Bride for the Russian Boss: An Arranged Marriage Mafia Romance by Bella King

Author:Bella King [King, Bella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: After Midnight
Published: 2021-04-06T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Ashley

“How about I ask you some questions this time since you have no idea how to talk to a woman?” I say, picking up a tight roll of sushi with a set of surprisingly nice black chopsticks. You’d think it’d be hard to get good sushi in Ethiopia, but this hotel is incredible.

Ivan looks up from his food with more innocence than he actually has. “I know how to talk to women. You’re just difficult.”

I swallow the urge to end the conversation right here and now. I have to survive at least a few more days with Ivan before we head back to Russia, I want to enjoy myself before I go back to doom scrolling online all day long. Besides, his friend gave me a pretty nice shotgun and if he really pisses me off, I can just blow a hole through his stomach. I’m sure the Saidash Syndicate wouldn’t mind.

“Let’s start with your childhood. Is there anything that I should know about that could have fucked you up this badly?” I ask before popping a roll of sushi into my mouth.

Ivan laughs. “My entire childhood is fucked up. You don’t end up a Mafia boss by having two loving parents and a solid upbringing.”

“Tell me about that,” I say, placing my chin in my hands and wondering if it was anything like mine. I love my father, but I’d be lying if I said I had a pleasant upbringing.

“Well, my father was a decent man but he didn’t give me much attention growing up. I don’t think he believed that boys needed attention. You would think that my mother would be a little bit different, but she hated me. I don’t think she ever actually wanted kids.”

“Mommy issues,” I say, more to myself than to Ivan. I recognize that I’m being a little offensive, but if he can be like that, then so can I.

He chuckles dryly. “Something like that. I think is difficult for me to like women because of it, if I’m being honest. You’re a nice girl though.”

“Just nice?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“If you let me in a little bit more, maybe I’ll know the answer to that question. As it stands, your walls are a little too thick for me to break down.”

I shrug. “Try me.”

“I’ll try you after dinner, and then we’ll see.”

He speaks the words with such direct intent that it sends a shudder through my body. I’m not necessarily opposed to being intimate with this man, but I want to know who he is before I admit that I’m attracted to him.

He takes a bite of his food and then leans forward. “What about your parents?”

“They weren’t so dissimilar, but my mother didn’t hate me. She died giving birth to me, and my father had to raise a girl. I don’t think he knew how, but he gave it his best shot,” I say. “He could’ve done better, but he also could’ve done worse. It’s a little difficult to have a normal childhood anyway when your father runs a criminal organization.

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