Dropping to my knees before the Pakhan and Ivan, I looked up. “I, Zaal Kostava, of the Kostava clan of Georgia, pledge my loyalty to you, Ivan Tolstoi. I swear to never betray you.” I laid my hand over my heart, and I continued, “I give you my life for the life of your father. Blood for blood.” I breathed out through my nose and said, “I have no family. I have no obligation to the Kostava clan. But I will pledge myself as a Tolstoi. As a brother of the Volkov Bratva. If you will have me.”
I held out my hand, my head still bowed, waiting to see if Ivan would take it. He did not move, but then I heard him ask. “You love him, Talia?” My breathing paused.
“Yes,” she said, her voice strong and unshakable. “I love him so much, Papa. He saved my life, hell, he is my life.”
Ivan didn’t respond. Then I heard Luka’s voice. “You know my decision, Papa. He’s Anri’s brother. That makes him mine. And I have seen him with Talia. He is for her, like Kisa is for me. He will protect her and give her his loyalty. You have my assurance on that.”
I risked a glace up to see that Ivan’s head had dropped. He then looked to the Pakhan. The Pakhan shrugged. “He’s no threat to us. His family’s dead. He’s lived his life under Jakhua. And Ivan, he is a Kostava. He could strengthen our connections with the Georgians in the future. He’s the sole heir, the sole survivor to the biggest clan that existed in Georgia. Many people will be happy he is alive, many will still follow him if he wishes to one day lead. And if he is an ally of the Volkov’s, in the family of the Volkov’s, it will only ever work in our favor. It makes good business sense. He’s contractually a stronger marital match for Talia than any other suitor you could have picked out.” The Pakhan shrugged. “Let the boy pledge.”
Ivan looked down at me and asked, “Do you have any feelings of hatred for my family?”
I frowned, and I deliberately shook my head. “I have none.” I met eyes with Talia and rasped, “I love Talia. I want to be forever with Talia.”
“Zaal,” Talia whispered, and looked determinedly at her father. “Papa, I won’t be without him.”
Ivan sighed, and he held out his hand. I took his hand in mine and kissed the back, then brought it to my forehead. Ivan pulled it back and motioned with his fingers for me to rise.
I lifted to my feet. Ivan stepped closer and said, “Prove me wrong about your family name. Prove to me you are as worthy of my daughter as she and my son seem to believe.”
“Papa,” Talia whispered lovingly from beside me, “thank you.”
Ivan opened his arms. Talia went to her father. He kissed her head. “I could not see you miserable, Talia. This man, Zaal, I can see he makes you happy. I refuse to see another child of mine destroyed in this life.”“Thank you,” she repeated, and moved back to kiss his cheek.
Talia let go of her father and came to me. She took my hand in hers and said, “We get to be together. A Kostava and a Tolstoi, Zaal. I get to love you.”
I pointed to my heart and then to hers. “No names. Just you and me. Because you are … for me.”
“And I am … for you,” she declared back. Talia smiled so big and she reached up to run her fingers through my long hair. I lost my breath at the sight.
“Your hair needs washing. Your lovely long hair.”
Taking both her hands in mine, I pressed my forehead to hers and said, “I look forward to you cleansing it.”
Talia paused, then a laugh escaped her lips. I pressed my fingers to her lips and said, “I should like always to see you smile.”
* * *
It felt strange to sit at the Tolstoi family table. The Bratva kings were of course at the head of the table. Talia’s mother served the food. I didn’t really eat, my stomach could not handle it.
I looked round the table. I had to blink at the surreal feeling of being here, and having, all this, a new family. My lungs squeezed and a pit formed in my stomach. The last time I had been sitting around a table enjoying food, my family was killed. And I was taken away.
I looked down at my hands and stared. I closed my eyes. I could still feel Anri gripping my right hand as Jakhua walked into the yard. I could still feel Zoya holding my left hand, then crawling into my arms and pressing her nose into my neck.
A lump clogged my throat as those memories surfaced. My breath began to quicken as it hit me precisely what I’d lost. This could’ve been my life. I could’ve had my family. Watching them grow, having the same bond.