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“I’ll drive you myself,” Maxim offers.

“Hell no,” Roman says immediately. “You’re not driving us. You drive like a maniac, and you look half-drunk.”

“I’m not drunk,” Maxim protests.

“You’ll ride in front. We’ll follow,” Roman replies. “Have one of your men drive us.”

Maxim mutters under his breath but eventually agrees. A driver is assigned, and Roman and I settle into the back seat of one of the cars while Maxim’s vehicle leads the small convoy.

As we pull away from the airstrip, I glance at Roman. “You two seem close.”

He’s quiet for a moment, watching the road ahead. “In a complicated way. Growing up, Maxim was all I had. After our parents died, it was just the two of us. I tried to be a parent figure to him as much as a brother. I think I may have overdone it in some ways. Spoiled him more than I should have.”

I nod slowly. “Older brothers often do that. They try to give their younger siblings the care and attention they themselves didn’t get enough of.”

Roman glances at me. “Are you close with your older brother? Dante?”

“Yes. Very close. Dante has always looked out for Audrey and me. Even when he was away for long stretches, we knew he cared. He’s protective of us...”

Mid-sentence I notice the shift in Roman’s expression, the subtle tightening of his jaw, the way his eyes darken.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“I don’t like it when you talk about other men, solnyshko,” he says flatly.

“Even my brother?”

“Even your brother,” he grumbles.

A surprised laugh slips out of me. Before I can say anything else, Roman reaches over, pulls me across the seat, and settles me firmly on his lap. His hands grip my hips, holding me in place.

“You’re laughing now,” he murmurs, voice low near my ear. “You won’t be laughing later.”

Then he kisses me deeply.

Chapter 21

Roman

Maxim takes a slow sip of his scotch, then leans back in his chair with a grin.

“Marriage looks good on you, brother. I have to admit it.”

I give him a flat look.

He chuckles. “What? I’m serious. It’s only been a few weeks, and somehow you already look different. Happier, maybe.”

“I look the same.”

“Sure you do.” He takes another sip, clearly enjoying himself. “I’m still surprised you’re here, though. I figured you’d take some time off after the wedding. You know, honeymoon phase and all that.”

“What are you talking about? We’ve been planning this meeting for weeks. We’ve postponed it enough. It’s time we handled it.”

“Yeah, I know.” He sets his glass down. “I just thought you might want to enjoy being a newlywed for a while. Isn’t that what normal people do?”

“Why are you so concerned?”

Maxim laughs under his breath. “Is it a crime to care about my brother’s welfare?”