Andrei POV

An important lesson I learnt when I was a child is that family means nothing when you're in a situation that calls for betrayal.

I thought that I'd be able to honor my mother, that I'd be able to make her proud. In the midst of it all, I forgot that she was family, too.

For the longest time, I thought that the fact that I was the only one my biological mother still talked to made me special; yet it had taken just a few non-invites from my sister for me to realise that all it made me was stupid.

Somehow, I never quite realised how miserable my very existence was until I saw everyone having fun without me. Until I realised what it was like to be forgotten, to be unimportant.

It was then that I realised that maybe what I'd thought to be the most important life lesson I'd ever learnt was quite possibly the stupidest decision I could have ever made.

But, I will admit, my sorrow over my own decisions will be seen by nobody except myself. My grief over the relationships I've sabotaged will be felt by nobody but me. The remorse that I feel... well, its undecided. I can't quite decide between swallowing my pride or dying alone.

Either way, it seems like some sort of torture to me. After all, what is a man without his pride? Dead. That's what.

Men are creatures of pride. It's what keeps us going, the very reason we wake up in the mornings is because of the pride we have.

However, the more I sit here in my office listening to the sound of conversation being made between the rest of my siblings, the more willing I become to swallow my pride.

I don't think my loneliness has ever felt so heavy.

I allow myself to stew in my own misery for a few more moments before sipping on my Vodka - I am Russian, in case you've forgotten.

My glass is nearly empty when a light knock sounds on my door, and I know without a doubt that my sister has come to speak with me for the first time in months.

It's pitiful how just the sound of that knock pulls some of the weight off my chest.

"Come in." I call, raising my glass to my lips once again.

"Hi, Andrei." Iris greets, surprising me when she walks in hand in hand with Slater.

"Iris. What a pleasant surprise." I smirk, stabbing myself mentally. Did I not just mentally agree to be better and show some sort of remorse? Its not working very well, clearly.

"It's a bit new." My sister replies as she reaches my desk. Her fiancé pulls out a chair for her, waiting for her to sit before taking a seat himself.

"So, what finally brings you to my office, Принцесса?" (Princess) I look questioningly at the pair of them.

"I wanted you to be the first to know that I'm okay with marrying Slater now." She replies, making me do a double take. She's ready to do what now?

I blink a few times, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion as I pinch myself to make sure that I'm not, in fact, dreaming up this situation. I never thought that I'd ever be one of those people who pinch themselves. Its embarrassing.

"I'm not dreaming, are you okay? Running a fever?" I ask, scanning her face for any signs of sickness from her. She looks perfectly normal, though.

"We made the decision together. That doesnt mean that you're forgiven for... well, any of this. It is still your fault that I'll be married when I turn 19. But I'm not as upset as before." She replies coolly, looking me in the eye.

My attention immediately shifts to Slater. There's something going on here. I don't like not knowing what's going on. Damn, no wonder Iris was so mad.

"What did you agree to, kid?" I narrow my eyes at the guy in question who just shrugs in response, deciding that I'm not worthy of a more detailed response.

"I'm right here, y'know?" Iris rolls her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest which in turn makes Slater smile at her. Ew.

"Fine, Iris, can you tell me whats going on, please?"

"It sucks being on the side that doesnt have answers, doesnt it?" She asks rhetorically, pausing for effect before continuing, "We made a deal. I'd marry him without a hassle as long as he could guarantee that I wouldnt be a part of this life anymore."

I suck in a breath of air. He promised what? Leaving the mafia was - is - impossible. What the hell does she mean he promised that she wouldnt have to keep being a part of it?

"What?" I question, knowing that the only real way out is death. Even jail doesnt give you an out because you're expected to continue working in your cell.

"I mean exactly what I said. I agreed to marry Slater on the condition that he removes me from this whole mafia world." Iris states like its the most simple thing in the world.

"And how exactly is Slater going to pull that off?" I ask, glaring at the man in question. He is, unfortunately, a man. Even I won't call him a boy.

The two of them exchange a look, and Iris nods at him. They've discussed everything, it seems... and he's very much already in love.

"I'm a Volkov. We answer to nobody." Slater says, a bored look on his face.

"That- You can do that? Forget that I just asked that, Iris why would you want a life away from here?" I question incredulously. How could someone ever want a life without everything that we have?

Can you imagine a world where people don't fear you? Would it really be any less miserable?

"I was never meant to be here, Andrei. And even if I was, that all changed when Antoine took me. I dont want to be included in more violence. I've been kidnapped and tortured for years on end before I finally got rescued. And when I finally did, I still had to deal with more violence. Hell, I even murdered someone. I don't want to be this person." Iris explains, her voice soft, like she's giving up.

"And what about Slater? He's just okay with this?" I ask, looking directly at him.

"I am. I'll walk away from it all for her." He replies, his voice carrying that coldness it always does when he isnt speaking to my sister.

It's then that I know that there's no changing either of their minds. But that begs the question, what about us?

· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · ·

Soooo I dunno if anyone expected it to go THAT way. In the next chapter I shall (hopefully) show how the conversation between Iris and Slater went.

There's a poll at the end to see who's pov it should be in bc I've been dying to try it. And cattywonka I'm sorry, I meant to update HOURSSSS ago but I had no wifi. And then none of the chapters would open and I couldn't remember half of the details 💀💀

But I got it out todayyy and the wifi thankfully came back

Anyway love u guyss
Byeeeee