Page 9 of Savage Pakhan

I help her up the marble steps, taking her hand as she takes a seat. She belongs there. One day, whatever sadness she feels will be gone. I’ll make sure of that.

“Everything is so beautiful. Thank you, Mr. Bykov.”

I scoff, kissing her knuckles. I can’t stop myself. I want to feel her against me in any way I can. The ring Ivan gave her flashes in the light, and I swallow an irritated growl. He doesn’t deserve Mia. She’s so fucking miserable, and she deserves the world.

“Please, Mia. Call me Alek.”

A shy smile replaces her misery for one split second. “Alek,” she whispers.

Oh, I love how she says my name.

“Do you want anything to drink?” I ask her. “Before we open gifts.”

“Please. Thank you. Nothing alcoholic though. I’d never hear the—” She rubs her lips together before she finishes that sentence. “Any drink will do.”

My hackles continue to raise. Does Ivan monitor what she drinks? I do my best to not show how furious I am and smile. “I’ll be right back with your drink.” I squeeze her shoulder, not wanting to let go.

When I’m a safe distance away, the crowd parts for me. Everyone smiles and nods, touching me, patting me on the shoulder as if this is my wedding.

It should be.

“Excuse me. Thank you. Thank you. We’re all very excited to have Mia in our lives. The Bykovs are very lucky. We are about to open gifts. Please, everyone, sit, enjoy the food.” The crowd disperses, leaving me alone at last.

I catch Nikolai talking to Viktor, one of the security members, and I give him a gesture ordering him to come here, bending my fingers towards myself repeatedly.

“Everything okay, Boss?”

I sneer. “Does it look okay? Where the fuck is my son? Do you know how embarrassing it is for Mia? This is unacceptable. Find him.”

“I’ve been calling him, Sir. No answer, but I did locate him.”

This is why Nikolai is in charge. He always knows when I’ll need something.

“And where is this sorry excuse of a son at?”

“The apartment he keeps downtown, and according to my sources, he isn’t alone.”

I crush the glass in my hand, soaking my shoes with strawberry lemonade. Pieces of glass dig into my palm and Nikolia curses in Russian.

He snags a napkin and wraps my hand with it. “What are you thinking?” He scolds in our native tongue. “You have to be more careful.”

“You bring my son to me. I don’t care what the fuck it takes. Do you understand?”

“Alek, are you okay?” Mia’s sweet voice if filled with concern and I turn around, hiding my hand behind my back.

“I’m fine. I accidentally dropped a glass. A small cut. Nothing serious,” my Russian accent becomes thicker the longer I speak to her. She has me forget that I need to remain in control at all times.

“Let me see. I have some experience with wounds.” She grabs my arm and I let her have it without a fight.

I stare at her, wondering if her experience is because she’s had to take care of herself somehow. She carefully unwraps the napkin and frowns when she is face to face with the small cut.

“See? It’s nothing, Lyubimaya.”

Nikolai coughs when he hears the term of endearment. It means, my love or my beloved. I didn’t mean for it to slip but I can’t help it. She’s the first thing I think about in the morning, the last thing I think about at night, and who I dream of when I close my eyes.

And yet, my son gets to have her.

“Oh, that’s beautiful. What does it mean? You’d think I’d be better about understanding Russian since I’ve been around you most of my life, but Ivan is so busy so it’s hard for him to take the time.” She turns to Nikolai. “Can you find me some alcohol? Vodka or something?”