Chapter 14 - Yefim

Driving up the long gravel road towards the wine farm, Tia's eyes are growing wider and wider at the sight of the beautiful scenery stretched out before us.

The sky is bright blue, with a few pure white clouds splashed around, adding to the picture-perfect moment.

I've wanted to bring her here for a while now, to show her my family business, perhaps to try and impress her—win her over. But also to show her that even though I am part of the mafia, I am not cruel and sadistic like so many of my rivals.

We park outside the gorgeous old villa, which was converted into our wine cellar.

I climb out of the car, then open her car door for her and offer her my hand as she climbs out of the passenger seat, her gorgeous legs catching my eye as she swings them out of the car door.

"This place is run by all of us, but Oleg heads it up and handles the day-to day-while I handle Dubrov Enterprise."

Her long, white, flowing summer dress with a slit up the side catches the breeze and dances around her playfully. The white lace of her dress reminds me that we are married—that this gorgeous girl is my wife.

A smile touches my lips.

"So, all of you work together, just in different sections of the family business?"

"Correct. I mostly run the legal side of things—Oleg runs this side at the vineyard, and Alexia helps with both."

She nods as I take her hand and lead her past the vineyards. They're green and lush, looking amazing, filled with dark purple and bright red grapes, the green variety spaced between the red in rows marked by red and white rose bushes.

"Do you and your brothers make the wine as well?"

"Yes, we involve as few people as possible. Exporting the amount of wine we sell is very illegal. Often, we'll also send other types of liquor, weapons and art. Never anything too—hectic."

"Hectic?"

"Some of our rivals are involved in slavery, human trafficking—a much darker side to the underworld of the mafia. A side I have no wish to be involved in."

She nods tightly, biting at her lip. The information seems to relieve her, but I know she still struggles a little with the fact that I'm mafia. Over time I hope she will see that, despite what I do, I am a good man—I am the perfect man for her.

The main reason I brought her here was because I know she's uncomfortable with the illegal aspects of our family income. I wanted to make it clear to her that we aren't up to anything cruel or evil, anything that would heavily taint my karma. Or hers, if she became more involved with me.

I'm just trying to get her to let her walls down and get to know me better. I know once she stops pushing me away, or holding me at a distance, she will see me for the man I can be for her. Because I can be everything for her.

We climb the ornate steps up towards the entrance of the old building. Creepers are growing up the bright white walls, adding to the ambience of the farm.

"This place is absolutely beautiful," Tia says, looking around in awe.

"I rather enjoy it out here. Away from the city noise and smell. It's peaceful. You can breathe some fresh air, enjoy the sky—"

"I love it," she says excitedly. "Can we see where they make the wine?"

I didn't expect her to be so curious about it all, but I'm pleased that she is. Her face is bright with happiness, a massive smile spread across her cheeks, and her eyes are shining. She's wearing the necklace I bought her. It's glittering in the sunlight, but her eyes are still the most beautiful thing shining and catching my attention.

"Come on, let's do some wine tasting first—then I'll take you down to the cellars and you can see the wine barrels and the entire fermenting process."

Tia can't seem to get enough of the beautiful vineyards. The sun is shining perfectly above us, creating the most gorgeous day for a wine tour.

We are sitting outside on the large wooden deck, overlooking the rows and rows of grape vines. She swirls the dark red wine in her glass, watching as it stains the inner wall and then flows back down, then tilts it towards her nose and gently breathes it in.

"I can smell—is that oak? And—wait—I think its cranberry ?" she grins, hoping she got it right.

I chuckle. "You're pretty good at this. Cranberry and mulberry." I sip the wine, letting it wash over my tongue before I swallow it.

"You aren't supposed to swallow," she laughs, her cheeks pink from the wine.

"I don't always do what I'm supposed to do. Besides. You've swallowed every time."

Her eyes grow wide with the naughty thought that immediately infiltrates her mind.

Swallow. Not spit.

I chuckle and shake my head.

Then, because I've wanted to do it all day, I lean towards her and kiss her. Gently, slowly. She seems to stiffen, freezing beneath my lips, nervous and tense. I don't stop, though. I keep my lips pressed against hers, feeling the softness of her mouth, tasting the red wine on her tongue.

I lean back and stare down at her. Her eyes are wide and glittering wildly. I smile and pick up my wine glass again. "Alright. What can you taste in this one?"

After tasting the last four wines, we talk about which is our favorite and find that we both like the same one.

"I'll have a crate sent to the house and stored in our wine cellar," I confirm.

"Can we see the wine cellar here now?" she asks excitedly. "I've never been shown how wine is made before. It looks so fancy whenever I see massive wine cellars in movies."

"Of course, come on. I didn't take you for much of a movie watcher. When do you find the time?"

"I really like movies. But in all honestly, I've only had time to see one or two a year lately," she laughs.

I slide off my seat and hold my hand out to her. She places hers in mine, and I lead her through the building towards the cellar doors and down the massive stone steps, our feet echoing against the stone ceiling.

The soft orange glow of the lighting above us creates a romantic atmosphere in this stone cave.

"It's a little chilly," she says, rubbing her hands over her arms briskly, trying to warm herself up. I pull my jacket off, wrapping it over her shoulders, then pull her up against my side to wrap my arm around her as well and share my body heat.

"You've been in the warm sun outside, and this place is temperature-controlled for optimum development of the flavors in the wine."

"How did you and your siblings get into this?" she asks, pulling my jacket tighter over her shoulders. She lifts the fabric to her face and breathes in, smiling the smallest grin. I grin too—she likes how I smell. I think the wine we've had has relaxed her enough to really enjoy the day and let her guard down a bit.

"Until we got to Boston, we only used to deal in beer and vodka. Not even the good stuff really—cheaper brands, not caring much about flavor. We were in it for the money and we chose what sold the fastest.

"But after we moved here and joined my family's Boston branch, we become more aquatinted with the finer things in life. Luxuries, acquired tastes, much more— beautiful —things."

I brush my hand over her cheek, tucking a stray curl behind her hair. "Here in Boston, I discovered the most beautiful thing I could ever have imagined," I say, my voice deep and quiet.

I'm staring directly into her eyes when I talk. She doesn't even ask me what it was I discovered because she can see it on my face. I'm talking about her.

She truly is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Here, there, anywhere in the world I've been—nothing can compete with her.

I pull her around so she is up against my chest, then lean down and kiss her, slowly and tenderly. Not rushed and heated like it was in the office,

Although my physical reaction is just as intense, if not even more so, that same crazy urgency isn't interfering with my ability to really savor the moment with her.

We both stop when we hear footsteps coming down the stone steps into the cellar. One of the workers, holding a crate of wine, pauses to look at us halfway down into the cellar.

"I'm so sorry, sir. I didn't know anyone was down here," he says nervously.

"It's no problem, Kevin. Come on down. We were just heading up, anyway."

Tia is blushing and trying to hide her grin as I take her hand and lead her up the stairs. "We can do the tour after dinner."

"Dinner?" she asks, surprised.

"Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you that I had our chef prepare a full three-course meal for us, on the roof deck overlooking the vineyards. You are going to love it." I grin, knowing that it was going to make her smile.