Page 101 of Kings of Violence

Yuri rolls his eyes again, but he does get his hands on Sierra to pull her closer. I quickly snap a few pics while they’re focused on each other and not on being disagreeable.

“Very nice,” Konstantin says, walking up behind me. “Have you already taken photos with yourself in them, Nikolai?”

Like the two of us, he’s wearing a suit, though his shirt is the same green hue of his eyes.

He looks handsome, too, and my eyes linger on him for a moment longer than I think is really comfortable. But I snap to attention, telling him, “Not yet. You should get in with them first, though.”

Sierra sighs. “Can I change clothes after this?” she asks, even though it’s obvious she already knows the answer.

Konstantin goes to stand with Yuri and Sierra. Yuri immediately moves out of the shot, although I can see the longing in his eyes.

Konstantin drapes an arm around Sierra’s shoulders. “Like this?” His hand is under the fabric of her dress, directly on her breast.

Sierra tries to slap his hand away, but he ignores her. “No. Not like that.”

I grin. “Smile for the camera, Sierra.” I take a picture while she’s still glaring at me because it’s hot as fuck.

She sighs but obeys, putting on a smile for the camera.

Her expression changes, though, and I realize he’s toying with her nipple beneath the dress.

“Konstantin,” she hisses. “Stop that!”

He laughs and kisses the side of her head. I make sure to snap a picture of that, too.

I could probably spend all evening just taking photos of them, but we do need to get to the party eventually.

“I’ll take a few of you,” Yuri offers. He’s a lot closer than I thought, leaning in close so he can see the camera screen.

I catch myself tensing and try to relax, only half-succeeding. I step away, warning him, “Just be careful with my baby.”

“Or you could destroy it before he can print copies of these,” Sierra suggests.

I look at her in alarm. “He would never.”

“I’m just pressing one fucking button,” Yuri says. “If your camera breaks from that, or if pictures disappear, that’s not my fault.” He pushes me toward the photo backdrop where Sierra and Konstantin are standing.

I get into position on the other side of Sierra, wrapping an arm around her waist. “You really do look beautiful,” I tell her. I can’t help but needle her, so I add, “I can’t wait to see how beautiful you are when you’re carrying our child.”

Yuri is taking pictures almost nonstop, and I’m satisfied that I’ll get to see the look on her face when I go through them later.

“Not right now,” she says, shaking her head. A few curls fall around her face, coming loose from the intricate style the hairdresser had given her.

Konstantin pats her stomach, then steps away. “Okay, photos with just Nikolai, then a few with all four of us.” He glances over to the table where I placed the masks. “With masks too.”

Sierra huffs loudly. “Sure. Let’s just waste all evening with the photos. At least that’s safer than going to this party.”

If it was up to her, we wouldn’t even be going. She’s still convinced it’s some sort of trap, and the three of us agree that she’s probably not wrong. We’ve never been invited to this kind of party before.

Well, Konstantin hasn’t. Yuri and I weren’t on the guest list until Sierra worked her magic. I wonder what Don Marino will think when he sees the four of us together. He can’t raise a fuss, though, not after we’ve been cleared at the door.

We spend several more minutes taking pictures, in all configurations, before Konstantin checks his phone and decides it’s time for us to go. We’re going to be late, but then, who isn’t?

The drive to Benton City is almost three hours, and I take a nap while Sierra and Yuri whisper to each other. I bury a stab of jealousy about how close they seem.

Sierra would ditch all of us in a heartbeat, I remind myself. She isn’t any more into Yuri than me.

At least, I don’t think so.

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