A Losing Game.
Chapter Five.
Ace Pov:
I looked at Spades, and clenched my jaw. I got up, picked up my coat, and I walked away. I was not supposed to look back, I should not look back, but I couldn't help it. It was Spades, the boy who had been in my head for years, except he was not a boy anymore, he was a man, I knew he was a man, I felt his manliness, and I heard him shatter as he came. I was ruined, I was doomed, and I needed to be far away from him.
“You are a mad man,” He snapped. “Do not ever touch me again, you bastard.”
I scoffed “You say that, and yet, you look at me that way. You tell me not to touch you, and somehow, your body breaks under me. You have to be either a clown or you are just fucking stupid. You came, Puppy.” I glared at him, I was angry, he made me angry.
I was Ace Marakov, and I would not be brought to my knees by a Puppy.
“Go to hell, and don’t ever touch me again. The next time you come after me, I’ll shoot you.” He threatened, getting to his feet and I looked at him, eyes trailing over his slacks, I clenched my jaw when I looked at his bulge.
I was a pervert and I was fucked in the head.
“Shoot me?” I laughed dryly “Take your shot, idiot. Ivanov should be ashamed of himself, he got himself a puppy for a son, an idiot for an heir, how shameful.” I walked away and he yelled
“Fuck you, Ace!”
“Soon, Spades, very soon. I’ll give it to you and you’ll take every inch.” I laughed, and walked.
I was a married man, I got married hours ago, to Nina Ivanov, and I should be with the woman I married, but yet, here I was, at the bar, drinking away my life. I had the whole VIP section to myself, that was life when you were the Pakhan’s son. My father was Sergei Marakov, and being his only child, his heir opened a lot of doors for me, I was untouchable, and I was free.
So, here I was, drinking an entire bottle of Rum, shot by shot. I tapped the counter, and the bartender looked at me, she smiled, wide, and flirty. I was not interested, I had never been interested in a person like her, the only person who had captured and held my attention was Spades. Fucking Spades. I clenched my jaw, angry all over again.
“What do you need, Ace?” She asked, with a smile, batting her eyelashes and I snapped.
“Cigar. The pack. Put it on my tab.”
“Right away, Boss.” She answered, walked away and came back with what I needed. I lit it, and dragged in the smoke. Perhaps, I should be worried about lung cancer, I was just twenty seven, and I smoked every day.
My phone rang and I stiffened. I looked at it, and saw it was my Dad calling, so I ignored it. I was not in the mood to speak to him, but the phone kept ringing. My will was strong, and it stopped eventually. Few minutes later, my phone rang again, and this time, it was my Mom. Begrudgingly, I picked the call.
“How rude of you to ignore your father’s calls, Karlin.” She chided, and I shrugged.
“What does he want?”
“Ask him yourself.” She scoffed, and the next voice I heard was my father’s.
“Where are you, Karlin?” He asked, and I did not bother lying.
“At the bar.”
“It is your wedding night.” He stated the obvious, and I scoffed.
“I am aware.”
“You should be with your wife.” He pointed out and I shook my head.
“You asked me to marry her, and I did. That is all, that is where the story ends. You have no right to ask anything of me again. I gave you what you wanted, I married Nina, and now, this is the time where you give me what I want, and I want you to leave me alone.”
“Your marriage to Nina Ivanov was an alliance, a necessary alliance. It was important for the world to see that Lee and I were friends, and now, we are family. This marriage is important, and you can't just abandon your wife, it does not work like that…
… There is no ‘that is all’. You are Bratva, you are Vory v Zakone, you are the heir to the throne, and when I die, you will be Pakhan. This never ends, you have a duty to your family, to Bratva, and this is just the beginning.” He lectured and I clenched my jaw, but I did not cut through the conversation.
“For the longest time, we have let you be what you want to be - the playful, childish, carefree mob boss, you cause chaos, you set the world on fire, you ruin paths, and you make a mess that I have to clean up, all the time…
… That part of your life is over. You can not live in a box forever, you need to step out of that illusion and come to the real world. Drinking, sleeping around, smoking, partying are a sure way to die, and it is important that you stay alive…
… Go home to your wife, and make a baby with her, secure the family’s line and be the leader you were born to be.” Sergei Marakov said to me, sternly, and I exhaled.
I hated the weight on my shoulders, I hated my father for adding more to it, and I hated the Bratva.
There was silence, and I thought the call ended, but then, my mother’s voice came through.
“Lyubimiy,” She whispered and I could not help but smile, I loved whenever she called me beloved. Irina Marakov was my mother and before she married my father, she was a very powerful and influential woman. She married my father and she grew in power. I had heard of rumors that she used to be in love with Lee Ivanov, rumors claiming my father stole her from him, and forced her into a marriage with him.
Those rumors disturbed me as a child, and I had to get clarity, so I asked them. Of course, Dad did not answer, he dismissed my questions and warned me never to ask those questions again, but I was my mother’s son, I had her warrior spirit in me, and I asked her. Unlike her husband, she was kind in her explanation, she told me that the rumors were not true. Lee loved her, but she never returned his feelings and only loved him like a brother.
Her heart always belonged to my father, she told me of soulmates, of souls recognizing each other and then, I mocked her, I could not love anyone to that extent. Love was for weaklings, power was more intoxicating, Power was enough. Now, Spades has not influenced that perspective, but I was conflicted.
“Are you still in Moscow, my love?” She asked, and I nodded first before replying.
“Yes.” She was worried that I left Moscow again. I threw a tantrum once, and left Russia. I went to Germany, which was a big mistake. The Bratva has a lot of enemies, and vacationing in those places was a huge risk.
“Good. Now, go home. Nina is a young woman, and you are a young man, you are a perfect match for each other. She is Ivanov and you are Marakov, this marriage will put those rumors to the ground, and every enmity will die…
… We are trying to secure the future, and it is time for you to play part. You don’t have to play it to perfection, you just have to try. Go home to your wife and consummate your marriage.” She advised and I exhaled.
“Okay, Mom, I’ll leave very soon, in ten minutes, and I’ll go home.”
“Do you promise?” She asked, and I grinned.
“Yeah, Mom, I promise. I won’t lie to you.”
“I love you, Karlin.” She exhaled and I nodded “Love you too, Mom.”
“You cuddle him too much!” I heard Dad say, and I ended the call, a bit pissed. I took the lighter, stood up, and walked out of the VIP section. When I was going home, I needed to see the woman I married. I did not know how this marriage was going to be, but I had to try.
I frowned when I heard a familiar laughter, I turned around and I saw him, Spades. He was with a woman, a stunning woman, and anger roared in me. Did he think he was going to come for me, and then go to a woman two hours later? I was going to kill him.
I took a step forward.