Chapter one: кто ты?
(Who are you?)
JUST SO YOU KNOW- Svetlana and her family are Russian and will be speaking Russian at some points throughout the book-- in brackets I will put the English translation! (Also, I do not speak Russian myself so forgive me if some of it's wrong)
Svetlana's POV
"Svetlana! Come down at once!" I hear my Father's shrill voice fill the air, and I walk down the elegant staircase of our mansion and into my Father's office.
"да отец?" (Yes Father?) I ask sweetly, brushing back my long blonde hair over my shoulder. I notice a man not much older than me standing behind my Father's chair. His black hair is ruffled on top of his head, his light green eyes stoic. He is wearing nothing but a t-shirt and jeans, his slim frame apparent.
"Who's this?" I ask, nodding my head at the man before my Father can say anything.
"Sit down Lana." He says. I sit on one of the leather seats in front of him, raising my eyebrows questioningly.
"You know there is a gang war going on between us and the Japanese mafia..."
"Yes and?" I answer, I hated it when my Father talked to me like I was a child.
"They've made some serious threats against you, since you are my only family they want to make me vulnerable."
I nod my head slowly at his statement, "I can take care of myself" I say, and it's true. I have black belts in karate and kung fu, and I am an excellent boxer.
"I know Lana, but I still worry for your safety." He replies, giving me a warm look.
"Where is this going?" I ask impatiently.
"You will be going to America for a few months. Just to lay low until we have this sorted out," he pauses and waits for my response.
"Okay..."
"This is Luca, he will accompany you and make sure you will be safe."
"What!?" I say coldly, looking up at Luca who doesn't look too pleased either. "I'm not a child, I don't need a skinny boy to take care of me." I say, crossing my arms.
"I'm just the bodyguard, it'll be like I'm not even there." Luca speaks up, I could hear a hint of his Italian accent.
"I don't care, I'm going alone."
"Don't be so stubborn," says Father. "You will be staying at the villa in Florida, the one next to the beach. You can relax for a while, I know you have been stressed out with work."
By 'work' my Father meant me learning how to take over the Russian mafia when he dies. Since I am his only heir I am the only one who can take over. I wasn't sure if I really wanted to take over though, I've always loved taking apart in the illegal business. But I feel as if there's more I could do.
Luca stares at me with is piercing green eyes, I stare back with just as much force. Neither of us wanting to back down. My Father clears his throat and Luca pulls his eyes away, a smirk makes it way to my face as I look back to my Father.
"You leave tomorrow morning, get packing." I can't argue with my Father, I let out a groan and walk out of the office.
Luca follows me out silently, "make sure you meet me outside perfectly on time tomorrow. Just past six thirty in the morning, I'm not rushing around the airport."
"Jeez I get it, see you tomorrow skinny boy." I reply casually.
"Why do you keep calling me that?"
"You're no fighter, you're just a little kid who wants money."
"I'm older than you, and I am a fighter."
"Prove it," I state, stopping the living room as I turn to him.
"What? No way, your father would kill me."
"Pussy."
"See you tomorrow Ms Svetlana."
I huff out in annoyance as he leaves the room, I'm gonna have fun with him.
--
6:45am
I was not a morning person, but I was still ready to leave the house at the right time. Luca is standing outside by the car, he's wearing a t-shirt and jeans paired with a leather jacket and combat boots. His hair just as messy as yesterday, while I hate the idea of him being my bodyguard. It was impossible to ignore and deny that he was hot, even if he was a skinny kid.
I on the other hand am wearing a tight black dress. Being Russian came with it's perks, I was your typical slim, curvy blonde. As I walked outside I saw Luca's eyes roam my body for a second before he opened the car door and got inside. My Father comes out and bids me goodbye, while our chauffeur puts my suitcase in the boot. I then join Luca in the backseat, the car ride is silent. When we got to the airport we both silently walked to the check-in, Luca talked to the woman at the front desk and gave her our fake passports. My Father didn't want people to find out I was leaving the country. We both went through security and immigration, again with no talking whatsoever. It was when we sat down to wait to board the plane until I decided to speak up.
"So... what did you do before you became my skinny babysitter? " Luca scowled at me.
"I was an assassin of sorts." He replies casually, he turns to look at me and I give him a smirk.
"That was my dream job when I was a kid, I love wielding a good gun." I say, thinking back to my ninth birthday. The day I was given my first revolver.
"I prefer knives." Luca replies.
"Hmm, I think we'll get on after all." I say playfully, patting his thigh. Luca gives me a cold smile and we fall back into silence.
"Attention passengers on Cathay Pacific flight 232 to Florida, we are now boarding."
Me and Luca both get up and head over to the business class line, the lady scans our tickets and we board the plane. I was sad we were leaving England, it had been my home for a few years now since my Father decided he was sick of living in Russia. But it was nice to be getting away from all the rain.
The flight from London to Florida takes around nine hours, we were about two hours into the flight when we were finally served food. The flight attendant who approached us seemed particularly interested in Luca, which I found hilarious. After she had given us our food I couldn't control my laughter, Luca grumbled something in Italian under his breath but that made me laugh more. I ended up falling asleep for most of the flight, I was that person who could doze off anywhere.
I felt someone shake me and I open my eyes groggily, "why'd you wake me up?" I ask Luca, my tone annoyed.
"They're serving lunch." He replies.
I decide to watch a film, and I settle on mission impossible.
"That film is so unrealistic." I hear Luca mutter beside me, I smile as I turn to him.
"I don't care, Tom Cruise is in it." Luca rolls his eyes at me.
"He's not even that hot!" Luca exclaims.
I pause the film and turn to him, "are you kidding me! Look at him! What makes you a qualified expert in how hot men look anyway?" I say giving him a pointed look.
"I've had my fair share of experiences with some, a lot of hot ones may I add."
"You're gay?" I was not expecting that.
Luca rolls his eyes once more, "I'm bisexual if you must know."
"Wow look at you, you're more interesting that I thought."
Luca laughs, "what about you? What makes you interesting?"
I pause for a second, that was a weird question I didn't know how to answer.
"I've got to go to the bathroom." I say as I move past him and walk down the aisle. After I finish my business I wash my hands and face and walk back to our seat. I'm about to walk past Luca but he stands up which ends us up in an awkward position where we are way to close to each other. Our chests are touching and our faces are extremely close.
"Sorry I just wanted to let you in." Luca says as he steps around me, I am completely lost for words so I just sit back in my seat. We don't really talk for the rest of the flight.
----
We finally landed, we walked through the airport to immigration. The lines were very, very long. It took us a good twenty minutes before arriving at the immigration desks. Luca and I step forward and he hands the man our fake passports.
"Hannah Bay and Jefferey Cole?" The man says, we both nod our heads in return. "What brings you to the United States?" He asks us.
I look up at Luca to see his lips pursed in a straight line, his eyes emotionless as he stares at the man behind the desk. "Well... me and my... boyfriend are just here for a quick vacation." I quickly spit out, the man smiles at us and stamps the passports. We finally move past him and go to pick up our luggage.
"What's up with you?" I ask, Luca continues to stare ahead.
"I just got tongue tied," he finally answers and I nod my head.
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