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“Thanks for the offer, but I’m good,” I tell my brother.
“Why do you even have to go into the city, anyway? Dad did all his business from home.”
I pull on my jacket, patting down my pockets to make sure I have my phone—and an extra magazine for the Makarov I’m packing. “It’s important to show my face,” I explain. “So people understand who’s in charge. I need to make my presence known.”
“Every day, though?”
I chew on the inside of my cheek.Dammit. If I’ve managed to rouse my brother’s suspicions, there’s a chance the rest of my family might have noticed my strange comings and goings, too. I don’t even want to think about what they might say if they found out the truth about Andrei and me.
“I’m just trying to be thorough. It’s still early days of my reign,” I lie through my teeth.
It doesn’t feel good to deceive Freddy, but what the hell am I supposed to tell him? Andrei is, and always will be, my dirty little secret. It’s not like anything real could ever happen between us, so it’s better to keep the truth buried and hidden forever.
But the more I mull the thought over, the more I feel strangely disappointed.
I’ve been seeing Andrei for a little over a week. I have to admit, it’s been fun.Reallyfun. Andrei knows how to scratch my itch, and vice versa, but a nagging sensation has been tugging at the back of my brain. How long can we keep this up? Try as we might to ignore the situation at hand, our paths are going to cross eventually.
When the time comes, we’ll have no choice but to fight one another. A foolish, almost selfish part of me hopes that day never comes. It’s not like I hate Andrei, though I’ve told him I have more than once. He’s annoying as fuck, and he’s really good at driving me up the wall—both figuratively and literally—but do I want him dead?
No, I don’t think I do.
“I’ll be back soon,” I tell Freddy.
“Oh, before you go, I was wondering if I could get your advice.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Sure, about what?”
My brother sits up, placing his phone on his lap. “You can’t tell Charlotte. Or Mom. They’ll both freak out.”
My curiosity is officially piqued. I make my way over and lean against the back of the couch. “What’s going on?”
Freddy takes a deep breath, hesitation clear in his eyes. “Actually, you’re busy. I won’t bother you.”
“Don’t you dare bait and switch me, kiddo. I’ve always got time for you. What’s up?”
He glances down at his hands, too adorably shy for his own good. “There’s, uh… this girl. And I kinda need some advice on how to… You know.”
I grin. “Fuck her?”
Freddy’s face goes beet red. “What? No! Don’t be crass. I was wondering if you had any tips on how to ask her out.”
“Aww, you have a crush on a girl.”
He rolls his eyes. “You know what? Never mind. I never should have asked.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “I’m just teasing you! Will you tell me who it is?”
“I’d really rather not. You’re just going to blab to Charlotte, who’s going to tell Mom, and the next thing I know, they’ll both be all over me.”
I pretend to drag an imaginary zipper over my lips. “Your secret’s safe with me, Freddy. I swear.”
He sighs, running an anxious hand through his hair. “It’s one of Aunt Nat’s nurses at the clinic.”
I do my best to fight my smile. Looks like Charlotte was right on the money. “Oh?”
“I’ve been, um… wanting to ask her out for a while, but…”
“You’re afraid she might be intimidated because of who Dad is?”
