Chapter 9
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Chapter 9
Tatiana
Tatiana walked with her father and a small entourage of six soldiers through the park. They were meeting the Vasilievs here, on neutral ground, to sign the contract of their merge of convenience. After being bedridden by her mother the past few days, a walk and a chance to bask in the sun was a much needed reprieve.
They settled down on one of the wooden picnic tables found on the paved eating area in the center of the park while the rest of their entourage made themselves as inconspicuous as possible, disguising themselves among the other pedestrians near them who were enjoying the sun.
She wore a loose, white sweater dress so that her clothing didn't have to brush against her bandage, knee high boots, and her mink coat to combat the cold February day. It had been less than a week since the shooting and she was feeling much better. As long as she didn't make any excessive movement that would stretch her torso, she hardly felt any pain.
Nonetheless, it was still a terrifying experience—being shot. She had never been shot before in her whole life. Her father always tried to keep her safe from the illegal part of the family business but he could hardly continue on without her connections thanks to her mother. When she closed her eyes, she could remember how panic-stricken she had been, seeing the amount of blood leaving her, the pain, and the alarm she had felt when she couldn't hold onto her consciousness.
She shook off her thoughts. It was done. The past will stay in the past, as it always had.
She looked up when she heard footsteps approaching. Pavel Vasiliev was at the head of the group, closely followed by his son and a small entourage of guards as well. She stared at Zeke's handsome face, his nose red from the cold, the sharp planes of his face even more prominent in the light that shone overhead. He wore a classic black suit not unlike the one his father wore, underneath a long black trench coat that in contrast made his eyes seem brighter as they looked into her own. She tore her eyes away from his, smiling at Pavel as he smiled at her in greeting.
"Antonio, it's good to see you again," Pavel said as he held out his hand.
Her father held his own out and they shook hands. "Likewise, Pavel." He nodded at Zeke in greeting before he gestured for them to sit in front of them on the table. They settled down, their entourage dispersing into the park.
"I have the contracts with me here." Pavel reached into his coat for a thin folder. He took out two copies of a contract, laying them down in front of them.
"Everything is completely authentic, dictating the nature of our groups' involvements with each other," Pavel said, pushing the papers towards Antonio. "I've already signed both. You may take them with you if you need time to go over them before signing. I can just have a messenger come by to pick them up."
Antonio waved him off. "No need, I trust your word," he said, producing a pen from his person and signing them both in a flourish. He took one of the copies, folded it, and tucked it into his coat. Pavel did the same.
"I hope you don't think me rude but I must leave now. I have a meeting in a few minutes and the traffic in this city is absurd," her father said and the two Dons shared a laugh.
"I understand perfectly," Pavel said as he stood. "I should get on the road before the rush hour as well. Zeke?" Pavel prompted, looking at his son who was looking at her.
"I'd like to stay a while," Zeke said, looking at his father briefly before turning his gaze back to hers. "I want to enjoy the sun while it's out."
Pavel only nodded, shrugging at his son before bowing to them slightly in parting, leaving the park. Most of the guards followed Pavel but two broke away and stayed behind with Zeke, to protect him, she was assuming.
She turned to her father who was waiting for her. "Papa, I'd like to stay out too," she said.
Her father raised his eyebrows at her, looking at Zeke for a moment before snapping his hand at a handful of guards, ordering them to stay with her.
"Do not stay out for too long, bambina," he said, squeezing her hand before letting go. He turned and walked back the way they had come, the rest of their entourage following, leaving her with Zeke and a handful of men to protect them.
She slowly approached Zeke. He was facing away from her, his hands in his coat pockets, his eyes looking towards the fast setting sun. As she slowed to a stop next to him, he looked at her sideways.
"I know a great place to see the sunset not far from here," he said, interrupting the calm atmosphere. "Would you care to join me Ms. Belluchi?"
She gave him a sidelong glance, rolling her eyes before smiling. "I will if you call me Tatiana, Mr. Vasiliev."
He looked at her amused, slowly taking her hand before leading her away. "Very well, Tatiana, as long as you call me Zeke."
As he led her further through the park, she agreed, "Deal."
***
He stopped walking when they reached the edge of the park and ordered for the men to stay where they were, by a sort of entrance into the trees.
"We were ordered to keep her safe and within our sight," one of her men protested adamantly.
"I'll be okay, Benji," she said the same time that Zeke spoke.
"She'll be safe with me. Unless you are doubtful that I can protect her." Zeke raised his eyebrows at the man. It was then that it truly dawned on Benji that the man he was talking to was a son of Pavel Vasiliev and so he no longer protested, stepping back.
Zeke nodded, satisfied before he led her through the trees.
"I hope you're not taking me into the wilderness just to murder me or something," Tatiana joked as they walked further into the trees.
Zeke looked back at her, amused. "Don't worry, I don't bite," he said, laughter in his eyes. "Unless you want me to, that is." He raised an eyebrow suggestively, making her blush. She was thankful that the trees around them offered enough shade that her red face wasn't so obvious.
They stayed silent for the remainder of their walk. It was another few meters before she saw light up ahead. She picked up the pace slightly, excitement and curiosity coursing through her face. Zeke looked down at her, amused before he picked up the pace with her.
They reached the edge of the trees and emerged into the most beautiful place she had ever seen. It was a small clearing, mostly round in shape with a small stream that led through the trees, glittering pebbles and stones and fields of flowers—pink, white, yellow, and many more. By the edge of the clearing she could distinctly see bushes of even more flowers, roses, lilies, and her favorite blush pink peonies. But all of this wasn't the reason she was awed by the place. What really struck her was the arresting view. Above the trees, you could just about see the sun as it slowly set. It was so... peaceful.
She slowly walked forward, awestruck by it all, trying to take it all in.
"When I was a child, my uncle took me to this park." Zeke spoke quietly, as if not to disturb the tranquil atmosphere. "Like any six year-old, I wandered off and got lost." He laughed lightheartedly. It was a beautiful sound, different from his usual stoic and reserved self. "That was when I found this place. It's where I always found myself coming back to whenever I wanted to be alone, be myself," he murmured softly.
"It's beautiful," she said, mesmerized by the sun as it slowly settled into twilight.
He turned her around slowly, brushing back a tendril of hair that fell in front of her face, his hand lingering on her cheek.
He looked deep into her eyes. "Not as beautiful as you."
***
"Tell me what you're thinking," Zeke said.
Tatiana shrugged and continued to throw pebbles into the stream.
They spent the rest of their time in the clearing talking until the sun had settled into dusk. They were currently sitting side by side on the soft grassy fields next to the stream. She didn't know how much time had passed, just knew that she didn't want it to end.
"Any idea about where we'll hide away till the whole danger has blown over?" she asked, dodging his question.
He shrugged, picking up a pebble as well and throwing it into the stream. "We've been thinking of some places but haven't really decided on one yet." He narrowed his eyes at her. "And you just dodged my question."
She smiled at him innocently. "If someone told you to jump out of a plane, would you do it?"
He shrugged "Fair point well made, Ms. Belluchi," he said with a smirk.
"Ugh, please don't call me that. My sister Lucia is Ms. Belluchi." She rolled her eyes. "I'm just a bastard born into an Italian family, a Russian one at that." And if that wasn't enough, almost everyone in Russia hated her very existence. Another abomination that Russian aristocracy had produced. She was ashamed to admit to herself that sometimes, she felt that she should've just ended her whole life. To just end everyone's misery—hers included—from ever being born.
"Being a bastard doesn't define who you are," he said quietly, turning to her and snapping her out of the dark thoughts that had emerged from her past. "And don't think that it's your fault you're a bastard. I've spent half my life thinking it was my fault for not being my step-mother's son. Now, all I can think is how lucky I am that I don't share a single drop of that woman's blood."
She turned to him. "You're a bastard too?" she asked him, shocked.
"Yes," he said, looking up at the sky. "I've thought about ending my life. I thought about making everyone's lives easier by ending mine, but a friend made me realize something," he turned to face her, his blue eyes piercing into hers.
"You should live your life for yourself, not for someone else's." His words struck something within her, as she continued to stare into his eyes.
When she shivered slightly, he snapped his eyes away, breaking the trance that they had been under. It was getting dark now and the temperature was slowly dropping.
He stood up slowly, dusting off his coat before helping her up as well. "We should go, you're getting cold." He rubbed his hands up and down her arms. "Some fire pits should have been set up by the lake by now, we can warm up there," he said and wrapped an arm around her to help keep her warm. As he started leading her back, she looked back at the clearing, committing every beautiful moment to memory, leaning against him as they walked back the way they came.
Translations:
Italian:
bambina - baby
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