Page 141 of Cruel Honor

She walks over to Katya and me. “It’s nice to see you both again. Evie, how are things going with Dimitri? I remember when we last spoke, you didn’t sound so sure of him.”

“I’m sure of him now,” I tell her. “I love him.”

“That’s good. I did say you could find love with a Bratva man, andI’m glad you’re happy. This world isn’t easy on us women. So, to have love in it means everything.”

“Well, I don’t have love,” Katya says, taking a sip of her champagne, “and I doubt I ever will with how controlling Dimitri is. He’ll never give me freedom unless I’m married to someone, which is stupid because he just told all his men to stop putting so much emphasis on a Bratva daughter’s virginity.”

“That’s because that rule only applies to women who are not his sister,” I say.

She snorts. “Isn’t that the truth?”

“Is there anyone you have your eye on to marry?” Ava asks.

“No. And honestly, given how controlling Bratva men can be, I doubt I’ll ever want to get married. I just want to date who I choose, but of course, Dimitri won’t allow that. And, you know, it’s not even about my reputation. I don’t think he gives a damn about it. I think he just doesn’t want me to get hurt, which sounds sweet on the surface but is actually the most suffocating thing ever.”

I give her a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry, Katya. But one day, you’ll have more freedom. And you know I’ll never rat you out to Dimitri.”

“Thank god we were best friends first. I know I have you on my side.”

“Always.”

Katya grabs Ava’s hand. “And to a new friend. We should all band together.”

“I agree,” Ava says.

I look between the two women. An old friend and new one. Never has my life been this full. My eyes find Dimitri’s across the room as he talks with Nikolai and Maxim, who both already look tired of whatever Dimitri is talking about. I can’t help but smile.

He pauses his conversation to smile back at me.

Juno’s funeral is a small affair.

Dimitri asked me why I wanted to have it after how Juno treated me, but it’s not about what Juno deserves; it’s about doing the right thing.

“She had her issues,” I say as the two of us stand in front of her headstone. The funeral is over, with only Dimitri and me having attended. The funeral officiant is long gone. “She wasn’t the mom I hoped for. She disappointed me so many times. But I wanted to put her to rest for myself. For closure. I haven’t had a family of my own since my dad died. But I have you now.” I lean against his arm. “I want to put the past behind me. Putting Juno to rest allows me that. I’m ready to just live my life.”

“Then let’s go live it.”

He takes my hand in his, and together, we walk over to my dad’s grave. I kiss my fingers and place them on the headstone. I know he’d be happy that I finally found my place in this world.

Dimitri and I leave the cemetery.

I watch as the janitor cleans up the little kid’s vomit off the library floor. I smile to myself and place the book in my hands on the shelf. No matter how much my own life has changed, some things remain the same. Parents will always bring their kids to the library, and undoubtably, some of those kids will always make messes. It brings me comfort to know that. In this crazy, chaotic world, I still have the library to center me.

“You know, you do look sexy in your librarian get up,” Dimitri says into my ear, making me jump.

I turn around to face him, holding a book to my chest. “Don’t scare me like that.”

“Why not? You like it.” He places both his hands on either side of my head, boxing me in. But it’s not a trap. It’s exactly where I want to be.

“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t. But I need to continue shelving these books. I don’t have time to flirt with you.”

“But you see, I always have time to flirt with you. So, why don’t we go find a quiet place in the library and …” He waggles his eyebrows, letting me know exactly what he wants to do.

“I’m not going to have sex with you in the library.”

“Admit it. That’s been a fantasy of yours for years.”

I blush. “Nope.”

“You’re lying.”

“Not. At. All.”

“Then prove me wrong.” He holds his hand out for me. “Don’t take my hand and follow me into a private stack where I’m going to show you so much pleasure, you’re not going to know what to do with yourself.”

Instead of turning away from him, I take his hand and let him lead me behind a bookshelf.

I can allow myself to have fun every once in a while.

The End

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