The statement isn’t from me—it’s from my brother, Andrei, who ambles up with his hands in his pockets as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.
"Shut the fuck up," Clarissa hisses. "Why are you even here?"
"Our law firm is sponsoring this event." I gesture grandly to the animals and to the room full of people, some of whom arebeginning to look our way with curious glances, some veiled and some not so veiled.
Clarissa places a hand on Peter’s wheelchair in an oddly protective gesture. "Aren’t you too old to still be following your older brother around?"
Andrei rolls his eyes at Clarissa, though I don’t miss the slight tightening of his jaw. "You've already scared all the puppies. Didn't you absorb enough fear tonight? You're drunk. Go home to your cave and feast on souls or something."
My nephew, Marius, tall with dark, curling hair, rubs his hand over his mouth, trying to wipe away the smile at his father's words.
Clarissa doesn't miss the gesture, and her rage has nearly reached the point of steam coming out of her ears before she comically blows her top. Except with Clarissa, it's never funny. It ends with screaming, things breaking, and people getting kicked out.
People are looking now. Our family’s drama is on display because Clarissa is bitter and angry and can't hold her liquor. Peter is hanging around in the background as always, making sure he stays behind his mommy. And Andrei and Marius are having too much fun egging them both on.
So I excuse myself swiftly and silently, following the path Leah took a short time ago to the women’s restroom. I’m outside the door, ready to break it down to make sure she’s okay, when I hear voices inside. Excited voices. A screech of surprise. A shushing noise.
Which is how I hear Leah confesses to her friend that she thinks she might be pregnant. Most likely with my child.
My entire world has been turned upside down in the last ten seconds.
I wander back to the gala and see my son across the room. I look at Clarissa. Thanks to who I am, my reputation, she got custody of Peter and proceeded to turn him against me, using every trick in the book. She even changed his last name to hers, as if to completely erase me from his life. Maybe if I’d had some say in the way he was raised, he wouldn’t have turned out to be such an asshole. Sometimes it’s hard to believe he's my flesh and blood.
I tried to contact Peter after his accident, but he wouldn't speak to me.
A glass breaks, and Clarissa is screaming now. My brother, my nephew, and anyone unfortunate enough to be close are now subject to her rage. I shake my head and walk over to deal with the mess, wondering what the hell I’m going to do about Leah.
8
VIKTOR
Somehow, we manage to get Clarissa out of the place before she does permanent damage to our relationships with the guests at the gala, although I'm guessing most of them know what she's like anyway.
My brother and I spend a few minutes talking with our lawyers before we head our separate ways. However, I don’t leave without donating a substantial amount to the animal shelter. I'm satisfied when I walk out, at least with the business side of things. But my head is whirling with everything else.
Leah.
One morning and one night together, and the woman managed to get under my skin in a way I haven't experienced before, and in a way I haven’t been able to remedy. I was content with the memory of that night, with the way I could close my eyes and see a woman whose hazel eyes, a laugh that brought me joy, a smile that lit a fire deep within me, and curves I could grab and hold. I still dream about her screams and throes of ecstasy.
I was content with the memory because I knew anything more with Leah would put her in harm’s way, and I couldn’t stand the thought. Not with the way I had already fallen for her; I would do anything to keep her safe.
But now she thinks she's pregnant.
And seeing her tonight brought back the rawness that being around Leah brought out in me, the desire to rush to her and hold her close. Even worse is the knowledge that, should anyone find out her relationship to me or the fact that she could be carrying my child, it will put her life and her daughter’s life in terrible danger.
Iliya opens the door to the black sedan waiting at the curb, and I slip into the plush interior. He follows before hitting the roof twice to let my driver know we can go.
"Did you achieve all you wanted to achieve tonight?" Iliya’s voice is gravel with an oddly smooth edge, like a clear stream over jagged rocks. The faded Russian accent only adds to the gruffness.
"Mostly," I reply. "We all made our appearances. I donated my money. And the partners are on our side, or at least willing to represent us. I promised a bigger donation down the road to their foundation."
"I still don’t think that will be enough to keep them from running scared when shit hits the fan." Iliya glares darkly at the back of the seat in front of him, heavy, dark eyebrows nearly meeting in the middle of his forehead.
"Maybe. But I did just double their retainer, and they have shown to be steadfast before in other difficult situations."
Iliya’s big shoulders rise and fall. "This is different,Pakhan. Yourvor, those who are supposed to be most loyal, are trying to undermine you."
I watch the city pass by; the glow of lights dimmed by the darkened windows. "It is still just a rumor, Iliya. Stirrings from underlings with too much time on their hands."
