Chapter 25 - Oleg

The shootout at the Sidorov warehouse caused issues amongst the families, so now I am being forced to explain why one of our allies got taken out by us without any discussion amongst the others.

Of course, it isn’t difficult to explain that they kidnapped Anya and that alone would be explanation enough, but I need to do better than that.

I need to find a way to explain that the Kuznetsov brothers helped to get Anya back and that my allies should now also accept them as their allies.

But this won’t work if Rodion isn’t serious about working with me.

So, before I can meet with the families, I have to meet with Rodion.

Leon wants to come along and he is currently standing in my office, glaring at me.

“I promise you I will handle this. I caused this shit show, so I will sort it out. Leon, this would be a waste of your time. I will sort it out.” I say, for the third time.

“Are you sure? Because you told me marrying that girl would solve everything, but our sister still ended up getting kidnapped, “ his eyes are piercing into me. I know he’s pissed off about what happened to Anya and so am I, but me marrying Raisa had nothing to do with that.

“Leon, if this isn’t resolved by tonight, then I will come to you and ask for your help. But I promise you, it will be sorted out by then.”

He pulls his mouth tight. “Call me later. I want confirmation.”

I nod, feeling frustrated and exhausted by his constant worry. But again, I remind myself, he is just upset about what happened to Anya.

When Leon leaves, I breathe a sigh of relief.

Rodion is on his way here and I didn’t want to have to deal with both of them in my office at the same time. They both have such intense personalities and I just don’t see that situation going well.

Luckily, Leon is long gone when Rodion walks in.

“Oleg,” he says stiffly.

“Rodion, I’m glad you offered your help.” I nod.

I hold out my hand to shake his and he takes my hand tightly in his grip shaking once, hard. Then he lets go. It seems that he is showing a little more respect these days. Thank fuck. I am so over this drama.

“I had to help. The Sidorov family was after me, not you. It was my enemy. It’s the least I can do.”

“We need to arrange a clean-up around that warehouse before the cops catch wind of what went down. Can you handle that?”

“Yes, I have already put the team together. I just wanted to check with you first. We have the truck ready and waiting for disposal.”

“You can send them in. You and I also need to come to an understanding about our business relationship moving forward.”

Rodion sighs tightly. He wants to say something. I wait, not interrupting him as he gathers his thoughts.

Finally, he steps towards my desk and rests his knuckles against the surface as he leans slightly towards me.

“Oleg, I want my family to be officially allied with you, but not only that, I want to be your equal.”

I smile. He is asking a lot. To be an equal to the Dubrovs is a big request. He is going to have to prove himself first.

I fold my arms across my chest, staring in Rodion’s eyes. He is dead serious. He doesn’t break away.

“Alright. But you don’t just get to be equal to the Dubrovs overnight. This is something you will have to work towards. You are going to have to earn that kind of status. However, I will give you every opportunity you and your brothers should need in order to earn it. Is that to your satisfaction?”

Rodion steps back, folding his arms across his chest, mimicking my gesture.

“It is. That makes sense and I appreciate that you are willing to do that for us.”

“So, we’re good?”

“We’re good,” he chuckles and I realize it is the first time I have ever heard him laugh.

I shake my head. “You are not an easy man to work with, Rodion.”

"I’m sure my sister has told you all about it,” he laughs again.

“Alright, you can join me at a meeting I am having with my allies. You will need to get to know all of them because they will be your allies, too, by default. I’ll catch you up on all the information on the drive there.”

Later that evening, I walk into my home feeling exhausted but pleased that everything has gone so well.

Before I can really relax with Raisa though, I need to call Leon.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial his number, leaning against the back of the sofa, waiting for him to answer.

“Oleg, give me good news.”

“We are allied with the Kuznetsovs, and Rodion attended the family meeting with me. Everyone is on board. Things are sorted. We won’t be getting any more trouble from them. The remainder of the Sidorov family fled the city after realizing they had kidnapped the wrong sister. If they return, we can decide what we want to do there—but otherwise—everything is good.”

“I’m happy to hear that. Good job.”

Leon says goodnight and I hang up the phone.

Turning towards the door, I see Raisa standing there.

“How much did you hear?” I ask.

“Not enough to understand what is going on. Did you meet with Rodion—what happened?”

My stomach tightens. I am not sure she will be happy with the offer I made for her brothers. I don’t know if she will think it is fair enough, seeing as her and I are married.

“Raisa, your brother asked if your family and my family could be allied. I agreed to that. It is what I wanted from the start.“

“Ok, but then why do you look so tense?”

I sigh, running my hand through my hair. “Because he asked to be my equal. And I didn’t agree in the way he wanted.”

“Does that mean you agreed in a different way?”

“Yes, I told him he could earn it. That I would help him achieve that—but that it isn’t something I can just hand to him.”

Raisa smiles. “Are you serious? You will really help them out like that?” She sounds so happy. I thought she was going to be angry that I didn’t make it easier for them.

“Yes, you aren’t upset?” I ask, checking to make sure.

“Why would I be upset? That is so amazing and I’m so happy.” She runs towards me, straight into my arms, hugging me tightly.

My heart is bursting with happiness.

All I have ever wanted was to make her happy and now that all of the mayhem and chaos is over, I finally seem to be achieving that.

But now that it is over—is she going to want to leave?

My jaw clenches and my entire body stiffens. She senses the change in me and steps away to look up at me.

“Oleg, what’s wrong?”

“We need to talk.”

I take her hand and lead her to the sofa. Sitting her down next to me.

“Raisa, everything is over. Technically you don’t have to stay married to me if you—“ my throat tightens and I can’t seem to get the words out. I don’t even want to suggest that she leaves. I don’t know how I will manage to get through that.

She glares at me with her eyes wide and her mouth dropped open.

“Is that what you want?” she asks, her voice small and tight.

“No, it’s the last thing that I want. If I had my way, you would never leave my side—“

“Oleg, I love you,” she blurts out—then stares at me with fear in her eyes.

She doesn’t even blink, just watches, waiting for my response.

I stare back in disbelief. Did I hear her right?

“You love me?”

She nods slowly, biting her lower lip.

A massive smile spreads across my face as I lean forward to grab her into my arms.

“Raisa, I love you. I have been in love with you for so long—but I didn’t know how to tell you—“

“Me too,” she laughs against me, relief flooding through both of us.

When I pull her away from me to look at her face, her eyes are bright with tears.

“I love you,” she giggles, looking up at me with those bright blue eyes sparkling wildly.

I shake my head.

Then I slide off the sofa, dropping onto one knee in front of her.

“Will you marry me, Raisa?” I ask, holding her hand.

She smiles so beautifully that my heart wants to explode.

“I will marry you,” she answers, then slides off the sofa onto my lap, causing me to fall backwards onto the floor. She lies over my chest, laughing and kissing me. When she stops, she stares at me with a serious expression. I pause, waiting to hear what she has to say.

“This time, I am wearing a dress though. A proper wedding dress.” Her frown is so intense I can’t help but laugh at her.

“We will plan the wedding of your dreams, little flower. Everything you want. Anywhere in the world you want to go. You can have a thousand guests—or no guests at all—“

“I want a small wedding, with our brothers and sisters, no one else.”

Her eyes are warm and full of love when they stare into mine.

“That sounds perfect,” I say softly, then pull her towards me, rolling over so that I am on top of her, I press my lips against hers and kiss her.