“Come in.”
When I push the door open, I see a frail Elena struggling to get out of bed and onto her feet.
“Let me help.”
“Thank you,” she replies in Russian.
“You look well,” I smile genuinely.
“Don’t lie to me,Kiryushka. I look like death. Turns out the excitement of the last twenty-four hours was a bit too much for me.”
“You look as lovely as ever, Elena,” I smile, scooping her into my arms as she loops hers around my neck. “Though, are you sure you’re up for a visit? You can always see Kira tomorrow.”
“Nonsense. Misha will be home soon enough, and I know he’ll want her all to himself to… explain things. I just want to see our Kira, even if only for a few minutes. Only after that will I be able to rest.”
Knowing no one could talk Elena out of anything she puts her mind to, I concede with a nod and step into the hallway with her in my arms.
“What’s troubling you,Kiryushka?” she says, eyeing me curiously. “You don’t look happy, considering the miracle this family has been blessed with in bringing our girl home.”
“I promise I’m as happy as you are.” I force a smile.
“No, you’re not. I know all my brothers’ smiles, and that one is fake. What’s wrong?”
As if on cue, we reach Stella’s bedroom, where she’s resting under Dr. Sokolov’s vigilant eye, my steps halting of their own accord.
“Ah,” Elena murmurs, reading the turmoil I’m under. “The Romano girl is important to you.” I don’t deny it. “ThePakhanwon’t be happy about that.”
“It’s not his concern.”
Elena’s weak hand cups my jaw, turning my face toward hers. “You are all Misha’s concern.”
I grit my teeth and nod. “I’ll deal with it when the time comes.”
“Love isn’t something you simply deal with or push through easily, Kirill. I foresee a hard road ahead.”
“I can handle it.”
Elena gives me a look filled with a sad kind of empathy.
She’s right, after all. Misha might show me a little sympathy for falling in love with the wrong woman, but myPakhanwon’t. He’ll want to kill that love before it has a chance to grow wings.
“Does she feel the same for you?” Elena continues to probe.
I shake my head.
How could Stella feel anything but hatred for me once she realizes I almost got her killed?
No. Even if there was a part that might have felt something for me, that died the second my men shot at her.
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
Again, I say nothing.
“I wish you Petrov men didn’t bottle up your feelings the way you do. It’s unhealthy. But one day you’ll see that some things can’t be kept hidden forever. And love, my sweet Kirill, doesn’t take orders. It has a will of its own, and it chooses what it wants, when it wants it… even when the world is against it.” She smiles sadly.
Elena’s words settle over me like an eerie premonition. Like a cautionary tale of what’s coming. And the worst part is, I can feel the truth of it waiting for me in the dark. Even if by some miracle I can atone for my sins and win Stella’s love, that doesn’t mean the world around us will stand idly by and watch.
The union of aBratvaprince and an Outfit princess is bound to ruffle some feathers. And if I read my brother’s cold stare right, he’ll be the one to fire the first shot.
