”

I schooled my features, silently prepping myself for the bombshell he was about to drop.

“He wants to get married to you.”

***

“No! He can take the business. I don’t give a fuck. We’re not putting Ari in the hands of those bastards,” Matteo growled.

After the discussion I had with Nicholas, I told him I’d think about the proposal, and he said he’d discuss the issue with the other made men first before a final decision was made.

That was the meeting they were currently having, and whatever they were talking about, it didn’t sit well with Matteo.

“You’re not looking at the bigger picture here,” I heard Uncle Frederico say.

“There is no bigger picture!”

“Put your emotions aside for one second and think like the under-boss you are! Agreeing to his first term will be letting the fucking Bratva bleed into our business. Have you forgotten how much your father’s shares in the business are worth? They’ll be profiting off of us!”

“I. Don’t. Care. We’re not marrying her off, and that’s final. You’re so quick to agree because it’s not your daughter he wants.”

“Your family would lose a lot of money. It’d take a while before you establish other legitimate businesses. You could go broke,” another deep voice said.

“I said. I. Don’t. Care.”

Matteo’s voice was raw with emotions, and it made my heart break for him. I understood where he was coming from, but I also didn’t want to be the reason my family went broke because I couldn’t make one sacrifice. Admittedly, it was a big sacrifice.

I didn’t want to get married ever. The thought of it never appealed to me before, but I knew I had to do something for the sake of my family. Especially Matteo’s. He had enough on his plate already.

I slowly crept away from the door, so I didn’t alert them of my presence.I knew the Russians hadn’t left yet, so I made my way to Papà’s office.

This probably wasn’t the smartest decision I’d made in all my twenty-seven years on earth, but the need to make sure my family was okay at the end of the day made me irrational. Fucking sue me.

I pushed the door with enough force that sent it flying back against the wall.

Entrance: 10/10.

The younger man who was slumped down in his seat sat upright, and the older man simply turned to look at me, surprise flashing across his face when he saw me filling the doorway. He probably never expected me to see him.

His gaze followed me as I walked past them to sit behind the desk on my Papà’s huge chair. I cringed internally. I was never wearing these clothes again.

“How may we help you?” The older-looking guy asked.

This was the second time I’d heard his voice, and it only sounded better to my ears. Curse him for having such a smoky, deep voice. Men with deep voices were my absolute weakness. I never went past the flirting stage with them, but I was sure they only sounded better deep in the throes of passion, and—wrong train of thoughts.

I grabbed a pen and a notepad from the desk, writing out my question on the piece of paper. “Which one of you is Aleksei?”

The older guy took the notepad out of my hands, a curious look in his eyes. “I am,” he answered.

Of course, he was the piece of shit.I snatched the notepad out of his hands, scribbling another question on it. “I heard you want to get married to me?”

“Yes.”

“Is she dumb or what?” The younger guy asked as Aleksei passed the notepad back to me. “The more this unravels, the more I realize you drew the short end of the stick. Igor isn’t going to be pleased.”

“Mikhail!” Aleksei reprimanded with a harsh glare. “Don’t talk about her like that.”

I was almost amused that he was sticking up for me to his brother. I, on the other hand, was unbothered. He wasn’t the first person to rudely call or ask me if I was dumb. He wouldn’t be the last either.

I ignored the silent banter between the two, writing down another question. “The last man who tried to get married to me died in his penthouse two days later.”

Robert was a man forty years my senior, and he’d asked my father for my hand in marriage with the promise that he’d link Papà up with a higher-up politician Papà had set his eyes on years before.

I didn’t know if the proposal was accepted, but I got the news of his death two days later. It wasn’t my family’s doing, but I let Aleksei think so. Maybe he’d be scared to marry me now.

Wrong.

His lips curved into a smirk as he read my note.

He slid the notepad back to me. “Yeah? What happened?”

“Swift bullet to the brain, and another one clean through his penis just to make sure he stayed dead.”

He fought back a smile. “Noted. I will not be leaving any guns lying around. You know, so, I can keep my cock.”

I couldn’t help it. A laugh slipped out before I could get it under control. “I didn’t say I pulled the trigger. I think you misunderstood me, Mr. Aleksei.”

He was full-on smiling now. “Tarasov,” he corrected. “I figured you should get acquainted with your new last name.”

And… he’s ruined it.

I scowled down at the note as I scribbled harshly. “Will you be able to take care of me? I won’t lower my standards for you just so you can keep up.”

I passed the note to him, and he burst into laughter after reading it. “You don’t think I can take care of you?” He cocked his head to the side, his eyes dancing with amusement. “I don't know if I should be offended that you're calling me poor.”

His brother burst into laughter next to him, doubling over like he'd just heard the funniest thing ever.

I scowled at him. Fuck them for laughing at me.

“Seeing as you came here, planning to steal my father’s business, I don’t think so. You should run before it’s too late, Mr. Tarasov.”

He chuckled, his gaze lazy as he eyed me with those green eyes of his. This close to him, I could see tiny flecks of gold in them. “I think I’ll take my chances, malyshka.”

Annoyance washed over me. My plan to scare him off wasn’t working.

And what was it with him calling me Russian pet names like this wasn’t the first time we were meeting?

I scribbled again. “I suggest you don’t. I won’t take pity on you.”

There was nothing people feared more than losing the little money they had.

Financial security was a problem around the world, and I doubted anyone who had it would want to lose it.

I sure as hell didn't want my family to lose theirs.

“Don’t,” he replied with a smirk.

“I spent over thirty thousand dollars on a shopping spree yesterday.”

Lie.

One he also didn’t have to know about.

Yes, I liked frivolities and comfort just as much as the next person, but even I wasn't that materialistic to throw thirty thousand dollars on a shopping spree in one day. Well, it depended on what I was purchasing, and who I was purchasing it for, but it was only on special occasions.

Plus, my head hadn’t been screwed on straight for weeks following the death of my father. Shopping had been the last thing on my mind. Though I was proud to say every cent I spent on myself was money I spent sleepless nights working hard for.

His lips twitched up in an amused smile. “Just thirty thousand?” He reached into his pocket, pulling out a black Amex card that he placed in front of me. “Consider this a pre-wedding gift.”

If I could talk, I’d be stammering right now. He wasn’t broke, after all.

The black Amex was invitation-only, and he had to be one of the upper echelons to have gotten the invitation.

A frown knitted my brows as I stared down at the card in confusion.

So, why did he try to take Papà’s shares at first?

Did he need our money because his wealth was dwindling, or he was just greedy?

Either way, scaring him off with threats of bankrupting him wasn’t going to work, I realized. He already spent a lot of money on himself as it was.

“What makes you think I’m accepting your proposal?”

“You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t.”

He wasn’t wrong, but still…

“Don’t be mad at me if you go bankrupt or end up dead,” I wrote in a last-ditch attempt to end this.

“I’d be offended if just one shopping spree breaks my bank. As for death, I think I could hold my own against you.”

“Who said it’s just going to be one shopping spree?”

He chuckled, drumming his fingers on the stained wood, his eyes sparkling with amusement and curiosity at the same time, like he was trying to figure me out.

Too bad for him. That was never going to happen. I would never let that happen.

He waved a dismissive hand at me. “Go crazy.”

He was going to regret giving me free rein over his card.

As I tucked the card into my sports bra, I didn’t miss the way his eyes trailed down to my breasts and desire slipped into his eyes. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at him. Men.

“So, we have a deal? We’re getting married?”

***

ALEKSEI

ARIANA NIBBLED ON HER bottom lip as though she was contemplating my offer before penning down her reply.

I had to give it to the woman. She’s got balls. I didn’t expect her to face me at all. Cosa Nostra princesses were sheltered, meek women, after all.

She handed me her notepad where her answer was written in that feminine cursive scrawl of hers. Of course, her handwriting was just as pretty as her face.

“Sadly, yes. You left me no choice.”

I chuckled. “Sad—”

“Ariana!” A shrill voice bellowed from the doorway before a tall, slender woman walked into the office, shooting a glare at Mikhail and me. “What are you doing in here with these people?” She shot an accusing glare my way. “They’re terrible people. They want to take you away from us, Ari.”

“With all due respect, ma’am, she agreed to marry my brother without any cajoling from him,” Mikhail said with a glare of his own.

The quickest way to make him lose his temper was by doing anything he felt was ‘endangering me’, never mind that I was older than him. Right now, Mikhail was a ticking time bomb, and one wrong word out of the woman's mouth could make him go berserk.

“What? Are they telling the truth?” The woman asked, a dumbfounded look crossing her face. “Answer me, Ariana.”

Ariana nodded timidly, avoiding eye contact with the woman. The woman fell back a step, a dumbstruck look marking her face.

“Matteo!” The woman let out a blood-curdling scream. “Matteo!”

I winced, digging a finger into my ear. Fuck, she was loud. Not less than a minute later, footsteps thundered down the hall, and Matteo burst into the office, a few men in tow.

“What’s going on here?” He asked, placing a hand on the woman’s shoulder. “Tell me what’s wrong, Ma.”

“Ari… Ariana agreed to marry him. She wants to get married to him,” the woman I just learned was Ariana’s mother wailed.

“The fuck? What the fuck did you do to her, Aleksei?” He growled, glaring down at me from underneath his nose like I was dirt beneath his shoes.

I put my hands up in surrender as a smile teased my lips. “Nothing at all. We were just conversing.” I rose to my feet, buttoning up my jacket. “We’ll be on our way now. I expect to hear back as soon as tomorrow.”

I winked at Ariana and her cheeks immediately heated up. Matteo looked a second away from murdering me. His reactions to me fucking with him would never not be funny.

“Let’s go, Mikhail.”

I made my way out of the office with Mikhail hot on my tail. I could feel the glares of the Italians on my back as we headed for the front door.

Too bad for them. I was having their princess whether they liked it or not.

“Are you sure they’re going to agree? It doesn’t seem like they want to let go of her,” Mikhail said as I started up the car.

“Oh, they will.” They had no choice in the matter. “We just have to wait.”