His Bratva Princess

Chapter 11

Sofia

Today is hard. I struggle to open my eyes, but I force myself to. I'm strong. I lay in bed, staring at the wall feeling almost numb. Todays my 21st birthday, today is the day that I also move into Viktor's. It's also 2 more weeks until I give myself over to him. I'll be bound my marriage, forced to bear children to give an heir to this life. What if I don't want my children to lead this life? Do I get a say?
A knock sounds on my door and I sigh, not ready to face the outside world yet. Should I be ready? I've been told about this moment for years. I knew the responsibility I had and it was my duty to the Bratva. That's what my father likes to say at least.
"Sof?" Mila calls out from behind the door.
"Come in," I rasp.
She enters my room holding a small box with a red ribbon around it. She jumps on my bed and hugs me so tightly, I think my lung may collapse.
"Happy birthday!" Mila squeals excitedly.
      I sit up and thank her as I grab the small box from her hands. Opening it, it reveals a beautiful gold bracelet with emeralds. My favourite.
     I embrace her in a tight hug, feeling beyond thankful for the im sure very expensive gift.
     "I know today may be hard for you. I do. But it doesn't mean you shouldn't make the most of it. You're 21! Officially a legal adult in all countries. This deserves to be celebrated. I know you're not too thrilled that you are to be married to my brother, but I can promise you one thing. As long as you're part of my family, which you always have been anyway. I will protect you and support you and I know it may be hard to believe, but Viktor will too," she squeezes my hands.
       Mila comes from a good place, I know that. But she will never know what it's really like to go through what I'm going through. At the end of the day, Viktor is her brother and she loves him. I care for Viktor and I know he wouldn't treat me badly, perhaps. But it's the life he leads.
       "I know," I sadly offer her a smile.
        She jumps off the bed and demands I get dressed and ready for my big day. First is breakfast with the family, including extended one. Aka, the Volkovs. Then we have to prepare for the big party tonight between the Italians and Russians. It's not really a celebration of my birthday. It more so feels a celebration of bringing the groups together.
       Mila leaves me to get ready for the day while she waits downstairs with everyone else. I choose a midi red dress with a v neckline and thick straps. I pair it with my gold accessories, including the bracelet Mila got me.
       As I descend the stairs, I hear the chatter from everyone and the smell of bacon wafts into my nose. I enter the large dining room where an assortment of food is laid out. Chocolate croissants, bacon, eggs, hash browns, fruit, danishes and all sorts of drinks and other food to go with it. My dad is big on birthdays. He likes to remind people of his wealth.
      "There she is! My big girl is all grown up," my father extends his arms for a hug. I sigh and hug him whilst Antoni comes up and tickles me from behind.
       "Happy birthday, little sis," he winks and pulls me in for a hug.
        Ivan wishes me a happy birthday and offers me a small gift, I thank him and place it on the table as I'm planning on opening it later in private. The only person who hasn't come and wished me happy birthday is Viktor. He actually isn't present at all, making me wonder where he could be. I thought this would be an exciting moment for him, tonight I go home with him and live with him forever.
"So, I assume everything is organised for the move?" Ivan questions, awaiting my response.
"Of course. The only thing that's left in my room is my bed, which I won't need because Viktor had plenty of beds in his house," I respond.
He raises an eyebrow and forces a piece of bacon into his mouth whilst in deep thought.
"Won't you be sleeping in the same bed as Viktor? He will be your husband. So why would you sleep in any other room?" He questions.
I know Ivan's expectations of Viktor and I. To get married and to consummate the marriage in the form of sexual intercourse, which will lead to some sort of heir to his Mafia throne.
"Of course we will sleep in the same room," I respond.
What he doesn't know won't hurt him. Sleeping in the same bed as Viktor makes things all too real and that's terrifying to me. I know Viktor and the family expect it, but what if I need time. I don't want a loveless marriage, that is one of my biggest fears. Yet, I'm already going into this marriage with the fear that I'm never going to be enough. Of course I don't want to get married, but this has been my fate for 21 years. I had feelings for Viktor but then he shut me down. I know he explained why, but he still didn't really say how he felt. Is it about the image for him? Will I just be the image of it all while he has all of his mistresses on the side? I don't want that. I don't want to be married for the rest of my life without being loved, respected and cared for.
"Good. I thought you were implying you would sleep in one of the guest rooms. How would you create a Bratva Prince for us if you did?" He laughs as if this is an everyday topic of conversation.
I feign a laugh as if I were to seem as if I was disrespecting him, it wouldn't go down too well.
Ivan, my father and Antoni fall into conversation surrounding business. A perfect birthday talk. Mila talks with her mum and I just sit in silence, playing with the mushrooms that lie on my plate. I look to the spare seat across from me where Viktor was supposed to be seated and I frown.
He couldn't even make my 21st birthday breakfast? He knew what this day meant, yet he didn't show up. Maybe he didn't want to get married or he didn't want me to move in with him.
For the rest of breakfast, I sit in silence whilst glaring at the empty chair across from me.

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