Ruthless Bratva King (New York Russian Mafia Kings #1)

58. Elena

58

ELENA

W hen I step into the kitchen, Veronica is leaning against the counter, sipping a cup of coffee. Her bright smile greets me like a warm hug.

“Look what the cat dragged in!” she teases, setting her mug down and pulling me into a tight hug. “You look alive, surprisingly.”

“Thanks,” I reply dryly, squeezing her back. “And you look like you’re glad to be back in your own place.”

“You gave me the call, told me I was safe to go home so here I am. Want to tell me why the risk of kidnapping has disappeared.”

“Let’s just say no one wants to get on my husband’s bad side right now.”

She pulls away, her eyes scanning me with mock seriousness. “You’ve got this weird glow. Is it from Dmitri, or did you fall into a vat of radioactive chemicals?”

I laugh, shaking my head as I sit down at the kitchen table. “Trust me, it’s not the latter.”

Veronica grabs her mug and sits across from me. “You dirty girl. Spill.”

I take a deep breath and start. I tell her about going to see my family, the confrontation with my father, and Dmitri walking in like some kind of movie hero. Her eyes widen as I describe the chaos and heartbreak of it all.

“Wait,” she interrupts, holding up a hand. “Let me get this straight. Your dad thought Dmitri was going to kill you, so he abandoned you? What a prince.”

“Yeah,” I say, my voice heavy with sarcasm. “Father of the Year material.”

“And your sister and mom just what? Backed him up?”

“Basically.” I let out a bitter laugh. “They even said I was useless. Some people don’t change, I guess.”

She leans back in her chair, shaking her head. “Unbelievable. I’m glad you left them to stew. They don’t deserve you. Kept telling you.”

“I know that now.”

She smirks. “Dmitri must’ve rubbed off on you. You’ve got this whole badass vibe going on now.”

I roll my eyes, but I can’t help smiling. “Let’s just say he’s helped me see things differently. But what about you? You said you had news.”

She grins, a determined look in her eyes. “I’ve got a job interview next week. Fingers crossed for me, okay?”

“Bookstore?”

“Sadly not but there’s time, right?”

“I’ve got news too.” I show her the email on my cellphone. The subject line is: Architecture Program Admission Decision.

Her face lights up. “You got in?”

“I got in!” I say louder, a grin breaking across my face. “Dmitri bribed them but what the hell, right?”

She’s off her chair in an instant, pulling me up into a bear hug. “You’re going to crush it, Elena. This is huge!”

Laughing, I hug her back, my excitement bubbling over. “It’s terrifying, actually. But I’m excited too.”

“Terrifying?” She pulls back, giving me a mock stern look. “Girl, you’ve faced down mob bosses, kidnappers, and your toxic family. A bunch of architecture professors are going to be a cakewalk compared to that.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Thanks for putting it into perspective.”

“You’re welcome.” She flops back into her chair, beaming at me. “Seriously, though, this is amazing. You’re going to build skyscrapers or cathedrals or whatever the hell you want. And I’m going to tell everyone I was your roommate before you got famous.”

“You’re ridiculous,” I say, but her enthusiasm is infectious.

“No, you’re ridiculous—for ever doubting yourself.” She pauses, her voice softening. “I’m proud of you, Elena. Really.”

Her words hit me square in the chest, and I blink back the sudden sting of tears as a knock sounds at the door.

“I’ll get it,” she says, jumping up. She opens the door, and there he is—Dmitri, his presence commanding as always. He steps inside, nodding politely at Veronica before his eyes land on me.

“Elena,” he says, his voice warm but steady. “You look happy.”

Veronica rolls her eyes playfully. “Don’t mind me. I’ll just be over here, pretending not to exist.” She flops onto the couch, giving us space but clearly listening.

“I got onto the course,” I say. “Looks like your bribe worked.”

He shakes his head. “I took it back.”

“You did what?”

He steps closer and takes my hand. “You told me you wanted to get in on merit. I took the money back.”

He kisses my hand. “You know,” he adds casually, “when the time comes, maybe you could design a house for our family.”

The word “family” makes my heart skip a beat. I glance up at him, but his face is calm, like he hasn’t just dropped a bombshell.

“Our family?” I echo.

He nods, his dark eyes locking onto mine. “I want us to build a life together. A real one.”

“What are you saying?” I ask, my voice trembling slightly.

“I’m saying I want a future with you. A home. Kids. Everything,” he says simply, his expression open and unguarded in a way that takes my breath away.

My heart feels like it’s about to burst. “A family,” I repeat softly.

He nods. “If that’s what you want too.”

I swallow hard, my voice thick with emotion. “I do. But on one condition.”

“Anything,” he says, his brows lifting slightly in curiosity.

I tilt my head, smiling through the tears threatening to spill. “We have a proper wedding. No rushed paperwork. Just us. And maybe a few close friends.”

Dmitri’s lips curve into a rare, genuine smile. “Done,” he says without hesitation.

Veronica, who’s been suspiciously quiet, suddenly bursts out, “About damn time!”

We both turn to her, and she waves her hands dramatically. “I’ll take any chance to buy myself a new dress. Still got Vladimir’s black card. Maybe get myself an alpaca to ride into the wedding.”

Dmitri chuckles, his hand tightening around mine. “So, is that a yes?”

“Yes,” I say, my voice steady this time.

Veronica hesitates, her gaze darting between us. “Are we sure Lombardi’s done? I mean, he’s not lurking in some dark alley waiting to fuck things up, right?”

Dmitri’s expression hardens, his jaw tightening. “Lombardi won’t come near you.”

“Guarantee it?” Veronica asks, arching a brow.

Dmitri meets her gaze evenly. “If he does, I’ll feed him to the sharks.”

“You have sharks?” She smirks. “I’ll hold you to that, big guy. And hey, if you screw it up, I’ve got a very sharp heel with your name written on it.”

Dmitri chuckles, a rare sound that feels like sunlight breaking through clouds. “I’ll bear that in mind.”