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“Of course,” I say. “Take your time.”
It is a good offer. One of the best Kari is going to get without going back to school. And according to Eve, Kari isn’t sure she can handle school. Since working for the Cartel for so many years, she is nervous around large groups of people, which is understandable.
“Well, we would be glad to have you,” Grigory says, leaning back in his chair to catch Kari’s eye.
Her cheeks flush again, and she quickly looks down at her plate, but I see the smile on her face. I think everyone does.
Eve nudges me in the side, and I nod.
Kari might be smitten.
By the puff of Grigory’s chest, he might be smitten, too.
* * *
After dinner, we leave the maids to clean up and move into the sitting room.
The fire is lit and the curtains are drawn, giving the entire affair a very cozy, personal touch.
It was planned that way on purpose. Eve and I wanted to arrange this night to give everyone—ourselves included—a fresh start.
Once everybody is seated, Eve nods at me, and I stand and lift my glass.
“Thank you all for coming over tonight. It feels good to be with friends and family after a rather difficult couple weeks.”
Grigory raises his glass and then takes a large drink. “That’s an understatement.”
“We lost good men. Loyal men. So tonight, we honor those men who fought to free me and my wife and my child.”
“And me,” Kari says softly.
“Me, too,” Maddie says.
The other three women murmur in agreement and nod along.
“And all of you, too,” I agree.
Everyone stops and takes a drink, but then Eve stands up next to me, her glass raised. “And I’d also like to honor the woman who was killed during the auction. I didn’t know her name, but—”
“Angela,” Kari says. “Her name was Angela.”
I see Eve’s eyes go glassy, and she lifts her glass. “To Angela.”
Everyone drinks again.
Eve stretches up to whisper in my ear. “Do you mind if I—”
I step back and gesture for her to have the floor. My leg needs a rest, anyway. Standing for even a few minutes at a time makes my muscles spasm.
“I don’t want to bring down the mood of the night,” Eve says. “But I do want to say thank you for everyone who came to help us. I’m not sure where my family would be tonight if it wasn’t for all of you.”
We both look to Milaya, who is lying on a soft blanket on the floor, batting at stuffed fish that are hanging from a mobile above her.
“Please don’t thank us anymore,” Grigory says. “You are our leaders. Of course we came for you.”
Eve’s lips pinch together nervously, and she looks back at me, trying to gauge my reaction.
Leaders. Plural.
