Chapter-2: Your Bride eloped

“Vlad,” Boris Sokolov called his son in anticipation who was reading a file in his hands.

Vladimir Sokolov, the Bratva Pakhan was sitting behind the huge expensive desk with a black wooden slab adorned with many carvings of Snakes.

His dominating aura filled the air with coldness and lack of empathy. Broadly, the whole office was a cold, calculating space that embodied Bratva Pakhan's complicated and philosophical personality. It was a place where lives were destroyed and deals were made.

But today, Boris entered this office with a preposition which could change Vladimir’s life if He agreed to it.

Vladimir raised his hazel green eyes from the file and fixed them on his father.

“Otets,” He addressed in a firm calculated voice, “What are you doing here at this moment? Didn't you go to the meeting with Johnathan?” Vladimir asked with a pointed gaze as He supposed the meeting might be long.

Boris gave his son a curt nod. “Yes, about that meeting,” a heavy sigh left his mouth, “Vladimir, John is not happy with his rival Fido and Mexican's newfound friendship. Mexicans could create a lot of problems for us! For Italians too if Fido wins the elections with their money and influence.”

Vladimir icy orbs went to slits. “What do I care about Italians, Otets? As long as they respect the territorial boundary and stay within their limits, they can survive in my New York.”

Boris leaned forward, maintained his son's eye contact and spoke, “Syn, The things I discussed in the meeting with John include us having a close relationship with Italians.”

Vladimir’s eyes sharpened further as He kept his cold gaze intact on his father, nodding at him to keep going with his words. “John suggested an alliance between us and Italians,” Boris paused for a moment when he found his son staring at him intently.

“A marriage alliance precisely, Vladimir,” Boris held his breath as the words left his mouth. For a moment, Vladimir didn't react in any way and only blinked.

“Do you want to dirty our blood by marrying Sila to one of Italians?” He hissed in his heavy tone. “John must have lost his mind if he thinks I would allow a girl from my family to marry those barbarians!”

Boris blinked, trying to think of a way to clear Vladimir’s misunderstanding. “Vlad, the alliance was not for your sister but…” he paused with a tensed blink before adding, “But for you. A Berbieri’s daughter's hand for you.”

“Come again?” Vladimir Sokolov's cold arctic tone sent chills down the walls of his office room.

Boris Sokolov, His councillor and father let out a heavy breath and nodded. “Her name is Rose Barbieri. She is Nico Berbeiri's daughter and niece of La Camorra’s Capo. A beautiful and submissive girl, she is perfect to be your wife.”

“And who said I needed a wife, Otets? Cancel the arrangement, Vladimir Sokolov doesn't require a wife,” He said decisively, fixing his father with a freezing glare.

“But Sokolov Bratva requires an heir, Vladimir. It needs a Mistress who can take over the council decisions. And now is the time you give this organisation what it requires. Your marriage,” Boris firmly told his son while placing a picture of Rose Barbieri on the desk in front of Vladimir.

“You will like her. She is an unmatched beauty.”

Vladimir didn't even glance at the picture. Gnashing his jaw, He leaned forward and fixed his father with an authoritative glare. “I am not marrying this girl, beautiful or not.”

Boris pinched his lips in a straight line.“You have to marry that girl because now she belongs to you. I have sealed the arrangement with A BLOOD OATH!”

That made Vladimir’s left jaw tick and He sat straight in his chair. His eyes flashed dangerously. “You did what?” He demanded in a low alert tone.

Boris nodded. “Yes. Now the girl is yours, your property in all senses of the world. Your wedding vows are for namesake only. Nobody would say a thing even if you start living with her without saying, ‘I Do.’”

Vladimir Sokolov seethed in fury hearing that from his father. “Who gave you the right to make a blood oath on my behalf?”

Boris shook his head. “I did. I had to, there was no other way you would agree to marriage, Vladimir. The council was not happy when I gave you the Bratva's throne without you having a wife and a son beside you. They thought you would remarry and produce an heir but you didn't. It's been years. This is affecting your image too. Everyone calls you a psychopath!”

“I see no harm in me being called a psychopath, Otets. My enemies know their requests and pleas wouldn't have any effect on me if they cross me.” Vladimir said indifferently.

Boris fumed. “Vlad, that woman ruined your…” he took a deep calming breath and continued,

“It's been five years. They think no woman could stand your face,” Boris paused for a moment. “I tried to make an alliance with many major Bratva families in Russia and USA but none of them wanted to give their daughters to someone with a face and temper like yours. This was the first time someone agreed to marry his daughter to you. The heir Bratva needs from you, this girl will deliver it.”

“I can make an heir with a whore. No need for a marriage,” Vladimir said as a matter of fact, ignoring his father’s concern.

“And produce a bastard heir!” Boris snapped as if his son had slapped him. “Not happening, Vladimir. I am your father and as your father, I accepted that alliance. Marriage is going to seal your position as the Pakhan.”

At this Vladimir threw his head back in the chair and laughed. “Otets, isn’t it what you told me five years ago?” His words made Boris stiffen. He very well remembered what happened five years ago.

Vladimir chuckled coldly. “You do not have to worry about my heir. Isaac is my heir, if you do not agree to an heir with a whore, then..”

“Isaac is not fit to be a Pakhan. This whole organisation is going to scrabble to dust if you give the reins of Sokolov Bratva to him. The tradition states, firstborn sons of Pakhan get the kingdom. And my firstborn son is you! The absence of your wife is giving more powers to those old council scoots. People go to them for their personal issues. But once you are married, your wife would be responsible for handling those issues. The role of the council would be limited and less interfering. Try to understand it, Vlad!”

The council. The unions of all fuctards but the most respectful part of his organisation. “I don't give a damn about who fucks who until it doesn't affect my Bratva, Otets.”

“Well, you should!” Boris matched his son's tone. “You should worry about all those things because people talk, Vladimir. The future of Bratva hung like a lonely leaf in the absence of an heir.”

He firmly looked at his son, “I forgot to mention, it's your engagement tomorrow.” saying that he got to his feet and walked out of Vladimir's office.

Vladimir sharply looked at his father’s retreating figure. He couldn't back out from this marriage now. Because the Blood oath his father made, bound him to that girl.

Vladimir finally allowed his eyes to glance at the picture of his betrothed. Something Feral like an animalistic need sparked inside him as Vladimir eyed every single detail in the photo. From her wavy caramel brown hair to her baby blue eyes and pert nose. Her soft cheekbones and heart-shaped lips were the perfect sign of femininity.

For a long moment He could only stare at her smile which was like sunshine beaming warmth.

No doubt she was an unmatched Beauty!

But Beautiful things are always deceitful. And Vladimir Sokolov is known to destroy Beautiful Things!

Taking a deep calming breath He called Issac, his younger brother to his office who immediately burst inside with a cocky smirk attached to his lips. “You called for me, Brotha?”

Vladimir gestured at the picture of Rose on his desk with his eyes. “She is Nico Berbeiri’s daughter. Rose Barbieri. Keep an eye on her. Anything and everything she does, I want to be aware of her activities,” Issac took the picture in his hand and eyed the beautiful innocent girl.

“May I know who this beautiful chic is?”

Vladimir fixed his brother with a cold authoritative gaze, “Your would-be sister-in-law.”

Stunned, Issac stared at his brother but knew better to question him at that moment seeing the anger in his eyes. So he gave his brother a curt nod and left from there. After an hour he arranged his men to guard Nico's house with some heavy instructions.

But what he got to know shocked him to the depth of his existence. Without wasting a moment, he made a call to his brother.

“Interesting news! Your promised Bride eloped with his lover, Brotha. It seems that the innocent looking girl was not that innocent after all!” Issac said the moment his brother accepted the call.

Vladimir's eyes narrowed to slits hearing that. Deception was the word that came to his mind when He heard the news. His past flashed in his vision and his eyes darkened.

“Catch them!” He ordered coldly, ended the call and got to his feet. The little stunt of this girl provoked something dangerous inside him. Vladimir finally decided to grace his betrothed with his presence and show her the consequences of running away from Vladimir Sokolov!