The Mafia Don’s little Con Artist

9 - Family Matters

Aleks POV:

I’m stuck considering my last meeting with my grandfather.

“I don’t have much time left Aleksandr. Part of the deal was that you would make an effort to marry. I gave you time to find a woman on your own, but now it’s a matter of business.” My grandfather nags.

I’ve taken responsibility over the Morozov family and all of its business for the past four years due to his failing health. I’m only thirty years of age, but the old man insists on seeing to it that I have an heir before he dies. At the very least, a wife to provide me one, but every female I’ve brought to him he has disapproved of.

I know what he’s trying to do, whom he’s trying to set me up with, and I refuse to accept that witch back into my life. No matter what benefits would follow our union.

My grandfather doesn’t even like her, but her family’s name isn’t one to sneer at, and joining our two empires would make us nearly invincible.

“Mandi is not an option.” I state firmly.

My grandfather tsks at my stubbornness, but he had no one to blame but himself.

“Well there must be someo-“

My next words left my mouth before I had the sense to stop them.

“I’ve already met someone.” I lie.

“Liar.” He accuses correctly. “Do you take me for a fool?”

“No grandfather. I don’t.”

“..What is her name?” He inquiries suspiciously.

“You’ll know it when you meet.”

“When?”

“Soon.” Another lie. With every word from my motor mouth I dig myself in deeper.

“At the Harrington charity dinner. You’ll bring her, and I’ll see her then.” He demands. “If she does exist.”

I roll my eyes, but promise she’d be there. I’m so fúcking screwed. That dinner is in two weeks, and after that there’s several other occasions that my grandfather would expect my nonexistent woman to be at.

-

The conversation is long forgotten while the music blares throughout the club. I needed space, and NiteLyfe was a neutral establishment where I could do just that without interruptions. Or so I believed.

It was my first time at this particular club and as I entered, it was nothing special to me.

On instinct, I search the room for anyone who might cause an issue for me, but am pleased to find only a few lower level families here.

It’s when my eyes hit the bar at the back of the club, that I’m immediately terrified.

A young woman stands behind the counter and makes quick work of filling various drink orders. Her thick dark hair is fastened into a messy ball on her head, and her smile blinds me as I stare.

“..oss…boss!” Ivan calls from my side.

“You okay?”

“Yes.” I tell him, all while keeping my eyes on the beautiful face behind the bar. “Get us a private booth.”

“Yes boss.” Ivan heads off to do as I’ve instructed, and I’m anxious to approach the woman.

I make my way straight to the back of the club, and the more I see of her, the more I find myself hungering for her. Starving for her. I want her.

Not just in my bed for the night..but I want her indefinitely.

What terrifies me is the overwhelming need and attraction I feel for her. A woman I’ve never seen before, and yet she’s completely bewitched me.

Before I can reach her, however, another bartender stands up from where she was crouched under the counter. She’s the opposite of my girl in every way.

Natural red hair, a few inches shorter and thinner than the brunette. But it’s not the presence of the other woman that stops me. It’s the kiss on the cheek she gives my girl before removing her apron and leaving her work area. It was far more intimate for them to be just friends or just coworkers. There was love in that kiss.

Fúcking figures. She’s in a relationship.

Still, it’s jealousy I feel, and not defeat.

Fúck.

I find Ivan and the private area he arranged for us, and immediately have us moved to a location where I have a better view of the bar.

Women approach us all night and offer booze, a lap dance, and s*x. An offer I normally wouldn’t turn down, but my attention is completely consumed for the time being.

Every fúcking move she makes, every fake laugh she gives the customers makes me hot with need.

“Ivan..find out who that woman is. I want to know everything.”

“Yes Boss.”

-

For the next two weeks I spare any night I can at this god forsaken club just to get another look at my girl.

Nearly two weeks go by and I have arranged every business meeting to be held at NiteLyfe in order to be close to her.

And just as my time was nearly up to find a woman to parade for my grandfather, I get into a reckless argument with that i***t Italian family head, and she throws herself between us.

My girl.

My delicate little babochka (butterfly) bravely puts herself in harms way to make peace.

She paid little mind to me, and even attempted to speak in Italian with Mr. Toscano. Their friendliness sent a new heat into my veins.

Anger.

I knew then, that I would do anything to keep her safe and to keep her close to me.

-

Finding her on a date with a nosy-no-good pig was frustrating, but easy enough.

Cornering her at the restaurant’s bathroom entrance was dangerous and yet thrilling. I nearly lost control of myself being so close to her.

Kidnapping her was far too easy, and an issue I’ll deal with later, but getting her to agree to be my fiancé for two months was worth it.

All I needed left to do was introduce her to grandfather. Or rather, arrange their introduction.

The plan: Leaving him in a particular part of the party room at the exact moment that my girl would arrive to the event, knowing grandfather could only walk so far without needing a break, and that she would run for a safe space as soon as she could. She’s as predictable as my grandfather is old, so this worked out beautifully.

She even made him laugh, granted he choked on that laughter, but still.

Then I noticed her dressed. It wasn’t the one I picked out for her, and while that other dress wasn’t exactly modest, THIS dress was going to send me off a fúcking cliff.

“What the fück are you wearing?”