THE PRICE OF THEIR NAME
Leo Vance's quiet life as a struggling artist is about to be irrevocably altered. When his mother, Eleanor, announces her engagement to a formidable multi-billionaire, Leo is thrust into the glittering, ruthless world of New York’s elite. Arthur Volkov is a man whose old money Russian empire is vast and feared, and his two identical twin sons, Dmitri and Ivan, are known to be just as dangerous.
Weeks before this life-altering news, Leo had a single, unforgettable night with a mysterious stranger. The passion was undeniable, a raw, masculine intensity that left him shaken and ashamed, but he fled, convinced it was a one-time, sinful fantasy.
Imagine his horror when he discovers his one-night stand isn't just a celebrity, he's Dmitri Volkov, the cold, calculating heir to Arthur's legacy. The forbidden attraction, further complicated by his own denial of his sexuality and the step-sibling proximity, is instantaneous and potent. But it's not just Dmitri who sees him; his identical twin, Ivan, charming, seductive, and equally possessive, also begins to stake his claim.
Leo is terrified of the consequences, knowing that if his mother discovers their affair, it will ruin everything. He desperately wants to reject the life, the lust, and the two men who are dismantling his self-denial. He longs for an escape, but the Volkov twins are unwilling to let him go. They want him all to themselves, a shared obsession that traps him in a gilded cage.
Read
Chapter: Chapter 9: the artist's lieThe Artist's LieLeo PovIt had been four days since I ran out of Volkov Tower. Four days of trying to rebuild the walls of my life, only to find the mortar was crumbling, poisoned by shame and obsession. I was back in my studio in DUMBO, a vast, messy space overlooking the bridge, but the familiar grit and dust of my working life felt alien. The air here was supposed to be cleaner, yet all I could smell was the faint, lingering trace of Dmitri’s cologne clinging to the cuff of the shirt I’d worn that night.My latest canvas was supposed to be an architectural study of the bridge supports—solid, grounded, objective, but it was a disaster. I stood back, scrubbing my hands clean of the charcoal, and stared at the mess. I hadn't been painting; I had been fighting. Every frantic brushstroke was an attempt to overwrite the memories of the twins, but instead, I kept seeing their faces, their cold, identical gray eyes mocking my struggle.The worst part—the part that made me punch the canvas
Last Updated: 2025-11-15
Chapter: Chapter 8: morning shame Morning ShameLeo PovI woke up alone, and for a terrifying, disoriented moment, I didn’t know where the morning light was coming from. It filtered through massive, sheer windows, washing the room in a cold, sterile silver. This wasn't my cramped Brooklyn apartment; this was a suite of punishing, minimalist luxury. The sheets—silk, heavy, and smelling faintly of that sharp, aggressive cologne, were tangled around my legs.The shame didn’t arrive in a wave; it arrived like a physical anchor, a leaden weight settling in my chest. What did I do?The memories of the previous night were sickeningly vivid. The library. Ivan’s calculated touches, Dmitri’s flat commands, and worst of all, my own body’s desperate, immediate submission. The sheer, overwhelming pleasure I felt wasn't a defense mechanism; it was a devastating admission of weakness, a craving for the very control I despise.I scrambled out of the bed, feeling physically polluted. My clothes from yesterday were folded perfectly on
Last Updated: 2025-11-14
Chapter: Chapter 7: The Weakness The WeaknessLeo PovThe library smelled oppressively of aged paper and new, expensive leather, and the scent felt too heavy, too solid for me to breathe properly. We were supposed to be reviewing the final draft of the Thorne Legacy Foundation grant, but the discussion had been hijacked the moment Arthur Volkov stepped out to take a "critical international call." Now, I was the one under critical evaluation.“Functionally, the proposal is sound, Leo,” Ivan stated, dismissing the hundred hours of work with a flick of his wrist as he set the document down. His tone was not critical, but profoundly unimpressed. “But it lacks a certain necessary disclosure. It doesn’t showcase the raw, compelling vulnerability that draws the deepest investment.”I felt the familiar heat of defensive anger. “Vulnerability is not a metric for investment, Ivan. We are seeking professional funding, not sentimental contributions.”Dmitri remained perfectly still in the high-backed leather chair, a statue carv
Last Updated: 2025-11-13
Chapter: Chapter 6: a shared claim A Shared ClaimDmitri’s words, "Let's discuss the terms of your engagement," hung heavy and dark in the vast, silent penthouse. I was frozen between the two men, their presence overwhelming the massive room."I already agreed," I whispered, the surrender raw and humiliating. "I said I'd follow the rules. What more do you want?"Ivan, who was blocking the door, tilted his head, his smile losing its charm and becoming something sharper, more predatory. "We want you to understand the spirit of the contract, Leo, not just the letter. The terms of engagement aren't merely about secrecy. They are about us. Our needs. Our control."Dmitri stepped closer, forcing me back a step. His eyes were focused entirely on me, intense and unforgiving. "You are ours now, and that is a shared reality. We are a unified front, even in this. You belong to the Volkov Structure, and that structure is bound by twin rule."I tried to stand my ground, crossing my arms defensively over my chest. "I understand the
Last Updated: 2025-11-12
Chapter: Chapter 5: the terms of engagement The Terms of EngagementThe air in my small studio was thick and cold, mirroring the heavy dread settling in my chest. I woke on the couch, my limbs stiff and my mind fuzzy, the expensive cologne from last night still faintly clinging to the threads of my charcoal suit, which lay discarded on the floor. I hadn't even attempted my bed. I'd collapsed right here, a physical attempt to distance myself from the terrifying reality of the Volkov penthouse.It was real. Every cold, demanding moment was real.I dragged myself up, the floorboards complaining beneath my weight. I needed coffee, something hot and bitter, to scour the lingering shame and the unwanted thrill from my memory. I went through the motions—grinding beans, filling the kettle, a pathetic imitation of my normal routine.My phone was charging beside the kettle. As I waited for the water to boil, it vibrated with a text message. A knot tightened in my stomach. It was an unfamiliar number, but my heart instantly recognized the
Last Updated: 2025-11-11
Chapter: Chapter 4: the volkov structure The Volkov StructureLeo VanceThe instant Dmitri called my name, that low, controlled tone I recognized from the darkest hours of the night, the foundation of the Volkov Tower seemed to dissolve beneath my feet. I didn't just register shock; I felt a chilling fear. This was no coincidence. This was a destiny, cold and aggressive, and I was the newly confirmed target.A step-brother. The term felt like a legal restraint. My mother is marrying his father. I lost my composure and my independence to the most dangerous figure in this entire, terrifying house. This was beyond scandal; it was a total failure of my life.I managed a sound, a strangled, pathetic attempt at a greeting, but it was Ivan who completed the devastating introduction. His grasp on my hand was cool and warm, entirely possessive, matching the intense, unnervingly knowing light in his gray eyes.“Welcome to the Family,” he repeated, his smile utterly charming but carrying the same lethal promise as Dmitri’s silence. The
Last Updated: 2025-10-29
LOGIN
