A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Alena

and Alexei were staring widely at me, but they

It

I was safe to say after the whole incident, I had run out as fast as could Papa didn't do anything to stop me either. They were probably surprised at my impromptu action. I was surprised, too. Most of the people were staring at us. They were whispering about how a woman had lost her mind-they were probably even whispering because he was already married. What if he was someone's husband? I was literally crawling into my own. grave now.

couldn't forget the intensity of his stare. It was mesmerizing to say the least. The man possessed beautiful brown eyes. Some might say brown eyes were boring but last night, it was nowhere near boring. His eyes were light and dark at the same time, somehow it got darker after he kept looking down at my lips. Was he tempted for more?

Why would he? I was a nobody.

Except for the fact that my father was the Pakhan, I barely had any reputation. I wasn't one of the socialites. I had kept my life as normal as I could, trying to stay away from being known. I enjoyed my life at the hospital, and I didn't mind spending hours at work because I

was s doing something I I loved.

So, here I was. Sitting on the couch in my living room, staring at an empty space.

A sudden knock was heard on the door as my phone started to ring, causing me to immediately look at the caller's name. Alexei.

A

brother doing here?

What was my brot

No. He

He wasn't even supposed to be here. He was already planning with Papa to ruin my life, marrying me off to a stranger. How could I even begin to trust them again? They were taking everything away from me.

My career. My freedom. My life.

The three things I was holding onto. They could never take them away.

"Alena. I know you're in there!" He shouted from the other side of the door, continuing to press on the doorbell and knock on the door. "Please, open the door."

"What the hell do you want, Alexei?!" I replied, completely annoyed by his presence.

I needed space. A A whole lot of them.

"I want to talk to you.

"Leave me the***k alone!"

"Let me in. I'll explain everything!" I could imagine his frustration, but I didn't care anymore. He could lose his head to Papal or lose his life, for all 1 cared.

1 stayed still, trying to ignore his knockings but it kept getting louder.

+

My phone kept ringing and the banging wasn't stopping anytime soon. He wasn't going to give up and I wasn't going to blame him either. We were raised to get whatever we wanted. So, it came with the package of being stubborn. I guess it kind of backhanded back to our parents. They raised persistent children.

"Alena, I won't leave intil you open this f***g door."

"Stay as long as you want. I don't want to see your face."

closed my eyes as I lay down, trying to drown the sound.

+6

Knowing my dear brother, he wasn't going to leave. He was going to wait until I open the door and he knew, I wasn't going to lock myself in this house for too long. Eventually, I needed to leave, and he was waiting for that moment.

My mind kept wandering back to the Sicilian leader. He was not who I was expecting to kiss but he was the only one standing in the middle of the crowd-he was the only one to stand out.

He was tall, at least six feet tall. His hair was the darkest shade of brown, but his eyes were as light as amber. It wasn't worthi denying the fact that he was attractive because he was, indeed, attractive. Don't get me started on the shape of his lips, they were full and I could still feel the warmth of his breath on my face.

luscious. They were soft, too. I could

I needed to find out more about him.

I wanted things to go my way so I could plan out something.

Papa could t to marry me off, could try

but the could never succeed. I was in control of my own life whether he liked it or not and he wasn't going to ruin that. He was trying to build an alliance and achieve more power, but he didn't have to involve me. Mama was Mama quiet. No, it wasn't because she agreed.

She was stuck in between supporting her husband and protecting me. Mama knew how important the Bratva was for Papa, and she never wanted to destroy the empire he had built. So, she chose her silence. Maybe, it was a mistake to keep staying in the same country as them.

I could've left when I had the chance, but I didn't figure out my life this far.

I

After looking

You still

at the clock, it was already an hour passed five.

still there?"

I asked, waiting for a response.

"Yeah. Do o you plan on opening the door soon?"

"Maybe. Maybe not."

Alexei was probably cursing under his breath as he sat and leaned against the wall. His hair was a mess, and his eyes were red. -he looked tired. I pulled the door open, and our eyes met in an instant. A deep sigh left his lips as he stood up.

"You didn't protect me." I muttered.

"I was in no position to." He replied, running his fingers through his hair. "Papa had it planned for weeks and all I did was

He

didn't want to listen. Alena."

argue.

"You didn't try harder."

"I tried my

hardest."

"Not hard enough."

He sighed. "What did you expect me to do?"

"I don't know. Maybe, stand up for me? You're the Pakhan, for god's sake. I thought it was your decision to make. Yet, you

I

kept quiet and did nothing-low do you expect me to trust you again?" I crossed my arms around my body, tears were starting to form. I loved Alexei. He was there for me through thick and thin-there was no chance of losing him but for once, I had to put myself first. "Can I come in, please?" He looked around, "We can talk inside.

I moved a bit to the side, giving him enough space to pass through before closing the door behind him.

As I made my way towards the kitchen, he followed me like a lost puppy. He didn't look as if he was calm but rather, he looked frustrated. He had a lot of things in his head. "Talk." I said, staring directly into his eyes.

"Papa wanted you to marry

Viktor to build a better alliance. We talked about it, and I swear to God, Alena... I didn't agree to any of this. I know you. I know how hard you tried to succeed. I wasn't going to let you down." He replied, shaking his head. "I thought you're stronger than him. I thought you had more power," onger. I do have more power,"

am stronger.

"Why didn't

t you do anything?"

"I was ***d. I feared of losing the respect from my men."

For standing up to your family? For protecting your sister?" I scoffed, not believing what I was hearing. "That's a lot of b***it if you ask me. You have every right to do whatever the hell you want. You're their leader." n't forgive you, Alyosha."

He nodded, feeling defeated. "You're right. I was being a coward"

don't

"You don't have to."

"For now, at least." I added, looking away.

I could never hate Alexei. Despite what happened yesterday, I needed to find a solution to solve my problem. I needed something to stop Papa from controlling my life. He needed to accept the fact that I was no longer the same young girl who listened to his every request. "Who is the Sicilian leader?" I asked. Alexei raised

"Yes. Him."

I an eyebrow, "You mean the man you kissed last night?"

"Matteo Lerclerc. You don't want to mess with him,"

"Why not? I already kissed him, and he didn't try to put a bullet in my head."

"Alena- a- don't get involved with him. It's not safe."

T

I shook my head. "And being in this family is safe? You carry a gun with you all the time, Alexei. You never lose your guard when we're outside because you're so f**g scared if someone might come and shoot us in the face. You involved yourself with gangsters and killers. You literally paid the police to overlook your crimes. What makes you any different?"

He kept quiet, knowing I was right.

3

The Bratva is not close with the Cosa Nostra. You need to understand that he replied. His tone was dangerously low as he let out another sigh. "We signed a treaty for peace, but we don't mess with them. Do you understand me?

"The

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I walked towards him until we were standing side by side.

"At this point, Alexei ... I don't see how our family is any better."

"Alena"! "I think you should leave." I cut him off, looking away from hip-If I chose to look at him, I was going to give in. I was going to forget about everything and followed with the plan Papa made. I felt bad for Alexei, but I needed to see how my life was much more important than anyone else's Nobody could change my mind now.

the next f few days, I knew Papa was going to be a trouble. He was going to try and persuade me into doing the things he wanted. He was going to make me marry Viktor because he was selfish in building a better alliance. He needed to learn a lesson. Families could

never be sold or bought.

I remembered all the efforts he gave when I wanted to leave for medical school. He was going to go down that road again to make me marry someone I didn't know.

"I tried, Alena. I really did try. Can you at least trust me on that?" He asked, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear before slowly pulling his hand away-his touch felt strange. He was becoming a different person. Maybe, the power had gotten to him. Maybe, becoming Pakhan wasn't the best thing to happen to him.

The Alexei I knew was putting his family as a priority. He wasn't always supporting Papa, but I guess he really did change. He had his own benefits for supporting him.

"I don't want to hear anything from you, Alexei."

1

1 f***d up. I get it." He leaned away, pinching the bridge of his nose before roughly running his fingers through his hair again. He was on the edge of losing it, but he kept controlling his breaths, trying to keep his calm. "I don't want to lose you, -Alena. Don't make me lose made the lost on your own, Alexei."

"And now I'm the f***d-up brother."

Our eyes were pierced into one another for a few seconds, as if having a battle of their own before he grabbed his phone on the kitchen counter and made his way towards the front door. He was leaving and I watched his every movement, the way his body tensed when he grabbed onto the doorknob.

"I meant it when I said I didn't want to lose you. I never wanted to lose you, Alena. I didn't plan for things to go this way I'd do anything to see you happy." He added, without turning to look at me and that was it, he took his time to leave.

He closed the door behind him, and I was left staring at where he was standing

"Liar." I muttered under my breath, clenching my hands in fists.

It didn't take me long to dial Igor's number, waiting for him to pick up after a couple of rings.

"Alena... it's been a while, he said on the other line.

"Igor, I need your help with something?

"Anything"