Page 6 of No Promises, No Lies

“Bye Elle.” Alexei shoots her another wink, and I groan loud enough for both of them to hear me. Blushing with embarrassment on his behalf, I grab hold of his arm, directing him out of the bar and away from my only friend.

“Don’t even think about it,” I warn him, too.

4

BLOOD TIES

RORY

As my main bodyguard, Alexei and I spend a lot of time together. We aren’t exactly what I would call friends, but he knows me well enough by now to know how to read my moods.

We ride home with the radio off.

The practice session today wore me out. Add to that, the gym workout this morning, the ballet lesson in between, plus the Chill Zone shift tonight... I’m tired and overstimulated.

I count my cash tips silently in the passenger seat. I’m not pretentious enough to ride in the back of the armored SUV alone, like my father or brother might.It was a solid shift. Two hundred more dollars to add to my stash.

I shove the money into the zippered part of my backpack, right next to my black cards.

Sure, I have access to enough money that I canbuyjust about anything I want. But it’s my father’s money. And easily traced. The cash is a contingency plan. If I can’t remain competitive as a figure skater, I’ll be married off to the highest bidder.Or sold off, is more like it.My athletic accomplishments were the only reason I’ve escaped the altar so far.

Arranged marriage.While archaic and antiquated, the practice is very much still alive in today’s reigning mafia families.

Leaning back in my seat, I rest my head up against the cool window, a dull ache in my forehead.The medication from Dr. Jakes is wearing off.

By the time Alexei pulls into the mansion’s gates, I’m fully ready to trade my jeans for sweats and curl up alone in my room with a good book. And maybe a steak... I’m starving.

The Audi in the driveway ruins all my plans.

Niko.

Alexei opens my door for me as he always does, but instead of trailing me inside like he normally would, he lingers by the SUV. He offers me a grim smile.

I hesitate when I reach the front door, my hand hovering just over the brass knob. The cold stone of the mansion’s exterior walls looms over me. Taking a deep breath, I force down the bubbling anxiety before finally twisting open the knob and stepping into silence.

The foyer is empty. The marble floors gleam in the fading evening sunlight, well buffed to perfection.

Cautiously, I poke my head into the kitchen, finding it too to be empty and just as ominously quiet as the foyer was.No cook to be found.Deciding to swap my steak for a protein shake, I head for the fridge.

After retrieving the milk for my shake, I shut the door, revealing a pissed off looking Niko standing right behind it and nearly jump out of my skin.

“What do you want?” I say with far more confidence than I feel. I wish Alexei was here, even though he can’t protect me from my own brother. As the son of the Pakhan, Niko outranks him.

Clutching the milk to my chest, I back away as inconspicuously as I can manage. My heart is racing.

Wishing someone else was in the room.

Anyone.

Witnesses.

Needing to put as much space between us as possible, I take the milk and my cup and circle back around the island, keeping my eye on Niko as I go. My brother’s earned his reputation for being both unpredictable and unhinged; a dangerous combination.

And he despises me.

Thankfully, Niko remains where he is. He folds his arms as he leans against the refrigerator. “Well, aside from the fact this ismyhouse… I can’t check in on my little sister?” His eyes follow me as I move around the kitchen island, snagging on the Breakers jersey I’m still wearing.

I scoff under my breath, mixing the chocolate powder into the poured milk. “The sister you’ve tried relentlessly toget rid ofsince she moved back in?” I dare glare at him before quickly averting my eyes.He’s a lot scarier now than he was when we were kids. “No.”

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