SWNOVELS Chapter 2
The creak of the door breaks the silence, followed by the heavy tread of boots. My heart pounds like a drum as the lights flicker on, bringing Maxim and his cold fury into sharp focus.
His guards stand behind him, weapons drawn, and his own gun is aimed directly at Leo. “A family reunion. And I wasn’t invited?”
Leo glares back at him with hate. “You’re not her family, even if you do share blood with her.”
My muscles tense, fear pooling low in my belly. We’re cornered, outnumbered, and facing the wrath of a man who knows no bounds.
“Let them go,” Aly pleads with her father. “We had a deal. I’ll stay, but you have to let them all go.”
The words are barely out of her mouth before Leo steps in front of her. His eyes are fierce with challenge as he raises his arm, a pistol pointed at his opponent’s chest. It’s a useless standoff, each man with a gun drawn at the other. The only difference is that Maxim has an army to back him up.
Maxim chuckles and casually lowers his weapon, a demonstration that he has all the power. “What’s your endgame here, Kozlov?” he asks Leo, reclining against a wine cask. “Do you think you can rescue Alyona and gallop off into the sunset as a happy couple? You—the man who abandoned her for the brotherhood—are suddenly the knight in shining armor?”
A tingle of unease prickles my neck. How Maxim knows about Aly and Leo’s past is beyond me, but one thing is certain: he’s a man accustomed to getting his way. What he wants is a partner to rule alongside him. Whether it’s Aly or another, bound by blood or oath, does it really matter to him?
While Maxim and Leo continue to face off, an idea begins to take shape in my mind, one that could alter everyone’s lives here.
“This doesn’t change anything,” Maxim snarls, snapping my attention back to the present. “Alyona is still needed by my side.”
“It is a choice. Her choice,” Leo roars. ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to secure Aly’s freedom. Kill me if you must to make your point, but it will only drive your daughter away and deepen her hatred for you.’
Goosebumps dance across my skin. Provoking Maxim is like taunting a lion in his den—it’s only a matter of time before he strikes.
Andrei must have the same thought because he steps forward and tries a diplomatic approach to negotiating Aly’s freedom, offering Maxim a lucrative alliance with the Kozlov Bratva.
“More money, more power… That means nothing to me,” Maxim says with a dismissive wave. He comes to stop in front of Leo, his face as hard as granite. “While I applaud your loyalty to my daughter, I require an heir, a blood relation to lead by my side. And make no mistake” — his mouth settles into a hard line as he tilts his head towards Aly — “you may not want this, but you will learn to be a leader. As my daughter, it’s in your blood. Are you willing to walk away from our agreement, Alyona?”
Aly’s fear is palpable as Leo steps forward, looking ready to rip Maxim limb from limb.
“Stop!” All eyes are on me as I stride through the room and position myself directly in front of Maxim. Curiosity dances in his gaze as it settles on me. “You want an heir, someone to rule by your side…” The room takes a collective breath. “Then take me.”
I’m gambling on Maxim’s willingness to consider a different arrangement—one that offers Aly the freedom she craves while allowing me to infiltrate his inner circle. Because what better way to unearth Maxim’s dark secrets than by his side … as his wife?
“I’ll marry you,” I say, my nails pressing into my palms. “I will become your wife and lead by your side, but let Alyona go.”
Maxim’s expression morphs into one of intrigue, his eyebrows arching. One side of his full mouth quirks upwards.
“Kira, no!” Aly’s voice is thick with panic, but I give her a pleading look. This plan serves us both.
“Now, why would you want to do that?” Maxim questions, eyes narrowed.
My skin feels electric with tension, but I keep my head high. “Because I want to be in power. I was born to rule. Even if I despised my father, royalty is in my blood. It’s my fate. This will be nothing more than a business arrangement. No romantic entanglements, nothing that could get messy.” I’m not sure if what I say next will sweeten the deal, but I’m desperate enough to try. “But I will give you heirs if that’s what you want.”
Maxim’s face gives nothing away, his fists tight at his sides. It’s surprising he’s even considering my proposal, but it means I was on the mark—he wants someone bound to him to rule by his side, and he’s smart enough to realize that he can’t force his daughter into that role.
Maxim’s demeanor remains composed as he turns to Aly. “What do you have to say on the matter?”
Her expression darkens. “I’d like to speak to my friend alone. Without you and your guards breathing down our necks.”
“You have five minutes.” With a sweep of his arms, Maxim and his men clear out of the room.
Aly is the first one to speak. Or rather, yell. “Are you crazy?! I won’t let you do this,” she hollers, stomping her foot. “You can’t bear him a child! I won’t allow you to sacrifice your happiness for mine.”
“You’re not allowing me to do anything,” I point out. “It’s my choice.”
Leo turns to me. “Sestra, it means the world that you offer yourself like this, but there is another way.”
“Leo is right.” Andrei crosses his arms in front of his chest. “I can’t stand the thought of you tying yourself to that monster for the rest of your life. We’ll figure something out.”
“I don’t get it.” Alyona’s face falls. “You hate him. You hate him more than I do!”
“Oh, I hate him, alright.” I sigh deeply. “But he’s a means to an end.” That’s all I’ll say on the matter. If I tell them my true motivations behind this marriage, they’ll fight me bitterly. Because marrying Maxim Belov for the sole purpose of investigating him and possibly killing him is dangerous. I know it is, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take.
Leo throws his hands in the air. “Money and power we have… What could he possibly give you?”
“Trust that I have my reasons. I can’t tell you what those are right now, but I’m going into this with my eyes wide open.”
“There is no ‘wide open’ with a snake like Belov,” Daniil snarls. “At least take some time to consider. You can’t decide your entire future under pressure like this.”
“Aly and I can stay here while we try to work things out with Belov,” Leo offers. “I can’t allow you to throw away your future on a whim.”
I hold up my hand. “This isn’t a whim. And this is not a case of altruism. Although, you know I would do anything for you, Aly.” I give her a weak smile. “This is for me.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Aly gives a small shake of her head, her lower lip caught under her teeth. “‘Thank you’ doesn’t seem sufficient.”
“Not ‘thank you’.” I hug her. “How about ‘good luck’?”
The hair on the back of my neck rises, and the air shifts in the room as Maxim comes back in. “So?” He raises his eyebrows at Alyona.
“What do you want me to say?” Aly’s gaze hardens. “You’ve left us with no choice.”
Maxim approaches me, standing so close I can smell his musky aftershave. One of his fingers tips my chin upwards, our eyes meeting. Something about how he looks at me, how close he’s standing—all of it—causes a strange heat to stir within me. A flutter of nervous energy dances in my stomach, an uneasy mix of anticipation and dread. It must be the thrill of knowing I’ll soon avenge my aunt’s death.
“Is this what you want, lastochka?” It means swallow bird, a term of endearment, but he’s using it to mock me.
“‘Want’ is a strong word, but I accept this arrangement.”
His shrewd eyes sweep across my face as if unraveling my true intentions. “I look forward to learning exactly what it is you’re really after, Kira. And make no mistake, I will find out.”
I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from reacting.
His gaze sweeps the crowd, his smile wolfish. “It’s settled, then. Kira and I will marry. And that makes us all family.”
The room is so silent you could hear a pin drop.
I refuse to look at Maxim or anyone else. From here on out, I’ll act the part of his wife while digging up every dirty secret my soon-to-be husband is hiding.