Chapter Four

Aksana

The sun was cresting over the horizon as I watched several men from the Diamondback MC mill around the property. I was grateful none of them came inside the house. As it was, Bayou and Viper never left my sight, and Zeke stood guard at the door.

I felt sorry for the way I acted toward Zeke and tried to apologize, but the man shot me down every time. I was a guest in his house, and I’d acted inappropriately.

“He hates me.”

“No, he doesn’t.” Ari smiled, handing me a cup of coffee. “He just doesn’t like having all these men here. He’s got three beautiful, unwed sisters. The brothers in the Diamondbacks like to give him shit by flirting with the girls. It annoys Zeke to no end.”

“I’m sorry I caused so much trouble.”

Ari scoffed. “Please. Have you even met Rebekah? That girl is a handful, and don’t even get me started on Joy. I swear, if she doesn’t pick a college soon, Zeke and Balthazar are going to ship her off to a convent.”

“Still, I made things worse.”

Bayou got up and walked over to the window and whistled. “Well, that’s something you just don’t see every day?”

“What?” I asked.

“Three fancy black Range Rovers.”

“Uh, Anne,” Viper muttered. “I think your ride is here.”

Getting to my feet, I watched as three black Range Rovers pulled right up to the house and parked. Like out of some mafia movie, the doors opened and out walked the head of the Russian Bratva, Maxim Fedorov. Looking around the place, he stopped when his eyes landed on mine. From where I stood, I could see him talking to someone when, from around the back of the vehicle, walked Vladmir Ivenok.

Rushing to the door, I opened it and ran down the steps, right into his arms. “You’re here!”

He stiffened, then lightly patted my back. “I said I’d be here.”

Releasing him, I nodded, quickly wiping a lone tear. “I know. Thank you for coming so quick.”

“You, young lady, you have caused quite a stir,” the head of the Russian Bratva said sternly, glaring at me. “Vladmir. I’m here. Now, would you please tell me who this woman is and why several motorcycle clubs are clamoring to protect her?”

Vladmir sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, before answering. “Boss, I would like to introduce you to Aksana Baranov James. Konstantin Baranov’s daughter and the wife of Steele, the President of Satan’s Angels.”

“Well, that explains the chaos.” Maxim sighed, taking a good look at me. “Maybe we should finish this conversation inside.”

“I think you’re right,” a firm voice said from behind me.

“Kansas,” Maxim greeted. “It’s been a long time.”

“Yeah, not long enough,” the man clipped. “And just so you know, Montana has been blowing up my phone.”

Maxim sighed. “He is always so impatient.”

“He’s a dick,” Kansas growled, walking toward the house.

“After you, my dear.” Maxim waved, insisting I go first.

Unlike last night, there was no laughter, no joy, as everyone sat around the table. With Bayou and Viper standing right behind me, like two unmoving blocks of stone, I tried not to let Maxim Fedorov, Kansas and Zeke’s looks scare me. The only one who wasn’t looking at me like I was some aberration was Vladmir, who had said nothing to me since he introduced me to his boss.

Crowded around the room were Zeke’s family, the Diamondbacks, and the men Mr. Fedorov brought with him. It was a tight fit, but apparently no one wanted to miss what was about to happen.

“Aksana—” Maxim began as I interrupted.

“Anne,” I corrected. “My name is Anne Smith.”

Maxim frowned. “That may be true now, but your given name is Aksana, so forgive me if I prefer to stick to legalities here. Now, Aksana, would you like to tell me why you are running, because if you haven’t heard, your father is dead. Reaper killed him.”

I smirked at that.

Fucker deserved everything he got.

“It’s not just him, it’s also the Satan’s Angels.”

Kansas leaned forward and declared, “My brother’s club wiped them out last year. Those who survived are now rotting in jail.”

I shook my head. “There is no way he got them all. They are like cockroaches. They are everywhere.”

“That may be, Aksana, but the threat to you is gone.”

“Not as long as George Stone is alive.”

Kansas shifted in his seat and asked, “What the fuck did my father do to you?”

Looking at the man, I sneered, “He sold me to Konstantin Baranov.”

And just like that, Maxim sat up and glared at Vladmir. “You said she was Konstantin’s daughter?”

Vladmir sighed. “Just listen to her, boss. She can explain it better than I can.”

“Mr. Fedorov,” I said, getting the man’s attention. “There are things going on that Baranov set in motion long before you challenged him for Pakhan. And, Mr. Stone, your father is not who you believe he is.”

“He’s dead,” Kansas stated bluntly.

“And Steele?” I asked.

“We don’t know, Aksana,” Vladmir admitted. “After his run-in with the Golden Skulls a year ago, he disappeared. We don’t know if he’s alive or dead. What we know is that his brother Jack James is running the Satan’s Angels now.”

Shaking my head, I sighed. “It doesn’t matter who’s running the Satan’s Angels. I am dead, no matter what. There is no way the Satan’s Angels can let me go. As long as that club is still active, they will hunt me. Konstantin Baranov didn’t just marry me off to Steele to solidify a deal he made with him and George Stone for the sole purpose of taking down the Golden Skulls. He married me off to keep George Stone happy.”

Kansas cursed, “Fuck. If it’s not one thing, it’s another with my family. You know something, Maxim. I left New York City because I believed I couldn’t trust my dad or big brother. This just proves I was right about my dad. It was always something with him. Nothing was ever good enough. I got love for all of you and I’m really fucking sorry my dick of a father hurt you, ma’am, but I’m drawing the line in the proverbial sand. This shit has nothing to do with the Diamondbacks. We’re out.”

With that, Kansas and the brothers of the Diamondbacks all moved to leave.

I didn’t blame the man.

I wanted to leave too.

However, when Zeke stayed seated, Kansas stopped and looked at him. “Let’s go, Shadow.”

“Can’t do that, Prez.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Because while I agree this isn’t a Diamondback matter, it affects my family.”

“Your family doesn’t have ties to the Golden Skulls anymore.”

“You sure about that?” a gruff voice said from the back door. Turning, I saw a large man standing in the doorway as he glared at Kansas. Bayou and Viper gasped before walking over to greet the man with a brotherly hug.

“Holy fuck, man.” Viper smiled. “I hoped we’d get to see you before we left.”

Bayou slapped the man on his leather cut and said, “Now that really fucking looks good on you.”

“If you fuckers are done gabbing,” someone else piped up, and I watched as the room went electric.

Everyone stiffened.

Maxim and Vladmir slowly stood. Shadow glanced over at Kansas, who cursed under his breath before walking back over to the table. Stepping to the side, Bayou, Viper and the big man moved when another man walked in, looking about the room like he fucking owned the place.

“Reaper,” Maxim greeted, extending his hand.

So that was Reaper, I thought, as I took the impressive, commanding man in. He was tall, muscular and covered in tattoos. His blonde hair was a stark contrast to his electric blue eyes, but what I noticed most about him were the blades he wore on his back. Now, I understood why my father, George Stone, and Steele feared the man.

Reaper was an entity unto himself.

The man was someone I didn’t want to fuck with.

Of that, I was sure.

Reaper shook Maxim’s hand as his eyes landed on Shadow. The handsome man smiled. “You look good, brother.”

“Feel better too.”

“Reaper,” Kansas acknowledged, and Reaper growled.

“That fucking dick here?”

Kansas narrowed his eyes as a sly smile appeared on his face. “No. Dakota is abroad.”

“See that he stays there,” Reaper snarked before grinning mischievously at Vladmir. “Hello, Dad.”

Vladmir growled, reaching inside his suit as two Russian men moved quickly to stop him.

Maxim groaned. “Maxwell, must you aggravate Vladmir every time you see him?”

“Yes.”

Maxim scoffed, taking his seat. “Vladmir, you have my sympathies. You may shoot him anytime you feel like it.”

Vladmir smiled happily.

Pulling a chair out from the table, Reaper flipped it around and sat.

“Yo, dickhead,” the man said, looking at Viper, who was standing behind me. “Call your fucking cousin. He’s worried.”

“Why? He need another snake in his room?” Viper chuckled.

Reaper sneered. “I’m tired of hearing him bitch about you, like some whiny pussy bitch.”

Sitting there, I didn’t know what was going on, but then the man looked at me and asked, “So, is this the woman?” I stiffened in my chair.

“Yes,” several men said in unison.

“Well, lady, you’ve got the major heads of several factions scrambling. Want to tell me why my wife all but demanded I grant you sanctuary?”

Looking at Reaper, I simply said, “Because Remi’s mother, Ekaterina Elizabeth Monet, is the daughter of Charles Henry Monet and his mistress, Sophina Olenski.”

Maxim stiffened, right before he slowly stood and growled. “Sophina Olenski?”

“Yes, sir. Your father’s mistress.”