“I’m perfectly fine,” I lie, hating that I haven’t managed to hide my sorrow as well as I thought.
“Sure you are.” She rolls her eyes, unaware she picked up that habit from Stella herself.
“Enough of that. Today is a day of celebration. Let’s enjoy it, yes?”
She nods, but her worry doesn’t fully fade.
Not too long ago, she didn’t even know I existed, and here she is now…loving me so deeply that my pain becomes hers.
Just like Katya would.
“Frankie?” a familiar voice calls out behind us, making us both turn. Selene walks toward us with a warm smile planted on her face. “Would it be terribly rude if I borrowed your uncle for a moment?”
Kira looks between us, stunned and unsure.
“I’ll be fine,” I assure her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Go find Darius and your boyfriend. I’m sure Lucky is frantic by now.”
“Okay. If you’re sure…” she hesitates.
“I promise I’ll keep your uncle safe,” Selene adds gently, going to the root of Kira’s real concern in abandoning me. “No one will touch him in my house. I guarantee that.”
All the worry on Kira’s shoulders melts instantly.
And surprisingly… Selene’s promise settles something inside me too.
Selene loops her arm through mine and leads me outside towards the backyard, uncaring that we get a few scornful looks thrown our way. Once we’re far enough that no one can overhear us, she lets go of my arm and turns to face me head on.
“You’re quite the brave man. I’ll give you that.”
“Do I need bravery to attend a graduation party?”
“Now, Mr. Petrov,” she says calmly, “please don’t insult my intelligence. This conversation will go a lot smoother if we’re both frank with one another.”
“By all means,” I nod.
“You know what this day is, don’t you? How important it is for my Stella?”
“I know you’ve done your very best to keep this day from happening. Does that clarify it?”
A smile blooms across her face, instead of the frown I expected to appear.
“I see my Stella has confided in you… all her woes. That alone tells me she trusts you. And earning my daughter’s trust is no small feat.”
“Very true.”
“But that isn’t all you’ve managed to accomplish, is it, Mr. Petrov?”
“Please, call me Kill.”
“Very well, Kill.” She smiles. “Tell me, what exactly are your intentions where my daughter is concerned?”
“We’re speaking frankly?”
She nods.
“I intend to make her my wife. Is that plain enough?”
When her green eyes—so much like her daughter’s—dim, my chest tightens.
