“Are you going to ask Lucian to help?” Carson asks.

I shake my head. “This is a family affair. He’s already helped enough.”

“Family affair?” Ariana asks, her big hazel eyes locked on me.

“You’re one of us now, and we look after our own,” Alexei says.

I see how Alexei’s statement hits her. Ariana’s eyes dart over the table, and then she swallows hard and lowers her gaze. Placing my hand on her thigh, I give her a squeeze, then I turn my attention back to the matter at hand.

“We’ll leave for Russia tomorrow.”

“How’s this going to play out?” Damien asks. “Are we attacking first or waiting for them to come to us?”

Alexei shakes his head. “We’ll attend the Bratva meeting and take it from there. If there’s going to be a show of power, I want it to happen at the meeting.”

“Why?” Carson asks, his eyes locked on his brother.

“Because they’ll either kneel to me as the new head of the Bratva or die,” Alexei says, his tone unyielding.

I’m glad to hear Alexei’s made a decision.

Alexei gestures at Ariana and me. “Demitri will take over Sergei’s business, and as always, he’ll be my right hand.”

Damien’s eyes snap to me. “You’re getting married?”

Ariana makes a choking sound, and then she begins to laugh nervously. “No.No.No. We’ve only known each other two weeks.”

Damien shrugs. “So?”

His marriage to Winter was arranged two weeks after they met, so my brother probably expects the same of Ariana and me.

“Ariana was raised differently than us,” I explain.

“Like Hailey?” Carson asks. His girlfriend isn’t from our world, as well.

“Yes.”

“So, are you just going to manage the business for Ariana?” Damien asks.

“For the time being.”

The corner of his mouth lifts when he reads between the lines.

Ariana will marry me.

ARIANA

When we got here, I had to suppress the urge to run back to the plane and hide. I’m still getting used to Alexei, and meeting Damien and Carson, who look just like their brothers, was intimidating as hell.

And then there’s Winter. Now that’s one woman I won’t be looking for trouble with. She moves like a jungle cat, her demeanor matching that of her husband’s.

Well, girl, you’re in the thick of it now.

As soon as the meeting was over, I sneaked out of the house. Demitri will probably scold me for leaving his side, but he said we’re safe here.

I walk toward a lining of trees, just needing a little time away from everyone. I’m used to being alone, and I haven’t had much of that since Alexei came to get us from the island.

My thoughts turn to what Alexei said, that I’m a part of their family now.

Am I really?

They’re all cut-throat killers… and then there’s me.

I hear leaves crunching behind me, and glancing over my shoulder, I see Winter coming toward me.