I clapped him on the back. “I’d rescue you.”
Dima swept his hands to his broad chest. “My hero.”
“Fuck you.”
He raced ahead of me out the door. Since I didn’t want to be bested by him, I sprinted to catch up to him. With a laugh, I blew past him. “Mudak!” he called before pushing himself to catch up.
By the time we got to the terrace door leading to the courtyard, our breath came in wheezing pants. Bending over at the knees, I tried regulating my breathing. Of course, it didn’t help thinking about what was just beyond that door.
At what must’ve been the anxiety seeping into my expression, Dima jerked his thumb. “Get out there and knock them dead, Maks.”
“I wish.”
“You’ve got this.”
After huffing out a breath of both frustration and fear, I grunted, “Let’s go.”
With a grin, Dima threw open the door. The moment I stepped outside, the swarming buzz of conversation assaultedme over the live music. My gaze bounced wildly around as Dima practically led me across the marble terrace to the stairs.
Once we made our way down the stairs, all eyes fell on us. Most gave me appreciative looks and warm smiles. Some of those expressions changed at the sight of Dima, but they knew better than to voice their disapproval of seeing one of Father’s bastards.
As soon as I came in contact with a waiter with champagne, I snatched a crystal flute off his tray. After downing the bubbly in one long gulp, Dima groaned. “Pace yourself, man,” he urged.
When I shot him a look, he said, “The last thing you want is to be blitzed out of your mind when Father makes the announcement.”
Since I knew he was right, I merely grunted and resisted grabbing another glass of champagne. Of course, my resolve was short-lived when Mother joined us. “You need to mingle, Maksim.”
It was evident Mother didn’t want Dima to join us. With a tight smile, he said, “I’ll be here when you get back.”
“T-Thanks.”
Taking me by the elbow, Mother then ushered me over to a group of high-ranking Bratva members. “There he is. The man of the hour,” one man quipped.
As I forced a smile to my lips, my brain scrambled to try to form words correctly. With the synapses firing wildly, I replied, “Thank you.”
A rush ran from the top of my head down to my feet that I’d pulled it off. Sure, it was only two words, but the fact that I hadn’t fucked it up tonight meant everything.
As Mother ran her mouth, I bobbed my head and smiled when called upon. We moved from group to group. At the third introduction, I faltered and stammered out a “T-Thank you.”
While I masked the panic and disappointment surging within me from my face, I inwardly tried not to fall apart. After suffering through what felt like an eternity of small talk, dinner was served. Thankfully, I’d been seated at a table with Dima, Aleksandr, and Annika along with some of our aunts and uncles.
Although my stomach rolled with nerves, I still managed to sample a little from each of the five courses. Dima cut me off before I could ask for another glass of vodka.
“I only had t-two.”
“That’s one too many.”
I grunted. “Like I’m a fucking lightweight.”
He opened his mouth to argue with me when Father’s voice boomed out from a microphone. He and Mother stood on the terrace that rose above the courtyard.
“Good evening, everyone. Faina and I cannot express our gratitude for you coming out tonight.”
As applause rang out, Father leaned over to bestow a kiss on Mother’s cheek. She wore her brightest and fakest smile as she waved back at the crowd below her.
“Now I would like to ask my son, Maksim to join us.”
With whistles and clapping going off all around me, I made my way up the stairs to join my parents. When I reached them, Mother patted my cheek adoringly while Father clapped my back. To anyone but myself and those who knew us best, we appeared to be a loving family. Of course, it was all a well-constructed facade.
