Page 101 of Then We Shatter

“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea,” Ash says, the first to approach us. His beard scrapes my cheek as he gives me a quick peck. “Happy birthday, Inessa.”

It’s the name everyone who visits or lives on this isle knows me by and I’m getting used to it. Katarina Barkov only comes out to play when she’s hunting down the higher ranking Bratva soldiers with aspirations of resurrecting the Barkov empire.

“What are you doing here?”

Ash goes to pull the knife from my grasp, but I refuse to let it go. “I came all this way to give you your birthday gift.”

He tugs harder and with a sigh, I let him disarm me. While he’s returning it to the knife block, Killian repositions himself so I’m tucked at his side. Presumably in case any other hot-blooded male tries to kiss me. Ash is the closest Killian has to a brother now, and he’s the only one he’d ever let near me.

“Is my gift a new husband?” I ask Ash. “Because I might just kill my current one for scaring the shit out of me.” My heart is still beating loudly in my chest and I know my cheeks are flushed. “In case you’ve forgotten, I had enough surprises for my last birthday.”

“All the more reason to appreciate how far we’ve come,” Killian reminds me, and despite myself, I soften as I press into him. He has a point.

“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you…” Rory starts singing loud enough to have the crockery rattling, and soon everyone’s joining in.

I don’t notice the new arrival until I catch the flicker of candlelight from behind the castle’s groundsman who’s been advising me on what produce will grow in our harsh climate.

There’s a glimpse of honey blond hair and then…

“Sasha!” I cry out as she appears with a birthday cake complete with twenty-two candles.

This is one surprise I don’t need time to adjust to, and I pull from Killian’s hold. The flames of the candles dance between us, adding fire to her violet eyes but no warmth.

“Time to make a wish,” she says, lifting the cake higher.

Only now do I notice the cake is in the shape of a boat wreck disappearing into a blue-almost-black ocean. The half-destroyed wheelhouse is scorched and there are dead fish scattered across the deck.

“Can I wish for a different cake?” I ask drolly.

While our rivalry was all an act, we both freely admit we enjoyed some of the tricks we played on each other. Merciless teasing is our love language.

“Blow the fucking candles out,” she orders.

When I do, it feels greedy to ask for more when I already have so much. Instead, I wish for Sasha to find the kind of love and friendship I’ve been blessed with.

“How long can you stay?” I ask when everyone else is busy pouring drinks and setting out the party food my unexpected guests have brought with them.

“Things are quiet right now,” she says. “I don’t think we’ve rooted out all of the Bratva rats, but the ones that remain loyal to a dead cause have gone underground.”

“And Peterson?” Killian asks, handing us both glasses of champagne.

“Eric is slowly lowering his guard,” she replies. “It won’t be long before he exposes his network of friends.”

It’s the only reason Eric has remained off my hit list for now. Sasha spent enough time at Blackwater Rock to familiarize herself with his security systems. He’s the bait that we’ll use to pick off his fellow deviants one by one. It’s going to be my life’s work, and it’s what Killian says he wants too. Rick and Inessa will enjoy a quiet life on the edges of society while Killian and Katarina become specters that appear now and again, hellbent on obliterating the network of human traffickers my uncle enabled.

“If you want to stay on our island, you’re very welcome,” Killian tells Sasha.

“I think you mean my island,” Rory reminds him as he comes to join us.

Killian winks at him. “Sure. You keep telling yourself that.”

“I sometimes wonder why we’re even friends.”

My husband smirks. “Friends is a bit of an exaggeration, don’t you think? We’re more like acquaintances with a mutual friend,” he says, tipping his head towards Ash.

“An acquaintance who lets you live on his island,” Rory retorts.

I roll my eyes and turn back to Sasha, who’s following the conversation with her trademark cold indifference. The Bratva wasn’t known for banter and it’s going to take a while for her to acclimatize, as it did me.