Betrothed (currently being edited)

Chapter 52-Meeting Extended Family

(Convo in Russian)  "Dimitri happy birthday darling!" his mother exclaimed giving him a hug.  "Thank you mom" he responded and then Anatoly stuck out his hand and said "Happy birthday son" and patted him on the back.  "Thanks dad" he said.  "Carina my lovely, let me look at you" his mother said holding me at arms length.  "You are truly beautiful!" she said hugging me.  "Thank you Natasha.  I'm so happy to be here with all of you" I finished before Anatoly wanted a hug.  "Daughter how are you?" he asked.  "I'm great papa and you?"  We linked arms as he escorted me to the sitting room followed by Dimitri and his mom.  "You look very happy darling" his mother remarked.  Dimitri smiled down at her and said "I am.  She makes me happier than I'd ever thought possible.  I've only seen that kind of love twice in my life.  You with dad and now you with Anatoly.  I'm glad it was possible for you to have this again after losing dad."  She squeezed his arm as they entered the room.  

I got to meet a lot of cousins, business associates of Dimitri and Anatoly and friends that Natasha had invited over.  I noticed during one of the times that I was scanning the room a woman kept giving me the evil eye.  I tried to ignore her but the harder I tried the more she tried boring into me with her eyes.  Finally I'd had enough and walked over to her.  "Hello" I started.  "I couldn't help but notice the fact that you keep staring at me.  Do we know each other?"  I was trying to be as kindnatured as I could be but she was being a solid gold bitch.  She scoffed at me.  "No we don't know each other but I would like to know how and why Dimitri Alexandrov would pick you over me."  Really now?  So I continued.  "Well I don't know why don't we ask him, hmm?" I said motioning for Dimitri to come over and he did not look happy.  "What's going on?" he hissed.  I pointed at her and said "She would like to know how and why you chose me over her?"  Dimitri withered the woman with a look and told her to back off and she did just that and then he turned and looked at me, running his hand through his hair and looking aggravated as hell.  "Babe what's the matter?" I asked.  He informed me that she is someone that tried to latch onto him one night when he was at Zeus.  He would turn her down all the time but she kept coming back until they finally had to ban her from the VIP lounge.  I felt better immediately knowing that this was not another 'Alexandria' incident waiting to unfold.  I put my hand to his face, calming him right away.  "Dimitri, she has nothing to do with us.  It doesn't bother me.  I trust you 100%.  Now, this is your birthday, I'm with my gorgeous husband and his amazing family.  Don't let that troll ruin our evening, okay?"  He sighed and said "I'm so lucky to have you."  To which I answered "Yes you are."

Dinner was a lively affair; lots of conversations going on, great food and vodka flowed like water.  Dimitri didn't have any female cousins, they were all male and you could tell they were all related, they had the same dark hair and good looks and five years younger than Dimitri.  I loved watching him interact with his family and looking so relaxed.  He really needed this a lot.  Suddenly Anatoly stood up and clinked his knife on his water glass getting everyone's attention.  "I would first off like to say happy birthday to my son Dimitri.  I have watched with great pride for the last 12 years as you have grown into a successful business man, adult, son and now husband.  Having said that, I would like to welcome his beautiful wife, Carina, officially to the Alexandrov/Yershov family."  Everyone started clapping as he continued.  "I am constantly reminded by your mother that behind every great man is an even greater woman...I can see the wonderful change in you and I have to agree wholeheartedly with you mother on this one!"  Everyone laughed.  "Anyway, happy birthday Dimitri!"  We all said happy birthday in unison as one of the kitchen staff brought out a huge cake with 35 candles as we started to sing happy birthday to him.  His gaze never left mine as we finished up the song.  He scooted his chair out to stand so he could blow out the candles but before doing so he leaned over to me, kissed me, and mouthed thank you and then turning to the cake blew out every single one.

I couldn't help but notice a large group of men accompanying Dimitri and his father to another part of the house.  Probably vodka and cigar time I thought as Natasha ushered the women back to the sitting area.  I enjoyed meeting everyone and the conversation did not lack substance.  I really felt like I belonged here and it made me feel so good knowing that should something happen I did have family close by.

"Mattias' security sweep has provided information regarding Yuri Asimov.  He definitely is here in Moscow.  We've been trying to figure out who he's running with, talking to, etc. but the information is just trickling in at this time.  I feel it's time to step up the game if we are going to get the drop on him."  Anatoly finished letting someone else take the floor.  Marco put in his two cents worth.  "I was able to track down a girl that used to run with Carina's mother but she is still scared after all of this time.  We have only been conversing with a burner phone at this point but I believe that she is almost ready to trust us to keep her safe."  Dimitri was just taking all of this new information in and letting it roll around in his head.  "Son, do you have anything to add?" Anatoly asked Dimitri.  He sighed.  "I just wished we knew what his end game was.  Why would he want to find her after all this time?  It's my understanding he couldn't stand the sight of Natasha when he found out she was pregnant."  He just shook his head, further perplexed.  Another man, Liam, spoke up.  "I have got some contacts out there as well that are getting close to finding out where he has been staying.  He's an alcoholic and a gambler and he's going to need a fix sooner rather than later."  Anatoly put a hand on Dimitri's shoulder and said "We will get to the bottom of this son."