Arranged Mafia Marriage

Chapter 16Kiril

16

Kiril

T he news of Felicity’s pregnancy spreads through the Bratva like wildfire, cementing my position as leader. I organize a celebration at our favorite Russian restaurant, “Samovar,” to mark the occasion. The private room buzzes with excitement as my captains and their spouses congratulate us.

Felicity glows in a rust red dress that accentuates her curves. She mingles effortlessly, charming everyone she meets. I watch her from across the room, pride making me want to strut like a peacock.

“She’s a natural,” Viktor says, appearing at my side.

I nod. “She is. I never expected her to adapt so quickly.”

“Love changes people,” he says with a knowing smile. The shadow that has been in his eyes for the past week, since he executed Alexei, finally seems gone tonight.

Before I can respond, the room falls silent. I turn to see Santino DeLucci enter on a motorized scooter, flanked by two bodyguards. Felicity freezes, her eyes wide with surprise.

“What’s he doing here?” I mutter to Viktor.

“I don’t know, boss. Want me to remove him?”

I shake my head. “No, let’s see what he wants.”

Santino approaches Felicity, rolling to a stop before her with a small smile on his face. “Congratulations, my dear,” he says, squeezing her hand.

“Thank you,” she says in a low tone, making it difficult to judge her true reaction to his appearance.

I move closer, prepared to mediate if required.

Santino pulls an envelope from his jacket. “I have a gift for you and the baby.”

Felicity takes it hesitantly. “What is it?”

“Open it,” he says with a mysterious smile.

She does, her eyes widening as she reads the contents. “A trust fund? For me and the baby?”

I stiffen, anger coursing through me. How dare he give my wife something like that? It’s an unspoken escape option, even if she doesn’t recognize it as such. I step forward, eager to put an end to this, but her next words stop me.

“Thank you, Santino. This is incredibly generous. I promise to keep the money for the baby’s future, but I don’t think I’ll need it for anything.”

Santino’s eyebrows rise. “You don’t?”

Felicity shakes her head, a shy smile playing on her lips. “No. I’m finding my place here, in this world. With Kiril.”

Her words wash over me like a warm embrace. My anger dissipates, replaced by a surge of affection for my wife.

Santino studies her face, then nods. “I’m glad to hear it, but the money is yours, no strings attached. Use it however you see fit.”

“Thank you,” says Felicity again, hugging him briefly, though it appears awkward for her. The old man clearly revels in the brief embrace, making my anger fade. He wants to guard her the best way he can, and I doubt he perceived his gift would be an insult to me. I need to let go of my initial impression of his intentions.

As Santino moves away to greet some of the other guests, I approach Felicity. She turns to me with a soft smile. “Did you hear all that?” she asks.

I nod, wrapping an arm around her waist. “I did. Are you sure about this, Felicity? About us?” I nod toward the envelope she’s putting in her purse. “That’s an escape option if you ever need it, you know.”

She puts her hand on my chest. “I am. It hasn’t been easy, and there’s still so much for me to learn, but I want to be here. With you. I don’t need an escape plan.”

I press a kiss to her forehead, overwhelmed by the depth of my feelings for her. “I want you here too, my darling.”

The party continues around us, but for a moment, it’s just the two of us in our own little world. The celebration lasts well into the night, with toasts and traditional Russian dances. Felicity throws herself into every aspect, her laughter ringing out as she attempts to follow the complicated steps of a folk dance. She does well with her background as a dancer.

As the night winds down, I find myself in conversation with Santino. He eyes me over his glass of vodka. “You’ve done well by her,” he says, nodding toward Felicity, who’s chatting animatedly with Anya.

“I try,” I say, watching my wife. “She makes it easy.”

Santino chuckles. “She seems to be a force of nature. Just like her mother.”

I turn to him. “I’ll keep her safe with my life.”

Santino nods, appearing satisfied. “I know you will. The trust fund is not meant to insult you. I owe her a lifetime of care, and the money is just one to make up to her all that I didn’t give her. It’s there if she needs it, but I don’t think she will.”

“She will not,” I say briefly but with finality.

Felicity appears at my side then, slipping her hand into mine. “What are you two conspiring about?” she asks playfully, though her gaze is concerned as it moves between us.

I pull her close, kissing her temple. “We were just discussing odds and probabilities.”

She frowns. “Like for horse races? My mom loved the racetrack.”

Santino laughs. “I’m glad to hear that didn’t change about Susan. She was always a gambler, except when it came to you.”

Felicity smiles as she looks between us, her obvious concern lessening. “It means a lot to me that you’re both here.”

Santino smiles warmly at his daughter. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. The facility put up a fuss when I told them I was leaving for the night.”

“You should listen to them,” she says with a shake of her head.

He waves his good hand, since the other rests on his lap. “I’ll not let a stroke make me miss nights like this.”

They squabble gently about his health for a moment before she changes the subject to the baby, and Santino asks a series of questions. The baby is a relatively safe topic, and Felicity obviously relaxes and lets herself actually warm up to him.

The party slowly winds down. As the last of the guests begin to leave, Felicity yawns, leaning heavily against me. I scoop her up in my arms, ignoring her halfhearted protests.

“Time to get you home.”

She nuzzles into my neck, already half-asleep. “Mmm, home. I like the sound of that.”

As we step out into the cool night air, I’m struck by how much has changed in such a short time. What started as a business arrangement has become so much more. I never expected to develop feelings for her beyond general cordiality and concern for her well-being, but now that I have, I can’t fight it.