Chapter Four

Viktor

I didn't start the feud with my brother ten years ago. As a child, I idolized Andrei. I was proud of him, my loving family, and my home.

Our great-grandfather was one of the last great princes of Russia before he died fighting for the white army in Siberia. But he sent his wife and son to safety in Alaskan exile. Since then, my generation has lived in self-sufficient poverty on an Alaskan homestead far from civilization. To me, it had been an enchanted winter kingdom, and I loved it.

But Andrei despised the isolation and the wildlife. He hated the lack of electricity and indoor plumbing. As I played, running around with sticks and toys, he buried his nose into business books. He wanted to be rich and leave the homestead.

"Someday, I'll have a better life." He told me one day. "I'll buy clothes instead of making them. I will buy a private jet and travel around the world. I would eat at fine restaurants and leave this life behind."

I listened to him breathlessly. "Really, Andrei? Would you do all that?" I would often ask. At that time, I believed he was the most sophisticated person I knew. Although I idolized him, I couldn't understand his need to leave our home at that time. To me, our home wasn't a burden. It was freeing, and I could do the things I wanted. Home. Family. Loyalty. These are the things that mattered to me.

Right after our father died, Andrei began to initiate his plans to own a business. He worked in a mine to save money for his goals, but I continued to enjoy our homestead.

Two years later, I began to have an interest in business as well. But I was interested in a different type of business. I discussed my plans with Andrei, and we spent time talking about running the biggest cartel. But at that time, it only seemed like a dream because we had no money. Also, Alaska was no place to play a dangerous game.

Therefore, I was surprised when money to leave Alaska was suddenly found. It was only later that I discovered that Andrei had managed to convince my mother to sell the six hundred and eighty acres that had been in our family for four generations. I felt betrayed, but I tried to forgive him. I told myself that he had only done it for our good.

Three years later, I wanted to return from Puebla to care for our mother, who'd become ill. Andrei convinced me that we needed to work on our cartel instead. "It's the only way we can make money to save her." He told me, and I listened like I always did. When news reached me that she was almost dying, I decided to throw away everything and go back for her. Andrei tried to stop me as usual, but I was tired of his manipulation. Our mother died in the cold Alaskan homestead, and I was right by her side. I had also made a fervent deathbed promise to get back the land.

When I returned to Puebla, I was furious. For the first time, I yelled at Andrei. How could he be so insensitive?

"Don't be selfish." He had told me coldly. "Did you really think mum could do all the work in the homestead without us?"

I would have cut off all ties with him then. But instead, after our mother died, I felt more bound than ever to him. He was my only family and we worked hard for a year to build our first cartel. We lived a dangerous life and needed each other.

"Don't worry, when we make enough money, you can buy the land back." He would always say to me. Working eighteen hours in harsh conditions, I was confident we would earn our first big payout and buy our land back again.

But, they were flaws in my plan that I had not seen coming. I hadn't known that Bennet Russel, the land buyer, had put the land in an irrevocable trust for his child. Or that, as recompense for my loyalty and hard work, Andrei would gang up with the family and cut me off before we made billions of dollars. The family made him boss, and he left me to die.

Now, even though that I had long started my own cartel and acquired wealth and power, my body still felt stiff anytime I remembered that my brother, who I trusted so much, had betrayed me. Even if I regained the land, it would never feel like home again because I would never be that same loyal, idealistic and stupid boy again.

No. I hadn't started the feud with Andrei.

But I would end it.

"I'm the answer to your prayer?" A sweet feminine voice asked me, snapping me out of my thoughts. My eyes focused on Lyra standing in front of me.

Her brown eyes were large and luminous. Her skin was smooth and creamy. As she blinked, I caught the weary gray shadows beneath her eyes. Her lips were full and pink, but the lower lip was chapped as if she had spent the last few hours chewing on it in worry. Her brown hair, which looked thick, tumbled down her shoulders.

She was beautiful in her way—innocent, full of energy, and with overblown curves. I cut off my thoughts, stopping myself from exploring further.

"I wanted the land back for a long time," I answered. "I'll make the arrangements for our wedding."

Her eyes widened, and she tried to hide a blush. "What kind of arrangement? You don't mean a honey......moon."

"No, I don't mean a honeymoon." Why did we need a honeymoon?

"Great." Her cheeks reddened. "I know this wedding is just for us to get what we want. That's the only reason I agreed in the..."

Her voice trailed off, and her eyes landed on my lips. She was so unguarded and innocent. Unbroken, pretty, virginal. It would be easy to seduce her.

Fortunately, she wasn't my type. My typical mistresses were sophisticated and fierce. Women who lavished hours in saloons and gyms, trying to look good. Exotic women who knew how to seduce a man and make him play their games. Women who kept their lips red and their hearts black. Who would greet me in silk lingerie and always had my favorite vodka chilled in the freezer. They welcomed me to bed and spoke little, allowing me to exert my dominance.

Lyra Bennet, on the other hand, expressed every thought in her head. And if she forgot to say something, her expression would give it away. She clearly saw makeup as a chore and going to the gym as a death sentence. In her oversized t-shirts and shorts, she made no effort to show off her curves.

But I was glad she wasn't trying to seduce me. It would only complicate things that didn't need to be complicated. And it would hurt a fragile young girl I did not intend to hurt. At least more than I already planned.

"So....I wanted to ask a question." She said, biting on her lower lips. "Can I?"

I nodded. "Let's hear it."

"How did you find me at the hotel?"

I closed my eyes to think for some seconds. I had prepared for the question, but I didn't know it would come this early. How did I find Lyra Bennet?