"The pipes groaned in the bathroom with no door where I'd lost my virginity the night before to a man who'd cooked a gangster in front of me as a birthday present. He calls me Kotik." The story is set in 1990s Russia. Katya Petrovna was raised right. She takes over the care of her mama and little brother when their father passes, and has to navigate a gritty, cold, and economically depressed post-Soviet Russia ruled by political corruption and organized crime. She meets Vitali Konstantinov, a seemingly nice man who woos her with flowers, gifts, and the temptation of a better life. But Vitali isn't as he appears. And if true love tells you how to dress, what to eat, and when to get on your knees-well, such is life. Note: this is a 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ fiction, but it is also a slow burn. I promise you that it pays off. WARNING: This story is dark, although it may not seem so from the start. PLEASE READ TAGS/AUTHORS NOTE and take care of your mental health 💕