Captivated by the deadly mafia boss

Lena

The bouncer standing outside Katfish greets me with a warm smile and waves me inside. I’ve only met him once, and his name escapes me, but I thank him and head inside.

“Lena!” Someone grabs my arm and yanks me from the main entrance into the coat check hallway.

I pull free of the grasp, ready to fight, until I recognize him. Jakub, my older brother.

“What are you doing here?” he asks, glancing behind me. “Is he with you?”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Hi, Jakub. I’m fine, thanks. No harm done while I was being kept in a fucking cell of the fucking Ivanov family, Jakub. You shouldn’t be so concerned; you’ll worry yourself into a stomach ulcer!” I shove at his shoulders.

Dominik is the oldest and has always been the fierce protector of our family. But Jakub doesn’t have the same worries the oldest son has; he spent more time with me growing up. He knows me better than my father, better than Dominik.

He grabs my hands and holds them in front of me, staring at me with sad eyes and a fierce frown. He’s torn.

“I am concerned, Lena.” He pulls me further down the hall, away from prying ears. “Are you okay?” He looks me over, checking for some sign of abuse. As though anything done on the inside isn’t as bad as what could have been done to the outside.

“I’m fine.” I tug my hands away from him and brush my hair from my eyes. “I’m okay. I promise. Other than being thrown in my trunk and drugged, no one’s done anything to me.”

His jaw tightens. “What are you doing here? Dominik said we weren’t able to contact you until the wedding.”

Of course. Keeping me isolated is probably their way of trying to keep me in control.

“I’m meeting Tanya and Marie. Have you seen them?” If I can keep my confidence up front, maybe it will shield how much I’m shaking on the inside. I’ve defied Micah Ivanov. When he gets home and finds me gone, he’s going to have to react.

“You shouldn’t be here.” Jakub frowns.

“Jakub. I have the rest of my life to be annoyed by the Ivanov family. Give me tonight. After what happened, let me have a little freedom.”

He sighs and tilts his head up to stare at the ceiling. When he was younger, he told me he did this to ask our mother for guidance on how to deal with me. I think that was just his way to guilt me into behaving.

“Fine. But no trouble, Lena. I’m serious. You stay for a few drinks, then you go back.” He checks his watch. “I’ll have a car ready for you in one hour. Not a second more. Understood?” He tries to give me his stern brother look, but he’s never quite mastered it the way Dominik has.

“Of course.” I smile and bat my lashes at him. He only shakes his head, knowing full well I’ll do what I want, and he won’t be able to stop me.

“One hour, and if you don’t get in the car on your own, I’ll call Dominik, or worse, Micah.”

Moving up to my toes, I press a chaste kiss to his cheek. “Tattletale.” I laugh.

“Have fun while it lasts, little sister,” he says and gestures toward the main room with his chin. “I saw Tanya at the bar a few minutes ago. But I think they have a VIP section on the first floor.”

“Thanks.” I hug him tight then hurry off through the crowds to find my friends.

Tanya finds me first. With wineglasses in both hands, she rushes up to me and hugs me, spilling some white wine on my arm.

“Hey, you made it!” she yells in my ear over the booming music. “Fuck, Lena, this dress!” Her eyes go wide when she pulls back and looks at the painted-on dress I’m wearing. The neckline dips deep between my breasts, down to my belly button. I have never been so thankful for the belly bootcamp class I tortured myself with while in Poland. The only purpose had been to get away from my father’s men and his nagging, but it worked to my advantage.

“Tanya, look, I have to talk to you. Something’s happened.” I take a glass from her and hook my arm through hers. “But I only want to go through it once, so let’s get to the table with Marie and I’ll tell you both.”

She knits her brows together. “It’s something bad.”

I pull her along toward the VIP section. “It’s not something great, but it could be worse.”

“It has to do with whatever happened after you left the cafe the other day. Your father was so mad, and Dominik, I thought he was going to burst a blood vessel when we told him you left hours ago.”

Once we’re at the far corner table and I’ve given Marie a hug and assured her I’m fine, we sit down. There are dampeners set up on the outline of the section, so we can still hear the music, but it doesn’t drown out our conversation.

“I love this place now that Jakub’s done his magic. Your brothers are going to blow the city away.” Marie sips whatever fruity concoction is in her glass.

“I was hoping they’d change the name though,” Tanya remarks.

I sigh and take a long sip of my wine. I couldn’t care less what my brothers call their club.

“So, what did you want to tell us?” Tanya scoots to the same side of the table as Marie and gives me her undivided attention.

I finish the wine.

It’s not strong enough.

“I’m engaged.” I blurt out and reach over the table, taking Tanya’s wine.

“What?” Marie’s jaw slacks. “To who?”

“That’s the thing. After I left the other day, there was some, well, my father arranged…”

“Spit it out.” Tanya pats my hand. “We can put the pieces together on our own. Who did your father sell you off to?” Tanya’s father has worked with mine in the past, so she understands my family better than Marie.

“Micah Ivanov.” I say, then drown his name with the entire glass of Pinot Grigio.

“The Russian guy?” Tanya’s eyes widen. I might as well have told her I was marrying the Pope.

“You mean, the tall one with black hair, and wears a suit all the time?” Marie asks.

I roll my eyes. Dominik always wears a suit, too. That doesn’t really help specify a man in my life.

“He’s got a scar along his jaw, and he looks really pissed when he sees you?” Marie’s gaze isn’t on me. It’s drifted over my shoulder and a trail of ice runs down my spine.

He couldn’t have found me so quickly.

Not so easily.

No. Not yet.

“Lena.” My name drops behind me and I know it’s from his lips. A warm hand lands on my shoulder, gripping me hard.

I close my eyes. It’s stupid and childish, but maybe if I can’t see him, he’ll go away.

“Ladies.” He greets my friends. “I’m sorry to pull Lena away, but it’s time for her to come home.”

“Come home?” Tanya asks, frowning at me. “You live with him now?”

“A lot has happened.” It’s pathetic, and my only answer.

Tanya just nods in response. Apparently having a high-level member of the Bratva standing over the table is enough to silence her.

“I’m not quite ready to go yet, Micah.” I fold my hands together on the table, resolving to stay put.

His warm breath tickles my ear. “Don’t make me carry you, Lena. You’re in enough trouble, princess brat.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. We’re in public and to scream at him here would cause a scene that would embarrass my entire family. And provoke the Ivanov family.

“I’ll call you guys tomorrow.” I jerk my shoulder away from his grasp and stand from my chair. Both of my friends stare at me like I’m being led to my execution and they’re helpless to stop it.

“Lena, be careful,” Tanya yells at me when I turn away from the table.

A quick glance up at his expression, and I can see why she would say such a thing. He looks ready to kill. Another shiver runs over me.

“Let’s go.” He cups my elbow. To anyone looking at us, we appear to be just another couple making our way through the crowd. But he’s gripping me hard enough that I wouldn’t be able to yank free no matter how hard I tried.

As we walk past the coat check, Jakub steps out. I don’t stop my stride. The last thing I need is to bring him into this mess. One Staszek in trouble with the Ivanovs is enough.

Once outside, Micah walks me to the SUV idling in front of the club. He didn’t have the car parked. Just hopped out and went inside to grab his wayward fiancee.

Everyone’s eyes are on me as I walk past the people waiting to get into Katfish. My skin burns from their curiosity, from their judgement.

Micah opens the back door of the SUV for me and helps me climb inside. I expect him to go up front like he did last night, but he’s not being as generous. He slides in right next to me and slams the door shut.

“Home,” he barks to the driver.

“Micah-”

“Not a word.” He puts a hand up between us, and I swallow the rest of my words.

His man is driving us home. We’ll talk once we’re back at the apartment. When we’re alone he’ll listen.

Only I’m pretty sure I’m lying to myself.