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Alek places his hand on my lower back, and I move closer to his side.
Isabella gestures at one person at a time. “This is my daughter, Mariya, and my son-in-law, Luca.”
“Hi.” My stomach is a tight ball of nerves.
She moves on to another couple. “This is Viktor’s father, Demitri, and his wife, Ariana.”
“Hi.” I squeak again. I clear my throat before saying, “It’s a pleasure meeting you.”
“You’ve met everyone else,” Isabella says, but then she adds, “Oh wait. Those two are my grandsons, Alex and Lucian. Alex has the same name as my husband, so to avoid confusion, we shortened his name.”
“Got it.”
Rosalie gets up, and giving me a wide smile, she comes to hug me. “I’m so glad you came.”
“I almost chickened out a couple of times,” I admit.
“Come sit by me.”
I’m pulled toward an open chair, and as I take a seat, I smile at Alexei and Viktor. “Thank you for having me over.”
“You’re welcome, little one,” Alexei says.
Alek asks Viktor, “Anything I can help with?”
“Sit and take a load off,” his boss orders.
Alexei takes a seat to my right, shifting his chair closer. “I hear you have a bookstore?”
“Yes, I opened it before Vincent was born.”
“I take it you like to read?”
I nod. “I love books.”
“What’s your favorite?”
I frown at the man like he's lost his mind. “It’s impossible to choose a favorite.”
“Okay.” I see a teasing glint in his eyes. “Give me your top five.”
“You’re torturing her, Alexei,” Alek chuckles.
“I know,” Alexei admits. “It’s fun.”
I shake my head at the retired bratva boss. “What’s your favorite book?”
“The Art of War,” he answers without hesitating.
“Why am I not surprised,” I mutter.
“Would you like something to drink?” Viktor asks me.
“Ahh…what do you have?”
“Everything.”
“A glass of wine would be nice. Semi-sweet?”
