Page 77 of Born into Sin

“It does, thanks. That’s really sad.”

“I didn’t want to see anything,” I admit. “I think one of Dominic’s cousins broke a few teeth. No way do I want to see that shit.”

“That’s the fun part, Nat,” my brother says, and I can hear the truth in his words. Sasha doesn’t do the whole fake bravado thing. I think he just genuinely loves violence, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t worry about him from time to time.

“I think you might be a little insane.”

He side-eyes me, a grin playing at his lips. “I think you might be right.”

I laugh at my crazy brother and shake my head. He might be a bit of a psycho, but I also know he’d never hurt anyone who didn’t first come after him or someone in our family. He’d never cross the line and go after someone innocent. There’s a dark side to Sasha, but there’s also a gentle one. I can see it in the smile he’s giving me and in the way he keeps looking around to make sure our younger sister and mom are okay. We’re surrounded by more bodyguards than usual, but he’s still going to be on high alert until our dad gets back.

“Hope everyone is hungry,” our Aunt Emily says, setting down a huge casserole dish of scalloped potatoes while our Aunt Simona brings in a plate of hotdogs and hamburgers. She and my mom have been on the back deck grilling, and the food looks and smells delicious. Aunt Alina drops off a big bowl of salad and puts out another dish that’s filled with homemade macaroni and cheese because low carb doesn’t mean shit to this family.

She gives me a quick wink before grabbing a bunch of drinks from the fridge, and then we all crowd around and start filling plates. There’s enough food for the men on duty to eat too, and they time it so they’re eating a quick meal one at a time so it doesn’t interfere with our safety, although I really doubt anyone is going to attack us here.

It feels strange to not have Grigori around. He’s been a constant in my life, and now instead of his familiar face, there’s a new man that I’ve never seen before. He’s a lot younger than Grigori, probably late twenties, and where his predecessor was quick to give me a smile, this guy is not. Vitya’s all business and has made it abundantly clear that he isn’t here to make friends. I think Dominic would approve. I texted him earlier and told him my new bodyguard was part robot and his reply had been Good, and he better keep his goddamn eyes off you. When you move in with me, one of my own men will be assigned to you, so you won’t have to worry about Mr. Robot for long. Dominic has a possessive side, and I find it incredibly cute.

“What are you smiling about?” Svetlana asks, sitting down next to me once she’s loaded her plate to almost overflowing. “Oh wait, I think I already know.” She wiggles her eyebrows in a way that makes me laugh while she grabs one of her hotdogs and makes it bounce right in front of my face.

“Oh my god, you’re terrible,” I laugh while swatting her weiner away.

“I’m not wrong, though, am I?”

When I don’t say anything, she just laughs and reassembles her meal. Yelena sits down on my other side, smiling because I know she saw what Svetlana did. Even with her smile, I can see the worry she’s trying to hide.

I lean closer and whisper, “He’ll be fine,” and then give her a smile. We’ve never really openly talked about whatever is going on between her and Val, but I want her to know that I’m okay with whatever it is. She returns my smile but doesn’t say anything. She’ll tell me when she’s ready, and I’m sure as hell not going to push her into it.

While everyone else is busy talking and eating, she whispers, “I’m glad things turned out well with Dominic.”

I hadn’t spilled everything to her like I did Svetlana, but she clearly knows something is up. “Thanks,” I whisper back and then pick up my hamburger because I’m starving and more than ready for bed. Dominic exhausted my body, and I feel like it’s going to take days to recover, not that I’m complaining. I’ll happily be sore because of him.

What I thought would turn into a night or two of forced separation ends up lasting way longer than any of us anticipated. By the eighth night, we’re all irritable and more than ready to get the hell out of here. Dominic texts me often, but it’s not the same, and I miss him like crazy. Unable to sleep, I go downstairs to make some tea, surprised to find my mom already there.

“Hey, honey. Can’t sleep?” she asks, and then gets another mug and teabag for me.

“No.” I sit on one of the barstools and watch her fill the kettle and put it on the stove. “How about you?”

She sighs and shakes her head. “This is the first time your dad and I have ever had to be apart.” Her soft laugh is filled with the pain she’s trying to hide. “I can’t seem to fall asleep without him.”

“Why do they have to keep staying away? Don’t you think they’re being too overprotective about this? Can’t they just watch over us in the city if we promise not to leave the apartment?”

“You know your dad and uncles would never take the risk. They’re close to finding the men they want. Your dad told me tonight that it should be over soon.”

“I hope so.”

She leans against the counter and studies me for a few seconds. “Why are you in such a rush to get back? You guys usually love it out here.”

I shrug and lean back, fidgeting with the string on the teabag. “I just hate worrying about everyone, and I hate that everyone has to be separated.”

Without a word she grabs the kettle off the stove right before it has the chance to give off an obnoxious whistle and fills both our mugs. After they’re both filled and steeping, she leans against the counter again, watching me.

“I’m glad things went so well at Dominic’s.”

My heart is racing, but I try like hell to keep my face calm while I blow on the steaming mug of tea in front of me. “Yeah, I know how lucky I got that night. I’m really glad his house was so close.”

“Mmm,” she says, and I feel like there’s a lot more behind that sound than she’s letting on. I know I’m right when she adds, “Good thing you had his number in your phone.”

I nearly choke on the sip of tea I’ve just taken. My mind freezes, and for the life of me I can’t come up with a reasonable explanation for why his number would be in my phone, and I’m not sure I want to. I refuse to sit here and lie to my mom. I love her too much for that, so I don’t say anything. She sighs and reaches across the counter to squeeze my hand.

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