~ Madelyn ~

Aleks led me into the house and I couldn't help but gawk at its beauty. It was unreal.

Large chandeliers lit up the house as the white walls were decorated with gold designs. In the middle stood a large staircase with gold railings.

Aleks and Sebastian walked past the stairs and I trailed behind them nervously. We reached a large door. Two guards stood on either side of the door with rifles clutched to their chest. They looked at me and immediately lowered their heads in respect.

They opened the doors and we walked in. It was a huge office. White couches on either side of the office. A book shelf and a small bar area. This house really followed a theme of white and it matched the snow falling outside.

In the center of the office was a desk. A man stood behind the desk with his back facing us as he spoke fluent Russian into his phone and my body went rigid. He emitted power from every pore. He wore a full suit and his silver hair was gelled back neatly.

I stood behind Aleks and he grabbed my hand squeezing it reassuringly. Ivan ended his phone call before turning to look at us. I peeked up from behind Aleks and his eyes caught me as a smile took over his face.

"Aleks step aside so I can see my daughter." He said and Aleks immediately moved. His voice was rich and thick with a Russian accent.

His neck and hands were covered in tattoos.

"Hello Madelyn." He said with a warm smile and I looked up at him.

"Hi." I said softly.

"Thank you Aleks for bringing her back." He said. "Please leave us."

"eto bylo priyatno." Aleks said before shooting me a smile and walking out. (It was a pleasure)

"Ah my child let me look at you." He said tilting my chin up.

"You are beautiful." He said with a smile before walking to his desk and taking a seat. "Please." He said gesturing to the seat opposite him and Sebastian and I sat down.

"So you must have many questions." He said to me.

"Just one for now." I said looking at him. "What do you want from me?"

"Nothing." He smiled and I scoffed.

"Yeah right." I muttered and he sighed.

"ty mne ne doveryayesh' ?" He asked.

"English please." I said and he smiled.

"You do not trust me?" He repeated.

"I have no reason to trust you." I said softly and he nodded.

"That is true." He said before gesturing to Sebastian. "But your brother don't you trust him?"

"No offence but I don't know my brother." I told him. "I haven't seen him in 20 years."

"I understand how overwhelming this must be Madelyn." He said. "But we are your family. I promise we will take care of you."

"So that's what you want? To take care of me?" I asked him and he smiled.

"Da." He said before turning his attention back to Sebastian. "ne mogli by vy dat' nam minutku?" He asked him and Sebastian nodded. (Would you give us a moment)

"da, dyadya." Sebastian said before standing up. (Yes uncle)

"Don't worry you're safe." He told me giving my shoulder a squeeze before walking out.

When he left my father stood up pouring us a drink.

"Do you know any Russian?" He asked me and I shook my head.

"No." I told him and he handed me a glass of whiskey.

"There is always time to learn." He said smiling at me.

"It is suffocating in here." He said before opening the curtain to reveal a balcony connected to his office. "I would like to show you something." He said opening the door and I hesitantly got up following him.

He stepped out in to the balcony and I drank the whiskey allowing it to warm my throat.

"Your house is beautiful." I told him looking around.

"Correction my dear." He told me looking at me. "All of this is yours."

"Mine?" I asked and he nodded.

"This house , this empire, it is all yours." He said taking my hand. "If you want it."

"And if I don't?" I asked and he smiled.

"That's fine too." He said. "It is your choice Madelyn."

"Who will take over your Bratva if I decide I don't want to?" I asked him because I was genuinely curious.

"I love Sebastian like my own son." He said. "So it would be him. But you... You are my heir."

Then he gestured to the guards outside that were now looking up at me.

"You are their queen and they all know it. You will have respect from them ... And me." He told me giving my hand a light squeeze and I let out a heavy breath.

"This is all a lot to take in." I told him and he nodded.

"Of course my child you must be exhausted." He said walking back into his office. "There is no rush."

"I still don't trust you." I told him and he let out a short laugh.

"I would expect nothing less." He said smiling at me. "But I will earn your trust no matter how long it takes."

He pressed a button on his phone and Sebastian opened the door walking in.

"Your sister needs her rest." My father said and Sebastian nodded.

I stood up to walk out and gave one last glance to my father.

"I will think about what you said." I told him and he nodded.

"I will see you later." He told me.

Sebastian led me out of the office before slinging an arm over my shoulder.

"Hungry?" He asked.

"Starvingg." I grumbled and he smiled.

"Well we can't have that. I'd be hung if anyone found out I let their precious queen starve." He said dramatically and I couldn't help but smile.

"Oh shut up." I said rolling my eyes.

"Little secret." He said quietly near my ear. "Aleks has the hots for you."

"He does not!" I gasped smacking his shoulder and he smirked.

"Aww are you blushingg?" He asked poking my cheek and I smacked his hand away.

"No my face is just all red and cold from the snow." I said and he smiled.

"Oh right I forgot you have a boyfriend back in LA." He said and I immediately stopped walking. "Shit sorry someone needs to tape my mouth shut."

I let out a heavy exhale as I continued walking. " No it's fine it's just..."

"Too soon?" He asked and I nodded.

"Yeah." I muttered. "Too soon."

_________________________________________

Heyy guysss

I honestly wanna update as much as possible today because this book has been going on for so long and I can't see ait to finally look at it and be like "wow my first ever book is completed" ALSO I WAS THINKING RIGHTT AND HEAR ME OUT.

What would y'all think about woman × woman books? I feel like it would be such a cool area to explore and I think I could do so much with it because if y'all didn't know yet I'm actually bisexual so I think it would be such a good chance to bring the emotions to life yk?

Anywayss love y'all MWAH 💋