Theory smiled up at me smugly. I shrugged; I’d never pretended the shit was anything but what it was. I knew from the moment I saw her that she was it for me. Mama extended her hand, Sergei half a step behind her like he always was. He might be the only man in the world more whipped than I was.
“I’m Joia Jones, Targen’s mom—” Mama began.
“Andmoya lyubimaya,” Sergei inserted hastily.My beloved.
I stopped an eyeroll. Sergei and I had a rocky relationship—and that was putting it kindly—but from the first time I saw him look at my mom when I was twenty years old and stuck in a hospital bed, I knew how he felt about her. Mama exhaled out loud and gave him a scolding look.
“Sergei, this child is not worried about that,” she fussed.
“But it is imperative that everyone know,” he insisted, dropping a possessive little kiss on her shoulder.
Mama sighed. “Anyway, darling, I am truly delighted to meet you,” she continued.
Theory accepted her hand and smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, too. Targen told me a lot about you. And thank you for the wardrobe. You have a beautiful eye.”
Clothes. One of Joia Jones’s areas of expertise. She linked her arm through Theory’s and guided her to Maxim’s less formal dining room, talking softly the whole way. I guess the meeting went well—Theory was talking right back.Good. I wanted them to like each other. No one was more important to me than these two women.
My gaze swept over the impressively appointed room with its fine crystal and burnished wood chandelier and solid wood furniture. I knew it could only be considered “less formal” if you had viewed the showpiece that was the formal dining room. Maxim was seated, Lev standing far away. He rose as the women entered. He hugged my mama briefly, responding softly to the greeting she spoke in Russian. His eyes settled on Theory for a moment before glancing at me. She searched for me, too, and I realized Maxim, standing there huge and mostly silent, had rattled her. I was behind her in a minute, my hand on her waist as I scowled at my asshole of a brother.
“Chill,” I muttered.
His head tilted sideways as his eyes bored into mine. “That is how you speak to me now?”
I stared right back. “About her, that is how I speak to you always,” I warned, mocking his formal English.
Mama cleared her throat. “None of that, now. Maxim, this is Theory. Theory, this is Targen’s brother, Maxim and his… associate, Lev.”
Lev nodded politely. Maxim offered his hand, and she took it. I watched as he lifted it to his mouth and kissed it lightly. I was ready to bust him in his forehead if he kept fucking with her, Bratva boss shit be damned.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Theory. I hope you have found my house and staff satisfactory,” he greeted.
“Thank you.” Her voice came out low. She cleared her throat and tried again, meeting his eyes squarely. “Your hospitality has been beyond satisfactory.”
“And my brother not so much, I presume?” he asked, smirking at me.
That earned him a little smile from my girl. My mother and father took the chairs to his left, and Theory and I took the chairs to his right. I had just pushed her nearer the table when Juvie breezed in and dropped next to Sergei.
“Good afternoon, beautiful people. What’s on the menu today?’ he asked.
Maxim frowned. “Were you invited?”
My brother was powerful, ruthless, murderous, but he would have to learn that Julien Reed did not back down easily. I didn’t know if that was bravery or craziness. Juvie glared right back at him.
“I go where Targen goes. You got that gargoyle looking dude over there watching ya back; you don’t think my guy deserves the same?” he challenged.
“You a bodyguard now?” I asked, grinning at this fool.
“You know I’m multipurpose,” he said, patting his chest.
Maxim snorted. “You are annoying, is what you?—”
“Leave the boy alone,Maksyusha,” chided Sergei, using an old nickname for Maxim. “I enjoy him.”
Sergei had gotten sentimental in his retirement, showing lots of love to me and my brother. Still, his using the nickname in front of people Maxim barely knew had my brother tensing and his face looking even more displeased than it usually did. I loved that shit. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it as one of his staff began to fill our water glasses.
Conversation around the table flowed smoothly despite Maxim’s stiffness. I watched Theory as she laughed and interacted with my family, the sight of her being so much more open, so much happier than she was a year ago was beautiful to see. I knew she was in therapy, and I could tell mymilayawas doing her work. The afternoon had a nice little vibe until my stupid ass brother broke his silence.
“Theory, you are getting ready for your wedding Saturday, I hope,” he said.
