Danielle’s frown only deepened. “Seems to me like you’re nursing a broken heart. Stop pining after the man; there is much better back at home.”
I licked my dry lips. They knew better than to bring all of this up. “When does Mother want to leave?”
Trisha laughed as she walked up to us. “They left three days ago. Something about preparing the staff at the house in the Hamptons for the season.”
My eyes burned. Not from them leaving me, this wasn’t a new thing, but instead from the humiliation that I hadn’t seen this coming. “Sooo, why are you all still here?”
Amelia shook her head, her fake curls bouncing around her face. “Are you serious, Poppy? Why would we leave you? The last thing we want is for you to go chasing after that local and us never see you again.”
All the other girls nodded their heads in unison. Theydidn’t want me to stay here indefinitely. “Okay, so when’s the flight home?”
Trisha’s shoulders deflated slightly. “We thought you’d never ask! Tomorrow morning.”
My eyes skipped to the bar I’d sat at with Ivan, and another pang went through my chest. There was always next year to hope to see him again.
Chapter Eight
Ivan
The only thingI liked about being back in the city was being on my bike. The wind ripped through my hair, and the speed sang through my veins. It was unlike anything else. I hated that I would have to ditch it for a few days to get all of this work over with. I couldn’t carry around a sniper rifle on the back of it… I mean, I could, but that would kind of give me away. At least I could enjoy it for a little bit.
I hopped off of my bike in the parking garage of the hotel while a text pinged through to my phone. I hated the damned thing, but it was a part of my agreement with the grannies that I would try to communicate with the rest of the family and not just my mother.
Audrey
Wouldn’t fireworks be fun for our send-off?
I pressed my tongue into my cheek. The old Ivan wouldhave jumped at the opportunity to be able to blow shit up. The new Ivan didn’t get excited over fire, explosives, or even fireworks. The new Ivan preferred the adrenaline after a kill now. I didn’t necessarily want my future sister-in-law to know I’d changed that much, but I also did. I didn’t want them to treat me like the kid brother that was probably going to burn down the house…
Even though technically, I’d already almost succeeded at that in one of the brownstones we lived in growing up. My father had ignored me, and my mother sent me off to a handful of therapists. It was almost comical, especially since the therapists didn’t help at all; I’d merely stared at them for a straight hour like a psychopath each time. One of them even had the audacity to mention me wasting my parents' money. I’d looked the man dead in the eyes and said, “When you have as much as they do… your salary is nothing.” I was twelve, and it was the last time I’d seen that man.
Another message came through, and I let out a sigh. She wasn’t going to let up. Alexei’s fiancé was ruthless.
Audrey
I know you’re in town. Stop pretending you don’t have service. Your messages are finally being delivered.
I scrubbed my hand down my face. I didn’t want to respond, but I knew that if I didn’t, she was going to come looking for me and with Benson on her side… it would take her no time to find me. That was a surprise I didn’t want, especially since the family—besides the grannies—didn’t know what I currently did for a living, and I wanted to keep it that way.
My thumbs paused over the screen of my phone. I would need to play like I was still the same Ivan, at least for the comfort of the wedding coming soon.
Well, duh. I’m guessing you want me to do it.
Audrey
Who else would? You did the proper send-off last time, and I wouldn’t want anyone else to ring in one of the happiest days of our lives.
I’ll get with Alexei.
Audrey
He wants no part in any of this. He’s been busy with work. He’s opening up a couple more clubs.
Old Ivan would have probably felt something. New Ivan stared down at my phone and frowned. I didn’t want to have to work directly with the girls. If I did that, they would hook their claws into me deep, and I would never be able to escape. After all, I was a sucker, just like my brothers, and I knew once they batted their lashes at me and pouted, I was done for. I didn’t know what was wrong with me and why I couldn’t stick withnoor ignore them all, but they loved to get under my skin. I felt stuck, and I didn’t like feeling that way at all.
Especially since I wasn’t here for wedding pleasantries,but they couldn’t know that. As far as they knew, I was here for one of the many lavish parties my mother was throwing for the bride and groom-to-be. It was better if they were left in the dark, and I continued to play the game of the innocent younger brother.
The rental car that housed all of my equipment was two blocks over. I would have to play my cards just right. I couldn’t do this in broad daylight, not in New York City, but I was also going to run into a few issues doing it at night. This city didn’t sleep, and if I didn’t play right, someone would see me.
