Unprotected with the Mob Boss: A Dark Mafia Romance (Alekseiev Bratva) by Fox, Nicole (classic books for 12 year olds .TXT) 📗

fantasy. It’s nice to believe that Cinderella could inherit the prince, the wealth, and the kingdom without anyone suffering, without knowing it’s all about perception, and without having to worry that once the wedding bells stop chiming, the prince might transform into a beast.

Through the chatter of everyone saying goodbye, my father’s voice rises above them. He almost sounds like the rest of the drunks shouting, but there’s an angry edge to it, crashing through the rest of the voices like a judge’s gavel.

“He’s a goddamn thug. I can’t believe you’d fall for his lies, too. He’s making a fool out of both of you,” he says, his voice getting louder as he approaches. “I just can’t let it go.”

My father’s face is a deep shade of red as he storms up to Lev and me. I step in front of Lev, but Lev puts his hand on my arm, pushing me aside and moving up to meet my father’s anger. I stumble but grab Lev’s shirt to catch myself. My father’s eyes follow my arm to Lev’s shirt. I let my hand drop. He glares at Lev, his anger pulsing out of him.

“I don’t know what bullshit you told my wife,” my father snarls. “But you’re going to regret trying to mess with my family.”

Deputy Chief Ronald Rauch hurries over to the three of us. He puts his hand on my father’s shoulder.

“Pete, this isn’t the time or place,” he says. “We all get personal about our families, but you need to take a breath. Just go home. We’ve all had a bit to drink and we don’t want to make any mistakes.”

“Think about your reputation, Chief,” Lev says to my father. My father takes a step forward, despite Rauch’s hand trying to keep him back.

“I don’t think you’re someone who should be talking about reputations.”

I put my hand on Lev’s arm, trying to get him to take a step back. Several seconds pass, the two men staring each other down.

“Lev,” I urge. “Please.”

Lev scowls but moves an inch back. I rest my hand on his chest, partially as a gesture of solidarity, partially to keep him from stepping forward again.

“Dad, listen to Mr. Rauch,” I say. When I look at my father, he isn’t looking at Lev. He isn’t even looking directly at me. He’s looking at my hand.

My hand with the engagement ring on it.

He nearly lunges forward, but Rauch grabs him, restraining him.

“People have their phones out,” Rauch hisses into his ear. “You can’t flip out here. You think the media will care about how much money we raised if the chief starts a brawl?”

“I don’t care,” my father grunts, but he stops struggling against Rauch. Rauch releases him. My father takes several deep breaths, shaking his head. He’s trembling with anger. He turns to me. “I thought I raised you to be smarter than this. You’re being reckless. I didn’t raise a foolish woman who would fall all over a man just because he’s rich. I’m so disappointed in you.”

“You damn well know Ally is incredibly smart,” Lev cuts in. “And I’d appreciate if you didn’t refer to my fiancée in such a demeaning way. She’s going to put you in her shadow sooner rather than later, Officer.”

“You shut the fuck up,” my father snarls. My mother has walked up behind him. She tries to put a reassuring hand on his back, but he moves away from her like he’s repulsed by all of us.

“Dad,” I start, taking a step toward him.

He shakes his head, pointing his finger at me again. “I can’t talk to you right now. Linda, let’s go.”

He stomps toward his car. My mother gives me a quick smile but follows him without saying anything. Rauch gives us all a wary look before turning toward the rest of the parking lot, where some donors and policemen have stopped to witness the scene. A few of them have their phones held out in front of them.

“Thanks, folks!” Rauch calls out. “We’re sorry about that. Remember, never mix alcohol with the new boyfriend! Have a good night, y’all!”

Lev wraps his arm around my waist. I nearly stumble twice as he guides me to the car. He opens the door for me and helps me into the seat, but I barely notice. As he gets into the driver’s seat, I start shaking. My face floods with heat. Tears start to gather on the rims of my eyes.

“Ally,” Lev says. That’s all it takes. The waterworks are unleashed. Lev puts his hand on my back, rubbing between my shoulders. “It’s okay. It’ll be fine. I promise. Everything will be good soon enough.”

I want to believe him, but I know that he means that everything will be good soon for him.

For him, marrying me is the secret code to ensure his freedom.

For me, it’s the end of all of my important relationships.

They’ll all be overwhelmed by lies soon and at the center of it will be a man who knows me well enough to stop for chai tea on the way home, but not well enough to know that I’m not that smart and I am being foolish. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be relieved when he doesn’t drop me off at my apartment. I wouldn’t feel his hand on my knee and consider letting my world burn while I isolate myself with him forever.

* * *

As I sit in Lev’s den, I feel inadequate. Poor. Everything around me is worth more than I could ever dream of making.

My father has never before said he was disappointed in me. He wasn’t like those emotionally distant fathers, who kept their feelings under wraps. He told me he was proud during every significant step of my life. If he was disappointed, he might convey it in subtle ways, but he never felt it strongly enough to say it, to hurt me like that.

Lev sits down beside me. He took his jacket off in the car, but for once, I