Page 10 of Killer Love

“Markov won’t be happy about that.”

He sits back. “You let me deal with Markov.”

I slink in my chair and look at Yuri to back me up, but he stays silent. He never dares to disagree with our father. He sure as hell isn’t going to start right now.

My mother lays a soft hand on my shoulder. “Luka, you should get some rest,” she says, her tone soothing and calm. “Both of you. It’s late and we have a flight to catch in the morning.”

I’d almost forgotten about the Zappia wedding. Judging by the looks on my brother and father’s faces, they did, too.

She flicks a finger against my father’s shoulder. “None of that, now…” she warns us all. “This will be a nice, quiet weekend, even if I have to murder each and every one of you myself.”

My father nods. “She’s right. It’s only a few days, and the Zappias will return the favor if either of you gets married. It’s part of the truce.”

“When either of you gets married,” my mother corrects him, flashing stern eyes at my brother and me. “This family might be a business, but unless the name continues—”

“Yes, yes, Nina…” My father waves a hand at her, gently smiling to placate her. “I think they realize how it works.”

“And who knows?” She grins at the two of us. “Maybe you’ll meet a nice girl at the wedding. Hm?”

Yuri scoffs. “Meet a nice girl in Italy? I’m more likely to piss a rainbow.”

I chuckle. “Or shit bricks of gold.”

Mother narrows her eyes at us. We stop laughing.

“Get the jokes out of your systems now,” she says. “I doubt the Zappia boys will find them very funny.”

My brother sneers. “The Zappia boys wouldn’t know a good joke if it bit them on their tiny—”

“Yuri.”

He clears his throat. “Okay, Ma.”

“You will be pleasant. You will be kind and respectful,” she says. “The Zappia way may be a bit…”

“Medieval,” I suggest.

“Psychotic,” Yuri adds.

“Outdated,” she says, “but that is their way. Even I feel for the poor girl, but it’s not our place to try and change them.”

My father shrugs. “Zappia girls have been the same for generations. I’m sure Sofia is no different.”

Sofia.

The girl in the garden shed with adventure in her eyes. She enters my dreams now and then, racing through the trees in the corners of my vision. I look and she’s gone, but I often wake and wonder if her family’s way has changed her in the decade since I last saw her.

It doesn’t matter in the end. Changed or not, she’s getting married this weekend. Yuri and I are Giovani’s reluctant groomsmen.

I stand up, pushing through the dull pain in my side. “Goodnight, Ma,” I say.

She pops up onto her toes, stretching as far as she can, so I lean over to help her land the kiss on my cheek. “Spokoynoy nochi, Luka.”

Moonlight lights my path down the hall, shining through the tall, stained-glass windows. Falling snow leaves shadows on the walls as I pass them by, creating movement all around me, and I once again see that little girl rushing down the corridor out of the corner of my eye.

I don’t bother looking. I know she’s not really there. She probably doesn’t exist at all anymore.

I close the door to my room behind me and walk over to the fireplace to toss a fresh log on top. The wood sparks, and the fire hisses with fresh life.

---