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“I told him after he fussed about you coming off the stake-out. Don’t worry,thatproblem is appeased.”
“And the other one?” I chucked her under the chin. “Come on, sis. Don’t hold back from me.”
Sophia pursed her lips, but before she could explain, my uncle and his son sailed into the kitchen where we were supposed to be fetching the frozen cocktail stones for the vodka.
“I see that gathering beverages is a two-man job,” he teased, waggling his brows.
“Uncle.” I nodded my head in greeting. “Is something amiss?”
“Yes. Your stunt in New York. We’ve reached an aimable conclusion with the syndicate.”
My mouth dried. I knew what was coming. “I did nothing wrong. I wasn’t there to cause trouble or undermine their authority.”
Uncle Igor slapped his hand on the countertop. “It doesn’t matter, and you damn well know it!”
There was nothing else to say. I was guilty in their eyes, and it was time to face judgement.
“You’ll marry Anya Volkov,” Igor continued. “She turns eighteen in July, and I hear Martha’s Vineyard is beautiful in August.”
Sophia squeaked, covering her mouth with her hand. That would have been my sister’s fate had I not put my foot down years ago. I’d even managed to get her into the college of her dreams. I pulled her into my arms and kissed her snowy hair. “It’s going to be alright, zaika. Just because I’ll bring a woman home, it doesn’t mean I’ll let her bully you. This isourhouse.”
Igor narrowed his eyes. I stared back, not frightened of him. Content with the victory of my compliance, he didn’t bring up old battles.
After a few more pleasantries and an invitation to dinner, which they declined, our uncle and cousin left.
I went back to the freezer for the bottle of vodka.
“I’ll take a glass too,” Sophia said, sounding tired.
I looked at her. Really looked at her. Was she getting enough sleep? Nutritious food? College had been hard on her, and I’d worried over her since she’d been back.
“Kozjól!” She snapped her fingers impatiently.
I shook my head, coming back into focus. Thoughts of Boston inevitably led to the beauty I didn’t allow myself to think about.
“To a late summer wedding,” I said, holding up my glass.
Sophia pursed her lips. “What about—?”
“Don’t. I beg of you,” I warned. That dream was long gone. The fight...it was gone. Sapped from my veins. Even though I would burn the city down to have her, it didn’t mean I could invite Briana into the dark. There was her world, and there was my underworld. The fact that we collided once was an anomaly I couldn’t tempt fate with by repeating again.
“Fine. To cradle robbing,” Sophia bit out, and downed her drink like a pro.
