Aiden’s expression gave nothing away.“I don’t want New York.”
“Then now’s the time to decide—are we going to cling to our tangled past and bring up the bullshit moves we’ve made against each other every time we interact?”He sat back.“Or are we going to put it all aside and focus on the future?You’ve seen what can be accomplished when the three power players in Boston stopped fighting and became true allies.Be my ally in truth, Aiden.Give me your word that you’ll stop the plots against me, and I’ll return the favor.”
The moment stretched out between them.Romanov hadn’t gone into this conversation intending to shelve his history with the O’Malleys, but the more he spoke with Aiden, the clearer it became that he could never make Keira choose.As long as they fought, she would be torn between them.She loved her family.She’d never stop loving her family.He’d never ask that of her.
The only option left was the one he’d laid before Aiden.
The O’Malley stared at him a long time.“I don’t trust you.”
“You don’t have to.Trust that I’m willing to put Keira before any blows to my pride and reputation that you’ve delivered.”
“I’ll consider it.”
While he wanted an immediate agreement, Dmitri knew Aiden well enough to know it wasn’t in the realm of possibility.In the other man’s place, he’d do the same.He permitted himself a smile.“That’s all I ask.”
Aiden finally nodded.“Walk me through the plan.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The massive ballroom was already filled by the time Keira got downstairs.She stood just outside the door and allowed herself to take it all in.The tables were arranged to allow the different guests plenty of space to prevent potential conflicts.They’d debated whether to do a seated meal, but Keira pushed hard for a buffet style.She already felt trapped enough by the situation without forcing everyone to stay in their seats.If theydidn’t, then Dmitri and Keira would look like they couldn’t control their own gathering.Better to preemptively make this call.
The centerpieces at the tables were bloodred roses in black vases, and she smiled at the sight.Maybe the color schemewasgothic, but she preferred to call it classic.Hell, maybe it was a little bit of both.
“Moya koroleva.”
She turned to face him and tamped down the reckless urge to throw herself into Dmitri’s arms.Now wasn’t thetime to drop the masks they both had in place—not when someone could see them.She merely slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow instead.“Hey.”
“You look ravishing.”
She smoothed her hands down her gray dress.The slinky fabric covered her from the hollow of her throat to the tops of her knees, but it was fitted enough that she still managed to look sexy and a little edgy.She loved it.“Thank you.”Dmitri, as always, looked like he’d stepped out of some high-fashion photo shoot.“Did things go okay with my brother?”she asked.
“Da.We’re as prepared as we can be.”
It was better than she’d hoped for.Aiden could be stubborn, and he wouldn’t be thinking clearly when it came to the Eldridges—not after what they did to Charlie.But those bitches hadn’t made a move yet.Pavel would have warned her if they had.
She glanced over her shoulder to find him at a respectable distance, dressed in a forgettable black suit that didn’t quite manage to hide the bulges of his weapons.It was a calculated detail—she was sure of it.Dmitri wasn’t the type to let his men dress in ill-fitting tuxes unless he had a good reason.Intimidation came in many forms, and this one was both obvious and subtle.
Keira turned back to face the room and straightened her spine.“Then I guess we should stop lurking in the hallway and go meet our guests.”
“If, at any point, you need a break, don’t hesitate to ask.You’re more important to me than any of these people, and I’ll manage the fallout accordingly.”
The fact that he offered at all had her heart taking up residence in her throat.It was considerate, though she’dgrit her teeth and bear whatever she had to in order to ensure she didn’t have to take him up on it.Keira had to be able to hold her own, and that started now.“I’ll be okay.”
Still, he didn’t take that first step.“We have a full bar set up.”
“I know.”Keira pressed her lips together, her gaze jumping from one table to the other, and finally landing on the small bar in the back corner.Her mouth watered, and she had to swallow hard to get herself back under control.“It’ll be fine.I couldn’t have skipped having alcohol here without broadcasting that it’s an issue for me.My family might already know that, butyoursdoesn’t.”
She’d actually considered skipping it altogether, but she had to be able to trust herself to be in the same room as vodka without drinking.Keira had no illusions—she was at the very beginning of a long and difficult journey that might never actually be over—but she had to take that first step at some point.It might as well be on a night when it would serve the purpose of hiding a weakness from friend and foe alike.“Let’s go before they think we’re scared to face them.”
He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her temple.“Ya lyublyu tebya.”
“I know what that one means.”She grinned.“Ya lyublyu tebya, too.”
His answering smile was worth the hour she’d spent mangling the words this morning using her phone’s translation app.Learning Russian was high on her list of things to do if they survived the coming conflict with the Eldridges, if only because she wanted to know what filthy shit he was whispering in her ear every time he was inside her.“Let’s do this.”
“Let’s.”
They stepped into the room and headed for the center table, where several Romanov cousins had already set up a space.Keira caught sight of Ivan and a tall, gorgeous blonde who must be his Natasha, as well as a group of men who were obviously their muscle.
