Chapter 18: Daniil

"We're here."

Andrei glanced outside his window of the private jet and then turned to face me.

"Valencia, indeed, is a beautiful city," he said. "Don't you think?"

"We're not here on vacation, so I don't have the luxury of sightseeing," came my reply. "If I wanted to go on vacation, it'd be with my milaya ," I added.

"It's been four years, Daniil," he reminded me.

"Maybe. Yet, it feels like only four months to me," I answered.

Andrei looked at me and went silent. He clearly saw my obsession with her as a problem, and he'd tried his best to get me to loosen up. However, all of his efforts were futile.

This woman seemed to have charmed me with her essence; she had some sort of hold over me, and it was both impressive and concerning at the same time.

"Your cousin is already waiting at the airport," Andrei informed me, changing the subject. "Maybe he could help you with this problem—Vladimir always has his ways." He grinned faintly.

Andrei was hoping that my cousin's lifestyle would somehow help me get over Vivian, and he wasn't wrong to think so. Vladimir Wolkov was a Bratva boss like me, and also a cruel one, at that. He was the type to be serious with his business, but, unlike me, he often found a balance and, sometimes, womanized for the fun of it. The womanizing part of his lifestyle was the glimmer of hope Andrei was holding onto.

"Maybe what you need is some fresh air to clear your mind. Valencia, in the company of your cousin, is the perfect combo for you right now," he said to me.

"You seem to forget the real reason we're here, Andrei," I replied, unfazed by his attempts. "There's a deal to be struck, and that's where my focus is at."

"Like I said, Vladimir always has his ways," he concluded with a subtle smirk.

I scoffed and looked away from him.

As I gazed out the jet's window, the runway rushed up to meet us, and the wheels touched down with a soft thud. The engines died down, and the plane taxied to a stop with a low hum.

"Now, we're here," I said to him, repeating his previous statement. "Let's go close this deal, shall we?"

I was lying to myself, claiming that I was only interested in the deal and that I didn't want anyone's help with my little problem. Andrei knew that already, but he'd been cautious and mindful of his words around me. He just wanted to help, and I appreciated his effort, but I was okay.

I'd missed my cousin, and seeing him might actually help me, as Andrei had suggested. I didn't want him finding out about Vivian—at least, not yet—because I knew his reaction wouldn't be good. Us Wolkovs were proud and powerful; individually, we were a force to be reckoned with, and together, we could burn the world to the ground.

Maybe I was becoming weak; maybe she was my Achilles' heel. Whatever the case, though, Vladimir couldn't find out the effect this woman had on me; he definitely didn't need to know how long her hold over me had lasted.

Trying to exude my familiar sense of majesty and power, I stepped out into the bright sunlight, the warm breeze rustling my hair.

Before me lay a stunning sight: a fleet of exotic cars, their sleek designs and vibrant colors glistening in the sun. There was a Lamborghini Aventador, its sharp lines and angular silhouette a testament to its speed and agility. Then, I spotted a Ferrari 488 GTB, its sleek, aerodynamic body a masterpiece of Italian design. Finally, there was a Bugatti Chiron, its curves and lines a work of art and its power and performance a thrill to behold.

With the sound of the jet's engines fading into the distance, I was greeted by the hum of the cars' engines, revving in anticipation of my arrival.

My cousin was standing outside his G-Wagon, impeccably dressed in a fine black suit with a Cuban cigar hanging out of his mouth.

He was flanked by his men, all serious-faced and heavily armed.

Subtly, I took a deep breath, feeling the rush of adrenaline and the thrill of the luxurious family lifestyle. This was what it meant to be a Wolkov: masters of our domain and kings of our own private world, our empire.

"Daniil," he called out to me, arms spread wide as I walked up to him.

His dirty brown hair was fluttering in the wind, and his perfect build bulged out of his suit as he stood tall, towering over some of his men.

I chuckled. "Vladimir."

He laughed genuinely.

"Good to see you, brother." He embraced me tightly, patting my back.

"Good to see you, too," I replied.

"Ha, Andrei!" He shifted his gaze toward him, and the latter bent slightly in reverence.

They shook hands.

"You must be exhausted," he said to me. "Let's get you settled in. I know a good five-star hotel that'll treat you the way you deserve."

Andrei stole a glance in my direction but didn't say a word. I understood the look; he was trying to remind me that Vladimir had his ways of doing things.

"Come on," Vlad said to me, leading us to his G-Wagon.

We got inside, and the driver took off, the other cars following up behind to form a convoy.

______________

He wasn't wrong; the hotel we lodged in was glamorous and classy. We settled in and rested for some hours.

Vladimir had allowed me to have my space for the time being, saying we would hit the club later that night to discuss how to close the deal that had brought us here. Vlad had to fly down to Valencia, as well, but he arrived long before we did.

This deal with Mr. Petrov was going to be a hit if it went well, much like the one with Solenoir, which had generated more profit than I'd anticipated. With hundreds of Solenoir outlets in Russia, both Mr. Solenoir and I had benefited massively. So, adding yet another lucrative investment wasn't a bad idea.

Later that evening, we got dressed, and Vlad instructed his chauffeur to take us to a club downtown.

"I assure you, you'll love this place," he said while in the car.

"I'm sure that I will," I replied, though Vlad must have seen through my facade.

Frowning, he asked, "What is it?"

I feigned ignorance. "What do you mean?"

He studied me for a few seconds, his brows furrowing. "I don't know. But there's something off about you."

Andrei and I exchanged discreet glances, and I replied with a chuckle, "Brother, there's nothing off about me."

He was quiet, obviously not believing my reply, but I wouldn't budge.

After a beat of silence, he sighed. "You know you can talk to me, right?"

I smirked, falling back into my persona. "I am Daniil Wolkov; nothing moves me. Don't forget that."

His face lit up with a wicked grin. " There he is. There's the man I know."

The vehicle pulled over outside a building, and I could hear the muffled sounds of the loud music seeping out from inside.

We stepped out into the cold, where distant stars twinkled up on the celestial canvas above.

"Every time I come to Valencia, I always visit this club," Vlad said to me, smoking his cigar. He released a puff of smoke. "Come. Let's go blow off some steam. You sure look like you need it."

As we stepped into the club, the pulsating beat of the music enveloped us, a rhythmic reverberation that seemed to match the very cadence of our heartbeats. Vlad was subtly nodding to the rhythm of the music, both hands tucked in the pockets of his pants. His demeanor commanded respect and fear as we followed up behind him.

The air was alive with the electricity of revelry, the scent of champagne and perfume hanging heavy over the crowd.

"This is what you need to distract yourself," Andrei said in almost a whisper despite the loudness of the music and the voices of those singing along.

I looked at him and didn't reply. I was unmoved by the activities going on in that place; my mind was focused on the deal to be sealed, and that was a way to distance myself from what was supposed to keep my mind distracted. Usually, parties and clubbing were never really my thing. I found such gatherings to be highly unnecessary and a complete waste of my time. But I was around Vlad, and with him, such events were impossible to miss out on.

We made our way through the sea of bodies, the throng of dancers parting like the Red Sea as we approached a designated domain. The VIP section, reserved for the likes of us, Bratva bosses, was a sanctuary of luxury, a velvet-roped enclave of opulence.

The music grew louder, the bass thumping like a primal heartbeat as we settled into our plush seats. The lights danced across the ceiling, a kaleidoscope of colors that seemed to pulse in time with the rhythm. The crowd was a blur of movement, a complex pattern of faces, each one lost in the moment.

You might as well relax. You might be here for a while.

There was no point in holding back; I was here already.

Before us, the dancers writhed and twisted, their bodies glistening with sweat as they surrendered to the beat. The women were a vision of loveliness, their curves and lines a testament to the beauty of the female form. They moved with a fluid grace. Their eyes locked onto us, their smiles inviting, but I couldn't feign interest in any of them.

They were all beautiful and hot, sexy and enticing; however, my heart was already taken. It was funny that I felt that way, but I did. I even had to fight the thoughts of Vivian that were attempting to invade my mind after I caught a glimpse of a woman that resembled my milaya . I had to massage my eyes and look again before realizing that it wasn't her.

I sighed softly.

The spot Vlad had taken us to was a haven of exclusivity, a domain where we reigned supreme. The bottles were chilled, the glasses were full, and the music was our own personal soundtrack. We sat back, surveying our kingdom, our eyes scanning the room with a practiced air of superiority.

Vlad crossed his legs, looking right at me. "You like this, yes?"

I couldn't deny that the place was catchy, and I felt a wind of relief and satisfaction blow across me.

That night, we were the kings: the Bratva bosses—the ones who ruled with an iron fist but also knew how to indulge in the finer things in life.

Vlad poured himself some vodka and took a sip.

"So, Vlad," I began, leaning forward, "how well do you know Petrov?" I asked, referring to the man with whom we were supposed to close the deal.

"A little too well, I might say," he replied.

"Which means you're confident that our meeting with him will go smoothly, da ?"

" Da , I've got a good feeling about this," he replied, his eyes fixed on a dirty dancer. "We'll get the protection contract and have a nice chunk of change to go with it."

Mr. Petrov was a businessman who proposed partnering with Bratva and his real estate development company, where we'd offer ‘protection' and ‘security services' for his high-end projects to ensure a smooth and hassle-free construction process free from any ‘unforeseen' delays or union disputes.

In return, we would receive a substantial share of the profits, and this deal would allow us to expand our empire, diversify our income streams, and further solidify our grip on the city's underworld.

"Do you think he'll agree to our terms?" I asked.

Vlad snickered. "He doesn't have a choice, brother. He knows that he's dealing with two of the most dangerous people in the world. So, he'll play by our rules."

I poured myself a drink.

"True. Besides, he's the one in need of our security services," I concurred.

"When this deal clicks, we'll be a hundred times richer." He smirked. "I like what you did with the Solenoir deal…. Look how well it turned out for you in the end." He took a sip of his drink.

Solenoir.

The brand flashed in my head, followed by images of the first time I'd met Vivian.

I was doing fine discussing business with Vlad, but now he'd managed to bring to the surface something that I'd been fighting to keep down.

As though he knew that I was struggling with thoughts of Vivian, Andrei came to my rescue, returning my focus to the deal.

"Your meeting with Mr. Petrov is scheduled for tomorrow," he said, glancing at his iPad and then at me. "10 AM prompt."

"Great," Vlad said, lifting his glass. "To new beginnings and bigger profits."

We cheered and gulped down our drinks.

"And now for the real fun," he said, a mischievous grin etched upon his face. "Bring in the ladies," he instructed.

The man at the door nodded and stepped outside for a couple of seconds.

What did I have to lose? I was here, so the least I could do was unwind a little. I needed a distraction from my thoughts, and this was the best type of distraction.

The man returned, and with him came a couple of sexy ladies, hot strippers.

"Let the fun begin," Vlad said, relaxing in his chair as the ladies spread out amongst us.

I exhaled slowly, allowing myself to loosen up and enjoy the rest of the night.