Page 60 of Lord of Justice

"Oh, that's terrible!"

"Right?" Rose agrees. "There's nothing more tragic than a disappointed Dasha."

"You both might adore her," Nikandr says, "but after her graduation, between all of the booze and pretty Instagram boys, our parents decided she needed a time out. They sent her to one of those 'I don't know what I want to do with mylife yet' boarding schools in Florence for the summer."

Rose frowns. "What's wrong with booze and pretty Instagram boys?"

Nikandr sighs heavily.

"Well, after The Coronation we can catch up," I say, smoothing and re-smoothing my dress.

Nikandr chuckles. "Is that what we're calling it?"

"Somepeople are calling it a swearing in," I say primly. "I am calling it what it is. The Coronation. Look at your brother." We all turn toward my husband.

Andrey is magnificent.

The tailor has done his work, and he's standing over to the side with a hand over his mouth, as if he's never seen anything more beautiful than my husband. Andrey's terrified little aides and clerks are scuttling back and forth, and Jessica is... not even remotely impressed, still going over talking points with him.

"Yeah, this is acoronation,"I laugh.

"He does look rather kingly, doesn't he?" Nikandr says, smiling fondly. "Do you know your role in this?"

"Of course," I say grimly. "Trust me. Jessica has been very,verythorough with her instructions.Andrey woke me up when I was sleepwalking last night. He said I was standing there, hands out like I was holding a Bible."

"Well, this should be fun," Nikandr stands up, buttoning his suit jacket. "I'm going to go talk to my brother for a minute. And then I have to get back out there to shake hands and charm the hell out of another fifty or sixty millionaires."

"Have fun," I say cheerfully, waving at him.

He walks over to Andrey and Jessica steps aside, tactfully, as they speak. I don't know what Nikandr says, but a beautiful smile crosses Andrey's face, glowing, like a sunrise. Shockingly, they hug each other. Rose and I watch this unprecedented moment of brotherly love with our mouths hanging open and a poorly disguised look of shock.

"Holy shit, did you see that?" she whispers. "It was like your husband loves Nikandr or something."

"Andrey does love people," I whisper back. "I don't think it's in the same way that we do, but Andrey takes care of the people that are important to him."

Again, the image of my bloody, mostly naked husband coming home from a busy night of dispensing a different kind of justice rises up with utter clarity, and that certainly brushes awayallthis sentimentality.

Andrey would disapprove of it anyway.

Rose lays her head on my shoulder. "I'm torn between giving you shit for saying such a poetic thing, or feeling really happy because it seems like you two have found your way. Like you get him."

A few minutes later, everyone is abruptly escorted out of the office by an implacable Jessica, including Rose, who gives me an enthusiastic thumbs up.

Andrey strolls over. "How do I look?"

"Honestly? Like a Greek god.” His dark blue suit fits him perfectly, paired with a white dress shirt, and a blue silk tie. "Are those your lucky cufflinks?" I hold up his wrist to get a better look at the black diamond set. “Didn't your folks give these to you?"

"Yes, when I graduated from Harvard Law School," he says, straightening his tie, which wasn’t crooked.

"And now, you wear them every time you go into court. Some people might consider that sentimental," I grin, touching his sleeve. "How do you feel?"

He arches a brow. "Prepared." He is so matter offact about it all.

"Of course you do," I laugh. "ThemajesticAndrey Morozov. Fear is nothing," His big, rough hand cups my cheek, his thumb running over my cheekbone as I stare up at him, a little shocked.

"There's things I fear," he says, his gaze holds mine. "Not being the son my parents expect, the leader that the Bratva demands. And now this new, greater fear of not being what you need."

It's a long moment.