The Arrangement: Chapter 21

The moment I kill the engine of my car, parked in front of my father’s mansion, anger courses through me. The thought of having to postpone my evening plans with Tory for some asinine family meeting boils my blood.

It’s Aleksey’s doing—I’m sure of it. He must’ve run to our father, spinning tales about our recent confrontation. The notion that I’m being dragged into a parental arbitration at my age is both infuriating and demeaning. As I storm toward the house, the gravity of the situation sits heavily on my shoulders.

Stepping inside, the tension momentarily lifts at the sight of Irina and Adelina, my world, seated at the sprawling dining room table, engrossed in a puzzle. Adelina’s eyes light up as she spots me.

‘Papa! Come help us with the puzzle,’ she calls out, her voice a mix of excitement and command that only an eight-year-old can muster.

I smile, despite the storm brewing inside me. ‘Not right now, precious,’ I respond, my tone softening. ‘I need to talk to Dedushka. It’s important.’

Her face falls for a moment, disappointment fleeting across her features before she nods, understanding more than a child her age should. ‘Okay, Papa. But come back soon, okay? We need help.’

I lean down, pressing a kiss to her forehead, the anger momentarily subsided by her presence. ‘I promise, Princess. I’ll be back before you even notice I’m gone.’

As I turn to leave, Adelina’s small hand catches mine, her touch gentle yet firm. ‘Papa, why do you look so upset?’ she inquires, her innocence piercing through my carefully maintained facade. Internally, I chastise myself for letting my emotions become so visible, especially around her.

Irina’s observant gaze lands on us, a silent witness to this exchange. I should’ve been more cautious, more controlled.

‘Is it because of Uncle Aleksey?’ Adelina’s question draws me back, her intuition surprising me.

I kneel down to her level, masking my emotions with a practiced ease. ‘What makes you say that, Princess?’ I probe gently.

She shrugs, a small frown marring her brow. ‘He didn’t even stop to say hi to me or Irina.’

Her observation hits close to home, highlighting the tension that’s been brewing, yet I find myself defending Aleksey, despite my own frustrations. ‘Uncle Aleksey probably has a lot on his mind, Princess. Important adult stuff, you understand?’ I offer her a reassuring smile. ‘I’m sure he’ll make it up to you and say hello before he leaves.’

Adelina seems to ponder this for a moment before nodding, accepting my explanation with the trusting innocence only a child could have.

With a final squeeze of Adelina’s hand, I promise myself to shield her from these family storms, to keep the innocence in her eyes untainted by my world.

Striding up the grand staircase, a wave of frustration washes over me for letting Adelina see the cracks in my armor. She’s too clever for her own good, and it’s only a matter of time before she starts connecting the dots about what I do. A silent vow forms in my mind—I’ll protect her from it all for as long as I can.

My phone vibrates, a brief distraction from my thoughts. It’s Tory. Her text reads, Guess our wild night’s canceled? Shame, was looking forward to seeing you try to outdo last time.

I can’t help but smirk, typing back quickly, Wild night’s just delayed, not canceled. I promise, worth the wait.

Her reply comes with a playful edge, I’ll be the judge of that. Here’s something to ensure you don’t forget me, followed by a picture that ramps up my anticipation—a bold, teasing glimpse of Tory that sends my pulse racing.

In the photo she’s dressed in nothing but a pair of light blue panties, her arm crossing her breasts just enough to cover her nipples. She’s smiling, her red hair tossed about her face. The picture is hot as hell; I pause for a moment to compose myself, my cock stiffening to attention.

I’m looking forward to ripping those panties off, I reply.

Another picture follows, this one with her thumb hooked under the waistband of said panties, teasing me by pulling on the waistband but not enough to give me a glimpse. I growl like an animal as I take in the sight.

Using all the restraint I have, I slip my phone back into my pocket and continue.

First work, then play.

The exchange, brief as it is, sharpens my focus. My eyes lock onto the door of the study, and I’m ready.

Mulling over everything as I approach my father’s study, a decision crystallizes in my mind—Tory and Adelina need to get to know one another better. The thought alone sets my pulse hammering, a heady brew of anticipation and anxiety that dwarfs any apprehension about the impending family showdown.

Pushing the door open, I find myself walking straight into the heart of tension, the air thick with silent confrontations yet to unfold. My father greets me with a nod, his face a reflection of my own feelings about this forced gathering—irritation masked by a veneer of necessary family diplomacy.

Then there’s Aleksey. He doesn’t waste a moment, immediately taking the offensive, his disdain barely concealed. I attempt a greeting, a gesture of peace, but he’s dismissive, treating my effort as if it’s beneath him.

‘Good of you to finally show up,’ Aleksey sneers, his words dripping with a venom that’s all too familiar. Clearly, he’s enjoying this, the opportunity to cast me as the wayward brother, the one stepping out of line.

My jaw clenches at his tone, every instinct urging me to hit back, to wipe that smug look off his face. But I hold back, aware that any outburst plays right into his hands. Father’s watching us both, a silent arbiter of our sibling rivalry turned cold war.

‘So, Aleksey, what’s the urgent matter that couldn’t wait?’ I ask, forcing neutrality into my voice, even as I brace myself for his onslaught of accusations or demands.

He turns to our father. ‘Maksim’s lost it, thinking with his dick instead of his brain,’ he spits out.

His words, meant to provoke, barely register. I brush off the jab. ‘Aleksey,’ I start, my voice low, controlled, ‘you brought our business into my home, risked exposing Adelina to it.’ The memory alone fuels my anger, but I’m keeping a tight lid on it, for now.

Aleksey, smug fuck as always, fires back, ‘Using your daughter as a shield now? That’s low, even for you.’ He crosses the final line, suggesting Tory’s nothing more than a transaction to me. ‘Is that piece of ass really good enough to pay a hundred grand for?’

That’s it. Any semblance of control snaps. I’m across the room before I know it, my fist connecting with Aleksey’s face in a satisfying thud. He reels, then comes back at me, his punch catching my jaw.

Father’s shouting, trying to intervene, but it’s white noise. All I see is Aleksey, all I feel is this raw, primal need to protect what’s mine—Tory’s honor, Adelina’s innocence.

The room suddenly fills with the bulk of our father’s enforcers, their hands gripping us firmly, yanking my brother and me apart. I barely register the pain from the blow Aleksey landed; my focus is on the blood streaming from his nose—a small victory in a battle that shouldn’t have been fought.

“Enough!” Father’s voice cuts through the tension like a knife. ‘Never again, Maksim,’ he barks, his gaze drilling into me. ‘We stand together. Always.’ It’s a reminder, a command, that our family’s unity is paramount, no matter the personal grievances.

His eyes then shift to Aleksey, hard and unyielding. ‘And you, remember this—Maksim is your elder brother. His path is set. Yours is to support, not undermine.’ It’s a declaration, laying bare the hierarchy within our family.

As the guards release their hold, I straighten, brushing off my suit, the taste of blood in my mouth a bitter reminder of the line I’d crossed.

“Enough of this bullshit,” Aleksey sneers as he grabs his coat. “I came here for a discussion, and now I’m being put in my place as the spare.” He strides toward the office door. ‘Enjoy your temporary seat at the table, brother, when you finally get it. We’ll see how long it takes before you’re begging me to take over.’ Aleksey makes his dramatic exit, the door slamming shut with a finality that seems to echo through the silent room.

The urge to chase after him, to confront the storm of accusations and threats head-on, surges within me. It’s only the memory of my father’s stern command, his reminder of the fragile balance we’re forced to navigate in this family drama, that holds me back.

I turn to face Father, the frustration and anger clear in my expression. ‘How am I supposed to just stand by and let him—’

‘Enough, Maksim,’ Father cuts in, his voice firm yet weary. ‘Chasing after Aleksey will only escalate the problem. You need to be smart, not reactive.’

I exhale slowly, trying to rein in the tumultuous mix of emotions Aleksey’s words have stirred. ‘He’s threatening everything we’ve built. Everything you’ve built with his adolescent temper tantrums,’ I argue.

Father sighs, then tosses me a handkerchief. I press it against my mouth, feeling the sting of Aleksey’s blows, but it’s his words, his blatant challenge to my future leadership, that left a deeper mark.

‘So, this woman,’ Father begins, breaking the silence that had settled between us, ‘what’s the story there?’

I meet his gaze, choosing my words with care. ‘I’m seeing her. It’s serious.’ It feels like a confession, laying bare a part of my life I’ve kept shielded from the family dynamics. ‘She’s going to be spending time with Adelina this weekend.’

My father nods, a hint of a smile breaking through his usually stoic demeanor. ‘Good, good. It’s about time you found someone.’ But then his expression sobers, the father in him giving way to the patriarch. ‘Just remember, Maksim, the family comes first. Always.‘

The words hang heavy between us. I understand the weight of his reminder, the duty that comes with my name, my blood. But the implication that Tory might somehow be a distraction, or worse, a liability, sits uneasily with me.

I nod, the gesture more automatic than agreeable. ‘I know where my loyalties lie.’ The words are firm, but internally, I’m wrestling with the notion that my personal happiness could ever be at odds with my obligations to the Bratva.

Father leans back in his chair, his gaze locking onto mine with an authority that’s gone unchallenged for decades. ‘I’ll talk to Aleksey,’ he states. ‘Make sure he understands—our business, it stays out of sight, especially from Adelina.’

I find myself nodding, a silent thank you forming on my lips but never quite making it out. ‘Keeping that world away from her… it means everything.’

He gives a curt nod, the matter settled in his mind, and in this moment, despite the tensions and the looming threats, I’m reminded of the lengths to which he’ll go to protect the family.

“Remember, family first.”

As I leave the room, the heaviness of Father’s words settles over me. This ‘probation’ is a reminder of the tightrope I walk—balancing my duties to the family with the desires of my heart. Tory has become a central figure in my life, her presence challenging the boundaries I’ve long adhered to.

Yet, despite the warnings, the constraints, I feel what I have with Tory is worth every risk, every potential fallout. I will protect it with everything I am.