Chapter 23 - Arina

I have dreamed of meeting my brothers my entire life, but it was always a case of me having the upper hand and screwing them over. Not them being doting, lovable people. Even Danil, who seems like the hardest nut to crack, is very gentle with me.

On my first official full day on the estate, we have lunch outside on the lawn. I meet my nieces and nephews, and I'm rapt with awe at how adorable they are, especially the twins, who seem to be double trouble galore.

Tiano is a little princess, while Jade and Amber, Asher's children, are more rough and tumble. Natasha, Kervyn's daughter, is such a daddy's girl if I ever saw one. I don't even know how I'm going to keep track of all of them.

And there's such an overload of information. I'm slowly catching up on what everyone's lives are like. From jests and stories told by the wives, I notice that three of them were a forced marriage that blossomed into love while Arseny kidnapped Elena, and they fell in love while he held her prisoner.

It must be a Bratva thing. I think of my own circumstances with Igor and how far we've come since he forced me to become his wife. Maybe there's hope there after all.

Penny has had my measurements taken and is ordering me custom-made clothes. Asher is arranging to take me to her art gallery to see her latest work. I've learned Hannah does podcasts, and Elena runs a series of butcheries owned by herself and Arseny.

Despite being swept off my feet with all this information, I can't help but miss Igor. I'm sure he's worried about me, having not heard from me in over twenty-four hours, but I don't know how to broach the subject with Kervyn.

Whenever they mention Igor, they talk about punishing him, sweeping the rug out from under him, and taking his businesses down. I don't want that. I worked hard to help Igor build those businesses up.

Penny notices my distress every time the topic comes up and quickly changes the conversation. She's so intuitive.

Then, on my way downstairs on the sixth morning away from Igor, I hear Kervyn talking about Igor coming for a meeting the next day. My heart flutters and I'm excited that I may be able to see him. That's when I hear Kervyn tell Penny to keep me busy so I don't see him. I think that's unfair. I should be able to see my husband.

I'm about to march in and say something when Mama Milov arrives, walking in with Luka and the twins.

"Hey, Arina," Luka says with a smile. He comes over and kisses both my cheeks. "Penny said she'd watch the twins for Mom and me today. We're going to help Asher out at her exhibition."

I smile brightly. "Penny is just busy with Kervyn. I'll take the twins, though, until she's done."

Luka smiles. "You sure? They won't be too much of a handful for you?"

"Not at all." I walk around the stroller and take the handles. "We'll go play in the living room."

"Thanks, Arina," Luka calls before he and Mama Milvo leave.

I unstrap the twins and set them down on the carpet. I take out their diaper bag and inside are some toys for them. I hear footsteps and turn to see Samuel toddle into the room, followed by Penny with Natasha in her arms. She sets Natasha in her camping cot before she kneels beside me. "I see Luka ditched you with the twins."

"He didn't ditch them with me, I offered." I roll a car back and forth, with PK gurgling at me. At least, I think he's PK. It's hard to tell them apart, especially when they're dressed identically.

"What's on your mind?" Penny asks as she rolls a ball to Samuel.

"How do you tell PK and KJ apart?" I ask. "They're dressed the same. They look the same."

Penny smiles. "Well, when they were tiny babies, Hannah used to use a permanent marker and keep a dot on PK's foot, but since they've grown, KJ has had an accident and fallen, and now he has a scar at the back of his head. It's the only way I can tell them apart."

I nod. "That makes sense."

"Are you sure you're okay? You don't seem well." Penny catches the ball Samuel haphazardly rolls toward her and rolls it back.

"I'm not feeling great," I admit. I haven't felt great since I've been pregnant. The morning sickness should be renamed the all-time sickness. Everything gives me heartburn, gas, or a runny stomach.

I don't want to tell Penny because she's been pregnant and will probably suspect that's what is wrong with me.

"Kervyn is meeting Igor tomorrow," Penny says quietly. "I know you overheard us talking about it."

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop," I say, looking at her contritely. "It's just… I got so used to having him around. He is my husband."

"I know, but he did that as a power move to gain access to the Milov family," she says quietly. "He didn't love you."

I disagree wholeheartedly, but I don't want to argue with her. I look away and ask. "But what about you and Kervyn? You didn't exactly fall in love the traditional way."

"Yes, but I was pregnant with his child, and it wasn't really a power move. I didn't have ties to another family he was trying to take down. You know what I mean?" She touches my arm. "I know it can be all confusing, but I'm here for you, no matter what you want to talk about."

I want to talk about Igor and how much he loved me—at least, I think he did. He was very passionate about me.

Still, there's that nagging question in the back of my head. Did he know that my family didn't know I existed? Surely he wouldn't have kept that from me.

"Penny, I need to hear what Igor and Kervyn speak about tomorrow," I say, looking at her pleadingly. "I need to hear what Igor has to say for himself. So, I know where I stand."

Penny looks hesitant, but then she relaxes her shoulders and gives me a small smile. "I'll keep everyone busy while you eavesdrop. I'm just worried you might be hurt by something that is said."

"I'll be hurt if I don't know for the rest of my life," I say. "I need to know."

Penny nods. "Okay. The meeting's at nine in Kervyn's office."

"Thank you," I take her hand. "You're a great sister."

I sleep uneasily, worried about what I might hear at the meeting the next day. Igor is coming here, and there's a part of me that wants to run to him and kiss him with everything I have. I want to tell him that we're having a child and then leave with him. But I just found my family, a family that didn't know before now I existed.

I can't discredit them. They're all trying to get to know and spend time with me. They're all so sweet and loving. Family is everything to the Milovs; I don't want to miss that. I want both.

I want Igor and my child and my brothers and their families.

I get up at seven and get showered and dressed before I go downstairs to the dining hall. Kervyn and Danil are there with Penny, Samuel, and Natasha, having breakfast. I sit down beside Penny, butter some toast, and bite into it.

We eat breakfast in peace, and as we're leaving, Penny turns to me. "You should go lie down," she says with a smile. "You're looking a bit pale."

"Yeah, I'm still not quite over that tummy bug." I turn to Kervyn and Danil. "I'll see you later."

I head upstairs, but I stop once I'm just out of sight.

I wait patiently for my time to come back downstairs.

It feels like I wait forever until I finally hear Penny. "Danil, won't you come with me and help me out back, please?"

"Kervyn's in an important meeting," he says.

"You won't be missed, I'm sure," she says. "Please."

I hear Danil sigh, but there are two sets of footsteps walking away.

I creep back downstairs and stand by Kervyn's office door. When I hear Igor's voice, my heart races. I've missed him so much.

I hear the anger in Kervyn's voice. "I'm not giving you Arina. She deserves to be with her family. If you had told her that we didn't know about her, you wouldn't have easily won her over."

My heart thumps in my chest as I wait for Igor's answer.

"Why would I tell her that?" he spits out. "You don't deserve her. You don't deserve to know her even if you didn't know anything about her."

I clench my fists. He did know. He knew, and he didn't tell me.

"If you don't give me Arina, I will declare war against your family. I will not stop until she is mine again."

I can't control myself. The door creaks open as I storm inside. Igor turns to see me walking toward him. I see the tension leave his shoulders, and he relaxes. "Arina."

Rage vibrates through me. I walk right up to him and slap him through the face. The slap stings my hand, but I'm too angry at him to care. "You knew. You knew my brothers didn't know anything about me and kept it from me." I glare at him. "You knew how much family meant to me and lied to my face."

"Arina, I was only protecting you…"

"Protecting me from what? You're the one who kidnapped me and forced me to be your wife. Kervyn and my brothers have been nothing but kind to me." I can feel the tears forming in my eyes, and my heart breaks. "I want nothing to do with you. I am not going with you and never want to see you again."

I turn and storm out and run upstairs to my bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me.

I feel like I've been stabbed. The one person I opened myself up to, trusting completely, betrayed me. I thought we were like family. I thought we cared for each other. He can't claim to care for me if he keeps secrets like that from me.

There's a knock on my door. "Arina?" Kervyn's voice says quietly. "Can I come in?"

"Yes," I say tearfully, hugging my pillow.

The door opens, and Kervyn steps in. "Oh, little one," he says quietly. "Come here."

I get up and run to his open arms. He hugs me tightly and kisses my head. "I'm sorry you heard that, and I'm sorry he hurt you. He doesn't deserve you."

He strokes my hair gently, and I sob into his chest, not sure how to tell him I'm pregnant with Igor's child. I don't want Kervyn to hate me as well. I'm going to have to figure something else out. Maybe I'll speak to Penny first.

"Is he gone?" I say through my sniffles.

"Yes, he left straight away, and you never have to see him again, you hear me." He rests his chin on my head. "And Penny shouldn't have let you eavesdrop like that."

"Please, she was only doing what I asked." I let go of him to look up at him, worried about Penny. "Please, don't be mad at her."

"Oh, I could never be mad at my wife." He strokes my cheek softly. "But she's going to owe me one."

I give him a sad smile. "I really am not feeling well. I think I'm going to lie down now and try to get some sleep."

"Okay, well, don't wallow too long," he says quietly. "You're a Milov. We get back up and fight another day."

I smile at him as he leaves and curl up on my bed.