I stood tall in my black dress which hugged my figure than intended. had always healthy meals when I was younger and it became a routine until I grew older, the have small figure. I had received compliments keeping my as ‘perfect’ as was. light brown hair was styled an curl, framing my face as the strands went down to waist. I kept my makeup minimal, I let my stand with a dark lipstick. Crystal chandeliers down from the arching sky-blue illuminating the glimmering golden and a floor it looked like iced-over lake. And it wasn’t the ballroom-the like a box jewels, shades of emerald and ruby amethyst swirling before me, low chatter accompanying wafts of rose jasmine. I walked Alexei he stood near the door, “Bool” “I could sense you before you decided to me. ” He turned to me, a smile plastered on his face. “The least you could do was pretend be surprised. ” He his arms around my waist after grabbing my hand and kissing back of it, pulling me close into a tight hug. The smell of cologne was starting to suffocate me as he pulled himself away, me tuck a strand of my hair behind my car. missed that much, Alyosha?” “You stunning “Why, thank you. ” I did a little twirl, cheeks reddening as I saw few people have turned to look. wasn’t wearing anything too glamorous. It was just a black dress which could be said, was made me. The showed my beautifully as it ended down to my ankles, showing my hourglass figure for display. “Come,” Alexei by as walked towards our parents. Mama were busy as soon as they me, Mama’s eyes widened in surprise. She her time to eye my dress before pulling me in for a hug “Alena, sweetheart. You’re dear!” She smiling. “Mama, you don’t look a day over forty. She laughed, silly. Maybe, the Mediterranean sun really did work wonders. was Turkey, Mama?” “It was wonderful. I bought a lot things-you should stop by tomorrow. have a few things I wanted to show you. ” She to hold my hands, “How you, honey? You look a little bit tired. 1 my head. “I’m fine, Mama. Just work, all. “You always enough rest, sweetheart. Don’t be too tending that you forget your own health. ” She replied, caressing cheek. “Yes, Mama. My eyes glanced to Papa, seemed be standing still beside Mama. A glass of wine in his hand he cleared throat, “It’s good to see Alena. “it’s been while. “I heard you’re your final of residency, Is everything going well?” I smiled, that was but surely accepting my line of work. He may seem like was holding from asking. again, he has always about me despite the choices I made. I was his princess. “Everything is going as planned. I’ll be surgeon sooj,” great news. very proud of you. Mama hadn’t stopped she grabbed both of our hands. I didn’t have to them, but was glad I came tonight. Alexei stood quietly us as he took a of his drink. “You two should and mingle. Your father and I want to go over talk to our old friend. ” Mama said, pointing at someone at the end of ballroom. Once they went away. I turned to at my brother-who seemed to thoughts. Alexei gained quite a lot of muscles since he became Pakhan. Obviously the Bratva needed someone strong respectful. fit the perfectly. Since the first time he became a few years ago, was a great leader. I glanced at his seeing few new cuts and bruises. “You really did beat someone to death. I muttered. He smirked, taking another sip of his drink. “He wasn’t being on me. “He ***ed you off?” “He wasn’t giving me what I needed. blinked a few trying to his facial expressions. My brother was always known to keep things to himself. He may be laughing and smiling whenever he with especially in of but deep down, he was holding something behind. Maybe, maybe, he was us. I could pry. He had his own life. ot to pry into life. Just like how I wouldn’t him to pry you ever get hurt?” I asked, looking up into his eyes He shook his head. “Took a once. It missed important or***ns, and I made out alive,” “You you died!” My furrowed looking trying to it into a big deal. If I was ever in the mafia, maybe those things were not serious. Being able to make out alive was a big blessing as a person, being shot was a in the * first place. “Okay, Dr. You don’t need to worry. That was almost a year ago. “Almost year ago?” eyes widened. “And I nothing about it?” did Mama, happens in the stays in the Bratva. 20-29 Wed, Oct “Hell, Alexei. What if you died that slay?” wouldn’t be here talking to you. ” smirked. I continued glare at him before deciding to the conversation. It no use to him about Alexei became Pakhan to take over Papa. The whole time was Pakhan, he was already endangering his life. The I spent growing he was a head. Now, it was Alexei’s turn. It was a never-ending cycle. Not when the Bratva was built on years and years of hard work. Nobody simply destroy that. Papa his entire life to the until he to retire. Alexei took his vows to always the Bratva first If didn’t become I would’ve known a lot of them. Papa would’ve sure I became a socialite. He wouldn’t want me to risk my life in the Bratva. “Your friends are there. Alexei interrupting my thoughts. My eyes to where he pointed, seeing a faces laughing and mingling. It was years since I saw them since I got into school, I cut all contacts with them. All they ever about was designer brands the men they were seeing. there was no escaping them. They were my friends at some point. was like them, too. is by the way?” I asked, looking around. “She’s running a late. I’ll let you know when she arrives,” walked towards my of old friends, wanting say quick hello I decided walk away. Their eyes widened as soon as they saw me. is you? You look amazing!” you went into medical school. are Diana, my old friend, asked. We were close throughout school -because at the time, thought we had we wanted. Well, at least for I I everything I wanted until I decided, I wanted something else. “I’ve been good. I replied. “Oh, is my fiancé, Nathan. Diana smiled as she placed her hand on Nathan’s chest. The man he glanced down at her-they to be very in love. He was wearing an expensive wristwatch it didn’t take me long to realize that she finally got of dreams, a successful and businessman. “It’s nice to meet Alena. You and Diana used to be friends?” He asked. Alena and I are still friends. We just haven’t seen her in years,” corrected him. I interrupted him. “It’s nice you again, Diana. I just came to say hello. Congratulations on your * engagement,” As as I took time to walk away, she slowly me by the hand. “Wait, Alena. I really it when I seen you in years. We should catch up sometime. lost your number. I please get your one?” She asked. handling out her to me. I typed my number, she took he phone back with a smile. 20:30 Wed, Oct 9. “Il call you. ” She added nodded, walking back to my brother who to be find. eyes around ballroom, seeing that bidding was almost starting. I started the guests as they a different room, but Papa stopped me. “Alena, can you follow me, princess?” “Sure, what’s wrong?” I walked slowly behind him we entered different room, different than one that the bidding was held. looked around at Mama, Alexei, and Anastasia as they sat near the long table while a few unknown men across from them. “What going Papa, who had his facing me. men turned to look at while my family were avoiding making eye contacts. smiled as she her to wave, so I decided to make my way towards her, sitting beside her, “I missed you, Alena. ” She whispered, smiling. “I missed you, too. I “Do know what’s going on here?” She shook away. stood in middle, whispering the other men as nod their heads. eyebrows furrowed the situation but before I could grab a hold of Mama’s hand to ask her, surprised see a man barging the door and in an immediate, his eyes landed on me. He was his forties, could never be so sure. The way he walked into the room screamed power didn’t take me long to realize that he was one of them, he was the mafia, too. I just couldn’t make it who he was one is my wife?” He asked, his eyes staring straight into own I turned look at Marna, wanting to this but Papa cut right to it. “My oldest daughter, be your wife. That was it. That the end of it. I up which surprised them. stood quietly beside Mama, trying his best to look away-I knew him. too well, he was never a liar. He knew this was the plan all along. He wasn’t going to lose if I didn’t come this event. He going to lose his respect the other members. Papa, the other hand, clenched his jaw. ” He teeth. “Sit down. “What is this? You’re to sell me I taking a few steps back. Mama shook her head; her eyes were somehow getting teary as tried to out to me, kept my. Anastasia remained trying to understand situation, I didn’t waste my in trying to reach for the door but * there were men blocking me from passing through. “You’re embarrassing me, Alena. ” Papa added. I felt my cheeks heating up. No, not from embarrassment but from was being treated like an item. A property. was not being treated like human being. I was his daughter, his princess but at this moment, felt like worthless doll. gentlemen, my I need to have a with daughter. ” Papa said, gesturing for men to the 20:30 Wed, I was still standing the same spot. Frozen even. My were staring daggers at the floor as my were listed. It took me years to finally achieve my dream. I was glad 1 moved and got to become a doctor. I was very close to finishing my residency had to ruin everything. I want you to marry Viktor. ” He spoke, breaking the silence. I scoffed, do you think you’re doing, Papa?” “It’s time to build a stronger alliance. Power does come willingly. 1 turned to meet his dark eyes-for once my I cursed myself for having the same-colored eyes him. same eyes that were told to be beautiful, ended up being a curse as every time I looked mirror, I see him. “And by marrying me off to some stranger?” “Viktor is a We’ve done business together. “Over my body. “Alena!” He slammed his on the table, everyone. et to control Whertare get to choose what I want. You don’t get to decide my life. You don’t -you ever going to understand that?” I started to walk closer towards him, challenging him by my I up into his “I you happy for me. Couldn’t you just be happy for how things are?” gave you freedom, princess. It’s time you do your part. He looking away. My answer is no. “Alena Orlov. ” He said, firmly. “No!” I shouted. “I will never marry Viktor. I will never be the perfect daughter that you want. I never have to do with Bratva. can’t force Papa. Papa shaking his head. “He won’t stop you from achieving your dreams. You must marry him, our family be stronger-we can’t threats anyone. “You can’t expect me to your every rule. What to Ana, then? would marry her off, too? I thought you loved us. I thought you saw as world. “I love you girls but we’re talking about responsibility. We are talking about a lifelong alliance for power. need to sacrifice a few in the mafia, Alena!” I turned to look at who kept quiet. Not a single word uttered. And you you know better. know this all and to trap me into Papa’s I shouted, expecting him to wrong by explaining everything but he didn’t say anything. kept his distance, a hand Mama’s as he clenched his jaw. “Mama?” I pleaded, to for her hand. “Sweetheart. took a few back, shaking head. All this time, I thought my torture over. My father was in position of having any control over my life. felt as if I was being stabbed a by my own betrayal was painful. It as if I given freedom lifetime in a cage. I glanced one time at my family before the door open behind me. and were unheard as looked around, trying to find something. It was time for change. I needed something to put place. People were starting to stare me ignored my father’s calls. I didn’t have to turn around see if Papa Alexei was running after me, trying stop me from leaving. It didn’t matter anyway, even if I had run until my last breath, would. There was no in hell I’d follow up to his terms. I didn’t to be born into this family. For in my I wanted to be ordinary. My eyes were starting get teary, and heating up. There was nowhere else for me to for an a solution. I consumed by anger as walked towards the of the crowd, my clenched and my hands in fists. The stares I getting were the least my worries. My high heels a sound that heard across floor a approached the nearest man I could find. The man stood tall with his hands in pocket, and didn’t think twice I looked up to grab him by the and kissed his lips. A pair of hands were placed on waist as the man returned the kiss, drowning me in own thoughts of how soft his lips felt or warm his were on my body. The stranger smelt a musky smell of rich, s**y, and sensual scent that almost drove weak on my knees. was intoxicating. was highlight the night. and Alexei were staring. Mama was probably, too. It didn’t me one bit-I to keep my calm, to ensure my were never embarrassed of me. I never did anything crazy to make them lose their minds. I had enough of playing good girl. I needed to to them I in control of my life. When I was meeting with a pair of light brown eyes-too ignore I realized, it was none other than the Sicilian mafia boss.