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My jaw tightens. He’s certainly making a lot of assumptions about my relationship. Well, my fake relationship. “His work is demanding, but he’s trying his best. We’re actually going on a date tonight.”
“Oh really?” Jack lifts his eyebrows as he sinks further down into his seat. “Big plans?”
“Yes, in fact. We might go dancing.”
“Happy to hear that. I hate to think of a beautiful woman like you being neglected.”
I roll my eyes. “Puh-lease. You probably say that to all the girls.”
A grin stretches his lips. “Just the pretty ones.”
Do his super cheesy lines actually work? I get it, he is used to all the bored housewives on the yacht spreading their legs for him, but that won’t be me.
“Just to be clear, I’m not looking for anything else. I’m in love with my fiancé.” I pause for a minute and look him square in the eye before delivering what I hope he takes as a dismissal. “Thanks again for the popcorn.”
He takes the hint and stands. “Well then.” Jack tosses me a wink. “You know where to find me if you need me.”
Like hell. I plan on giving him a very wide berth.
CHAPTERELEVEN
7 YEARS AGO
LEO
As I step outside,I’m greeted by thumping bass music, the flickering light of tiki torches, and the raucous laughter of my brother’s barely legal guests.
Fucking Daniil. You leave him alone for a week, and he’s throwing a bash to rival the hottest Coachella after-party. I push my way through the throngs of half-drunk dudes and the bikini-clad women that love them. Half the party is splashing in the pool, tanned bodies glistening in the moonlight.
“Hey, bro!” I call out, trying to catch my older brother’s attention over the music. He’s surrounded by a group of his friends, all of them holding beers, a joint passing between them. When my brother spots me, he grins, beckoning me over with a wave of his hand.
“You made it in time for the party,” he says, offering me a hit off his joint. I shake my head, I’m not in the mood to get fucked up tonight. I just got back from a week in New York where Papa had me working as a foot soldier, protecting cargo coming through the ports. It was shit work, which I guess is the point. Papa makes us train from the bottom up. We earn our stars like any other vor.
I’m tired, worn-out, and all I can think about it is seeing Alyona.
“Papa’s been gone less than six hours, and you throw a rager to kick off summer,” I say, shaking my head, but a smile plays on my lips. That’s Daniil. Party or die trying.
“Might be our last summer of freedom, I’m gonna make the most of it.” He takes a hit from the joint and passes it to one of his friends. As usual, my mood dips when we talk about being sworn in to the brotherhood. It’s our destiny, our future, and we’ve never questioned it. Daniil bought himself some time before taking the oath, having convinced Papa that a university education in business management would benefit the bratva’s operations. But he’s nearly done with his studies.
“You should blow off some steam, grab a drink,” Daniil suggests, pointing to the bar set up beside the pool.
I don’t care about partying. My eyes keep scanning the crowd for her, not that I imagine she’ll show. Alyona’s never been into our parties, but a small part of me hopes tonight is an exception. She just graduated high school, maybe she’ll feel like celebrating.
“Dude, you’re so fucking obvious.” Daniil laughs, knocking me in the chest with his elbow. I narrow my eyes at him, but I can’t be too pissed since he’s right. He’d caught me texting with Alyona a few weeks ago, and eventually pried the story out of me how we kissed, just the once, the day of her father’s funeral, and how we’ve been texting back and forth while she’s been at school.
Aly hasn’t mentioned the kiss again, and neither have I. I’m not going to push it with her, even if she’s been on my mind constantly. Aly is off-limit, but we’ve settled into a chill friendship. We text about everything from the latest Marvel movie to what she’s having for dinner. Sometimes we talk about deeper stuff like her Mom’s declining health, but overall, it’s pretty casual.
Still, I can’t help but wonder about this upcoming summer. For the first time, we’ll be living together for several months. My father, Andrei, and Yulian will be away in Russia for most of the summer—a fact I try not to dwell on too much. That leaves just me, Aly, and Daniil residing at the Kozlov estate. Alone.
“I’m not fucking obvious,” I grumble, “I’m cool as a cucumber.” I grab the beer from his hand and down it in a few gulps.
“Yeah, whatever you say.” Daniil’s tone turns somber. “She’s been with her mama all day. Mina’s not doing well again.”
“Shit.” I shake my head. Mina has been on a downhill slide since her husband died. First it was the pills to help her sleep, then the ones to calm her down, then the ones for pain. We don’t talk about it, my father in particular just calls it “the sickness” and tells us there’s nothing to be done. I know Yulian and Alyona have tried their best to get her help, but so far nothing’s worked.
It’s heartbreaking for everyone.
I’m about to return the half-empty beer to Daniil and head inside when he lets out a low, long whistle. “Well, twist my nipples and call me Alice!”
