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“No, but we socialize with many families.”
“Allies?” she asks.
“They could be.”
The church fills up, signaled by the creak and groan of the wooden pews. Latecomers must stand in the vestibule. Mourners greet me, but few stops at Eva’s coffin. The silence I dreaded before is replaced by low whispers, and I think I’ll go mad imagining what they are saying about her.
A hush falls over the room as Grigori Schevchenko stands before Eva’s coffin. He begins his prayers in a booming voice, and those that plan to stay sit down, while others retreat to the vestibule to renew connections. We stand in silent respect as the priest begins a ritual of solace and healing that is the tradition.
Dmitri hurries in and sits behind me. “There are Bratvas switching their allegiance in favor of Sonya and the Novikovs.” Last night during the wake, the younger Bratvas openly grieved with my sister.
I don’t blame them. Not after the pain I’ve caused her.
Paige slips her hand out of mine. “You’re not leaving, are you?” she whispers.
“No.” I take her hand in mine again.
I’m under no illusion of the storm clouds gathering in the distance. War is coming. The old world shall be pitted against the new. Paige and I stand amidst it all, like children raging against the howling storm.
I may have saved the Bratva for now, but what will be the outcome? Will the good opinions sour when they all find out that I let Sonya run?
Chapter 7
Andrei
Before I can rush into my office, Emma stops me and gives me a hug. I feel her trembling in my arms, and I wonder what she must think. What Paige must’ve said. The girl avoided me for days after her return. I’m shaken by her unexpected show of affection, and I pause for a moment, appreciating the bumbling but kind gesture she makes in front of my guards.
Finally, she pulls away, and her eyes are bright with tears. “I’m sorry for your loss.” Emma lets go quickly and hurries upstairs.
I open the office door for Paige, and we walk in alone. Paige’s hands tremble slightly as she passes through the doorway, and she seems just as uneasy as her sister. As soon as the door closes, she turns to face me. “Emma told me something important.”
I nod and realize I’ve misinterpreted her nervousness. “How is she doing?”
Paige looks surprised that I don’t leap to business first. “She’s not well, but school starts in a few weeks. I hope it will be a distraction.”
She pauses, waiting for me to object, but I don’t. I want to hear what Emma told her first. Later, we’ll talk about the private school Emma will attend. She cannot return to her public school. I refuse to negotiate with kidnappers on a weekly basis.
Paige looks down at her hands, taking more interest in them than my face. “She told me that Kenney found Dad’s last will and testament in my mother’s old suitcase. It was in a zipped pocket. She must’ve taken it with her when she left.”
“Was there anything else?” I ask.
“No, no account numbers.” Finally, Paige looks me in the eye. “Andrei, I have to go back to the house and look. It’s obvious that someone is still going there to check.”
I scoff. “You decided to ask for my permission this time?”
“You have a lot of troubles right now.” She refuses to look at me as I stare her down.
“What do you think those troubles are?” I ask.
Paige backs away as if she’s making sure she has a clear path to the door. “I don’t know exactly, but I don’t want to cause problems for you … or your work.”
“I don’t mind risking lives to save you and your sister. But you have to stop running off.” It’s a mistake saying that. Even thinking about it. I never blamed Paige for what had happened until now. “Sorry. That was harsh.”
Paige stares at me as if I’ve done something unexpected.
“You’ve never apologized to me before. At least, not for something you’ve said.” She walks away from the door and sits down on the couch. The nervousness melts away from her body and is replaced with calm. I stare at her profile as she looks out the window. She’s beautiful in her black dress, and it makes me angry thinking about the possibility of her being a young, wealthy widow.
“Paige, I never thought I would be in this situation.” I try to communicate instead of arguing. “I always thought the enemy would be from the outside. I never thought it would be waiting for me at home. You heard what they said today. What do you think?”
