Speak of the devil.
I’ll be gone a few more hours, so I sent Valeria to keep you company.
I snort. Keep me company, or babysit me? I know better than to attempt another escape. I’ve been shot at enough this past week to last me a lifetime.
Before I even have a chance to reply, another message pops up.
She’ll be there any minute. Hope you’re not busy.
I type and send a response without giving myself a chance to change my mind.
Nope. Not busy at all. Just sexting with a hot guy I met at Red Bird’s last month. Got bored with you gone.
A string of texts come through, one right after the other.
What the actual hell, Aurora?
I’ll break every bone in the motherfucker’s body.
Tell me you’re kidding.
I giggle when I picture Alexei in the middle of, well, whatever it is he’s doing, fuming and about to go full Bruce Willis on a guy who doesn’t even exist.
I’m kidding. But you gotta admit that was funny.
Three dots appear before another text comes through.
You and I have two vastly different definitions of funny.
He doesn’t say anything else. I’m sure I’ll pay for that little prank later, but messing with him was a thousand percent worth it.
The elevator doors creak open, and in walks Valeria with a designer bag large enough to belong to Santa Claus on her arm. She’s dressed for comfort, sporting a dark purple tank top and three-quarter black leggings that show off her toned calves.
“Aurora!” She sets her bag on the floor with a thud and rushes over to hug me. “It’s so good to see you. How are you doing after yesterday?”
I return her hug and eye the overflowing bag. “I’m fine. Just thankful no one got hurt. I’m starting to get used to it, actually. You know, being shot at.”
“My brother’s an ass for dragging you into this life.” She pulls back with a grimace, hazel eyes shining with sympathy. “This whole situation can’t be easy for you, but I’m not gonna lie. I’m glad to finally have a sister-in-law.”
Almost sister-in-law, I’m tempted to remind her. And there’s been no mention of setting a date for the wedding, so I’m currently in the clear.
“Thank you.” I have no freaking idea what else to say, so I blurt out the first thing that pops in my head. “What’s in the bag?”Dammit, Aurora. Way to be subtle.“Sorry. I didn’t mean to be nosy. You don’t?—”
“Party games!” Valeria claps her hands together and does a little shimmy. “And alcohol. Lots of alcohol. I hope you like Jello shots because I made a fuckload of them. Would’ve gotten here sooner, but it took longer than I thought for them to set.”
Party games? Jello shots? Clearly, Alexei left out a few pertinent details about the night’s agenda.
I suck my lower lip between my teeth. “Are other people coming? I’m not really dressed for an event.” Self-consciousness flits through me as I glance down at the oversize t-shirt and sweats I changed into after Alexei left.
“No, it’s just us. Don’t worry.” She moves the bag from the floor to the coffee table. “Consider this your unofficial bachelorette party. I figured you could use a little stress reliever after, well, everything.”
A knot forms in my throat at this woman’s thoughtfulness. The last time someone threw me a party, I was eight and my mom was still alive.
I inflate my lungs with a breath that goes nowhere, trying not to devolve into a breakdown in front of a practical stranger. “Wow. You didn’t have to go to all this trouble. And to answer your question, yes. I love Jello shots.”
“It was no trouble. I love parties.” She grins and starts rummaging around in the enormous bag, extracting items, and laying them on the table. “For the next few hours, you and I are going to let our hair down, consume way too much alcohol and junk food, and forget about our problems.”
The slight pinch around her eyes on that last word leads me to wonder what kind of problems Valeria has in her own life. Being the niece of a Pakhan can’t be a walk in the park.
