Page 89 of Jack

“Don’t worry, babe, I’ll take care of you if you get drunk and I won’t let any of the big, bad mobsters bounce you out of here,” Nikolai said, handing Hannah’s drink back to her and putting his arm tightly around her shoulders.

“So romantic,” Hannah sighed dramatically and took a sip of her drink.

We were all chuckling when Emmy walked up. I hadn’t seen her in a while, but she looked like she usually did—striking. She looked a lot like Hannah, maybe a bit taller and a little more slender, but with the same long, dark hair. However, what set her apart was her eyes. Wide, pale blue-green eyes with shots of gold at the center. It was hard not to stare at them, at her, and by the looks she was receiving from some of the guys at the party, I wasn’t the only one who noticed her beauty.

“Hey, Emmy, it’s good to see you,” I greeted enthusiastically.

She smiled sweetly. “Hi, Ava, good to see you, too. You look great.”

“Thanks! You look pretty great yourself.”

Emmy looked down at her fitted, white button-down shirt, black fitted capri-length black pants, and slightly high heeled Mary Janes, and chuckled self-deprecatingly. “I should have gone home after the ceremony and changed but didn’t feel like being bothered.”

Emmy and Katya had attended the same private high school, Briar Ridge. Apparently, the Briar Ridge school orchestra, of which Emmy is a member, had played at the graduation.

“You look amazing, no need to change,” I reassured her.

“Thank you, but I would have liked to at last wear a dress but playing a harp and wearing pants is just easier,” she said wistfully, casting a look over her shoulder. When I followed her gaze, I saw an attractive man standing at the bar, gazing back at her with the same intensity. The more I looked at him, the more I wanted to keep looking.

He had classically handsome features, and the only thing that kept me from labeling him beautiful was the hardness in his expression. His eyes constantly moved, as if he was in the process of simultaneously processing everything that was happening at the party at once. I couldn’t help but notice that his gaze landed on Emmy more often than anywhere else.

I moved closer to Hannah, curiosity eating me alive. “Who is the guy at the bar?” I asked, gesturing to the man who had since started talking to Nikolai’s friend, Drago.

“Drago?” Hannah asked.

“No, the guy he’s talking to.”

“Oh, that’s Katya’s brother, Ivan,” she said, darting a look at Emmy, who was now talking to some guy, presumably from Briar Ridge.

“Oh, I didn’t realize she had a brother.”

Hannah blew out a sigh. “It’s a long story.”

“Is there something going on with him and Emmy?”

“No, I mean, I don’t think so. He’s the one that saved Emmy when all that stuff with Nikolai’s dad went down.”

Ah, that clicked. “So, she’s got a little hero worship thing going for him?”

“I think so, but she won’t admit it.”

“Ivan seems to be keeping a pretty close eye on her.”

“I think he’s just protective of her. He’s too old for her anyway.”

I frowned. “How old is he?”

“Uh, I think like, twenty-three or twenty-four.”

“He’s not that old, Hannah.”

“He’s also in the Russian mob, so, I don’t know. I worry about her having a crush on him.”

I gave her a hard look. “I’m not trying to be a bitch here, Han, but look at who you’re dating.”

Hannah laughed. “I know, I know, but Nikolai isn’t actually going into the mob.” She threw her hands up in a gesture of acknowledgement. “Okay, but I get what you’re saying. I just worry about her. She’s still so quiet after what happened. She hardly leaves her room. I was shocked she even came here today.”

By the way she was checking out Ivan, I wasn’t shocked at all.

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