Page 21 of Until Death or Defeat

“Especially not me,” he slams the empty glass down on the bar and pushes it forward. “Come onsolnishko, let’s put on our show for the crowd,” he suggests, as he stands and puts his hand out for me to grab as he leads me to the front of the room.

6

Artem

The clapping is delayed, but soon the entire ballroom is congratulating us on the engagement. I know much of it is obligatory; I’m sure once the event is over everyone will be gossiping and wondering if this is real, or if it’s unfavorable for the Families.

Giselle hasn’t moved a muscle, standing nervously beside me just waiting until she can crawl into a hole. Obviously neither of us want this, but only I know how different our reasons for that are.

The excitement dies down, and I take her hand as I lead her back down the side of the room to find the table my brothers are sitting at, happy to see Andrei there. He’s my dad’s childhood friend, and he’s like a second father to me. Well, a more laid-back version anyway.

“Artem, congratulations,” he says, going in to hug me.

I give him a grin as we pull back, and he turns to Giselle. “And you’re Marcos’s daughter? Beautiful,” he says as he takes her hand and kisses it. He sees the look on my face and laughs, “Ever the possessive one, just like your father,”

Giselle awkwardly goes to sit at the table, muttering a greeting to Andrei’s second daughter, Lyra.

“So, the old man went back already I take it?”

I nod, and he shrugs his shoulders.

“More fun for us, right?” We both chuckle, and he pats my back before continuing. “You know Artem, I always did want you to marry Lyra, but I guess I can’t argue with your taste in women,”

“Watch it, Andrei,” I warn, and my eyes land back to her. She seems to be chatting well with Lyra, even laughing a bit.

“Honestly, Artem, she seems like a good match from what I heard from Maxim.”

I scoff when he mentions that. I don’t even want to know what Max is telling people. We both join the table, and I sit on the other side of Giselle, who doesn’t even turn to look as she continues talking to Lyra.

“Well maybe you should try to be a little bolder. I mean I can introduce you to some guys, or even my brother?—”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” I say through my teeth as I squeeze her knee.

“Are you trying to pawn off my friend’s daughter?”

“No, but Lyra wants a boyfriend and she can only date someone in one of the Families, and I know some decent guys,” Giselle says, shrugging her shoulders.

“Oh, do you? And how manydecent guysdo you know here?” I’m sure she sees the immediate look of distaste on my face because she shoots me a smug smile before she replies.

“I know a few.”

My jaw clenches as she defiantly looks at me like that, basically daring me to get pissed and lose it in front of everyone at the table. “Like who?”

“Hmm let me see,” she says while tapping her chin. “Well there’s my brother, of course,” she says looking at me, and Inod, the glare in my eyes daring her back to continue. “Then there’s Bruno, and Jonathon, oh and then Angelo, almost forgot,” she finishes with a fake innocent smile.

Before I could find out if looks can kill, Lyra speaks up softly.

“Um well, I guess it can be anyone if they’re nice. I don’t really know what kind of guy I’d like.”

I shake my head, reaching for the glass of water on the table. “Lyra, you’re not dating, fucking, or marrying anyone Giselle suggests.”

Lyra blushes and nods, “Oh uh, of course not I just?—”

“What the fuck? Why not?”

“Because, if Lyra doesn’t end up with one of my brothers, she will still be marrying into one of the Russian Families.” I see Giselle’s eyes flaming, and Lyra is flustered trying to reassure her that it’s okay.

“You know, you prick, you’re not better than me just because you don’t like Italians, and Lyra doesn’t have to answer to you.”