“Hi, everyone, sorry we’re late.” Jade and Rad walk in, their eyes immediately falling on Kat.
I stand to introduce them, watching the flicker of shock across Jade’s face when I mention her name.
“Hi, it’s good to meet you,” she leans towards Kat, holding out her hand and hiding her confusion with more skill than my brothers managed. She and Rad take a seat at the table, sharing an unspoken glance between themselves.
Ali ignores the renewed awkwardness and carries on with her antics.
“Did you tell her how you got that scar?” Ali’s grin grows even wider as she points to a small scar above my left eye. My eyes are on Kat again, captivated by her warmth as she listens to the stories.
“Ali….” I warn her. “I got this scar in somebraveanddangerousway. Something like…battling a wild tiger or taking down seven men when they tried to attack me,” I say boldly.
Kat giggles, catching on that that is definitely not how I got the scar.
“Ooorrrr”—Ali winks at Kat—“you got that scar when Blue headbutted you and gave you a concussion.”
“A goat gave you a concussion?” Kat can’t hold her laughter back.
“Shush, both of you.” I can’t stop smiling.
“We teased him for weeks. He had a massive blue bump on his forehead.” Luka is in on it, too, now, and everyone around the table is laughing at my misfortune.
Beneath the table, Katerina brushes her hand over my leg, smiling her most beautiful smile at me. I think the gesturetakes her as much by surprise as it does me, because she’s quick to withdraw her touch, and at the same time, her cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink.
She’s mesmerizing. So beautiful to watch. I could stare at her for eternity and never tire of it.
Chapter 10 - Katerina
I’m completely shocked to be sitting at a table full of Andreevs,laughingand having fun.
These people are my enemy. My whole life, I was taught to hate them, to fear them, to want to conquer them in some way.
Ever since Yulian told me he was bringing me to a family dinner, I’ve been so anxious I wanted to vomit. And when I walked through that door, it proved me right. The way they surrounded me and threw questions and remarks at me like that. It was overwhelming, but closer to what I was expecting than this…
I expected them to condemn me. To kick me out. To tear me to shreds. To question me. Maybe I even expected them to torture me. I mean, that’s what my brother would have told me to expect.
I glance at each of Yulian’s brothers, one by one. They have kind faces. Beautiful men, each of them gorgeous in a unique way, with beautiful wives and, to my surprise, warm, soft smiles that make them seem genuine and caring.
This isn’t at all how I would’ve described an Andreev family.
Ali is still teasing her brother when I glance at him. He’s already looking in my direction with that same intensity in his eyes that he’s had towards me all night.
I can’t believe I put my hand on his leg. I don’t even know why I did it, it just happened.
In the moment, it felt so natural.
Yulian winks at me, and my smile widens. He is the most gorgeous man I’ve ever had the pleasure of looking at. His brothers are hot, but Yulian is sculpted by the gods. Perfect angles. Perfect eyes. Perfect dark brows and dark hair. And the ability to make my body scream in perfect ways. Heat grows between my legs when I think about that night.
Shit. It must be the martini. Too much alcohol.Don’t think about that night, Katerina.
To distract myself, I look around the table again. At my enemies. At the people who apparently tortured and murdered my uncle. I’ve heard his stories through my brothers, especially Artur, who is the oldest and had the most contact with my uncle. Numerous stories about how the Andreevs had been cruel to Boris. How they hunted him and hounded him for years. How they are evil and sadistic. My uncle told those stories to anyone who would listen, whether they wanted to hear them or not. He practically bragged about how horrible the Andreevs were.
The longer I sit here, the more the doubt inside me grows. The stories don’t match the people around me.
Yulian has already taken me by surprise with his kindness, but it was easy to assume he was an exception to the rule. But now that I’ve met his whole family, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to believe my uncle’s stories. I never did get along with him. I think he said two words to me my whole life. He was a difficult man. Cold. Heartless in so many ways. He always seemed more focused on showing off his status and power than being with the family. He wanted control over everything and everyone.
What if everything he told us was wrong?
What if everything my brother believes about the Andreevs is a lie?
