The Other Brother

[Astoria’s POV]

I found myself in a sleek black car, the model was high-end, which spoke enough about The Romeros’ status.

The car had been discreetly parked so as not to draw attention to strangers.

The warmth of the car was almost overwhelming after the cold night air. A chauffeur had put in my suitcase as if I wasn’t used to lugging my things around.

The leather smelled expensive, and the soft hum of the engine felt oddly comforting. I sat there, staring out the window as the city lights blurred past.

A few hours ago, I was robbed of my happiness and the only person in my life whom I called mine, but now, I was simply going away with a strange man, a CEO nonetheless, to attend my mother’s shotgun wedding.

I would have laughed, but the morbidity of the situation only wanted to make me cry.

I wondered if my mother would simply ask me to leave after her wedding was over.

“You’re thinking too loudly, Ms. Winters,” Vladimir’s voice cut through my thoughts.

I glanced at him to see if he was actually annoyed, but he wasn’t. He was already looking at me, but there was a faint smile playing on his lips.

Wordlessly, I turned back to the window, watching the night fade into the distance.

~~~~~

The Blackstone estate rose out of the fog like a foreboding mansion. Tall iron gates stood open, as if waiting for our arrival. Beyond them stretched a long driveway, lined with dark trees that bent inward, their branches tangled like claws reaching for the sky.

I sat straighter in the backseat, suddenly feeling my stomach twist. On the way, I felt more indifferent, but seeing the mansion now made me realize the enormity of the reality. 

“We’re here,” Vladimir announced as if I hadn’t already guessed.

I glanced at him and nodded in acknowledgement.

The car came to a smooth stop beneath a stone archway. Lights flickered on automatically, washing the steps leading to the main door in a pale glow.

I stepped out slowly, my legs stiff, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure Vladimir could hear it. A lady clad in trousers and shirt walked up, bowed to Vladimir like he was a king and wordlessly took the suitcase from the chauffeur’s hand.

“Welcome,” she then addressed me with a warm smile.

I felt a stab of dismay as I realized that neither mom or my step-father where anywhere in sight.

“Thank you,” I managed to say and mirrored the smile, hoping it was a grimace.

“Let’s go in,” Vladimir said. He walked past me and I followed like a newborn colt.

I couldn’t get the fact out of my head that this was where my mother was getting married tomorrow.

This was the place I was supposed to smile and pretend we were a family.

Inside, the house smelled faintly of cedar and something metallic I could not place. The black marble floors gleamed beneath my feet.

I felt out of place.

The woman who had disappeared after taking my suitcase, reappeared.

“Is her room prepared, Mera?” Vladimir asked, his tone neutral.

She nodded, and then…sudeenly I noticed her gaze.

It flickered to my throat and then back up before darting to Vladimir who stood beside me.

“Good, come on. Let’s get you settled,” he said gently.

Vladimir led me deeper into the house.

There were several portraits on the wall, and every single one of them carried the same unmistakable intensity.

Eyes that looked mesmerizing yet mysterious and sharp features.

I admired each one of them as my gaze fleeted over from one to another.

“Your mother will see you in the morning,” Vladimir said, drawing my attention to him.

I didn’t know whether to feel glad or disappointed. I mean, I was looking forward to meeting her, but she was clearly not available for even welcoming or meeting me today.

“Got it,” I said, making an ‘OK’ sign with my thumb and forefinger.

When I glanced at him, I saw that he was already looking at me, something unreadable crossing his face, but said nothing.

Then we turned a corner.

And the world shifted.

Another figure stood at the end of the hallway, at the end of the hallway.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dressed in black, like a uniform. His face was impassive, stance neutral, which awfully reminded me of my PE teacher when he stood at the basketball court while he watched us make a fool out of ourselves.

Our gaze locked.

Something slammed into my chest. Not fear, but…something. A weird feeling that I didn’t know what to name.

My breath hitched, and my vision blurred for half a second, like the world had tilted and then snapped violently back into place. I stopped in my tracks.

But that man didn’t move from his place. Instead, he regarded Vladimir and me.

As if sensing something, Vladimir stopped beside me. “Astoria… this is my brother and your step-brother…Viktor.”

Brother. My gaze snapped to Vladimir and then back to Viktor.

We were barely standing far apart now, so I could see how his gaze darkened, and his jaw clenched, like I had done something wrong to him unknowingly.

But I knew if I felt daunted now, he would forever hold that on me. Even I had to stay for a few days, I wouldn’t live like a scaredy cat.

“Viktor,” Vladimir said more firmly. “This is Astoria Winters.”

I waited for him to speak, giving him a small smile just for formality’s sake.

However, neither did he smile back or say anything in return.

Instead, his eyes assessed me again. Slowly. Deliberately. From my face to my throat. To my collarbone. To the faint pulse beating beneath my skin.

It was like a slow caress that, oddly, I could feel.

A shiver ran through me, deep and unwelcome.

“Welcome, I guess,” he said, his voice deep and rumbling.

Then he stepped back and turned around, walking in the opposite direction before turning another corner, disappearing from view.

The silence he left behind was deafening.