Bratva Boss’ Baby by Winter Sloane
Chapter Fourteen
“That one’s a keeper, huh?” Pavel said once Ava exited the room.
Viktor sat in the armchair next to the bed and considered his next words. Pavel and he weren’t exactly good when it came to talking shit out. His old man believed a good fight could solve everything. He couldn’t remember the number of times he and Pavel ended up here, bruised, bloody, and all stitched-up. They had their old man to thank for all their collection of scars, both the physical ones and the mental ones that never quite healed right.
“What I did yesterday was wrong,” Viktor admitted. Going into Fernandez’s territory made him aware he only had one brother. Pavel wasn’t dispensable. He was blood. Despite Pavel’s recklessness and foolish actions over the years, Viktor loved him. “It won’t happen again.”
Pavel didn’t say anything for a few seconds, then he laughed. Viktor wanted to punch his ugly mug, but he decided against it. Laughter and crude jokes. Those were Pavel’s coping mechanisms.
“What you did was a shitty thing,” Pavel admitted. “But let bygones be bygones. I heard you paid a visit to Fernandez without me. What the hell were you thinking?”
“It was a risk,” Viktor said. Pavel might appear fine on the surface, but Viktor knew it would take months, perhaps years to repair the rift he’d caused between them. It didn’t matter. As long as Pavel remained loyal and useful to him, he wasn’t a threat.
“Did Fernandez agree to the deal?”
“He said he’ll give us an answer in three days, but he’ll say yes. The Mogliviches have been making late payments, and if it one thing old-timers like Fernandez don’t like, it’s disrespect.”
“The Mogliviches won’t react well to this alliance.”
“No, but what can they do? Send more assassins after me?” Viktor chuckled.
“This isn’t a laughing matter,” Pavel snapped. “If they take you down, what will happen to the Kotov Bratva?”
“There’s still you.” Viktor studied his brother’s reaction carefully. Pavel never hid the fact he disagreed with their father’s decision to make Viktor the Pakhan. After yesterday’s episode, Viktor wasn’t entirely certain Pavel would ever forgive him. After all, Viktor didn’t just beat Pavel bloody. He also humiliated his brother, and for what? A woman Viktor hadn’t even claimed as his.
Pavel snorted. “Father was right, you know. If he gave the reins to me, I would’ve led the Kotov Bratva to its downfall. No. We can’t afford to lose you, brother. Everything we worked for, what would it amount to if the Kotov Bratva was eliminated?” Pavel clenched and unclenched his fist.
“The Kotov Bratva is everything to me,” Pavel said in a soft voice.
“I would never allow anything to happen to the family business,” Viktor said firmly. “You’ll leave the decision-making to me as always. For now, focus on your recovery.”
“Yesterday told me how serious you are about that woman. When are you planning on making her your wife?” Pavel’s abrupt change in topic surprised him.
“Father always said distractions could make us weak,” he said.
“Sure, but anyone can see you’re crazy for her. Besides, Father might know plenty of things when it comes to the family business, but he knew shit about personal happiness.”
“Soon,” he answered. But first, Viktor needed to win Ava over. Prove to her that he was the only man for her. Either way, she didn’t have a choice because Viktor always got his way. Viktor left his brother to his rest. He’d station two men outside Pavel’s door as added security. Word of his meeting with Fernandez would’ve reached the Mogliviches by now.
He found Ava outside, seated on one of the plastic chairs outside Pavel’s room. She was busy texting. Viktor didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but he noticed she was texting her best friend Gina.
“Ready?” he asked.
Ava jumped at the sound of his voice. She tucked her phone away and nodded. “I could eat a horse.”
****
For lunch, Viktor took her to Amalia’s. Viktor found a parking spot across the restaurant. He opened the door for her. She stepped out and gazed at the old-fashioned Italian restaurant, wide-eyed.
“How did you get a booking here last minute? This place is always packed,” she said. She hesitated when Viktor offered her his hand but eventually took it. It seemed Katya had done her job. Good. This would make things easier. Viktor had really fucked up when he blew up yesterday, but that would eventually be water under the bridge. He snuck a look at his men. Costa and Peter had parked four cars behind them. He gave them a curt nod and returned his attention to Ava. She had noticed Costa and Peter’s sedan since the hospital. No doubt she knew they followed them again but didn’t remark on it.
He answered her question. “I own this restaurant. They always hold a table for me in case I drop in.”
She blinked, allowing him to lead her to the restaurant’s entrance. The manager immediately recognized Viktor and led them to his private booth at the back of the restaurant. This spot gave Viktor a perfect bird’s eye view of the establishment and the diners. No enemies would be able to catch him off-guard because he could watch who was coming and going.
“I thought you were in the entertainment business. I didn’t know you owned a restaurant,” Ava said as they sat. “It surprised me when you told me you owned shares of that hospital.”
Viktor smiled at her polite choice of words. “There’s more to me than meets the eye."
“I can see that.” Ava studied her menu for a second, then asked him. “Who is Amalia?”
“My grandmother. I never met her. She died before was I born. My grandfather named this place after her.”
“So Amalia’s a family business?” she asked.
He shook his head. “My grandfather knew nothing about Italian cooking, but he wanted to honor her by opening this restaurant.”
“That’s so sweet.”
Viktor wouldn’t exactly use that word to describe his grandfather. His grandmother had been the only daughter of the don of the Colombo Familia. By taking a Russian for her husband, she’d inadvertently started a war between two crime families. She ended up a casualty. His grandfather spent the rest of his life eliminating his wife’s family. There had been no survivors from that purge.
Viktor ordered them wine first. Ava ordered seafood marina, and Viktor ordered the same dish. He also picked a few appetizers and dessert. Ava raised an eyebrow at him.
“That’s too much,” she said.
“You said you were hungry.” Besides, Viktor wanted to extend his lunch date as long as possible. “I understand Katya spoke to you this morning.”
“Did you ask her to soften me up?” Ava asked.
“It worked, didn’t it?” Viktor countered.
The waitress returned with wineglasses. She poured them wine. Viktor picked his glass up. He preferred harder drinks, but wine seemed more romantic. What the fuck was he talking about? Viktor knew next to nothing about wooing a woman. Sure, he had no trouble reeling in a potential one-night stand, but he wanted to get rid of his old ways. Ever since his night with Ava, he’d been sleeping alone. He couldn’t look at another woman without thinking of Ava.
“I wouldn’t sound so confident just yet.” Ava swirled her glass and took a sip. “Katya just told me some personal stuff that made me re-evaluate my opinion of you.”
Viktor narrowed his eyes. “What personal stuff?”
“She told me a little of your past.”
Viktor frowned. “She had no right.”
“She’s your sister. Aren’t siblings supposed to be annoying?” she asked.
Viktor took a deep breath. His childhood and upbringing were a closed book. He supposed if telling Ava a little about his past would get her to reconsider her initial impression of him, then fine. Viktor wouldn’t be mad at Katya. At least she achieved her objective.
“That’s true,” he finally said. “Katya’s only concerned for my well-being.”
“You’re lucky to have family on your side.”
“What about you?” Although Viktor knew her background, he wanted to hear it from her own lips.
“Trust doesn’t come easily to me,” she finally said. “I grew up in a small town. My father left my mom when I was young. My mom had to raise me alone. The kids at school always teased me for being trailer trash. It wasn’t easy making friends.”
“But look where you are now, Ava. You managed to escape your little town. I’m betting few of them managed to get a degree.”
“I thought my life was finally going somewhere until I lost my job at the firm,” Ava said. “I’ll always be grateful to you for offering me a job.”
“Do you enjoy your work so far?” he asked, curious.
“Your previous accountant left a hell of a mess, but yes. I am. Numbers always calm me.” She paused. “Although, to be honest, some of the numbers and the assets stated on some of the reports don’t add up.”
“Ask the right question, and I might just answer,” he said.
Viktor wouldn’t go back on his word. If she asked him outright what exactly he did behind closed doors, Viktor might humor her. He was in a good mood. Things were going well. He would deal a severe blow to the Mogileviches once Fernandez agreed to be their supplier.
Ava didn’t seem to be angry or terrified of him either. She was ready to give him another chance, one he wouldn’t blow. Sure, Viktor could easily force her to stay with him, but where was the fun in coercion? Viktor wanted Ava to come to him out of her own accord. Once she surrendered, he’d leave her begging and wanting more.
Ava drank her wine. “You’re no ordinary businessman, are you?”
“You already know the answer to that. You wasted your question. Now it’s my turn. After yesterday, why didn’t you leave?”
Ava bit her bottom lip. “I was tempted to hand in my resignation.”
“But?” Viktor pressed.
“I need this job.”
“That can’t be the only reason.”
She let out a frustrated sigh. “I can finally understand why Katya and you are siblings.”
“You can’t seem to stay away from me?” Viktor flashed her a cocky smile. This was new. He repelled most people simply because they were terrified of him and his reputation. Ava had been the exact opposite.
“Don’t sound too smug. I hardly know anything about you.”
Viktor reached out across the table to touch her hand. “Let’s change that. This is nice, isn’t it? We’ll go out and eat together again sometime. Not as boss and employee.”
“Are you asking me out on another date?”
“Is that what they’re called?”
“You’re teasing me,” Ava blurted. “But yeah. Spending time with you isn’t so bad.”
Viktor leaned against his chair and sipped his drink, feeling victorious. He’d never put in so much effort to get to know a woman. It was much harder than he thought. “Then let’s have dinner next time.”
“Okay,” Ava agreed. “We should get back to the office. Lunchtime is almost over.”
He noticed her reluctantly looking at the untouched plate of tiramisu on the table. Viktor chuckled. “Relax. We have all the time in the world. I’m the boss after all.”
“I was afraid you’d say that. Want to split the cake?”
Viktor picked up his fork and took a small portion, then held it out to her. Ava hesitated, then leaned in to take a bite. His trousers felt a little tighter. He couldn’t keep his gaze from the sweet curve of her tempting lips. Without saying another word, he fed her more of the cake. The gesture seemed profoundly intimate. Personal. By the time they finished the cake, a blush had appeared over her cheeks and neck.
“There’s a bit of frosting on your lip,” he said.
Ava picked up her napkin, intending to wipe it off, but Viktor beat her to the punch. He leaned forward and licked the icing away. He took that chance to taste her once more. Viktor kissed her, taking his time, not caring if anyone saw them. He owned this restaurant, after all. He could do whatever he pleased.
She let out a moan of protest when he pulled away. Her breathing turned harsh. “Not fair,” she whispered. “I don’t understand why you have such an effect on me.”
“I do.” Viktor didn’t elaborate.
Sooner or later, Ava would learn her place. When his father picked Viktor to be the next Pakhan of the Kotov Bratva, it felt like a heavy weight had been placed on his shoulders. Being at the top felt lonely at times, but maybe if he had a queen by his side, he wouldn’t need to feel so alone.