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I don’t even know. “My intentions?” I chuckle lightly.
“Sure, and your plans for the night.” Ruslan’s tone grows serious, and I realize I misunderstood what he was saying.
“I was going to see if I could take her back to my hotel suite.”
“There’s no way that’s happening anymore. I need her in one spot for a few days, so she needs to go back to Nazyr and Mona’s house. You and I might have known each other for a long time, but I don’t trust you with her. I don’t trust your family, Ambros, and you’re a Galanis through and through. You might try to deny it, but you are very much your father’s son. I will say this once and only once. If you ever try to harm Xava or merely even think about it, I’m going to personally ensure you suffer in the worst of ways.”
Ruslan is trying to intimidate and scare me, but there’s no reason for it. “I’m not going to. The only thing I want to do is keep Xava safe.”
Ruslan scoffs and shakes his head. “You barely achieved that tonight. I thought you were the best of the best, but now I’m not too sure.”
Ouch. That’s a damn good burn. Too bad I can counter right back at him. “You say barely, but I kept her safe. Nothing bad will happen to her on my watch.”
Ruslan is quiet for a few moments. “If, and I meanif,she invites you, you’re more than welcome to spend time at Nazyr and Mona’s. But she cannot leave for at least three days, do you understand? She needs to lay low while we sort this out.”
I guess I won’t be seeing much of Grozny while I’m here.
“Yes, I do.”
Chapter Ten
Xava
Ambros is sitting beside me and has an arm draped around my body. He pulls me close, yet I still feel like my heart is going to burst out through my chest. Did that really happen? Did someone really just try to kill me?
I know things like this are a possibility. I know it more than anybody else. My siblings made sure that I understood being part of our family came with great risks. Only, I didn’t understand they’d actually happen. It’s like when you never think something horrible is going to happen to you. You know those bad things are always possibilities, but you never think they will actually happen.
I’m trying desperately to keep my hands from shaking, but ever since I was shot at, I haven’t been able to get them to stop. Ambros rubs his hand along my arm, trying to comfort me the best way he can. I also notice Rolando keeps looking in the rearview mirror, trying to make sure I’m as okay as I can be.
Rolando takes us to Nazyr and Mona’s house. Ambros spoke with Ruslan, and I put the window up, so I didn’t hear any of their conversation. Ruslan did come up to the car and speak to me. He told me Rolando was taking me to Nazyr’s and that I needed to lay low there for a few days until things settled down. Now, I don’t know what my brother has planned, but he obviously wants me to be hidden for a reason. I don’t even care to know why right now. I’m so over this day. I’m over this night of chaos and fear. All I want is to be curled up under the covers where things aren’t as terrifying.
Rolando pulls up to Nazyr’s house, and Ambros gets out of the back first. He’s on one side of me while Rolando rushes to the other. It’s like they’re shielding me from being seen. I push open the door to Nazyr’s house, and Ambros is right behind me, while Rolando says he’s going to park the car and he’ll be in momentarily.
The second the door shuts, the scrambling of heavy feet heads in my direction. “Sister, are you all right?” Nazyr’s voice is laced with concern, and while I’m grateful for his worrying, I can’t believe he just called me sister in front of Ambros. I told Ambros that I was their cousin, and now I look like a massive liar.
I want to respond to Nazyr, but I need to explain to Ambros. “I’m sorry I lied to you. I’m not their cousin; I’m the youngest one in the family, and I don’t really advertise that I’m an Umarova because it can be really dangerous for me. A prime example of that is tonight.” I make a bad joke, and Ambros presses his lips into a thin line.
“Ruslan already told me. Don’t worry about apologizing. You didn’t know me, and you were only protecting yourself. I can’t be upset with you for that.”
The more time I spend with Ambros, the more I realize what a unique character he is. I’ve never met another man who’s so gentlemanly or understanding. He doesn’t get bothered or upset easily and is like the human version of Valium. I don’t know if there’s anything that can shake him.
I’m relieved that Ruslan explained, and I didn’t have to.
Nazyr’s ignoring the side conversation that Ambros and I are having. He comes up to me and wraps his arms around my body, holding me tight. He holds me for a couple of minutes until I finally speak up. “I’m okay. I’m… startled, but I’m okay.”
Nazyr releases me from his embrace and gives me a once over, checking to see if there’s been any sort of damage. “You weren’t hurt at all?”
“I scuffed my knee on the pavement when Ambros tackled me to the ground, but I’d rather have that than a gunshot wound.”
“Good choice,” Nazyr says to me and then looks at Ambros. “Thank you for being there for Xava tonight, but why were you there?” Nazyr narrows his eyes.
Ambros chuckles lightly. “I was taking your sister out on a date.”
Nazyr cracks up. “I see. And you spoke to Ruslan?”
“I did,” Ambros confirms.
“I can imagine that conversation went over well.” Nazyr’s now looking between Ambros and me.
