The next day, we’re all gathered around the kitchen, every one of us running on no sleep after the hell we endured the night before.
Even Misha sits at the breakfast nook, staring through the window at Elena’s new gravesite in the garden.
Sasha rises from his seat to grab another ice pack for his swollen eye. My brother looks like he went a round with the devil himself, and yet he hasn’t uttered a single word of complaint.
“You should eat, Uncle,” Kira says softly, setting a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon in front of Misha. But to no one’s surprise, he doesn’t even flinch.
She returns to the island and sinks onto the stool beside Lucky. They both watch Misha in silence, helplessly searching for something…anything…that might dull his pain.
But nothing will. Not yet. The wound is far too fresh.
Thank God baby Nadya slept through all the chaos. I’d hate for her first memory in this world to be watching her father come completely unglued. It will be traumatic enough when she someday learns that Misha ordered us to dig up her mother’s weary bones just to keep her close.
Poor Nadya.
What kind of world awaits her?
“What’s wrong?” Stella asks softly as she slips between my knees and rests her head on my shoulder.
“Besides everything,milaya? Nothing at all,” I murmur, tipping her chin back to steal a kiss, needing the reminder that there’s still something good left in this broken house.
“So this is a thing now?” Lucky drawls, popping a strip of bacon into his mouth. “We’re just supposed to sit here and watch you two make out at breakfast? Some of us are trying to eat, you know.”
I recognize the attempt to lighten the mood, so I let it slide.
“Okay, that’s enough! I’ve had it!” Stella suddenly snaps. “You’ve been flinching and frowning at me for days now, and I’ve had it. If you have a problem with me being here, just say it!” She pushes away from me, grabs Kira by the arm, and drags heraway. The two stop at the doorway of the kitchen, voices sharp but low.
Kostya glances at Lucky. “What the hell is that about?”
Lucky shrugs, watching his sister and girlfriend intently. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
My brow furrows as I watch Kira frantically whispering, her hands flying as she tries to explain herself. Stella, on the other hand, looks like she’s one heartbeat away from going nuclear.
“He’s what?!” Stella explodes, her razor-sharp gaze snapping straight to me.
“Ohhh,” Lucky sings under his breath, far too entertained. “Looks like there’s about to be trouble in paradise.”
“Kill,” Kostya adds with a wicked smirk, “pretty sure they’re talking about you.”
“Yeah,” I mutter, already on my feet. “I’m getting that same feeling too.”
Before I can take a step toward them, Kira mouths a mortified sorry.
Then Stella comes at me like a missile.
“YOU’RE FUCKING ENGAGED?!” she screams, emerald eyes blazing with pure, murderous rage.
I throw my hands up. “Stella, wait—”
Too late.
The first plate misses my head by inches and detonates against the wall behind me.
“YOU’RE ENGAGED?!” she roars again. “ENGAGED, KIRILL?! And you didn’t tell me?! After I poured my heart out to you! After I told you I loved you?!”
“And I love you too!” I shout back, dodging a flying mug.
“You love me so much you got engaged to someone else?!”
