The grandfather, thankfully, is much nicer. Unlike some of the others, there’s no tension or unspoken threats laced in his words. He and Zoya are warm, even charming, a contrast to the cold brutality of Matvei’s parents. Grandfather asks polite questions, engaging in small talk as if we’re at afternoon tea instead of sitting in the heart of a criminal empire. His eyes, however, miss nothing.
“I’m told you’re quite skilled with disguises,” he says, his gaze mildly amused. With a wink, he adds, “A gift like that can be a blessing and a curse, eh?”
My cheeks heat, but he’s so friendly I can’t take it personally. “I am. Do you need one?”
“Can you make me pass for thirty?” he asks, eyes twinkling.
Everyone laughs, and Zoya looks at me, thoughtful. “What does that mean you’re good with disguises? What can you do?”
My voice drops, aware of everyone in the room watching me. Zoya’s cheeks flush pink, like she wishes she could take the question back—or at least ask it in private.
Interesting.
Does little Zoya wish to disappear too?
I can imagine it—being under the weight of everyone in this room. Her older, overbearing brothers. Her cousin. Aunt. Uncle. Grandfather.
“I can do anything from subtle changes to a full transformation,” I say smoothly. “Hair color, eye color, facial features—anything easily recognizable. I can manipulate all of that.” I lean over to her, grateful when others start talking among themselves, and we can talk a bit more freely.
The wine flows, and food is passed on large platters as I talk to her about different disguises. I wonder why I was so nervous. I like being here now that his parents are sitting beside Rafail like they’re in the naughty spot.
Vadka excuses himself with a call from home, rising smoothly from the table. At first, I wishIhad a phone call that could excuse me from the room, but I’m planted right here, glued to Matvei’s side.
Then I see the way Vadka looks at his phone, with a shy, unguarded smile. “It’s Mariah calling. Be right back.”
Now I’m wishing someone would look at their phone like that whenIcalled.
He comes back in a few seconds later. “Oh, hey, she’s here. I’ll let her in.”
Zoya leaps to her feet. “Oh my gosh, I almost forgot the cake! Everybody stay right here!” She flees to the kitchen.
“She does a lot of cooking around here,” Matvei says. “She likes to.”
“Thank fuckMatveidoesn’t,” a woman’s voice cuts in from the doorway. “We’d all be eating chocolate-covered ants.”
I look up to see a tall woman with wide brown eyes and soft, wavy brown hair that hits her shoulders, standing beside Vadka. He places his hand on the small of her back as she smiles at me. “Anissa? Welcome. I’m Mariah.”
I give her a shy little wave back but feel a little more at ease in her presence.
“Oh my god.” Matvei groans, rolling his eyes. “Seriously, we did thatonetime. Wasn’t even my idea.”
I’ve never seen Matvei’s eyes twinkle like that. He looks almost casual. I hardly knew the man had a sense of humor, but here, among friends and his Bratva brothers, I’m seeing another side of him.
Semyon laughs for the first time. I get the feeling he doesn’t laugh very often. “You always try to blame Rodion, especially when he isn’t here.” He shakes his head. “As if Rafail and I didn’t practically raise you two and know exactly how you work in league.”
His mother clears her throat. “Excuseme?”
To my surprise, this time, it’s Semyon who levels her with a look. “You two traveled a lot. They practically lived with us every summer. Did you forget?”
She rolls her eyes heavenward, looking personally offended.
So Rafail and Semyon had firsthand experience raising Matvei and his brother. Maybe that’s why Matvei is more tolerable than his parents.
I want to see him around Rodion.
Semyon grins. “Then there was that debacle at the nightclub.”
Vadka pulls out a chair for Mariah, bending to kiss the top of her head before she sits. My heart turns over.
