Chapter 9 - Arina

I open my apartment with the keys Matvey retrieved from my car. As promised, I don't try to escape from them, although I don't see how I can with Alfie keeping such a close eye on me.

The four servants who came with us look at me, and I look around the apartment. "Um, clothes and vanity products definitely. Pack up the food, or it'll go off. I want to take my wine collection and, yeah, basically everything except the furniture."

I look around awkwardly as they separate and start packing.

I walk into my bedroom and get out my luggage, where Marie starts making up one of the boxes they brought with them.

"You guys really are organized," I point out.

"Mr. Sidorov expects us to be, ma'am." Marie smiles at me as she tackles my closet.

I get my more precious items together and pack them in the luggage. Then, I help her with the closet, packing what I need for the trip to the resort. This all feels surreal.

Yesterday, I wanted nothing more than to get away from Igor. Now, I want to be his equal partner in getting revenge against my half-brothers.

I change into more appropriate clothes and shoes for a resort, opting for comfort most of all.

It doesn't take us long to pack up things with the servants helping, and soon enough, we're on our way back to the estate.

Matvey hasn't said two words to me and keeps giving me dirty looks when he does glance in my general direction.

As soon as we arrive, Matvey gets out of the car and walks inside without a backward glance.

Yvonne comes to stand outside and directs the servants where to take my things. I feel so awkward.

I feel like I'm in the way.

Yvonne gives me a reassuring smile and heads inside.

I walk inside, and my eyes meet Igor's, and I think of that steamy kiss and his body pressed against mine. I blush slightly.

I walk further in and pretend to examine the artwork on the wall to pass the time while Matvey talks to Igor. I hear them discussing taking two cars, which is such a waste, really. We could all go together.

When I hear him mention Igor might want some privacy with me, I blush again. I don't count on sleeping with Igor to exact my revenge on the Milovs.

I keep my attention on the artwork until I feel a hunkering presence behind me. I turn quickly to look up at Igor.

"We're leaving shortly. Is there anything else you need?" he asks, standing close to me.

My face flushes as I realize he's wearing tight suit pants and has a huge bulge in the front.

"I…"

"Eyes up here," he chuckles.

I blush furiously and meet his eyes. "No, I have everything."

"Let's go then… wife." He holds his hand out, and I slip my smaller hand into his.

He leads me to the car and helps me in. I scoot right up against the other door and look out the window, pretending to be fascinated with the landscape outside the vehicle.

"You don't have to avoid me," Igor says. I hear the playfulness in his voice.

"I'm not," I say, glancing at him. "I just like the outdoors. You have a beautiful estate. I'm just absorbing it all."

"If you like the outdoors, then you will love the resort. There's plenty to do outside." The car pulls off, and we join the traffic.

Igor opens a newspaper and starts to read.

I curl up on the seat, resting my head on my fist and elbow on the door. As we bounce around, I'm lulled into a restless sleep.

"Arina?"

I sit bolt upright at the sound of my name. "What?"

"We're almost there," Igor says. "I hope you don't mind that I let you sleep. You looked like you needed it."

"You need to sleep more, too, I would think. You didn't sleep at all last night." I stretch and run my fingers through my hair.

"So, you own this place?" I ask as we drive up to an archway that regulates the traffic.

"Yes, this is one of the ideas we had for hiding our money."

"Money laundering," I say. "Smart. Resorts work with a lot of money, a lot of cash, so people won't notice."

He smiles, and I don't miss it. "Exactly, and I plan to acquire a few more resorts to help… with business."

"And we are here because there's a problem?" I ask, looking at him.

"Yes, a large one. Stick with me and keep quiet. Observe." The car pulls up to a hotel and the driver opens the door for me. I get out, and Igor comes around my side of the car, offering me his arm.

I hesitate for a moment before I take it. He has big arms; beefy and muscular. I feel almost lost in comparison.

He leads me into the hotel while our luggage is taken to our room, and we follow.

The penthouse suite is huge and richly decorated in bright oranges, reds, and browns. I let go of Igor's arm when we step inside, and I take it all in.

I've never stayed in a room this fancy before.

"You can freshen up in the bathroom over there." He gestures to where the main bedroom is. "Then we'll go downstairs and deal with our little problem."

I go to the bathroom. Our luggage is in the room, and I take out my toiletry bag. I wash my face and put on some makeup before I run a brush through my hair and make sure my curls are neat.

I check myself over in the mirror before I finally emerge where Matvey and Igor are having a drink and talking.

"Go get them," Igor says to Matvey. "We'll meet you in the offices."

Matvey grunts and leaves while Igor drains his glass. "That was quick."

"I didn't want to keep you waiting since we're here for business," I say.

He takes in my outfit and licks his lips. There's something almost primal about him that certainly gets my panties in a bunch. I get my emotions under control.

Igor leads me down to his offices on the floor beneath us, and he motions next to his chair. "You can stand beside me while I deal with this."

I stand where he gestured, and he sits down behind the heavy oak desk.

We wait in silence, a guard on either side of the room. The door suddenly flies open, and two young men are thrown inside onto the floor in front of the desk.

Matvey enters after them and nods to Igor, who nods back.

The two men look like each other, one looking slightly younger.

"Liam, you know why I've brought you before Igor." Matvey paces around them. His voice is cold and unfeeling.

"You and your little brother have been stealing from us," he says.

"We haven't, sir. I swear we haven't," Liam says, shaking his head. "We would never…"

"I have it on camera," Matvey roars, kicking Liam in the ribs. I wince as the man tumbles backward, groaning.

The other man tries to scramble up, but Matvey kicks him in the face. "Stay down, Christopher. I'll get to you."

Liam looks up at Matvey angrily. "Don't kick him."

"Watch how you talk to me, or I'll cut your tongue out of your mouth," Matvey says, pointing at Liam. "Why are you stealing from us? What made you think you could get away with it? We gave you family when you had none."

"They had none?" I whisper to Igor.

"Orphan brothers," Igor whispers back.

I look at them, and my heart breaks for them. This is how my adoptive family treated me.

Matvey grabs Liam's face and leans in close. "Before I fucking kill you, you best apologize to Igor, so you go to your death with a clear conscience."

"I admit it. I stole," Liam breathes heavily. "We owe some guys money and just wanted to pay them back. We were going to put the money back. Spare Christopher, he didn't want to do it."

"Whether he wanted to or not, that doesn't matter because you did. You stuck your dirty little hands where they don't belong, and now you're going to face the consequences of those actions." Matvey takes out a gun and points it at Liam's head.

"Stop!" I shout. "Don't!"

Everyone looks at me dumbfounded, and Igor grabs my hand. "Stay out of this, Arina," he says. "This is family business."

"I'm family now, through marriage. Please, Igor, spare them. They have no family to teach them better." I squeeze his hand. "Please show them mercy."

Matvey growls. "There will be no mercy here. You don't make these decisions. They have betrayed us. An eye for an eye."

"Makes the whole world blind," I add as he finishes talking.

Igor squeezes my hand again, warning me, but I look at him. "Please, you can put a stop to this." I let go of his hand before he could say anything and walked around the desk to stand between Liam and Matvey. "As Igor's wife, I demand you punish them less harshly."

The room falls silent, and Matvey and I face off. He walks toward me and raises his hand, but I don't flinch away.

The sound of furniture toppling fills the room, and Igor catches Matvey's hand on its way to my face.

"You overstep your boundary, Matvey," Igor growls. "She is my wife, and you will respect her."

"She is interfering in family business. Are you just going to allow that?" Matvey hisses. "After everything they have done to us, you're going to let them go because your wife says so?"

Igor glares at him and then pushes his hand away. "If you ever try to strike her again, you'll find you're on the receiving side of my bad mood."

He turns to Liam and Christopher. "I've seen enough to know that you're both guilty. My wife is kind-hearted and wants to take pity on you, and I don't think it's wise, but as we've just married, I will give her this as a wedding gift. Your lives. Spared."

Liam and Christopher look relieved, but Igor takes a step toward them. "You are going to pay back every cent that you stole. Then, you are banished from the family forever. If I ever see your faces again, I will personally shoot you in the head."

Liam nods. "Yes, sir, of course. And, uh, how long do we have to pay this debt?"

"The end of the month," Igor says.

"That's…" I start to say, but Igor gives me a look that silences me.

"Two weeks. I want all my money back, and I never want to see either of you again." Igor turns to Matvey. "Take them to pack their shit and get them off the resort."

Matvey eyes Igor out before he holsters his gun and turns to Liam and Christopher. "Pick yourself up off the floor, you disgusting worms."

They scramble to get up, and Matvey sees them out of the room.

The guards don't move, and neither do I. I've crossed a line with Igor. He told me to stand and watch, and I pulled rank over Matvey.

"Igor… I…"

He grabs me by my wrist and starts to drag me out of the room. I try to resist, but he pulls me to him, and I see the anger in his eyes, and I comply. I made my decision, and now I need to see it through, whatever the consequences are.

The few people we pass stare at us as Igor drags me into the elevator and selects the penthouse suite.

"Igor," I say quietly.

He glares at me again, and I fall silent, looking at my shoes. I've already cocked this up, and it's been less than a day.