Arranged Mafia Marriage

Chapter 15Felicity

15

Felicity

I pace the penthouse living room, glancing at the clock every few minutes. Kiril called this meeting with his captains, and I insisted on attending. He wasn’t thrilled about it, but he agreed after I reminded him he agreed to teach me about the business before holding me aloof from everything when we discovered the pregnancy. I have months before delivery and plenty of time to learn everything. When I pointed out a meeting in our penthouse is hardly dangerous, he finally conceded.

The elevator dings, and Anya strides in, her blonde hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail. She raises an eyebrow when she sees me. “Felicity. I didn’t expect to see you here. I thought you got bored playing Bratva.”

I straighten my spine at the implied criticism. “I was acclimating, but I’m part of this family now. I should be involved in these discussions.” We haven’t officially announced the pregnancy yet, though I’m sure Elena has guessed, so word will likely leak soon.

She looks skeptical but doesn’t argue. The other captains file in, filling the room with an air of tension. Kiril emerges from his office, his presence commanding everyone’s attention. “Let’s begin,” he says, taking a seat at the head of the table. I settle into a chair next to him, ignoring the curious glances from the others.

Kiril eases forward while looking at everyone in turn. “We’ve received intel about Damiano’s latest move. He’s partnered with the Colombians to establish a cocaine pipeline through New York.”

Whispers ripple through the room. I frown, recalling something from my conversations with Kiril. “Doesn’t that go against Santino’s no-drug policy?”

Anya’s eyes widen slightly, as if surprised by my astute question. Kiril nods, a hint of pride in his expression. “Exactly. Damiano is breaking with tradition, likely to increase his profits and power base.”

I bite my lip, thinking. “Won’t that upset the other families? If he’s going against established rules, it could destabilize the whole structure.”

Anya shifts forward, her interest piqued. “That’s a good point. The other families might see this as a threat to the status quo.”

Kiril nods. “It’s a risky move on Damiano’s part, but it also presents an opportunity for us.”

He outlines his plan to sabotage the operation by intercepting the next shipment and anonymously tipping off the DEA. It’s clever, maintaining their hands-off approach to drugs while undermining Damiano’s new venture.

I listen intently, absorbing every detail. When Kiril finishes, I speak up. “What about the fallout? If Damiano suspects our involvement, won’t he retaliate?”

The room goes quiet. Kiril looks at me with approval and a touch of surprise at my perceptiveness. “That’s precisely why we need to ensure our involvement remains hidden. We’ll use intermediaries and false leads to keep our hands clean.”

Anya nods, her initial skepticism about my presence fading. “We’ll need to be careful about who we trust with this information. One leak could blow the whole operation.”

As the discussion continues, I occasionally offer more suggestions and ask questions. The captains begin to include me in their conversations, no longer treating me as an outsider. Hours later, as the meeting winds down, I feel a sense of accomplishment. I’ve proven that I can contribute, that I’m not just Kiril’s trophy wife.

Kiril dismisses the captains but asks Anya to stay behind. Once we’re alone, he turns to me, his expression serious. “You did well today,” he says. “Your insights were valuable.”

I smile at the praise. He seems sincere. “Thank you. I want to be useful, not just a decoration.”

Anya clears her throat. “I have to admit, I was skeptical about your presence at first after you disappeared for a while, but you’ve shown you have a good head for this business.”

Her words mean more to me than I expected. I nod, acknowledging the compliment. I decide it’s time to spread the word and say, “I had to deal with some morning sickness, but I’m back and plan to be fully involved.” I don’t want to tell anyone that Kiril panicked and kept me out of the business for a bit after learning about the pregnancy. I won’t reveal any weakness if I can help it, or that I’m his weakness.

Her eyes widen. “Oh… congratulations. Both of you.”

“Thank you.” Kiril’s hand finds mine under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. “We’ll need to be careful moving forward. Damiano is unpredictable, and this operation carries risks.”

Anya stands, gathering her things. “I’ll start making arrangements for the operation. We’ll need to move quickly.”

“Oh, Anya, feel free to share our news,” I say, imagining she can rapidly deploy it through a vast network of Bratva associates. In one way, being pregnant makes me more vulnerable, but it also cements our relationship, and it makes it harder for anyone one, ally or enemy, to question if we’re truly a united front.

“I will if it comes up.”

I smile, wanting to roll my eyes. I’m sure she’ll tell her friends among the Bratva as soon as she leaves here. Not because she’s necessarily a gossip, she wouldn’t be a confidante of my husband’s if she couldn’t keep her mouth shut, but because it’s big news. It feels arrogant to think about it like that, but it’s the simple truth. I’m carrying Kiril’s heir, further cementing his legacy and control.

As she leaves, Kiril turns to me. “Are you sure about this, Felicity? Once you’re in deeper, there’s no going back.”

I don’t flinch or look away. “I’m already in, aren’t I?”

He presses a soft kiss to my forehead. “Yes.”

A few days later, I wrap my arms around myself as I enter the penthouse’s conference room. Unlike the last meeting, which started with curiosity at my presence before everyone settled down to business, the tension in the air is thick tonight, probably because no one knows why Kiril called this meeting. Not even me.

He stands at the head of the table, his expression grim. The other captains file in silently, taking their seats without a word.

Anya catches my eye as she enters, giving me a small nod. It doesn’t seem to be condescending or fake to please Kiril. I nod in return as I take my seat next to Kiril, noting the empty chair across from me, where Alexei usually sits.

Kiril clears his throat. “We have a serious matter to discuss. There’s a traitor among us.”

The room erupts in murmurs. I glance around, noting the shock and disbelief on most faces. Only Misha, sitting at the far end with his laptop open, seems unsurprised.

“How can you be sure?” asks one of the captains.

Kiril’s eyes narrow. “We have evidence. Misha?”

Misha nods, tapping at his keyboard. “I’ve been monitoring our communications for the past few weeks. There’s been an unauthorized data transfer from within our network.”

As if on cue, the door opens, and Alexei strolls in. “Sorry I’m late. Traffic was a nightmare.” He takes his seat and nods at me respectfully. Viktor is beside him and gives his brother an enigmatic look, but Alexei doesn’t seem bothered by it. “No one told me the topic of the meeting, so what’s going on?”

“A traitor,” Viktor says solemnly.

Alexei shakes his head. “Surely not.”

Kiril continues as if Alexei hadn’t interrupted. “The leak has been traced to a specific device. We’re about to find out who the traitor is.”

Misha’s fingers move over his keyboard. A tense silence falls over the room as we wait. Suddenly, a phone chirps. All eyes turn to Alexei as he pulls out his device.

“Interesting timing,” says Kiril, his voice cold. “Mind sharing what that message says, Alexei?”

Alexei pales. “It’s nothing. Just a personal matter.”

“I don’t think so.” Kiril nods to Misha, who taps a final key.

A projection appears on the wall, showing a stream of data. I gasp when I recognize some of the information. Details of our recent operations, shipment schedules, notes about our plan to call the DEA on Damiano’s new drug deal, and even personal information about Kiril and me.

“Care to explain this, Alexei?” Kiril asks.

Alexei jumps to his feet, his chair clattering to the floor. “This is a mistake. I’ve been loyal to you for years, Kiril. I’m being set up.”

“You’ve been with us for years at Viktor’s recommendation.”

“To my eternal regret,” says the other man, which makes Alexei flinch.

“For the last two years, at least, your loyalty has faltered,” Kiril corrects. “That’s how long you’ve been selling us out to Damiano.”

The room erupts in chaos. Captains shout accusations, some even reaching for their weapons. I sit frozen, unable to look away from Alexei’s face as it twists from fear to anger.

“You don’t understand,” he says, sweating profusely. “Damiano offered me real power. Not just scraps from your table.”

Kiril remains eerily calm. “And now you’ll have nothing.”

He turns to Viktor, Alexei’s brother, who stands silently by the door. “Viktor, would you like to do the honors?”

Viktor’s face is a mask of stone as he draws his weapon. “It would be my privilege.”

I can’t breathe. This is really happening. They’re going to kill him, right here, right now. His own brother is going to pull the trigger.

Alexei lunges for the door, but Viktor is faster. He tackles his brother to the ground, pressing the gun to his temple.

“Any last words, brother?” asks Viktor, his voice devoid of emotion.

Alexei spits in his face. “Go to Hell.”

Viktor pulls the trigger.

I flinch at the sound, my ears ringing. Viktor stands a moment later, holstering his weapon. “Take him out,” he orders two of the guards. He looks utterly composed, though there’s a telltale tremor in his gun hand for just a second.

They drag Alexei’s body from the room, leaving a trail of blood on the polished floor. I stare at it, my mind reeling. This is real. This is the world I’ve entered.

Kiril’s voice cuts through the fog in my mind. “Let this be a lesson to all of you. Betrayal will not be tolerated.”

The meeting concludes shortly after, the captains filing out in stunned silence. I remain seated, unable to move.

Kiril kneels beside me, his hand on my knee. “Felicity? Are you okay?”

I blink, focusing on his face. “I... I don’t know.”

He squeezes my shoulder. “I know this is hard for you to see, but this is our world. Betrayal has consequences.”

I nod mechanically. “I understand.” But do I? Can I ever truly understand this level of violence, this disregard for human life? Yet how many lives did Alexei endanger with his betrayal? My mind is a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts.

Kiril helps me to my feet. “Come on. Let’s get you some air.”

As we walk to the balcony, I catch sight of my reflection in a mirror. I look pale and shaken, but there’s something else now too, a hardness that wasn’t there before. I turn away quickly, not wanting to see the change in myself.

On the balcony, the cool air helps clear my head. I take deep breaths, trying to process what I’ve just witnessed.

“Talk to me,” Kiril says softly.

I turn to him, struggling to find the words. “It’s just so final. One moment he was alive, and the next, he’s gone.”

Kiril nods. “That’s the reality of our world. We can’t afford to show weakness or mercy to traitors.”

“I know that logically,” I say. “But emotionally, it’s a lot to take in.” I wonder if Viktor is secretly falling apart right now. He must be, even if he had some warning. “Did you suspect it was him?”

“I knew, and Misha has been subverting his communications with Damiano for weeks, but we needed absolute proof and a demonstration before any triggers were pulled.”

“So, he didn’t warn Damiano about our DEA plan?” The question feels distant as I ask it, like it doesn’t come from me. I’m still floating somewhere beyond all this.

“He thought he did, but Misha intercepted it and responded as Damiano.”

My stomach churns as I nod. “Viktor knew ahead of time?”

“I offered to excuse him from the meeting, but he’s loyal.” He takes my hand. “This life inspires loyalty like that, but also fear and hostility. Jealousy, as in Alexei’s case.” He pulls me closer, wrapping his arms around me. “I wish I could shield you from this, but you need to understand what you’re part of now.”

I lean into him, drawing comfort from his warmth. “I do understand. It’s just going to take some time to adjust.”

As I stand there in Kiril’s embrace, looking out over the city, I wonder if I’ll ever truly fit into this world? Or will I always be on the outside, struggling to reconcile the violence with my own moral compass? I push down the doubts, forcing a smile as I look up at Kiril. “I’ll be okay. I’m tougher than I look.”

He kisses my forehead. “I know you are. That’s one of the things I love about you.”

Love. The word hangs between us, unexpected but not unwelcome. I open my mouth to respond, to ask if he means love love, or if it’s just a casual saying, but his phone buzzes, breaking the moment.

He checks it, his expression hardening. “I have to take care of something. Will you be all right here?”

I nod. “Go. I’ll be fine.”

As he leaves, I turn back to the city view, mind still reeling from everything that’s happened. I’m part of this world now, for better or worse. I just hope I’m strong enough to handle whatever comes next.