“Jay.”
19
NOVA
“Nova. Where are you going?”
My brother’s voice stopped me in my tracks. I shot him an imploring look, and he gave me a tight nod, beckoning me towards him before whirling on his heel, stalking down the corridors of the mansion with single-minded determination. Eventually, he reached a door, throwing it open and stepping inside. I followed him in, taking in the large, dark space. Bookshelves flanked an ornate fireplace, with leather wingback chairs placed at an angle in front of them. Alarge billiard table dominated the centre of the room, and it was here that Ryker came to a stop, leaning his back against the table with his arms folded over his chest.
“Why were you running away?”
I slumped over the table next to him, unable to find it in myself to care that I was probably creasing my dress. “It—it just got a bit too much.”
He nodded, remaining silent and giving me time to gather my thoughts.
“It was all the eyes on me,” I saideventually, straightening up again. That was only part of it, but I couldn’t explain the part involving Jay. “I know it probably sounds selfish, and Anton doesn’t want this, either, but I just… Fuck, Ry. Have you ever wished you could be somebody else?”
“Yeah,” he said quietly, and there was such unexpected hopelessness in his voice that I moved in front of him before I could think it through, curling my fingers around his biceps as I studied him with concern. He tensed almost imperceptibly, and I immediately released my grip on him.
“Sorry,” I murmured.
“It’s— Fuck. It’s okay. I know I’m fucked up.” He rubbed his hand over his mouth harshly, staring down at the floor. “I don’t want to be. I…I just don’t know how to be any other way.”
My stomach lurched, and I wished more than anything that I could wrap my arms around my brother and let him know just how important he was to me. To let him know that he didn’t have to be the strong one. That I could be strong for him if he needed someone to lean on. “Ry. I love you, you know? There’s nothing wrong with you.Nothing.”
“There’s a lot wrong with me,” he muttered.
“There isn’t. Listen to me. You’re my brother, and you’re the most important person in my world. And that means I’m here for you, like you’re always here for me. You don’t have to be the strong one all the time.” I sighed when heswallowed hard and then violently shook his head. Taking my place next to him again, I smiled wryly. “Happy birthday to us. This wasn’t quite how I’d envisioned spending it.”
At that, the corners of his lips kicked up. “Me neither.”
“We’ll make up for it tomorrow, if you don’t have anything planned. Cross-country running?”
That was the code phrase we’d made up when Ryker first started teaching me self-defence and knife-handling skills, and it earned me a proper smile. “Yeah, okay.”
Footsteps sounded on the wooden floor out in the corridor, and we exchanged glances.
I steeled myself when Anton appeared in the doorway. I’d hoped I might have a bit more time away from everything, but it wasn’t to be. He glanced from me to my brother. “Ryker.” Ryker nodded to acknowledge his greeting. He then turned to me, his expression unreadable as always. “Nova. The photographer would like another set of photographs.”
As I moved upright, Ryker leaned into me, his hand covering mine and squeezing. “Thanks,” he rasped, too low for Anton to hear.
“Anytime,” I whispered as he released me.
After endless photos, Anton led me through the mansion. Not back to the ballroom, but to a smaller sitting room where a number of his university friends were gathered. “Drink?” he murmured, inclining his head towards a long, polished mahogany bar that ran along the wall.
I shook my head.
“Anton. There you are, darling.” A beautiful brunette woman with a long, slinky red dress cut almost indecently low in the front appeared next to us, her fingers curling around his free arm. She shot me a dismissive look before returning her attention to him, staring up at him from beneath her lashes. “Great work with the Kozlov contract. The vodka is divine. So smooth.”
“Mmm. Very,” he drawled. His gaze flicked to mine, and his jaw tightened. “Serena, this is my fiancée, Nova Thorpe.”
“Lovely to meet you,” I said, falsely sweet, and Anton smirked. Asshole. I didn’t even care about the way she was being so dismissive of me, but I expected better from Anton when we were in public. Especially as we were ostensibly here to celebrate our engagement. He’d been perfectly respectful of me ever since the announcement on my eighteenth birthday too. Was this supposed to be a reminder that he could and would pursue other women? If so, it wasn’t news to me. Regardless, I wasn’t going to stoop to their level, and so I pasted on a polite smile. “How do the two of you know each other?”
“Oh, Anton and I go way back.” Serena continued staring at Anton, her lashes fluttering. “We’ve known each other since we were little. Remember that summer in the Croatian villa, where we— Oh. That’s not a story for polite company.” She tittered. I personally did not give one single fuck that this woman was making a move on my fiancé, but it was not a good look for my family. It was disrespectful, from both of them.
“Is that so?” I arched a brow. “It sounds as if you’re close. I’m so happy you could be here to celebrate the union of the Volkovs and Thorpes.”
A muscle ticked in Anton’s jaw at the subtle emphasis I’d put on our family names, but he got the hint, stepping back and letting Serena’s hand fall from his arm. He turned to me, brushing a chaste, dry kiss over my cheek before excusing us.
