Her sisters gawk at her.
And she flashes me a look loaded with her triumph.
What she said is only partially true… Victoria isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.
Victoria isn’t ashamed to be marrying a career criminal either.
She’s the opposite.
She’s proud. Unafraid.
And, earlier irritation aside, I have never wanted to fuck her more.
I rub my chin, amused by the sisters’ prolonged silence as Miroslava makes an appearance with my steak and eggs. Her gaze darts around the table in surprise at the loaded quiet, but she drops off the avocado toast with a shy duck of her head that Victoria returns with an extra-wide, extra-sunny-side-up smile that could illuminate this room for the next year, it’s so bright.
Only when Miroslava disappears to bring Victoria’skashadoes Inessa whine, “You could still have invited us.”
“I wanted to be his. I wanted it to be a fait accompli. No fuss, no ceremony. Just us.” She flashes both her hands and shows off her rings. “I’m his. He’s mine. New York will find out soon enough not to fuck around with me.” She punctuates that with a toss of her hair over her shoulder. “You said it yourselves. I’m not like you. I did have a choice. I chose this and I choose him. But more importantly, I choose not to be a woman who stays at home in a gorgeous, gilded cage.
“Maxim knows what he signed up for with me, don’t you, husband?”
“I know that she’ll need double the guards she already has,” is all I say.
She shoots me an appreciative smile then glowers at her sisters. “Now, are you two going to give me any more shit, or can we enjoy breakfast? I have a lot of sex furniture to buy today and I don’t feel like doing it while I have indigestion.”
Inessa snorts. “Sex furniture?”
“Yes.” Victoria slowly spells out, “Furniture upon which to have sex, Inessa. I’m pretty sure we don’t all like to fuck on sofas that our guests sit on. Cum is so hard to get out of soft furnishings.”
I arch a brow at her. “How do you know that,kroshka?”
“Because Inessa and Eoghan can’t keep it contained to the bedroom, Maxim.”
“Ahh.”
When Inessa sputters, I hide a smile and Camille catches it.
Her hard gaze softens.
Her shoulders droop.
And she releases a vexed sigh.
It isn’t a “welcome to the family,” but it’s acceptance nonetheless.
Why did I ever think Victoria would have a problem handling her family?
THIRTY-SIX
BABY SISTER
Brennan: I’m thinking I’ll dislocate his shoulder when Thanksgiving rolls around
Eoghan: Saves me from having to do it
Eoghan: If you don’t, I have a peashooter that’ll get the job done
Brennan: Bahahaha, peashooter? What kind of peas are you shooting?
