chapther 4

Beck looked at Dylan with complicity. She knew she could always count on him, just as he could count on her. Feeling his gaze fixed on her, she got up from the bed and went to the closet. She dropped the towel she was using and chose a comfortable pajama set. When she came out of the closet, she found Dylan still sitting on her bed, a smile on his face.

—It’s time for you to go, she said playfully. —I’m waking up early tomorrow.

Dylan laughed, knowing it was a lie.

—Wow, what a flimsy excuse. Tomorrow is Saturday, and you’re off.

Beck rolled her eyes and sat down beside him.

—Just because I’m off doesn’t mean I’m sleeping in, okay?

—All right, Beck, I’m going. Only because you’re asking so nicely, he teased.

She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him, making him laugh. Dylan stood up and leaned over her, kissing her softly on the lips.

—Sweet dreams, Beck.

She smiled at him as he opened the door and left her room. Beck knew her father didn’t mind Dylan’s visits, always believing that one day they would end up together. But Beck knew time would show her father that between them, there was only friendship with a few moments of fun, nothing more.

She lay down and, exhausted, soon fell asleep. The day had been long.

I’m Bryan Sanchez, 30 years old, and the eldest son of Benjamin Sanchez, one of the most feared bosses of the Russian mafia. My father is a cold, calculating man, always busy with his business. His presence commands respect, something that intimidated me as a child. My mother, an incredible woman, passed away from cancer when I was 12 and my brother, Sebastian, was only 8. Since then, our father has never been the same.

My mother was the glue that held our family together. After her death, my father buried himself in mafia business, and the responsibility of raising my brother fell to me. My father always taught us never to show weakness, and that shaped who I am today.

Unlike my brother, who is kind and friendly—traits he inherited from our mother—I take after our father. I like to live intensely, without tying myself down to anyone, and enjoy what life has to offer. Being a Sanchez gives me many benefits: money, respect, and power. I have everything I want, as long as I fulfill my role as the heir.

Sebastian, however, has never liked the mafia world. He keeps his distance from the business, but we’re inseparable, as brothers should be. He prefers a life far from the underworld, while I have no problem enjoying the prestige our position brings.

Recently, my father decided to arrange a marriage of convenience for me. I’m engaged to Natasha, the only daughter of his best friend, but to me, it’s all for show. Natasha knows this, and our relationship is open. We’re together occasionally, but we both understand it’s just an arrangement to please our parents.

To Bryan, Natasha is an intriguing figure—a mix of beauty and contradiction. With her striking curves, sun-kissed skin, dark hair, and amber eyes, she turns heads wherever she goes, yet she seems unaware of the effect she has on others. This makes her a paradox: a woman who could have anything but clings to the one man who doesn’t share her feelings—himself.

Bryan sees in Natasha everything he doesn’t want in a relationship. She is devoted, genuine, and faithful to a romantic idea that he is the only man for her. This commitment and the sweetness with which she treats him leave him unsettled, and sometimes he feels a slight discomfort at her devotion. Even though their union is just a convenient arrangement, Bryan knows Natasha harbors real affection for him. However, for him, this connection is merely a contract, a strategic alliance he upholds, while she idealizes a love he has never been willing to return.

The next morning, I woke up and grabbed my phone. The time surprised me; it was already late. As I turned, I noticed Natasha still asleep beside me, tangled in the sheet. I ran my hands through my hair, trying to remember how the previous night had ended like this. I went to the bathroom, took a quick shower, and came out with a towel wrapped around my waist. Then I went to Natasha, who was still sound asleep.

—Wake up, Natasha, I said, gently touching her arm.

She opened her eyes slowly, sleepily, and gave me a lazy smile.

—Come back to bed, love.

—No, it’s late. Get up, I replied.

—Wow, someone’s in a bad mood. You don’t seem like the Bryan from last night, who called me wanting to see me… We had a wonderful night.

I rolled my eyes and walked away toward the door.

—Whatever. Hurry up, get dressed, and go home.

I opened the door and left the room, heading downstairs to the dining room. I sat at the table to have my coffee, and soon after, my brother Sebastian appeared. He looked at me with a teasing smile.

—Wow, Bryan, always so elegant, huh? he commented, mockingly.

I grabbed an apple and glared at him, rolling my eyes.

—Don’t start, Sebastian. I was hungry and didn’t have time to change.

He laughed, looking at me with that mischievous expression.

—I know. After a night with Natasha, it’s normal to be hungry.

I looked at him, surprised.

—You saw us last night?

Sebastian took a glass of juice and shrugged.

—Not just me. Dad saw us too. And, of course, he was happy.

I bit into the apple, feeling the weight of our father’s expectations.

—I know exactly why he’s so “happy.”

Sebastian just smiled, sipping his juice in silence as I finished my apple.

—And where’s Natasha now? he asked.

—Getting dressed. I told her to go home.

I got up from the table, and just as I was about to leave the room, my father walked in, his gaze as always calculating and imposing.