Then Nadia stepped forward, all bright smiles and innocent sweetness as she reached for Anna's collar. "I love your necklace. It has such an unusual setting, is that?—"
Mikhail yanked her back hard, making her stumble on her heels as she fell into him. His arms wrapped protectively around her waist. "Don't touch that, baby girl."
Immediately, the wives exchanged loaded looks. They were used to mafia tension. They knew when their husbands were being cocky or stubborn, and they knew exactly how deadly they could be.
They understood the price that they paid for the comfortable life they lived. They also knew when something didn't smell right. When the tension lingered too long, and when the silent conversations held the wrong undertones.
Nadia's gaze sharpened on the necklace, and I kicked myself for forgetting that she was a jewelry designer. Of course, she'd notice the wrongness of the setting.
Yelena was the first to say something as she rounded on Damien. "Why shouldn't Nadia touch that woman's necklace?"
"Because it's rude to touch what's not yours?" Damien offered. "I hear personal space is very in this year."
Yelena narrowed her eyes at him, seeing straight through his bullshit. Damien flipped me off before dragging her away, whispering in her ear. I didn't know if he was telling her some made-up excuse, some pretty lies that she wouldn't believe, or if he was going straight to the truth to salvage his night.
Either way, Yelena knew to keep her mouth shut.
Samara stayed behind, her arms crossed and fury in her eyes. I could not have chosen a better woman for Gregor if I had tried. She knew when to bow to him and let him handle things. She also knew when to call him on his shit, which was endlessly entertaining for the rest of the family.
This time, the fury wasn't pointed at Gregor but rather was aimed at me.
"What have you done, Uncle Darius?"
"Control your woman," I growled at Gregor.
This entire situation was far too public to get too emotional or out of control.
Neither were things I would tolerate.
Anna pulled out of my arms and turned to leave, but before she could even take two steps, her mother appeared.
"Mother," she said, stopping short, her face paling as Senator Collins stood in front of her in a red satin pantsuit.
The senator's gaze raked over her daughter like she was examining a disappointing purchase. Her lip curled ever so slightly.
The expression the senator aimed at her daughter was one of pure malice. Paired with whatever she hissed under her breath, she caused the confident, beautiful woman who was on my arm a moment ago to wilt like a week-old rose.
Anna’s shoulders curved inward, and something dark and possessive twisted in my chest.
No one—not even her own mother—should make her feel small.
Especially not when she was mine.
CHAPTER 20
ANNA
"How dare you?" my mother said, her face flushed almost the same color as the satin suit she was wearing. "I know what you're doing."
"I—"
"You're just doing this for attention. You staged the kidnapping along with that gaudy necklace around your throat, and now you show up in your dress like a whore. I will not let you or your melodramatic stunt ruin me. I will cut you off. You will never see a penny from me."
"Mother, please," I said, keeping my voice low so no one could overhear, but letting her see the terror in my eyes. "Help me. I don't know what he wants, but please. He will kill me."
"You ungrateful brat. I can't believe you would show up here on the arm of that monster dressed like a slut begging for attention." Her eyes filled with revulsion as she looked me up and down. "I knew you were attention seeking, but this is a new level even for you. I am in the middle of a legislative session, Eleanor. This isn't about you."
I opened my mouth to say something else, but my mother raised her hand in the air, ready to slap me across the face, and I closed my eyes and braced for it.
