But she hasn’t.
It’s been two months, one week, four days and exactly thirteen hours and seventeen minutes that she stubbornly held her ground and refused to go back on her decision.
So that’s why I’m here. At her family’s illustrious mansion on her induction day to remind her that she can’t run away from love. No matter how much she tries to push me out of her life, I will always be here fighting for us. Fighting for our love. For our future together.
“Kirill? I wasn’t aware you received an invitation to my daughter’s graduation party,” Vincent states, clearly ticked off with my unexpected presence here.
I mean, I get why he’s pissed. ABratvaunderboss crashing the Outfit’s most sacred tradition as is theOmertáceremony? Unheard of.
Tough shit, Vincent. Wild fucking horses couldn’t keep me away.
Not today. Not on one of the most important days of Stella’s life. Deal with it.
But I don’t say that. Instead, I gift him my trademark smirk and pretend to be completely unbothered by the venom polluting his gaze.
“And you’d be correct. I didn’t get an invitation. Not officially, anyway. But we’re business partners, after all, so Iassumed my invitation got lost in the mail. Isn’t that how it always goes?” I taunt, turning my attention to his wife and laying on the charm. “Selene, you look lovely as always.” Then my eyes drift on their own accord to Stella standing beside her, my heart flipping in my chest at the very sight of her. “But I dare say your daughter outshines you today.”
“As she should,” Selene replies, watching me closely. “My Stella always outshines everyone in any room she’s in.”
“On that, we completely agree,” I croon, taking Stella’s hand and brushing a sweet kiss across her knuckles, certain my heart might split open my chest and throw itself into her palm.
“Kirill,” she greets curtly. “What an unpleasant surprise.”
But it’s all for show.
The way her emerald eyes sparkle, and the goosebumps that start to rise along her arm from just one tender kiss, tell me she’s more than happy to see me. I flash her a wolfish grin and discreetly lean in close until my lips are just a breath away from her ear.
“Now, now,milaya. Just because you broke my heart doesn’t mean I wouldn’t show up for the day of your crowning.”
When I pull back, her green eyes have morphed into pools of want and desire.
“Well, I suppose I’ll go off and mingle. Don’t want to keep the hosts all to myself.” I flash a polite smile at Vincent and Selene, before turning my focus on my woman yet again. “And Stella, I hope you’ll save me a dance later to celebrate the occasion. I might be a little rusty since I’ve been out of practice, but I’m sure we’ll figure it out.”
Stella is about to say something in return, only to be silenced when she hears my niece call out my name.
“Uncle Kirill, I can’t believe you’re here!” Kira says excitedly, throwing her arms around my waist while her boyfriend trails behind her, throwing daggers my way.
“Of course I’m here. I wouldn’t miss it,” I say, throwing a wink over at Stella before letting Kira walk me deeper into the room, weaving through guests whose jaws have practically hit the floor at seeing me here.
But none of that matters,
Not when I saw as clear as day that Stella still loves me. Even if she still refuses to admit it.
Yes…hope has a way of mending all broken things. Even hearts.
I barely hear what Kira says, as we keep strolling through the room, since my mind is still processing seeing Stella after all this time.
I meant it when I said Stella is the most beautiful woman in this room, but I’d be remiss if I ignored the deep shadows under her eyes that she tried to conceal with makeup, or the way her dress looks a bit looser on her frame than it ought to be. All the marks of sleepless nights and sad, lonely days. I should know, since I’m wearing the same badges myself.
“Is Kostya coming too?” Kira asks, only for Lucky to scoff. “What?”
“Baby, I love you, but one uncle at this party is enough, isn’t it?” Lucky replies, his chestnut eyes almost pleading with her.
“But I like it when we all get along. If Uncle Kirill is here, I don’t see why Kostya couldn’t come too?”
“Fuck my life,” he curses under his breath and then stares at me. “You want to tell her?” he says, purposely leaving out the ‘asshole’at the end for Kira’s sake.
“Someone had to stay back at the riverboat. You know we don’t have days off. Someone has to stay on top of things,” I lie.
