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We wait for the hostess to fetch us to take us to our table when I see Kira.
“Kira, hey!” I try and look casual. “I thought I’d bring my sister Natalia to taste your fine cooking.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Natalia,” Kira smiles, holding her hand out. “The special tonight is to die for.”
“We’ll take two,” my charming smile activates on its own. There’s a moment’s pause before I ask, “I’m surprised the rest of your family aren’t here. Where’s Dominic? Miguel? Arianna and Shirley?”
Natalia snorts but composes herself quickly as Kira says, “They don’t eat here every day, you know, Evgenii. Dominic is probably home. Miguel is looking after our kids. Arianna is out with Carmine, and Shirley had some date.”
My mood sours, but I try not to let it show on my face. “Oh, okay. Oh, look, it’s our turn to be seated. We’re looking forward to the excellent food.”
Kira smiles at me and walks back to the kitchen as Kimber, the hostess, leads us to the private booths reserved for family and friends. I sit opposite Natalia, but all I can think about is Shirley and who the fuck took her on a date.
“You’re not supposed to be distracted by her,” Natalia’s comment is quiet and casual but to the point, and my head snaps up in defense. “What? No, I don’t care what she does with her time. That’s her problem.”
Natalia smiles but says nothing more as the waitress comes over to take our drinks order.
Our first round of drinks comes, and I settle back. “So you say Europe was good? Our parents are fine?”
“As fine as can be, they’re living in the lap of luxury,” Nat says, sipping her cocktail. “Maybe you should try to see them sometime.”
“Nah,” I brush her off. “They will never be happy that I didn’t become a surgeon, CEO, or some sort of leader.”
“They are proud of you,” she says, reaching for my hand.
I grin and squeeze her hand in mine. “Tell me about you. What made you decide to set up shop here?”
“I needed a job, and Ivan was kind enough to agree to help me out.” She looks away as she speaks, and it rouses my suspicion.
“Is there something you’re not telling me, Natalia? Is everything okay?” I ask, leaning forward and keeping my voice low.
She glances at me, and our eyes meet briefly before she shakes her head. “Nothing happened. I’m just not feeling well.”
“You should see a doctor then. We have one that will come to the house to see you.”
“Evgenii, please. If I need a doctor, I will ask for one. Can I just be left alone to deal with my life for a few days?”
I don’t answer as the waitress brings our food. It smells delicious, and Nat instantly tucks in, moaning softly as she tastes the food.
“Almost as good as Aunty’s food,” I comment, stuffing a piece of cheesy garlic bread into my mouth.
“Almost, but not quite,” Natalia agrees. The conversation becomes lighter, and we reminisce about our childhoods and the trouble we used to cause and get into, especially with Ivan.
After eating and drinking our fill, I return Natalia to the car. She climbs in while I pause to message Shirley and ask her if she wants to meet for a nightcap at La Club. I know she’ll feel safe there.
After pocketing my phone, I get into the car and drive us home. Natalia hasn’t said much since we finished our meal, and I can tell there’s something she’s hiding, but she won’t come out and say it. Briefly, I wonder if she is questioning her loyalty to me or my loyalty to Ivan, but no, she has clearly been off since her trip. Something must have happened in Europe. I’ll have to ask my parents if they know anything—without her knowing—because if she finds out I’m prying into her private life, she will make me pay for it.
Natalia kisses my cheek when I pull up to the house. “Don’t punch anyone. It’ll make you look like the bad guy.” Young but wise, my sister knows me too well. I watch her walk into the house, my phone to my ear, as I get one of my tech guys to trace Shirley's last known location.
I wait in my car, wondering if Shirley has a type. If her type is me. What if it’s someone entirely different from me? Does that mean I don’t stand a chance at all with her ever again?
My phone buzzes, and Jessie is talking quickly in my ear.
She’s at a restaurant, or at least was there five minutes ago, and it isn’t far from my house. I sit in my car for a few moments, considering how Ivan would feel if he found out I was doing this, that I was going insane over an ex. Then I turn my car back on and pull out of my driveway. I have to know who she agreed to go on a date with. I won’t do anything. I’ll just look and leave. Nothing serious, and Ivan and Alessandro will never find out I was there anyway. No harm. No foul.
Surprise, surprise, it’s a cheesy, over-priced French restaurant, the kind new money kinds take their dates to so they can flash how much cash they spend in the hopes it’ll convince their date they’re worth going home with. I go to the hostess and am about to ask for a seat at the bar when I see Shirley.
Talking and laughing with Mikhail.
