“I’m not brushing off anything,” I protested as I followed her toward the lounge where she liked to sit and hang out the most.
“I know you’re a badass. You’re the Cartel princess and you’ve grown up in this world and have seen things, but a death is a death. And itissomething to feel sad about, and those feelings are okay.”
I dropped onto the couch under the demand of her tugging on my hand. But I didn’t relax. Pivoting toward her, I took her hand and held it with both of mine. “Elena, it’s not the same.”
“Itisthe same!” she protested. “Adrik had to kill my father just the same as Maksim had to kill your brother and?—”
“And a death is a death,” I said, throwing her words back at her. “You once told me that these men are not easy to love. But we do.” I raised my brows, prompting her to fight me on that.
“Well, yeah, but?—”
“But nothing. You know that your father was a threat, acting against the interests and safety of the Bratva. I know that my brother was also a threat, acting against the interests and safety of the Bratva. We weren’t always part of the Volkovs, Elena, but we are now. Our children will be too.”
She frowned, calming down and studying me like she was anticipating that I’d snap and bawl on her shoulder at any second.
“They couldn’t be allowed to continue being threats to those we love.”
Slowly, she nodded. “I know. I agree. But…”
“But a death is a death. Your father’s. My brother’s. And likely many more. Thisisthe way this world works, but it’s not a cause to panic and dive into a deep pit of depression and get stuck.There are too many things to consider and concentrate on to get stuck in a rut like that.”
She almost smiled. “Too many babies to prepare for,” she added softly.
I nodded, relieved that I could be direct and snap her out of this emotion-laden onslaught of a greeting.
“I didn’t say that Iamokay. I said Iwillbe okay. And I will. Maksim’s love will guide me. Your friendship will support me. Knowing that I can work on securing parts of this empire and business will validate my choices and encourage me to want to be okay.”
She leaned in to hug me. “So you’renotbrushing this off and trying to act tough.”
“I don’t act tough, Elena. Iamtough.”
She smiled wider.
“And I will be tough in combating any guilt or sorrow about what had to happen today. I spoke to him… before. I had one last confrontation with him just to test that nagging, tiny voice in my head that wanted to cling to the hope that he wasn’t the enemy he seemed to be. And he failed that test. He showed who he really was and what he cared about. It wasn’t me. He didn’t care about me or my life. That made it easier to open my eyes and see that I should always count on and choose to stand with those who do care.”
“We do,” she rushed to say. “We all do. I do. Adrik does. All the brothers and cousins. Dean and the other soldiers.” She nodded for emphasis.
“And that’s why I can tell you without a doubt that Iwillbe okay.”
We hugged again, and I damn-near cried at how good it felt, how profoundly my heart swelled with love, at the idea that this sweet woman could truly care about me and my happiness.
“But if you need anything, if you need to talk or cry or vent or anything… I’m here for you.”
I stood, and she followed suit. “I know,Sister.” I hugged her again. “That goes both ways. Right now, though, I think the others are hoping I’ll be here to assist them with the aftermath of what happened earlier.”
She didn’t protest or try to cling to me, letting me go. Maybe she still worried, because she walked with me toward the control room where most of the Volkovs would gather.
“I mean it,” she said. “We will band together as sisters, no matter what.”
I smiled and agreed.
In the control room, I was not received with condolences or concerns about how I was holding up on the day of my brother’s death.
Adrik acknowledged me with a lift of his chin. “You good?”
I nodded, taking my seat next to Maksim.
These men wouldn’t offer me sorrows and platitudes. They were glad to have the threat of my brother gone. The problem solved. And as we dove into the specifics of what could follow, I fell further from that despair that wrapped around me earlier.Instead, I approached the conversation with gusto and the determination to make my father proud at last.
