Page 41 of Silken Chains
Chapter 15
Victor
I STRIDE into the main house; the place reeks of luxury and old money. But, as always, it’s as tense as a coiled spring. My father hates an audience. He keeps his circle tight, only a handful of soldiers he trusts. The rest is just sprawling land and this goddamn mansion.
Ksenia’s holed up in her office, a command center that mirrors the severity of our world. Stark, functional, with the kind of affluence that speaks more of power than comfort. A large, imposing table anchors the room, a chandelier overhead casting stark shadows across the walls.
She’s surrounded by a mountain of paperwork, the logistical brain behind our operations. Her mind is like a steel trap, especially when it comes to finances. She can sniff out discrepancies in the books faster than a hound.
“Building a paper fortress, Ksenia?” I jest as I enter.
Without missing a beat, she retorts, “Trying to keep the empire afloat. What do you want?”
I lean casually against the wall, observing her dissect the financial chaos. “Just checking in. How’s the balance sheet looking?”
Ksenia glances up, her gaze sharp. “We’re bleeding funds, Victor. You should pay more attention; that fifteen million dollars in cargo can’t just disappear. We need to handle this.”
“Suka!” A deep curse rumbles in my throat. “Misha and I are on it. Ivan’s got to sit on it before they can repack the stuff and move it. Can’t risk it getting sniffed out.”
Ksenia’s response is noncommittal, her gaze fixed on some point beyond the paperwork.
I probe further, “You still got a thing for Ivan Vasiliev?”
“Don’t be an idiot, little brother,” she snaps, shooting me a withering glare before turning her attention back to the mountain of paperwork. “Just keep your jokes to yourself. I’m not in the mood.”
“Just double-checking—” Suddenly, I go silent, a faint noise catching my ear. It’s barely there, but in our world, even the slightest sound can mean trouble.
Ksenia’s expression instantly shifts to one of ice-cold alertness.
I tread quietly toward the bookshelf, every sense on edge, ready for anything. In a swift move, I pull back a book, yelling, “Gotcha!”
“Ahhhhhh!!” The high-pitched scream of a little girl pierces the tension, quickly dissolving into giggles.
“Dyadya Victor, you scared me!” Elizaveta exclaims, her beautiful gray eyes wide—the same eyes that Ksenia and I share.
I can’t help but chuckle at her shock. “Sneaking around isn’t safe, Eli. You shouldn’t be listening in on grown-up talk.”
She smirks, a spark of mischief in her eyes. “But I did so well! Mommy and you didn’t even know I was here for so long!”
Seeing her so proud, I can’t resist giving her a big hug, lifting her off the ground. I plant a kiss on her cheek, feeling a surge of affection for this bright spark in our often-grim world.
“You’re too clever for your own good, kiddo.”
Eli giggles, wrapping her small arms around my neck. “I want to be smart like Mommy and strong like you, Dyadya Victor.”
I set her down on a chair, ruffling her hair. “You’re already on your way, trust me. But remember, being smart means knowing when to keep out of trouble.”
“Dyadya Victor, who is Ivan Vasi… Vasiliev?” she stumbles over the name, trying to get her tongue around the unfamiliar sounds. “Is he a bad guy, Dyadya Victor?
Shit. She heard everything. I shoot a side-eye at Ksenia.
“Well, he’s our enemy!” Ksenia declares matter-of-factly.
Elizaveta’s eyes widen, forming an “O” shape with her mouth. “Did our enemy steal from us?”
“No, Mommy and I were just joking, Eli,” I quickly say, trying to shield her from the harsher truths of our world.
“Yes, he did,” my sister interjects, her voice firm.
