Page 1 of Unholy Matrimony

Chapter one

Kalina

The Borisov Bratva runs the most prominent gambling and money laundering scheme in Moscow. My family's importing business caught their attention because we hold multiple international contracts throughout Moscow. With the business being as successful as it is, it was the perfect front for laundering money. The Bratva, needing more businesses to launder their money, was naturally interested.

At first, Igor Borisov, the Pakhan of the Borisov Bratva, approached my parents with kindness. He tried to make this sound like a lucrative business opportunity. He offered my parents a percentage of the laundering. My parents remained firm in their answer of no. Igor Borisov was not a fan of the answer, no. That was when things became unpleasant. He had his men stalk and harass us.

In one instance, two men had followed my mother, sister, and me while out shopping and running other errands. I constantly felt as if we were being watched. Despite constant break-ins, nothing ever seemed to be missing from our home. Day after day, the harassment continued without respite. It was difficult for our family, and I was in a perpetual state of worry, always wondering if something worse was just waiting to happen.

Not until the day before Maslentisa did the gravity of the situation become apparent.

To ensure that everything was locked up and to obtain paperwork from the previous week's work, my father, mother, and sister took a trip to the warehouse. The business was getting ready for Lent, which meant fewer operating hours. They instructed me to remain at home and begin cooking. With the fast just around the corner, the pressure was on to finish all the dairy products in the house.

Igor Borisov and his men were waiting at the warehouse to convince my parents to take the opportunity. My parents refused, and Igor had his men severely beat my father. It wasn’t until he threatened to harm my mother and sister that my father gave in. Our lives were being forever changed as I dutifully carried out my tasks at home.

After they were gone for over three hours, I called to see where they were. The warehouse was so close, just a twenty-five-minute drive from the house, that it was odd for them to still be away. Panic set in when I couldn’t reach anyone. The calls went straight to voicemail over and over.

It had been going on five hours since they had disappeared. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I paced around the foyer for the first few hours, unable to sit still. I was only exhausting myself. As I sat in the chair in our front room, I could hear the clock ticking on the wall. I took out my prayer rope and prayed to God that my family was safe. More so worried about my fifteen-year-old sister Raisa.

I jumped up from the chair in surprise at the telltale sound of a key turning in the door. In walked my mother, flanked by my father and sister. I ran to help them, but I stopped short. Behind my family were three tall, rather large men, handguns in hand. Igor Borisov trailed in behind the men, a smile on his face. While I was lowering my father into the chair where I had been sitting, Igor spoke.

“Zdravstvuyte1, Kalina Nikolova. I have brought your family back to you. You must have been so worried, and for that, you have my apologies.” Why is he trying to sound so sincere? “My, you are as lovely as my son has claimed. I can see why he is interested in you.”His son? Why is his son talking about me?

That was when he walked into the house, Leonid Borisovich Igorov, all six foot three of him. His hazel eyes locked onto mine, and I felt myself stop breathing. He’s the type of handsome that makes your knees weak and keeps you praying for absolution at confession. He removed his winter coat and revealed his well-fitted suit that highlighted his strong shoulders and sleek build. As he walked past his father, Leonid’s eyes never left mine, and he came to sit in the chair in the room’s corner.

“Your father has finally come to his senses and agreed to work with me. We will be at the warehouse often, so I thought it best to introduce myself formally. Wouldn’t want you to be alarmed at the sight of my men and you calling the police.” Igor’s deep chuckle boomed.

“Papa, you promised we would never do that.” I cried as Leonid chuckled.

“He hasn’t even told you the best part, Lyubov2 !” The sound of his arrogance makes me roll my eyes. A slight tick in his jaw reveals his irritation at my eye roll.

“What is he talking about, Mama? Papa? Raisa, do you know what they are talking about?” my voice shook, panning my family, hoping for an answer.

My parents stared at the floor, unable to speak. Leonid stood up confidently, his eyes ablaze with determination. “Khvatit s etim der’mom!3 Beautiful Kalina, your family has agreed to a marriage for you, and I am the lucky husband-to-be. Tell me, Lyubov4, will I be your first?” I scoffed at him while my face reddened.

“Zamolchi5, Leonid, must you be so crude? Must you talk to your future wife like that? My apologies to beautiful Kalina; my son is an idiot!” Igor said.

“Papa! Tell me it’s not true!” I implored, not understanding why this was happening. I thought the Borisovs just wanted our business. What do I have to do with any of this?

Leonid Borisovitch Igorov has a reputation in Moscow as being a womanizer. Leonid treats women like they are beneath him, only to serve him and give him what he wants. Rumor has it, that he isn’t above using force if they deny him. It’s all just gossip as no woman has ever come forward, but the suspicion is there. A man as handsome as he is wouldn’t need to use force, but what do I know? Staring at him from across the room, he catches me looking at him. His tongue darts out to moisten his lips, and I feel a shiver run down my spine. He’s known as Lev6, the lion of the Borisov Bratva.

I’ve just become his prey.

My father’s head hung low, as he spoke. “Lina, I had no choice. They threatened to beat your mother and rape Raisa. Your mother and I have always raised you and your sister, intending to have you marry well. You are younger than we would have liked and unprepared, but you must do this.” I don’t know if I can endure marriage to this man. With the rumors of how he treats women, my father must know nothing of his past, otherwise, he would have fought more.

“Lina, perhaps you can change him? He is wild, but maybe your sweet disposition can tame him? Maybe he just needs a wife to keep him…satisfied.”

Well, that tells me he knows the same rumors as everyone else. Just like my father, he uses me as a punching bag whenever he sees fit. Now he is passing me off to someone else.

My eyes dropped to the floor, trying to focus on the design on the tile to keep from cursing at him out loud. Though I try to hold back, I can't help but curse him in my mind.

Son of a bitch! I knew he hated me, but this! It’s too much.

Igor spoke again. “There is a meeting with Father Ireni tomorrow to have the engagement blessed. We will leave you here tonight with your family. You are to pack any belongings and to spend your last night with them. In the morning before Liturgy, Leonid and the twins will pick you up, and you will go together.” He motions to two of the men with him. They seem to be around Leonid’s age, handsome, and definitely twins.

“Is that understood, Kalina? Not a word of anything other than the intentions to marry Leonid. I would hate for any harm to come to your sister.” I nod my head in acceptance as my eyes never leave the floor. Igor stood to leave and walked past my father and mother, extending a hand towards them. My father took it and mumbled something I couldn’t quite hear.

Leonid rose and followed his father, but stopped before me. He leaned close to my ear so I would be the only one to hear him. “Soon, Lyubov7, you will be all mine. You may hate me now, but you will learn to love me. You will see I am not all that bad.”