All In

девять

The shower in my bathroom is incredible. It has three different heads, one above and two from the side. And it feels so good to shower, after last night, and today, and then sitting in the sun.

Now, Dina and I sit in her bathroom at the double vanity. My eye has done from purple to a reddish-yellow, so it's easier to cover. "Am I allowed to ask what happened?"

"Alexei hasn't told you?"

"Alexei technically hasn't told me anything. It's all of his men that blather on about Alexei's life, and the dinners the past few weeks."

"My abusive ex, Carson, decided it was time to come find me, and when he did, he laid it on me."

Dina works her magic with the makeup on my face. "Oh, Lex, I'm sorry."

"Alexei saved me", I shrug.

"You've only been around twenty-four hours, but there was something about how he woke up this morning, he was eager for once."

"He's going to be mad at you for telling me that." I laugh.

"Then don't tell him." She giggles.

Dina goes over to turn on the curling iron, and she starts to pin some of my hair back. "Do these things really happen often?"

"Yes", she says as she opens a bobby pin with her mouth. "These parties are Irina's pride and joys. This is probably my hundredth one."

"How long have you and Alexei been here?"

"He's been here for over ten years now, when our father kicked him out. I came only five years ago, when our father went to jail for the first time and our mother finally got the chance to help me escape."

"Dina", I look up at her with empathy. "I'm so sorry."

"Oh, please", Dina scoffs. "Look at this life we live. Without Volkov, Alexei and I would both probably be dead."

"Will you tell me what this life is?" I try. "Alexei told me he's not supposed to tell me."

Dina scoffs again. "Welcome to the Mafia, Hunny."

The word 'Mafia' come from her lips sends shivers down my spine. I was not naïve to the fact that that's what this was, but to hear it out loud is sort of a shock.

"Do you have a specific job in the family?"

"I work with Irina a lot to plan the logistics of the family; feeding everyone, making sure everyone has to place to sleep, things like that."

"Is him bringing me here, sort of, sealing my fate?"

Dina laughs at my ridiculous awkwardness. "We're not going to make you marry Alexei tomorrow, but if it doesn't work, you'll still be part of this, we can't let you go and blab to the world about what we do."

"I really don't want to leave", I laugh, "I just wanted to know."

Once Dina is done with my hair, I help her with hers, but she's done her hair so many times, she could probably do it with her eyes closed.

"Our dresses are at The House, so we can wear whatever over."

I dress in black lace panties, a t-shirt, and a pair of leggings. Dina dresses the same. "Do I need anything else?" I ask as I pick up my phone.

"I've got everything else you need at The House, so I think we're good."

We both slide shoes onto our feet, and then we leave the house. I grab my own set of keys for the first time, just to say to myself that I have them.