Page 43 of Mafia King's Bride

The door swings open wider, and there she is, in all her mini-skirt glory, her arms thrown wide like she’s about to announce a surprise party. “Shopping time!” she declares, as if it’s a national holiday.

I laugh, shaking my head and pointing at the mountain of paperwork threatening to swallow my desk. “I’d love to, but I’ve got work, Yelena. Crime doesn’t take a day off.”

She plops down into the chair opposite me, dramatically sighing like I’ve just told her there’s no wi-fi. “These papers will still be here tomorrow, but the perfect handbag? The statement shoes? They’ll be gone. Come on, let’s take the afternoon off.”

I pull my hand away from her outstretched one with a regretful smile. “As tempting as that sounds, I can’t. I think my bosses might frown on me neglecting my legal duties for retail therapy.”

Yelena’s eyes twinkle mischievously, and I narrow mine. I know that look.

“What did you do?” I ask, already dreading the answer.

She leans back in the chair, twirling a strand of her hair like a schoolgirl caught red-handed. “Oh, nothing much. Just told your bosses you were working on a super important case for my brother and me. Might have mentioned unless you could meet with us all the way in Long Island today, the Orlov family would have to take their legal business elsewhere.”

I groan, burying my face in my hands.

Of course, she did.

“Yelena!” I drag out her name but can’t help my curiosity. “What happens when they ask me about this ‘case’?”

She waves a dismissive hand. “Easy. I’ll get Dmitri to send one of his guys to you. They’re always in some kind of trouble.”

Oh, God, no. The last thing I need is Dmitri’s involvement. I can practically hear him now, lecturing me on the dangers of working too late and refusing to quit my job. He’d probably toss in something about how it’s bad for my health and terrible for his image.

“Bad idea,” I say firmly, shaking my head. “It’s not good to mix business with...whatever it is that my life has become.”

She sighs dramatically, leaning back in her chair. “Fine. But after work, you’re coming with me. Dmitri won’t let me do anything fun at his office, and I’m dying of boredom over there.”

I chuckle despite myself. “Alright, after work. But what are you going to do until then?”

She stretches like a cat, her smile full of carefree mischief. “Oh, I don’t know. Find some trouble to get into. Have a little fun.”

I can’t help but feel a small pang of jealousy as I watch her glide out of my office, her carefree attitude so effortless. Yelena seems to breeze through life, and while I know there’s more toher than meets the eye, I sometimes wish I could borrow that lightness of being.

But my life is complicated. My work, my marriage to Dmitri, my estranged father—it all weighs heavily.

I rub my temples, feeling a headache coming on. “Screw it,” I mutter, standing up and grabbing my bag. I might not be as free as Yelena, but I can take one afternoon off. “Work can wait.”

“What doyou think of this one?” Yelena holds up a brown Hermes bag for inspection, her eyes gleaming.

I tilt my head, trying to appreciate it. “It’s nice, but not really me.”

She huffs, taking it back. “Yeah, I figured. Too drab for you. If I’m going to spend that much, it better scream when I walk into a room.”

I laugh. “Agreed.”

Yelena’s energy is infectious, and I find myself enjoying the time away from work, letting her drag me from store to store.

She waves her hand toward a display of shoes. “Pick something you like, it’s on me. After this, we’ll grab coffee, and then I’m getting you flowers.”

“Flowers?” I raise an eyebrow. “Why flowers?”

She shrugs, grinning. “Why not? Everyone deserves flowers.”

A soft smile tugs at my lips. When was the last time anyone gave me flowers?

A few minutes later, Yelena’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “I’ve been meaning to ask—do you have any siblings? I don’t think I’ve seen anyone come by the house.”

I nod, running my fingers over the buttery leather of a black Prada bag that catches my eye. “I have a half-brother. Viktor.”

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