Elijah, glass of vodka in hand, is bold enough to glance over his stepmother's shoulder. “Did you love him?”
Dimitri makes a noise like this is impossible. But I’m also afraid he’s short-circuiting. He’s this close to finding out all the information he’s ever wanted about the Spiders.
His brother is starkly still, though, waiting for an answer.
Yelena runs her thumb over the faded photo again. “My father was afraid I would never marry because I was too heartbroken.”
She hands Dimitri the photo. Her movements are so quick I think she’s no longer able to hold onto the memento.
The strategist takes a long time to assess it, before trying to pass it to his brother. Lev keeps his hands in his pocket, unwilling to take it.
“Why were you hanging around with a Spider when you were sixteen?” Elijah asks, popping a piece of trail mix in his mouth.
Yelena tucks a platinum blonde strand of hair behind her ear.
“How do we know this is a Spider?” Dimitri looks between Isolde and Yelena.
“The tattoo,” Isolde answers, and Dimitri squints at the photo. “When Cade and I got into it, one of them made a guest appearance.”
My hands are clasped together in front of me, but they squeeze tight for a moment.
I, personally, think Cade is too good for jail time. I know Isolde thinks it’s fair to give the girls he trafficked a sense of justice, but I’m just saying if he doesn’t make it out of his holding cell. . .
The front door opens, Adeline appearing.
“What?” she asks when her father shoots her a look and stands next to her sister. “Lennie’s here.”
Boris pours himself a vodka.
“You’re sure?” Dimitri asks Isolde, verifying the tattoo.
“I am sure,” Yelena says, crossing her legs and settling back in her chair.
Dimitri stops pacing. If there’s one way to piss off a Zimin, it always comes down to information.
“What’s his name?” Lev asks.
Yelena stares at a spot on the floor, but her voice remains even. “Peter Karamazov.”
“Karamazov?” Dimitri sounds doubtful.
“Try looking up that surname on the internet,” Yelena replies dryly.
The name is just one of many. No doubt after decades as the top assassins in the world, the Spiders have gone through a few identities.
“Why heartbroken?” Russet asks. She’s got the skill of a triggerman, but it's hidden beneath a heap of empathy and maternal outreach.
“No, no, no, no, no.” Dimitri holds up a hand, stopping her. “Explain from the very beginning.”
A giant dog pads into the living room. Elijah snaps his fingers, but the dog has many offers. He decides on Yelena, bumping her hand with his furry head.
She obliges, petting Albert. “You knew my father was well connected. It’s why you wanted to align yourself with us.”
Dimitri bends over, his hands on his knees. “We’re fucking talking about a fucking Spider!”
“That’s not any shit we knew about,” Lev agrees, his face strangely empty.
“Why would you?” his wife replies. “It was not information you needed.”
