Page 46 of Bound in the Dark

“My sister has summoned us,” Diana told Highdive then headed toward the main area of the Clubhouse.

Much to her annoyance, her niece was in the middle of a heated discussion with Alena when she entered the room. Standing by the door were two other people. She recognized Max and Cat from their pictures in her files. As per the new plan no one else was in the room. Most of the Brothers were scattered around the property in strategic locations. They were now using the garage as a centralized point rather than the Clubhouse.

Diana gave Nadya a disapproving glare. “You are not where you were assigned.”

“I am not a baby who needs to be protected,” Nadya growled. “I helped you last night. I won’t let you bench me.”

Alena laughed, obviously proud of her daughter’s fighting spirit. Diana may have been the younger sister but she often felt like the mother when the two of them were together. Maybe it was time for her to not be the responsible one.

“You know what? It’s not my problem. If you want to throw yourself into harm's way and possibly be the reason people die then take it up with your Mother and Father. From now on, I am going to be the fun aunt who takes you on shopping sprees.”

Both Alena and Nadya looked at her like she had lost her mind. Maybe she had but her time with Highdive had made her realize that she didn’t want to always be the responsible one. That everything in life wasn’t life or death. Well, in this situation it was but the point was still valid.

“You hate shopping,” Nadya said.

“I never said what I was going to take you shopping for,” Diana teased back. It wasn’t the shopping that bothered her so much as the complete vulnerability that walking through a mall represented.

“What the Fuck are you all talking about?” Hawk strode into the room apparently not in the mood for small talk.

“Sladkiy sakharok!” Alena ran across the room and threw herself at her husband like a squirrel jumping onto a new tree.

Diana couldn’t help but chuckle. Hawk was so far from ‘sweet sugar’ that it was ridiculous. Max and Cat were laughing as well.

Highdive stepped up behind her and leaned in. “Hawk said you two looked alike but I never imagined just how much.”

Alena peppered Hawk's face with playful kisses and Diana wasn’t sure if the stern man was going to throw her sister off or continue to sit there like a statue. To her surprise, the man softened and then gripped his wife by the back of the head and kissed her with enough passion to heat up the room a few degrees.

In a strange sort of way the two of them worked. As if they existed on opposite ends of the spectrum balancing each other out in a way that nothing else could. Diana had only seen them together a few times, but she had always known that underneath the fiery clashing of wills the two both loved and respected each other.

“Okay enough!” Nadya made a gagging noise. “I’m already going to need enough therapy to send some head doctor’s kids through college. No need to add the trauma of watching my parents get down and dirty.”

“You are nineteen not nine,” Alena scoffed. “Get used to it or learn to close your eyes. When we are done killing lots of people I plan on making up for years of lost time.”

Hawk chuckled and touched his forehead to his wife's before putting her back down on her feet. He shook his head, then seemed to pull in on himself, going back to the serious man Diana was used to seeing. He gave a head nod to the two newcomers.

“Good to see you, Max, Cat. What do you all know?”

Max smiled. “We’ve been tapped into most of Petrov’s electronic communications for the past day or so. Your Old Lady has a man on the inside as well. They are already gearing up to head this way. I think you have two hours at the outside.”

“He won’t wait until nightfall?” Highdive asked.

Cat shook her head. “They know you have access to helicopters and are on the verge of firming up alliances. They want to catch you off guard. And they have men hidden outside the compound to take out any air support.”

“Themudilathinks he can actually replace my father.” Alena shook her head.

Diana sighed. “Did you leave anyone else alive who could realistically take over?”

“Well, no. But that is beside the point. The man was barely on the edges of the inner circle. And he brought in outsiders to fight for him rather than our soldiers.”

Hawk rubbed at his eyes as if fighting off a headache. “Our soldiers? Please tell me you aren’t planning on taking over for your father.”

“Nyet.” The word was filled with vehemence. “I am retiring. I will make a good house wife for you.”

Diana snorted, she couldn’t help it. The indignation on her sister's face unlocked something inside her. Diana threw back her head and laughed. The sound was contagious and soon most of the people in the room joined her.

“Mom, do you even know how to use a stove?” Nadya giggled.

“Bah! I will learn.” Alena winked.

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