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Beside me, Ivy edges closer until her shoulder bumps my waist.

“Papa?”

Alexei places a hand lightly against her shoulder.

“It's alright.”

The lead vehicle stops near the front entrance. The other two pull in behind it. Several men climb out first. Even from where we stand, they look intimidating. Broad shoulders and hard faces.

Then the rear door of the middle SUV opens. The man who steps out draws every eye in the courtyard. He's older than Alexei and built even bigger through the shoulders. Dark hair and steel-gray eyes.

Understanding hits me all at once. It’s Roman, Alexei's brother.

He surveys the property once before his attention finds Alexei. Then Ivy. Then me. The look lasts only a moment, but it's enough.

I've met powerful men before. Politicians, donors, and business owners with more money than sense. Roman feels different. The entire courtyard seemed to rearrange itself the minute he arrived, and nobody appeared surprised by it.

Alexei steps forward, and the brothers meet near the base of the front steps. Neither smiles nor reaches for the other. Years of history seem to pass between them before Roman finally speaks.

“Brat.”

Alexei gives a single nod. “Roman.”

I swallow. Alexei can be frightening when he chooses to be. Roman doesn't need to try. His attention moves toward Ivy. For the first time since stepping out of the SUV, some of the hardness leaves his face.

“Moya plemyannitsa.” My niece.

Ivy’s whole face brightens. “Uncle Roman.”

She lets go of my hand and hurries over to him. Roman remains exactly where he is. Ivy throws her arms around his waist without another thought. One of his hands comes to rest against her back.

The man standing there with Ivy doesn't quite match the man who arrived in those SUVs.

Ivy eventually steps back, and the softer moment disappears so quickly I almost wonder if I imagined it.

Roman looks up, his eyes landing on me. “Miss Hayes.”

The deep voice sends another chill down my spine, and I forget every word in the English language. All I manage is a nod.

Roman inclines his head once, then his attention moves on. Just like that. The moment shouldn't feel significant, but it does.

“Come, solnyshko,” Alexei says, looking toward the house. “Let's go inside. Dinner will be served soon.”

Ivy reaches for my hand. I follow the Agapovs toward the mansion, Winston and Daisy trotting ahead across the lawn. As the front doors swing open, I can't shake the feeling that things are about to get a whole lot more complicated.

4

ALEXEI

Dinner should feel normal. The dining room looks the same as it always does. Staff moves quietly between the table and kitchen, carrying dishes prepared with the same care they bring every evening.

Nothing about the room has changed, but everything else has. Irina's absence hangs over the house like a shadow nobody knows how to step around. No one has relaxed since the attack, and I have no intention of allowing that to change.

I sit at the head of the table while Roman occupies the chair to my right. Across from us, Maggie helps Ivy into her seat before taking the chair beside her. Winston claims a spot near Ivy's feet while Daisy chooses to sprawl beside Maggie.

“Daisy snores.”

Roman lifts an eyebrow. “She does?”