Grigori sucked in a harsh breath and whispered fiercely, his voice trembling, he was so pissed, “No. She hasn’t, and she doesn’t need to.” He paused and stated with an evil chuckle, “There is something you don’t know. Something that would maybe help you to understand us together and leave her the fuck alone. Not even ten minutes after you and Cole walked out that door years ago, her and I were plastered together in your own damn hallway. You tell me if she ever really loved you if she was kissing me like that before you were even on the fucking plane.”
The table occupants, who were already silent, completely stilled.
I didn’t move a muscle as Brent also froze, staring at Grigori, and slowly, eyes on Grigori, he asked, “Ember, is that true?”
Ember looked positively deathly white, and she closed her eyes from their lowered position, whispering, “Yes.”
Brent paused and then sucked in a breath, his eyes moving to stare at the wall behind Grigori and Ember. They went a little unfocused, and his hands clenched into fists. A few moments had gone by before he shook his head, murmuring calmly, almost to himself, “There’s always been two. Always two. Never one.” He shook his head harder, taking a step back from the table, turning to stare at Ember again. “You’ve always been a coward. I know that now. You and Grigori are perfect for one another.”
Grigori stilled, and then shouted, “Get the fuck out of my house!”
Brent grinned, his eyes purely evil. “With pleasure.”
Zane and Stash stood as Brent started walking out of the room, and Stash asked, “You need a DD?”
Brent paused, glancing at him and ignoring the enraged Grigori. “You won’t want to see this, Stash.”
When Stash’s lips pinched, Zane slapped Stash’s shoulders herding him toward Brent. “Stash can get drunk, too. I’ll be the DD.”
Brent shrugged stiff shoulders. “Sounds good.”
When Brent exited, Zane and Stash paused, glancing at Grigori, and Zane stated calmly, “We’re not leaving because we’ve picked sides.”
Grigori nodded just as stiffly as Brent had been. “They’re your friends.”
Stash glanced at Ember, his eyebrows coming together. “So are you two, but they need us more now.”
“I understand.”
Zane and Stash nodded at us, and the table in general, and thanked Daniil for dinner before leaving and practically racing after Brent, and whatever he carnal exploits he had planned for the rest of the evening.
I glanced at Ember and she looked so damn frail sitting there. Her face was white, her breathing was still shallow, and she looked so vulnerable sitting there as Grigori still stood looking furious.
Oddly, it was my parents who broke the silence that descended on our table. Mom began asking mundane questions to the rest of the group, giving Ember and Grigori a chance to compose themselves. Although, I didn’t think it was going to happen anytime soon.
Daniil leaned over and placed a hand on Grigori’s arm, and Grigori jerked, glancing down at the hand on his arm. Daniil stared at his son, and I watched as Grigori stared back, slowly coming down from his fury. Daniil patted his arm, then rested back on the seat, and reached over to hold my hand.
I hadn’t started eating again yet. My stomach was in knots after seeing so much pain being expressed. The reporter’s side of me was intrigued, but now that I had gotten to know these individuals better, I really didn’t like seeing them hurting. Even the wicked redheaded bitch.
Grigori glanced at Ember as he slowly sat and paused, his teeth clenching seeing her as she was. He finished sitting, and slowly reached over, and took her hand like Daniil had taken mine. Ember’s eyes closed slowly, and it looked like she flinched before gripping his hand in a white-knuckled grip. Grigori stared at their hands before leaning over and placing a kiss on her head, and she turned slightly toward him. They stayed like that for a few moments, his lips on her hair, both of their eyes closed before they both moved away from one another—barely—and started to slowly eat their food.
Daniil squeezed my hand and leaned over picking up my forgotten fork and stabbed a piece of chicken, placing it on my lips. I glanced at him. And my eyes stayed on his. Even though he appeared calm, his eyes told me something else. I realized then, the worry he owned bravely I would know myself eventually. That was a parent’s worry. For a child they loved unconditionally and would do anything for. Daniil was a good ‘papa’ no matter what he did in life that I might not agree with. That much I knew right then and there. Our child would always be loved and cared for, just as he cared for his adult children now.
And…I smiled. At peace with that thought, taking the offered bite. His eyes darted all over my face and stayed at my mouth, and he gently used his thumb wiping away some of the pink sauce that I had at the corner of my mouth. He was distracted, I could tell that much, his mind elsewhere and yet he still made sure I ate and was happy with it.
After dinner was finished—albeit much more subdued than it had been in the beginning—I walked my cousins and my parents to the front door alone since Daniil hadn’t seemed in the mood to be overly courteous, staying at the table and sipping his coffee with Grigori while Ember laid Nikki and Beth down in beds upstairs. I figured Daniil was going to stay there and let Grigori talk to him if he needed to.
My dad stayed mute since we left the dining room, but my mom asked, “Are you staying here tonight?”
The question was a little uncomfortable coming from my mom, but I nodded. “Yes. I am.” I cleared my throat, ignoring her suddenly pinched lips. “I wanted to thank you for what you both did in there after the…confrontation. Grigori and Ember…well, they have a lot of problems, and you both helped keep the peace after…” I trailed off, not really knowing what to say other than what I had.
Dad hugged me, smiling softly. “We’re not so bad, are we?” I knew he was talking about our family dynamics and family drama.
I shook my head, glancing at my cousins and them. “No. We look like the Brady Bunch compared to his family.” I rubbed my full stomach and yawned. I had finished all of my food and I was exhausted. Sleep sounded pretty good, but I knew I still needed to review the articles of my competitors before I went to bed.
Dad stared at me. “If you choose to be with him, they’ll be your family, too.”
Katie stayed silent, but Mary snorted. “You’ll have four step-kids older than you.” Her mouth snapped shut when we all glared at her. That seriously wasn’t appreciated right now.
