"Sorry," she mumbled. "I don't usually wear heels. At least not ones like these."
I had to suppress a smile. She was turning out to be far more adorable than I had expected, and it was disarming.
"Don't you go to events like this with your mother?"
"No," she answered. Just a single word.
"What about boyfriends, dates, and lovers? Don't they take you out places where you have to?—"
"No," she interrupted.
Part of me wanted to scold her for speaking over me, for having answers that were close to being impertinent, but the thought quickly vanished upon our approach to a group of all-too-familiar people.
Gregor, Artem, Damien, and Mikhail were all standing by the entrance with their wives dressed to the nines on their arms. The night just got more complicated. I hated complications.
"Uncle." Nadia smiled, her eyes brightening. "I didn't know you would be here."
She moved out of her husband's grasp and pulled me into a tight hug. Nadia was always a vision and a breath of fresh air. She was the bright, bubbling joy that kept the rest of us from sinking too deep into darkness.
I had never been able to see her in any other way. Knowing that Mikhail protected that light was the main reason I never objected to their marriage.
"What brings you all out this evening?" I asked as I let Nadia go and put my arm back around Anna. Her entire body went rigid, and I felt the sharp intake of breath she tried to hide.
"I'm just here as a tourist. I hear the blend of culture and hypocrisy is not to be missed. Five stars," Artem said.
Gregor stared me down, not bothering with pleasantries or excuses. "I'm here because of you."
The women got quiet, the tension thick between Gregor and me as we stared at each other, each waiting for the other to blink.
"As long as you don’t interfere with my plans tonight. This is your only warning."
"Or what?" he sneered.
There was a reason I met with Artem, Gregor, and Mikhail in private and not with their women present. But if Gregor thought their presence now would change my plan, he was sadly mistaken. I wasn't the one who brought them here. I wasn't the one who started this in front of them.
"Do not test me on this, Nephew," I said, keeping my tone light, my words even.
"I am the one who runs this family in this town," he said between clenched teeth.
"Yes." I nodded. "Because I allow it. Do not forget who runs the family as a whole."
"Okay, that's enough dick swinging for tonight, gentlemen," Yelena interrupted. "I was promised an evening of music and conversation, and nowhere did anyone say anything about a penis measuring contest and too much testosterone to breathe."
The tension seemed to fizzle out for a moment, but Gregor refused to let it die.
"I won't let you blow up all that I have accomplished in this town," he spat. Taking half a step forward, he put himself just ahead of his wife. It was like he was instinctually trying to shield her from me.
Anna flinched, then her knees buckled slightly at the phrase “blow up.”
Her expression went from that sultry mask she wore to shattered in seconds. And despite everything, the panic in her eyes pulled at something I didn't want to name.
It was that same irritation in the back of my throat, that same urge in my chest that I didn't understand.
I wanted this woman to be obedient, not terrified.
I tightened my grip on her and glared at Gregor.
His eyes went wide when he realized what he had said, but his mouth stayed shut. Smart enough to know when he fucked up but too bullheaded to make it right or admit fault.
