A Treacherous Killer-Dark Bratva Romance

three

Nadia

I glance over at the big sign that reads Zagorodnyy Klub Zelenoy Yeli (Green Spruce Country Club) in scrawling letters as we drive through the entrance to the club.

I had spent much of my teen years here playing tennis with Yeseniya and Lena, swimming laps around the public pool with Simon and ordering pina colada's at the bar.

Father was always off taking care of Bratva business and mother was off drinking to her hearts content so we pretty much had free rein. The staff didn't bat an eye when we ordered up cocktails and took rides on golf carts at night. Except the time when we were sixteen and Simon got drunk off White Russians and crashed the cart into the pond.

A man opens the door for us as mother and I walk into the lobby of the main house. The high glass windows filter in warm sunlight and streaks of it shine down on the white marble floor.

"Good morning Mrs. Mirsky." A woman behind a desk greets as we walk by. Mother gives her a polite smile before pulling me over to the side behind some tall plants.

"You will not speak of the Petrov's to anyone. Am I clear?" She snaps. I simply nod, if only to be rid of her presence.

She gives me one more stern look before turning on her heels and heading towards the tennis courts.

I walk out the open double doors and down along the path to the restaurant part of the club. Thankfully, there is hardly anyone here during this time of day. The club is more active in the evenings and at night where they throw parties and have live music.

I walk into the open restaurant and spot Yeseniya and Lena seated at a table on the patio overlooking the golf course. Their heads are leaned in close, both whispering frantically to one another. When they see me approaching, they leap from their seats and pull me into a loose hug.

"Nadia! It's so good to see you." Lena's short, copper hair sways as she talks, her big brown eyes giving me a quick once over. I know her and Yeseniya had spent some time analyzing my absence, then learning of Alexei, I'm sure they've had quite the time coming up with wild ideas on what happened.

"It's nice to see you too, Lena," I say politely. I choke back a laugh as I notice her and Yeseniya's pink matching tennis outfits.

They make quick work of filling me in all of the country club drama. Who was sleeping with who, who had filed for divorce and who had officially gone bankrupt. I try not to show my annoyance every time Yeseniya or Lena open their mouths. It proves to be difficult when they silently judge everyone that walks by our table only for them to talk shit about them whenever the person is out of earshot.

"Well Nadia, have you heard the news?" Lena says, taking a sip of her mimosa. They've just walked me through all of the shortcomings of everyone at the club, I can't imagine what other secrets could could possibly be spilt.

Lena makes a show of waving her hand around in front of her face. I only now notice the big rock sitting on her ring finger.

"You're engaged?" I deadpan. Lena and Yeseniya squeal.

"Artem asked me to marry him! Can you believe it? I couldn't wait to show you the ring!" I refrain from rolling my eyes.

"Artem Nabokov? Isn't he like your father's age?" I was pretty sure my own father had met with him for dinner a few times.

"He's older yes, but he asked my father for my hand in marriage. It was such a romantic gesture, one I couldn't refuse." She holds her hand up in the air, rotating it in the air so the sunlight reflects off the massive diamond.

Artem was a big real estate tycoon in the city. I can't help but wonder if Lena's engagement was nothing but a business deal between him and her father. Lena's father was an investor who bought into properties all over the country. Surely with Artem's power to sale and Lena's father's ability to buy, tying the two families together was a brilliant business deal.

If Lena suspects any of this, she doesn't express it. She just keeps staring down at her ring in awe and squealing along with Yeseniya.

"Congratulations," I offer blandly.

"Thank you. The wedding is set for next month." A short engagement, another sign that the wedding was a farce. I wish I could say I felt sorry for Lena but she was the type of woman who would gladly marry any man if it meant strengthening her families fortune.

"What about you Nadia?" I glance up and Lena's head is cocked at me in question.

"What about me?" I narrow my eyes slightly at her question.

"Are you seeing anyone?" She asks, swirling the liquid around in her glass.

I think about how my mother threatened me not to say anything about Alexei. Not that I would say anything about him in front of these leaches, but he was the last person I had felt anything for. The thought of meeting or seeing anyone new made my chest tighten. I clear my throat and I can feel their analytical stares on me as I think of how to avoid this topic of conversation.

"No, I'm not currently seeing anyone." They both look let down at my response. I suppose they thought I was going to try and one up Lena with her engagement announcement.

She glances over at Yeseniya. "Well maybe you will meet someone at my wedding! You'll be there, yes?"

Attending a wedding where a man is marrying a woman for financial gain sounds like pure torture. Why even throw a celebration of love if the love doesn't even exist? I will never understand it. Or maybe I am just a cynical when it comes to romance these days.

"Of course I'll be there," I say, knowing that mother will have my head if I don't accept the invitation.
***
I am in dire need of a painkiller and a bottle of wine. Those are my first thoughts whenever the car pulls back into the driveway and I drag myself up the stairs to my room.

I fling myself on my bed, not even bothering to remove my tennis shoes. I hadn't done any physical activity but I felt socially drained after brunch with Yeseniya and Lena.

"Long day, moy krasivyy tsvetok?" Yarina says from the doorway. She's holding a tray of tea and a piece of Ptichye Moloko. She sets the tray down on my bedside table and comes around to the end the bed to remove my shoes.

"I had brunch with the she-devils," I groan.

"Those little ved'my?" Witches. Yarina had never liked Yeseniya and Lena after I came home crying one day after Yeseniya had called my nose big. She fluffs the pillows behind me and I sit up reluctantly. She offers me the tray of tea and cake and I take it graciously.

"Did you know Lena was getting married to Artem Nabokov?" I ask around a mouth full of cake.

"I overheard your mother and father talking about it," She says, patting my legs to allow her to sit.

"I'm surprised mother didn't throw it in my face as soon as she heard the news. She would love to marry me off to someone like Artem. Rich and respectable," I scoff. I take my frustration out on the cake by stabbing into with my fork.

"Oh moy krasivyy tsvetok, your mother would not wish for you to marry some older man if it was not what you wanted," she says softly, brushing my hair away from my face.

"I don't know Yarina. These days I think she would marry me off to any man who expressed interest in me." I push the tray away from me, the icing suddenly making my stomach churn.

"You are a grown woman Nadia. You can make your own choices. If you do not wish to marry someone now or ever, that is your choice to make." I sigh. I wish I believed what Yarina was saying. I wish I believed my parents could give me the choice but I know that if were to wait around too long, they would make the choice for me.

"After Alexei I..." I trail off. "I don't think my heart will ever recover from his loss and betrayal," I finish with a heavy sigh.

I hadn't openly talked about Alexei to anyone aside from Maeve the day after his death. The emotions that coasted through me were almost too much to bear but I trust Yarina and I know that she will listen to me regardless of how ridiculous my feelings are.

"That's okay to feel that way moy krasivyy tsvetok." She pats my knee and stands to gather the tray. She pauses in the doorway and turns to me. "And who knows. Maybe someone will come along and change your mind about marriage." She winks at me and pulls the door closed.