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I can’t stop myself from taking her lips again in a deep and thorough kiss. I pull away from her before I take her again.
“I’ll be back before the game tonight. I have a meeting at lunch.”
“I’ll be here.” She smiles at me with her puffy lips, and I step back, adjusting myself.
“You are so tempting,ptitsa.” I groan as I move out of the condo and nod at the door guards.
Seven
SPARROW
“You look amazing, but are you sure that’s what you want to wear?” Lennon is standing behind me as I slowly spin in front of the mirror in my closet.
I know that tonight is important; it will set the stage for how the other families will treat me. I want to show a united front with Andrei. My sister had wanted me in more of a sexy and flashy dress that would barely cover my butt. I look back at the bed at the skimpy spaghetti strap dress she brought over days ago and know that one is wrong. The one I’m wearing might not be as flashy, but it’s perfect for a family dinner. Andrei wanted to hold the dinner at Yelena’s so I wouldn’t have to travel far, but some of the other families coming wanted it on neutral territory.
“I like it.” I turn my back to the mirror again and look over my shoulder. The black sheath dress is designed to go from office to cocktail party. It’s elegant and classy. The dress fits me like a second skin, giving me curves and showing enough cleavage that Andrei won’t like it. It’s long-sleeved and lands at just below my knees, so it’s not indecent.
I calledBabushkaand asked her opinion on picking out a dress online after Lennon wasn’t much help. She gave me some pointers and suggested I find one I’m more comfortable in. I love Lennon’s ideas, but she’s not completely supportive of my decision to be with Andrei. She has called him a thug and other derogatory names. I keep reminding her that her own father—our father—was a hitman before he went legit. That was a shock to learn but surprisingly easy to accept. Lennon, however, claims it’s a lie, but she knows better. I didn’t tell her that our father has threatened to make Brett disappear. She wants me to leave Andrei and stay at her house. She has gone as far as to say that if I got away from Andrei, I’d see there are other men out there and I wouldn’t be into him anymore.
“Do you realize you will match him in his black suits? You’re just eighteen. You should be having fun and dressing like a teenager, not a grown woman.”
I bite my bottom lip and look at myself critically again. I look mature and a bit older in this dress, which is what I want. I don’t want people to think that because I am young they can walk all over me.
“I still think this dinner is crazy. Why does he need to introduce you to the family?” she continues.
“I already told you it’s an honor to be introduced to them. I’ll be his wife soon, and they need to know who I am and that I’ll respect the family.”
“I know he saved you, but you don’t need to marry him,” she scoffs. “Besides, he’s handsome enough to find a bride his own age.” I know she doesn’t mean to hurt me, but her words still sting.
“I love him. He loves me. We want to get married,” I say, putting an end to the conversation.
I snap a quick picture with the new phone Andrei got me and send it to his grandmother.
Babushka
You look beautiful. Can’t wait to see you.
I smile as I read her text, then I send her back a response.
Me
Thank you.
Babushkaand I have spent a lot of time together, getting to know each other. She brought dinner over on Wednesday and just sat with me while Andrei was downstairs at the card game. I had been on edge knowing Brett was on the premises. It turns out I didn’t need to worry, as he never showed up.
I move across the room. Yesterday while Lennon was here, she taught me to walk in high heels, and I’m still getting used to them. I grab the little clutch that matches my dress and the long trench coat.
“Come on,” I say over my shoulder as I look back at my sister.
She’s dressed in a soft olive-green colored dress with a deep V-neck to her belly button. The skirt wraps in a way that one of her legs is almost completely exposed. She wanted me to wear a matching dress to hers or the one on the bed, but I declined both. I know what Andrei can handle, and either dress would have me over his shoulder and us leaving the dinner before it even started.
“I’m ready,” she says, sounding distracted.
I continue through the condo toward the entrance, where my new bodyguards are waiting for me. They are bothbrotaksunder a couple of brigadiers. One from Mikhail’s and the other from Dmitri’s so both will have a united stake in protecting me. I’m learning about each level of the Bratva. I like both Adrik and Arkady. They are both fighters and were bodyguards for their own brigadiers. Being asked to move up to be part of my personal guard is a sign they are held in high esteem with the Boss orPakhan, as I’ve learned is Andrei’s title.
When I reach them, both move from their lounged stance against the wall and stand tall. I stop and turn around to see Lennon setting a letter on the bar.
“What’s that?” I ask.
