Page 19 of Until Death or Defeat

“I really am looking forward to having a sister,” he says genuinely as he takes a sip of his drink. “She’s got bite, Artem.”

“She also has limits,” Artem warns, shooting Max a glance over his glass. His hand rests tightly on the back of my chair, and I adjust myself in the seat.

What was that about anyway? There’s no way that was him defending me, maybe he just meant that I can’t handle more?

The banter stills as my breath catches. My eyes fixed on the staircase as Caesar and my father come down the steps. Artem follows my gaze, immediately noticing the shift in my demeanor. My father’s eyes catch mine for a moment, but he quickly looks away.

I didn’t notice I was gripping the edge of the table until Artem spoke up.

“Unless you’re planning to break the table in halfsolnishko, I suggest you let go before you make a scene.”

I straighten my posture at his words, putting my hand back in my lap. I didn’t want him to see me so affected by my father, and I hate looking weak in front of people like this.

“I told you not to call me that.”

My eyes wander back to my family, but my father still doesn’t give me a second glance.

“What’s wrong exactly?” Roman asks, picking up on the tension with my family.

“Nothing, everything is fine.” I say curtly as I shrug my shoulders.

“You don’t look fine,” Artem spits as he takes another sip.

“What do you care anyway?”

“I don’t, but if you somehow fall apart before this announcement, it’ll make me look bad. So, get it together.”

I look back to the table before responding. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.” I can still feel his eyes boring into me, and I look back at him. His jaw flexes as our eyes meet, and he turns back to the glass in his hand.

I see Roman across from me looking behind me with distaste, as I feel a hand on my shoulder.

“Gigi,” I hear my brother and smile, standing up from the table to hug him.

“Artem,” my brother says with a clearing of his throat, an awkward attempt at a greeting.

Artem only nods in response, his eyes watching where my brother holds the small of my back.

Artem and Caesar have never liked each other; way before I ever officially met Artem, they had some sort of problem with each other. I never pried to ask my brother why, but I doubt he’d tell me anyway. He doesn’t often have problems with people, although Artem is so unbearable I guess I could believe it’s possible.

“Let’s grab a drink,” Caesar says to me, grabbing my upper arm lightly to lead me off.

Artem’s big hand latches onto my opposite wrist, and I stop. “What?” I ask harshly as I try to whip his hand off mywrist, and my brother glares at him for the way he’s grabbing me.

“I’m going to announce it soon, so don’t wander off,” he drops his hand. I roll my eyes and grab my brother’s arm, walking with him to the bar.

“He’s a little intense tonight,” my brother says with a smile as we reach the bar.

“Tonight? He’s like this every night,” I scoff as he orders for me like always before he replies.

“He’ll get better with time, I’m sure.”

His attempt to reassure me doesn’t land, and I roll my eyes as I take a sip of my drink. “Has Dad said anything?” I ask, my eyes darting to the side to see his reaction.

“Well, he’s pretty much been avoiding talking about you. But it isn’t because he doesn’t care, Gigi. Seriously, I feel like he just has no idea how to talk to you without hurting you.”

I shake my head, swallowing the liquor in my throat.

“He’s spent most of his life hurting me.”