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“I’m not here to party or celebrate, like you,” I point out, keeping my emotions on lockdown.
“Clearly, you weren’t last night, either,” she says, her smile spreading. “Don’t you know how to have fun?”
Frowning, I find myself at a loss for words. I suppose I know how to have fun. But I can’t recall the last time I did something just for the joy of it. That hasn’t happened since Sascha was alive.
“Dance with me,” she demands, tipping her chin toward the dance floor. “Tonight’s flavor is ballroom. Stiff and stuffy—much more your style.”
Viktor snorts a laugh at his sister’s comment, seeming to find her sharp wit as funny when it’s directed at me as I do when it’s directed at him. But I’m not here to dance with the Pakhan’s daughter. I’m here to prove worthy of Sergio’s trust so he might allow me into his inner circle.
“I’m working,” I insist. “Someone has to keep your brother safe.”
Clapping me on the shoulder, Viktor severs my lifeline as he takes away my excuse. “I’m sure I can manage to stay alive for one dance. You aren’t trying to use me to get out of dancing with my sister, are you?”
“No, I?—”
“Good. Because that would just be uncouth. You two have fun. Just watch your hands, Orlov,” he warns, using my last name in a far too friendly manner. “Keep it respectful.”
Unable to get out of a dance without offending the family I’m trying to win over, I grind my teeth and offer Alina my hand. Frustrated because it removes me from any opportunity to further my efforts toward revenge, I try not to let the emotion show on my face.
But the worst part is feeling Alina’s palm in mine, the buzz of awareness that seems to crackle between our skin as I escort her onto the dance floor with the handful of couples already there.
Viktor wolf-whistles from the sidelines, his smile wicked as he watches his sister toy with me.
“You know how to waltz?” Alina asks, calling my eyes back to hers.
“I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?” Bringing her into my hold, I take her right hand in my left and place my right hand on her back, raising my arm to create a frame.
“Hmm, very good,” she teases, her lush lips parting to reveal straight white teeth. “Now what?”
Finding the song’s rhythm, I step forward, guiding her into the dance. And while my steps feel unpracticed and awkward, Alina flows seamlessly with me. She’s clearly done this before, and while I might lack experience, she makes us look effortless, even graceful.
Fingers light in my hand, her other arm resting delicately on the frame I’ve provided, she sweeps in an elegant circle. She’s stunning, regal, and I can’t deny that I find her attractive. It feels good to have her body pressed against mine, moving as one to the music.
“You’re not half-bad, Mishka. Maybe you should try having fun more often,” she teases, her blue eyes sparkling with mirth.
And despite myself, that makes me like her all the more. She’s full of spirit and seems determined to either torture me or force me to have fun, I can’t tell which. But I’m dangerously close to enjoying it.
“Who says I’m having fun?” I counter, betraying myself as I try to discourage Alina from pushing things further. Is it wrong of me to find her persistence appealing as well?
But I like her version of spitfire. When someone knocks her down, she just comes right back, whether it’s her brother giving her a hard time or me trying to push her away like a complete ass. And all the while, she dazzles me with her smile.
“Well, you’re not scowling as much as usual. Besides, it’s physically impossible to be miserable while you dance.”
“Says who?”
“Says me.”
I fall silent, unable to argue with her logic. Because I am enjoying myself when I shouldn’t, and I like holding her in my arms more than I want to admit. I need to get my shit together and my head back in the game.
I don’t have time to be chasing some skirt—even if she’s more appealing than any of the other girls who have ever looked my way.
She’s the daughter of my brother’s murderer.
And I still fully intend to kill her father.
So even if I do like dancing with Alina, this draw I feel toward her can’t go anywhere.
Attachment would only get in the way.
