“Don’t feel like an idiot. You were so excited about coming here. I didn’t want to ruin it for you or make you feel like we couldn’t come.”
“What else do you own?”
“A few other clubs, a couple of restaurants, and my oldest brother and his wife own a women’s shelter not far from here.”
“The cute yellow one?”
“That’s the one.”
She thinks for a second and says, “That place looks really nice. They’ve done a great job with it.”
“They have,” I agree. “I hate to spring it on you, but you’ll probably meet them tonight.”
“Really?” I can tell she’s starting to panic, so I lean down and kiss a line across her cheek, pressing my lips against her ear. “There’s no pressure, baby. They’re just really excited to meet you.”
“Why?”
I laugh and give her earlobe a soft suck. “Because you’re the only woman I’ve ever told them about.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. Now come on, birthday girl, let’s get you a drink.”
I grab her hand and keep her close to me as we weave our way through the packed club. The waitresses all smile at me, along with several of the women around us, but I ignore every damn one of them. At the bar, I pull her in front of me, pressing my chest up against her back with one arm wrapped firmly around her upper chest. I’m making it very clear that we’re together, and so far it’s working.
I lean down so she can hear me and ask, “What do you want to drink?” while my thumb lightly grazes her skin.
“What are you having?”
“Vodka,” I say.
“I’ll have that too.” She puts her hand over mine and tilts her head closer to me. “I’ve never drank before. I’ve always hated it because of my dad.”
“Would you rather not? I don’t give a shit about having a drink, Evie. We can just stick with water or a soda.”
“No, I want to try it. I’ll have a vodka with you.”
I kiss her cheek and hold up two fingers for the bartender. He knows me well enough to know what I’m asking him for and soon two drinks are on the bar in front of us. I grab them and hand one to Evie. I down mine quickly and set it back on the bar for a refill while she takes a hesitant sip and then coughs.
“Wow,” she says too low for me to hear, but it’s easy enough to read her lips. She takes another small drink, and when that goes down better, she quickly tosses back the rest. Her eyes water, but she doesn’t cough, and the triumphant smile she gives me has me laughing and kissing the top of her head.
“Another?”
When she nods, I set her glass next to mine, and then turn my head when I hear a familiar voice yell my name. With a groan, I hurry up and down the next shot because I’m sure as hell going to need it.
“My brothers are here,” I tell Evie, who quickly reaches for her second shot as well.
Vasily’s hand smacks my back before Nina gives me a quick hug, and then Volodya wraps an arm around my shoulders and gives Evie a little wave.
“You must be Evie,” he says, letting me go so he can pull Maddie in tightly against him.
“Hi,” Evie says, looking at all the new faces.
I point everyone out one by one and introduce them, and then say in Russian, “Please don’t scare her off.”
Volodya laughs and starts ordering drinks, handing a Dirty Shirley to Maddie and a bottle of water to Nina.
“Oh, what’s that?” Evie asks.
