On the other side of the room, the O’Malleys held court.Aiden and Charlie had the table in the corner, along with Olivia and Cillian.Keira paused to wonder if it was difficult for Olivia to be back in the home Dmitri’s father had confined her to for several months, but it was too late to worry about it now.At the table farthest from the door were Teague and his wife, Callie Sheridan.Opposite them sat Carrigan and her husband, James Halloran.
They had all the main players in Boston’s power structure here in a single place.If Alethea Eldridge didn’t try something, she’d be a fool.
She leaned into Dmitri.“Are you sure everyone is safe?”They were in an interior room, so drive-bys were out of the question.The walls were reinforced, anyway, and all the windows boasted bulletproof glass—she’d asked Pavel about it a couple days ago.
“We’ve swept the entire residence several times—two of which were today.Nothing explosive has been smuggled in before the party, and everyone coming in now is scanned on entry for weapons.”
That didn’t cover their mystery traitor, and the tightening around his mouth conveyed his frustration with that.She squeezed his arm.They were as prepared as they could be.Part of her almost hoped that nothing would happen tonight and the only thing she’d have to worry about was one of her family members trying to haul her ass back to Boston for her own good.
They wouldn’t get that lucky.She was sure of it.“I guess all we can do is wait, huh?”
“Wait, and deal with our guests.”His gaze flicked around the room, the only sign that he wasn’t comfortable with not being completely in control of the situation.“In order to avoid showing favoritism, we’ll be seated at our table and let them approach.”
Keira snorted.“I’m sure the power balance of acting the king and queen to their petitioners was purely coincidental.”
He gave her a tight smile.“Da.”
“Mm-hmm.”
They’d barely reached the table when Ivan and his woman met them.He looked like he wanted to sweep Dmitri into a bear hug the same way he had the first night she met him, but he restrained himself to a firm handshake.“Dima, you’re looking well.Marriage agrees with you.”
“I should have taken your advice years ago,starry drug.”He turned to the woman and took her hand, brushing her knuckles with a polite kiss.“Natasha, you’re looking particularly beautiful tonight.”
She gave him an arch look and focused on Keira.“So you’re the woman who turned our Dima’s head.”Her accent was thicker than both Dmitri and Ivan’s, though he’d told her that Natasha had been in the States since birth, the same as the men.Her gaze dropped to Keira’s feet and coasted back up to the top of her head.“You’re very beautiful.”She nodded as if to herself.“You’ll join us for dinner next week before we depart for Texas.”
Dmitri cleared his throat.“Natasha—”
She frowned at him.“No, Dima.Do not give me these excuses about how busy you are.You are family, and you’vemarried this woman, which makes her family.You will come to dinner.We will talk.”She aimed that frown at Keira.“You will wear something more appropriate than the last time my Ivan saw you.”
Her face flamed at the memory of that dress.Keira wasn’t ashamed of it, exactly, but she’d been so furious at Dmitri, she hadn’t bothered to think about the consequences.No, that was a lie.She’d known there would be consequences.She just hadn’t cared at the time.
She cared now.
There was no time to come up with a reply—not that she had one—before they moved away and were replaced by Teague and Callie.Teague held himself tightly, as if doing everything in his power not to take a swing at Dmitri.“Romanov.”
“Teague.”For once, Dmitri left all mocking out of his tone.She appreciated the effort, even if it was totally lost on her middle brother.
He turned to Keira.“I’d congratulate the bride, but that hardly seems appropriate given the groom.”Another glare at her husband.
Thank God for Callie.Teague’s pregnant wife slipped between Teague and Dmitri, giving him her hand the same way a queen would bestow knighthood.“Dmitri, you’re playing a dangerous game.”
“The only kind there is.”He kissed her hand and released her immediately.
She studied him for a long moment.“I see.”
Keira wasn’t sure exactly what her sister-in-law meant, but Callie had always been something of an enigma.Teague was savvy when he needed to be, but his emotions got the best of him sometimes.His wife rarely had thatproblem—except when it came to her family.They hadn’t brought their daughter Moira tonight, and Keira didn’t blame them.She moved forward and held out her hand over Callie’s belly.“Do you mind?”
“Of course not.”Callie took her hand and placed it against her baby bump.“Your newest nephew is being rambunctious tonight, so maybe he’ll grace you with a kick.”She lowered her voice and smiled.“Did Aiden tell you that we’re naming him Devlin?”
The baby chose that moment to kick, and Keira’s throat closed.It took her several tries to get a word out.“That’s wonderful.”
Callie didn’t look away from her face.“You seem happy.Perhaps a bit more comfortable in your skin.”
“I am.”The baby kicked again, and she managed a smile even though the room swam around her.It was good and right that Teague would name his son Devlin, but that didn’t make it easier for Keira to hold it together.“Thank you for coming tonight.”
“My father was delighted for the chance to spend some time with Moira and spoil her rotten.”Callie’s expression was soft, but there was depth to the words.
Notallthe power players had left Boston tonight.
