Silken Chains (Bond by Morozov Bratva Book 1) (Bond by Morozov Bratva Series)

I SINK into the worn leather of my father’s old chair, the one I’ve coveted since I was a boy. It feels different now, heavier somehow, weighted with the responsibility of the Morozov name. But it’s a weight I’m ready to bear, a mantle I’ve been preparing for all my life.

Ksenia leans against the doorway of my office, her arms crossed, an eyebrow arched in that way she does when she’s about to delve into something she thinks is a bad idea.

“So, Laura Anne Thompson? That’s your brilliant plan?”

I give a nonchalant shrug, not bothering to glance away from my screen. “She fits the bill, Ksenia. It’s all about timing.”

Casting a quick glance at Ksenia, I catch her eyebrow shooting up further, disbelief painting her expression. “You’re paying off her debts and orchestrating her divorce. You’re more sentimental than I thought, Victor.”

I turn my attention back to the computer screen. “It’s convenient,” I respond, my voice flat. “She’s a clean slate, no ties to our circles.”

Ksenia laughs. “Convenient for whom, Victor? You’re about to shackle yourself to a common girl. This is not one of your typical games.”

Zaebis, Ksenia never lets anything go.

I lean back in my chair. “You think I’m a fool, Ksyusha?” I lock eyes with her. “I need a wife; she needs a way out. It’s a simple trade.”

Ksenia, always the calm in the storm, watches me, her gaze sharp. “You’re playing with fire, Vitya. This woman, Laura… She’s a time bomb. You’re binding her to the Bratva over a debt she didn’t even know existed.”

I scoff, rolling my eyes. “Please, it’s not like I’m marrying her for love. It’s a business transaction. It’s just a deal to make sure Papa gets his surgery. Doesn’t matter who the bride is.”

Ksenia shakes her head. “And what happens when this ‘business transaction’ goes south? Bringing some common girl into our world is a stupid move. She won’t last a week.”

“She’ll learn to swim,” I retort coldly, the nastiness in my tone unmistakable. “Laura Anne Thompson’s life as she knew it is over. She’s part of the Morozov Bratva now, whether she likes it or not.”

Ksenia’s eyes narrow. “And what about you, Victor? Are you ready for what this means? Tying yourself to someone who could be your downfall?”

I stand, towering over her, my presence dominating the space. “It’ll never happen, Ksyusha.”

She studies me for a moment. Her gaze lingers on me, a sinister smirk unfolding across her lips. “Mark my words,” she hisses, “if she ever becomes a danger to our family, I won’t hesitate to eliminate her.”

SLAM!

My hand crashes down on the table, the sound echoing off the walls. It’s a rare loss of control from me, but Ksenia’s words hit me like daggers.

“Don’t you dare question my loyalty, Ksenia. You know damn well how important this alliance is for our family.” I can feel my muscles tensing, ready to strike back at her insults.

A normal person would have pissed themselves from fear by now, but not Ksenia.

She just stares back, unflinching, that damn smirk playing on her lips. “That’s a big reaction for something you don’t care about… little brother,” she taunts, her gaze drilling into mine. “Don’t let your feelings get in the way.”

Blyad!

“There’s no fucking room for feelings here,” I snap, my anger barely contained.

Ksenia’s cold gaze momentarily flickers with something akin to surprise before she masks it with her usual frost. It’s a game to her, but I’m not playing.

I inhale sharply. “For fuck’s sake, Ksenia,” I growl, my patience wearing thin. “Just focus on the wedding! It’s in three days, and I want the entire underworld talking about it.”

Her lips twitch; not quite a smile, more a sardonic curl. “Oh, they’ll talk, alright,” she replies, her voice dripping with unspoken threats. “But remember, Victor, she’s your responsibility. Any misstep, any danger she brings…”

I cut her off, “Don’t fucking test me, Ksenia. She’s soon to be my wife and mine to worry about. Touch her, and you’ll regret it.”

For a split second, surprise flickers across Ksenia’s usually unreadable face.

Then, as quickly as it came, it’s gone, replaced once again by that chilling calm. “As you wish, little brother,” she concedes, though her eyes tell me this conversation is far from over.