My mind flicked to last night; Sienna laughing softly while she baked with me, Wexler dropping off ice cream, her falling asleep against my shoulder unknowingly duringThe Sound of Music.
That kind of intimacy with Sienna wasn't something I had expected. Her opening up had shaken the walls I kept up to protect her. But now that I tasted it, a small part of me yearned for more.
“Well,” I said evenly, “we’ve both been busy. And she's completing her master’s in a few months, so she's focused on that.”
“Are you saying the rest of us aren't busy?” Jaroslav asked, his gray eyes darkening.
“No. I'm saying how Sienna and I handle our marriage is our business. I’ve never told anyone at this table how to manage the private sides of theirs, have I?”
“We’re not telling you how to run your marriage, Avit,” Lev replied. “But having your own family doesn’t mean you disappear from the family you come from.”
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, reining myself in. My brothers didn't deserve my agitation. Between worrying about Sienna and not getting any damn information on Jasper, I was stretched thin.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered. “I didn’t mean to snap.”
“Did Sienna’s condition worsen?” Marten asked.
I shook my head. “She’s fine. She looked better this morning before she left for campus. Yesterday was her mother’s birthday, and we visited her grave. That hit her hard, and I'm just worried about her. I’m guessing that’s what triggered her illness.”
“Like Ninel,” Jaroslav said quietly.
“Yeah.”
After I’d put Sienna to bed last night, I’d spent most of the night in mine, tossing and turning, thinking about how easily she’d opened up to me and how natural it felt to open up to her in return.
Now, the guilt sat like a damn monster on my chest clawing at me. I’d trapped her in this marriage, but I kept reminding myself it was for her own good, for her safety, even if she couldn’t see that yet. The sooner we figured out who the hell Jasper was selling to, the sooner she could graduate, leave the country, and get to the UK, where she could finally be rid of her manipulative father for good.
“And you guys are coming to Ninel’s opening today, right?” Pyotr asked from next to me. “I’ve already seen the place, it’s perfect, and it’s right next to Diamond Palace Hotel.”
Shit. I’d forgotten.
The Diamond Palace Hotel was one of Artyom’s properties in the Rykov territory.
I ran a hand through my hair.
“What the hell, Avit? You forgot, didn’t you?” Pyotr shook his head disappointedly. “Never thought I’d see the day when Avit Safin became disorganized and forgetful.”
I shot him a look. “I’m very sorry I’m not Mr. Perfect.”
“Avit,” Lev cut in. “It’s fine. But whatever you’ve got planned this afternoon, cancel it.”
“Is that an order?” I lifted a brow.
“Yes. It is. In case you've forgotten, Ninel is our sister. This is a huge moment for her. And all of us have to be there to support her.”
“Fine.”
Jaroslav added, “The ladies will be here in about ten minutes. They want to go shopping, and I’m sure they’ll want to take Sienna with them.”
Every muscle in my body tensed. Having her at home, under my watch, interacting with them was one thing, but all of them unsupervised together? Sienna could let something slip without meaning to.
“I’m sure she has something at home she can wear.”
Marten gave me a strange look. “Why are you trying to keep Sienna from the other women?”
“I’m not,” I said, harsher than I meant. “She might still be raw from yesterday. And you all can see she’s not into the girly stuff like the others. Hell, I’ve bought her outfits she hasn’t even worn.”
“Maybe you haven’t taken her anywhere she could wear them,” Jaroslav said. “It doesn't mean she doesn’t want to.”
