Page 3 of Bratva Prince

The city blurred past in streaks of silver and neon beneath the rain.Dmitri rested one arm against the window, watching familiar streets drift by while his mind remained irritatingly occupied by thoughts of Sofia Marino.

He knew the basics already.

She was twenty-six, educated in Switzerland, and fluent in four languages.Her father trusted her enough to sit in on negotiations.That alone made her unusual.

Most men in their world treated daughters like decorative insurance policies.The Marinos apparently sharpened theirs into knives.Interesting.

By the time the sedan rolled beneath the covered entrance of Hotel Belladonna, Dmitri had settled fully back into his usual emotionless self.He couldn’t afford to show weakness here.

The hotel stood gleaming against the gray afternoon.Marble columns framed the entrance.Gold lighting glowed warmly through towering glass windows.Luxury designed to look effortless.

Dmitri stepped from the vehicle, and two of his men automatically fell into position behind him.The revolving doors opened.

Inside, the lobby gleamed with polished marble floors and muted gold light reflecting off crystal chandeliers overhead.Somewhere nearby, a piano played softly enough to disappear beneath the murmur of conversation.

Still, Dimitri didn’t miss the tension that poisoned the atmosphere beneath the elegance.Hotel staff moved with stiff smiles and nervous eyes.They seemed overly careful and aware.

Maybe it was because the armed guards stationed discreetly throughout the lobby were about as subtle as wolves in church.Marino men.

Dmitri spotted them immediately.There was one near the elevators pretending to read a newspaper.Another was seated near the lounge bar with an untouched espresso.A third lingered by the hallway entrance adjusting his cufflinks while scanning exits.

They were all professional, but not invisible.Dmitri’s gaze swept automatically through the lobby for exits, security cameras, and potential blind spots out of habit.

Alexei often sent him to negotiate with rival organizations precisely because Dmitri never walked into a room assuming peace would hold.Men survived longer that way.

A blonde receptionist straightened immediately when he approached the desk.

“Mr.Volkov,” she said carefully.“Ms.Marino and Mr.Marino are waiting in the conference suite.”

Her pulse fluttered visibly in her throat.She was afraid, he realized.Nothing new there.

Dmitri inclined his head politely anyway.“Lead the way.”

The woman guided them through a private corridor lined with dark wood panels and abstract art expensive enough to launder money through three different countries.

The closer they came to the conference suite, the heavier the security presence became.There were more Marino guards, and he briefly wondered if he should’ve brought more men, then he dismissed the thought.The Marinos were allies, or potential ones at least.

The secretary stopped outside double doors.“They’re inside.”

Dmitri adjusted his cuffs once more before pushing through the doors without hesitation.The conference room overlooked the city skyline through massive windows streaked with rain.It had a long, polished table, and on it were crystal water glasses and expensive whiskey.

Emilio Marino rose first.He was older than Dmitri expected.Silver threaded through his dark hair, but the man’s eyes remained sharp and calculating. A predator’s eyes.

“Mr.Volkov,” Emilio greeted smoothly.

Dmitri crossed forward and offered his hand.“Don Marino.”

The older man’s grip was firm, measured, and testing.Dmitri returned exactly the same pressure.Then his attention shifted, and landed on Sofia.

She stood near the windows slightly behind her father, one hand resting lightly against the back of a chair.Beautiful was too simple a word for her.

She looked dangerous first.Long dark curls spilled over one shoulder in soft waves against the severe elegance of her fitted black dress.The fabric hugged the curves of her body without apology, all sharp sophistication and quiet confidence.

Her jewelry was minimal, an intentional choice perhaps, so nothing would distract the eye from the woman herself.Her eyes were dark and steady, watching him with unnerving directness.Interesting.

Most women reacted to Dmitri one of two ways.Fascination or fear, sometimes both tangled together.Even when they smiled at him, there was usually hesitation underneath it.Instinct recognizing something lethal beneath the charm.

Sofia Marino showed neither.She had no hint of nervousness, she simply observed him calmly, like she was evaluating threat levels.