“I could go for a hamburger,” Luka says, looking up from his phone to eye the two men in front of us. “And a milkshake.”
Yuri uses his shirt to wipe the blood from his blade while he gives a soft laugh. “Sure, yeah, I could go for a hamburger and a shake.”
Misha studies me for a few tense seconds, and when I show no sign of backing down, he looks at the man they just killed. His eyes run over the bloody, mangled corpse before meeting mine again. “We just wanted you to see how we do things here.”
“This was approved by the Medvedev Bratva?” my brother asks.
The corner of Misha’s mouth twitches, and I can’t tell if he’s pissed or amused by the question. “This was approved by us,” Misha says, using his knife to point to his brother and then himself.
Yuri grins at us. “We’re not much on following rules, and when it concerns our little sister, there are none.”
Luka waves a hand at the dead man. “I think he would agree with you. So, are we going to get something to eat or is there another man who needs killing?”
Misha’s eyes dart to mine for a second before he says, “Not at the moment, no.”
“Good to hear,” Luka says and then he adds, “I bet body disposal is pretty easy here, right? You just dump him and let the sharks finish the job?”
“We do, yeah,” Yuri says. “We just need to make sure to dump him far enough away so he doesn’t wash back up on shore.”
“Makes sense,” I say. “It’d be a real bitch if he floated back up and landed on your beach.”
“It would,” Misha agrees while he pulls out his phone to send a quick text that’s no doubt telling someone to get their ass over here to clean up this mess. “And that’s why we won’t ever let it happen.”
He pockets his phone while Yuri says, “All right let’s go get some food. I’m starving now that you’ve put it into my head.”
Neither one of them seems to care that they’re still covered in blood spatter, and when Luka and I follow them out, my brother shoots me aholy fucklook before quickly covering it before the others can see. I don’t return it, but oh fuck is right, because in about twenty-four hours these two will definitely be trying to use those knives on me. My only hope is that they’ll let me explain the situation before one of us ends up dead.
Luka and I manage to act relaxed while we run through a drive-thru and then we’re both forced to choke back a meal that I’m fairly confident neither one of us is in the mood for. When they finally drop us off at Max’s, I’m more than ready to watch them drive away. Judging by the amusement I see all over their faces, they know it.
Before we open our doors, Yuri looks back at me and says, “Misha and I still have some things we need to take care of, but I’m sure we’ll see you again soon.” Turning his eyes to my brother, he says, “Good to see you again, Luka.”
“You too,” my brother says.
We get out and Misha gives us a quick nod before driving off again. Luka’s silent while we walk to the house, but before we step inside, he holds out a hand to stop me. I take one look at my brother’s face and start laughing.
“It’s not funny,” he insists, but I can see the smile that he’s unable to hide before he snorts out a laugh. Max opens the door to find us both giggling like a couple of schoolgirls.
“What the fuck is funny about this?” Max asks.
“Nothing,” Luka says, giving me adon’t you dare start laughing againlook.
I grin and follow him inside. My eyes quickly search for Sitka.
“Talia took her to Nina’s,” Max says before I can ask. “They brought Lyra over for a visit. Maddie was going to meet them over there. They’re probably already discussing how to keep your ass alive.”
Ev’s waiting for us in the living room, and we all take a seat while he looks me over to make sure I’m really in one piece and not bleeding out from some hidden wound.
“Your in-laws are fucking insane,” Luka tells our cousin. “I’m used to Sasha’s crazy. I don’t like their brand of it.”
“Tell me everything,” Max says.
They listen while Luka and I fill them in, and by the time we’re done, they both look like they’re about to force me on a plane back home.
“I’m not leaving,” I say before they can take that line of thought any further. “I love her, and I’m going to marry her.”
“You really love her?” my brother asks. “Are you sure about this, Damien?”
“I’m sure,” I tell him. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
