INICIAR SESIÓNKATYA"I have to admit, Katya… I did not think you had it in you."My father's applause echoed through the enormous sitting room as he slowly circled me like a predator admiring its prey.A strange smile spread across his face."There may actually be a little Orlov blood in you after all."I forced myself to smile back, even though every instinct in me wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.Instead, I remained exactly where I was. Calm and obedient like the daughter he suddenly believed he had reclaimed."I'll be honest," Viktor continued, folding his hands behind his back. "A part of me expected you to fail the moment you set eyes on Nikolai."I let out a dry laugh."You opened my eyes." I finally said,He stopped walking."Oh?""I couldn't believe how stupid I'd actually been."The words tasted bitter on my tongue."I actually thought..." I shook my head, letting out another laugh. "I honestly thought I was falling in love with him."Viktor watched me carefully."What was I thi
NIKOLAI “They are trying to get a rise out of me.”I stared at the cream-colored invitation Sergei had placed on my desk, my fingers tightening around the thick card-stock until it creased beneath my grip.Sergei stood across from the desk with his arms folded, watching me carefully.Viktor Orlov requests the honor of your presence… This motherfucker clearly had some nerve.My jaw clenched.The celebration was to formally introduce his daughter, Katya Orlov, to the Bratva families.For a long second, I simply stared at it all, and then I laughed.“To think she swore to me she had nothing to do with her father.” I muttered,If the disappearance of the Concord had not confirmed my suspicions before...This certainly did."Of course she was lying." Sergei snorted.I looked up."It is that evident in this," he continued. "Why else would Viktor throw a full-blown party in her honor? Come on, Nikolai."I exhaled slowly through my nose.The image of Katya crying in the cell flashed through
KATYA I wasn't even sure how much time had passed anymore.A day. Maybe a little more. It was long enough for the pounding in my head to fade into a dull ache now.I was still here. Trying to convince myself that none of this was real.My wrists were sore where the ropes had rubbed against them yesterday. The guards had loosened them enough that I wasn't in pain anymore, but they still reminded me I wasn't free.The door opened now and Daniel stepped inside carrying a tray.The smell of warm food drifted across the room. My stomach betrayed me with a growl."I told them you would probably refuse," he said quietly."I'm not hungry." I said immediately, completely ignoring my belly's cries.This was my own silent protest."You have to eat, Katya."I laughed bitterly."Funny." He set the tray down on the table. "I don't remember asking for your concern."He remained standing for a moment before lowering himself onto the floor across from me.Neither of us spoke for a couple of minutes.
NIKOLAI “Where is she?”I stormed through the front doors of the mansion. Every pair of eyes in the foyer immediately turned toward me.The drive back from Concord had been the longest of my life. A thousand possibilities had played through my mind.Had she tried to run? Had Viktor somehow found a way inside? Had another mole been hiding beneath my nose this entire time? The thought alone made my blood boil.If someone had managed to walk into my home and take Katya without anyone noticing... Then everything I had built about my house being a fortress and my whole reputation meant nothing.“She hasn't been found yet.”Sergei's voice cut through my thoughts.I looked toward him. He was already waiting near the staircase for me, and I could feel the tension coming from him.I walked straight toward him.“How long has it been since you noticed she was gone?”“About an hour now.” His expression remained grave. “I called you almost immediately.”My jaw clenched.“Have you checked the cam
KATYAThe first thing I felt when I opened my eyes was this violent throbbing at the back of my head. It felt like someone had split my skull open with an axe.I tried to reach for where the pain was, but my wrist refused to move. Immediately panic clawed at my chest, as I yanked harder, and that was when I felt the rope dig deeper into my skin.My ankles were also tied to the chair which I was sitting on.“What the fuck is happening?” I mumbled to myself, as I was there sitting in pitch black.Immediately, I began to remember everything leading up to this. Sergei had practically confessed to me about being my fathers mole.Oh dear Lord.I could still see the look in his eyes when he was coming close to me, before I turned around and tried to run.I jerked against the ropes now with everything I had. This time, shouting his name at the top of my voice.“Sergei!!” I yelled, “You motherfucker! Sergei!!”There was no response yet, but that didn’t stop me.“Let me go!”Something rough was
KATYA“Will my father be there too?”The question slipped out before I could stop it.Nikolai looked up from where he stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting the cuff of his black suit. He met my eyes through the mirror.“Yes.” He said, “He will.”I swallowed hard now, as silence settled between us for a second before he continued.“Every Pakhan, Bratva leader, and syndicate representative invited to the Concord will be there.”I let out a slow breath.“Well...”I rubbed my palms together nervously.“That would definitely be awkward.”A corner of his mouth lifted.“You could call it that.”I walked over to him, noticing that his tie was slightly crooked. Without thinking, I reached for it.“Stand still.”He raised an eyebrow but obeyed.My fingers worked carefully over the silk tie, straightening it before smoothing down the collar of his shirt. It amazed me how natural this had become.Weeks ago, I had hated this man.Now I was fixing his tie before he attended one of the
KATYAMy phone fell out of my hand, hitting the ground in a dull thud.My head spun as I tried to grasp what I had just watched.Daniel had cheated on me. My stomach twisted violently, the video going around on a loop in my mind.I staggered back, my legs hitting the edge of the sofa as I sank onto
KATYAWe landed in Russia three hours later.I stared out the window at the gray skies and endless stretch of snow-covered ground while panic clawed its way through my chest again.This could not be real.People did not just get kidnapped and flown across the world because their estranged father ap
KATYACold fear crashed into me so fast as my eyes locked on the gun pointed directly at my face.“What are you talking about?”“When were you going to tell me that you are Viktor Orlov’s daughter?” he asked quietly.I blinked at him.Viktor Orlov…My father.My eyes widened in confusion.“How do yo
NIKOLAIHer anniversary?And that bastard had spent it with his cock out in my club.My jaw tightened.What kind of man does that?No…scratch that.I knew exactly the kind of man that did that.The kind that did not deserve a woman like her.“What the hell does Kotyonok even mean?”Her voice cut th







