Page 15 of Bratva Prince

He could practically see the assessments taking place behind every polite smile.The Marino daughter, and the Volkov prince.

The alliance, future implications, and the potential weaknesses.Out of habit, Dmitri adjusted the cuff of his jacket and surveyed the room before they moved forward.He silently noted three visible exits, two concealed security teams, and four armed men disguised as businessmen.

Nothing immediately concerning.Beside him, Sofia remained perfectly composed.Dark green silk hugged her curves without looking flashy.The color contrasted beautifully against her dark hair, which fell in soft waves over one shoulder.Emerald earrings caught the ballroom light whenever she turned her head.

She looked elegant, dangerous, and gorgeous.Judging by the number of men staring at her, Dmitri wasn’t the only one who noticed.The realization irritated him more than it should have.

A politician approached first, then a businessman, then another politician.The evening quickly became an endless parade of introductions and conversations.Sofia handled every interaction flawlessly.

She smiled when necessary, spoke when appropriate, and revealed absolutely nothing.Dmitri found himself watching her more often than he intended.She adapted quickly.

Most women entering this world through marriage spent months learning which conversations mattered and which smiles concealed threats.

Sofia already knew, because she’d been raised in a family every bit as dangerous as his.Still, watching her navigate the room felt oddly satisfying.

At one point a senator attempted to draw Dmitri into a discussion about shipping routes and customs inspections.The man smiled constantly, which was already a warning sign.People who smiled too much usually wanted something.

Dmitri already knew where the conversation was headed.A request disguised as diplomacy, an obligation disguised as friendship.Before the trap fully developed, Sofia casually appeared beside him.

“Darling,” she said smoothly.

The word sounded ridiculous coming from her.

Dmitri nearly laughed but managed to hold himself back.

“Your brother was asking about next month’s charity auction,” she said.

The senator immediately lost momentum.The conversation was successfully redirected, and the trap was happily avoided. The man excused himself moments later.Once he was gone, Dmitri glanced toward her.

“You interrupted,” he pointed out.

“You looked bored,” she replied.

“I was,” Dimitri answered.

Sofia almost smiled, but the moment disappeared as quickly as it arrived.Hours passed.The performance continued.The remarkable thing was how natural they appeared together.Neither of them had practiced, because they both understood public image.

Whenever someone approached Sofia with too much familiarity, Dmitri found himself drifting closer automatically.When someone attempted to corner him politically, Sofia somehow appeared nearby moments later.They protected each other without discussing or acknowledging it.

While circulating through the ballroom, Dmitri noticed a familiar face approaching Sofia.Victor Reznikov.Dmitri had known Victor since they were teenagers, and he’d disliked him for nearly that long.

Victor possessed the unique talent of being both arrogant and incompetent while somehow believing himself brilliant.Over the years, he’d been arrested for assault, drunk driving, illegal gambling, and one particularly stupid incident involving a nightclub owner’s daughter.

Every single time, his father, the Pakhan of the Reznikov Bratva, had swept in to make the problem disappear before real consequences could arrive.Victor had spent his entire life protected from the results of his own decisions.As far as Dmitri was concerned, that explained almost everything about him.

Victor smiled broadly as he approached Sofia.“Sofia.”

“Victor,” Sofia greeted politely.

The man’s gaze traveled over her with entirely too much familiarity.Dmitri was still several feet away, engaged in conversation with a businessman, but his attention shifted immediately.

“I have to admit, when I heard about the wedding, I didn’t believe it,” Victor was saying.

Sofia lifted her champagne glass.“Yet here I am.”

“Married life treating you well?”Victor asked.

Her expression remained perfectly composed.“It’s been good.”