Her Russian

Chapter 63-Meeting The Family

Ilia watched his wife with wonder and amazement with how she handled herself under the circumstances.  She was smiling and laughing with the heads of the families and they seemed to warm up to her quickly.  Everyone except for Andre Petrov.  He was scowling at both him and Galina.

Ilia adjusted his suit jacket, buttoned it up and headed to where Petrov was standing, leaning against the wall smoking a cigarette and generally looking pissed off about everything.

"Savin" he said coldly.  "Petrov" Ilia returned the sentiment.  "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company this evening?" he sneered.  "Andre I would recommend you reeling in the attitude.  I'm still the head of this family and I don't appreciate your blatant disrespect" Ilia responded, his nostrils flaring.

Pushing off the wall and stubbing out his cigarette, Petrov continued his verbal onslaught against Ilia and Galina and now the other heads and organization members were hearing it as well.

"So, your wife" he said with a condescending tone and pissing Ilia off with every second.  "Choose your words very carefully, Petrov" Ilia's voice low, cold and threatening.  "How do we know that the story she has been telling all of us is even true?  How do you know that she hadn't planned on taking our money all along?"

Ilia watched Galina approach Petrov, a smile plastered on her face.  "Mr. Petrov?" she started, her hand out.  The man looked at her and then stared at her outstretched hand.  Everyone waited to see what he would do.

Finally he took her hand.  "I just found out three months ago, when my babushka passed away, that I had been left a huge sum of money.  I had no idea where the money came from, as Zoya always struggled to keep me fed, clothed and a roof over our heads.

Part of her will stated that I could have her house but I had to come to St. Petersburg.  It was after that move and when I met my husband that the true story of the money came to light and I assure you, sir.  

As soon as I found out that Dimitry Toykin had stolen from you, I went straight away to the bank, procured a cashier's check for each of you and asked Ilia to help me get you your money back.

I was ashamed when I found out how my father treated people and how he ran his business.  I believe in loyalty and honesty and unfortunately he possessed neither of those qualities and therefore I believe he got what he deserved.

I have not been at peace since I discovered the truth about the money.  Now, without any further hesitation, I would like to present each of you a cashier's check, made out in the name of each boss.  Ten million each.  I hope and pray that my actions have spoken louder than my father's words.

And I want to apologize for the deeds that were perpetrated against all of you.  Zoya Erin raised me to believe that a man is no good without his word and reputation and I assure you gentleman, that I posses both.  Thank you for allowing me to be here this evening and I sincerely hope that my words have settled and put at ease any doubts you might have had concerning my intentions."

Ilia couldn't have been more proud of his wife as she took her place by his side, her arm inside his, her eyes meeting his and smiling at him.  And when they finally broke eye contact, he went back to address his counterparts.

"Gentlemen, I trust that we are all good now?  Please, if any of you have any questions, let's get these addressed now.  I would like to get my wife home and put her to rest.  We are expecting our first child" he told them proudly.

There was an applause that sounded out, echoing in the room, lots of well wishes thrown out as well.  No one spoke up with any additional things to say, so they were all getting ready to pack up and leave when Andre Petrov spoke up, again.

"I'm still not buying it.  I think you have all been enthralled by a pretty pussy and she has your heads spinning.  She's a Toykin and therefore cannot be trusted.  Are you all actually going to let her walk out of here, after all she betrayed us all as well!"

When he finished his rant, Ilia walked right up to him and he never saw the right hook until it landed firmly on his nose.  You could hear the bones cracking, blood spraying everywhere and his screams echoed loudly throughout the facility.

"If you ever think about disrespecting my wife again, Andre, I won't hesitate to put a bullet through that thick brain of yours.  She has been found, not guilty, by an impartial conglomerate of our peers and it's over.  Quit trying to make it something it's not.  It.is.finished."  Ilia had spoken.

Ivanshov, Romanov, Yumov and Popov all came up to Ilia, holding him back while some of the other soldiers escorted Andre and his crew out of the warehouse, but not before he was spewing more threats.

"I won't forget this, Savin!" he yelled, still holding a towel to his broken nose.  "You and your bitch are both going to regret humiliating me in front of our syndicate tonight.  You won't see me coming, but I swear you both will be begging for mercy by the time it's over!"  And he left, just like that.

Ilia's arm automatically went around Galina's waist as he pulled her closer into his body.  It pissed him off that Petrov thought he could talk to his wife that way.  And what pissed him off even more, to the point that he wanted blood, was that she was standing there shaking.

"Galina, look at me" he said softly once they were in the car.  His wife looked over at him, her eyes a little watery.  "Ilia I don't understand why he still thinks that I had something to do with this?  He got his money, I thought he'd be happy" she said sniffing.

Drawing her into his lap, Ilia knew he could distract her until she fell asleep and so that's what he did.  He put his mouth on her neck, giving her little love bites and nips all while his hand was wandering up her dress.

Ilia was raging inside but he would never let his wife know this or she would worry.  He would make sure that Petrov paid for his insolence and insubordination and he knew he would have the backing of the syndicate.  

Knowing Petrov, he would try and pull something but Ilia was going to put together a first strike and he would never see it coming.  He would enjoy standing over his body, watching it drain of all life, after all, he was Ilia Savin and you didn't mess with him or his family.