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When was the last time I asked him how he was doing? He always seems so relaxed, so carefree, so calm. A clown, through and through.
But there’s a reason clowns wear tears painted on their faces.
“Konst—”
“The Babai,” he says, putting an abrupt end to his brief moment of vulnerability. “No word from them yet?”
I sigh. I won’t press him if he isn’t ready for it. “Only a brief message I received late last night. They asked for more time.”
“Does that worry you?”
I shrug. “I paid their price because they’re supposed to be the best. Results—that’s what the Babai are known for. And yet here they are, requesting another week.”
“It’s not much in the grand scheme of things,” he offers.
“It’s far too much when you consider that Petyr Ivanov should already be six feet under.”
“There’s something else…”
I glance at my cousin distractedly. “What is it?”
“There’s been some… chatter within the ranks,” he says diplomatically. “The council is grumpy.”
“Fuck me,” I mutter. “Not this shit again.”
Having the lesser ranks grumbling is one thing. But the council is made up of senior Vors that influence everyone else. The fact that they’re uneasy is not good.
“What’s the pulse?”
“Discontent,” Konstantin summarizes. “They feel like too much attention is being put in the wrong places. But mostly, I think they just don’t like being left out of the loop. Maybe it’s time to organize another council meeting. You can fill them in and calm their nerves. Hold their hands like the little boys they sometimes are.”
“It’s not my responsibility to babysit them,” I growl. “I’ve got enough shit on my plate. I’ll organize a council meeting whenIneed to talk, not whentheyneed to.”
“So…”
“So let the chatter continue. I need to focus on keeping Paige safe.” She is the only thing that matters. “Speaking of, I wanted to ask if I could borrow your apartment in the city for the night.”
He does a double-take. “Can I ask why you need a measly little four-bedroom penthouse in the city, when you have a big-ass mansion in the hills?”
“I thought I’d surprise Paige with a change of scenery,” I explain. “But I also want to keep Petyr guessing. I’m certain he has eyes on us. I don’t want our moves to be predictable.”
“Got it. Well, it would be my pleasure. Consider my bachelor pad your honeymoon nest for the night. If you need any little blue pills, they’re in the medicine cabinet. So is the lube. And in the chest underneath the bed, there’s a—”
I hold up a hand before he can start describing what kind of sick paraphernalia he keeps on hand. “Say no more, for the love of God. Thank you.”
Konstantin smiles and leans back in his seat. His blue eyes catch the light and for a moment, he looks a lot like Maksim.
“What are you doing tonight?” I ask suddenly. Once upon a time, we used to ravage nightclubs from the time the sun set until it rose again. I can’t remember the last time we did that.
“I find ways to keep myself occupied,” Konstantin says vaguely. I get the feeling that there’s more to his life than he’s letting on. But I’m not about to pry, even if I want to help. “Life’s changed a lot since you found your woman. I’ve adapted.”
I cringe. Without even realizing it, I’ve left Konstantin behind.
“Don’t,” Konstantin snaps out of nowhere, glaring at me harshly. “Don’t fucking feel bad, for God’s sake. I’m a big boy; I can take care of myself. I may be alone, but I’m not lonely.”
He seems to mean it.
But it makes me worry all the same.
