Page 25 of One of Them

Enzo’s eyes flickered toward Ilya, then back to me, his tone shifting to something a little more serious. “Let’s get past this wedding first.”

“One problem at a time.”

“One at a time.”

Enzo casually slung his arm around my shoulders as we made our way to the seating area, joining the party.

I could see how some might misread our relationship, seeing us as more than friends. The same could be said for Ilya. But honestly, I’d never seen either of them that way. We’d bonded over time, and now it felt natural to have them around.

Here I was, surrounded by so many people. Thirteen-year-old Taya would be happy to know that.

A wedding wasn’t a dream of mine, but being surrounded by friends certainly was.

***

When I grew tired of the business conversation or the Galkins’ intense stares, I climbed over Enzo, who stayed behind, and left the table.

Alisa was blushing by the time I approached her group. She had invited a bunch of her family members I’d never met, all tied to this life by marriage or blood; it didn’t matter.

“Hey, Taya. I’m so glad you made it. And thank you so much for offering to help,” she greeted me in a flurry of words. The woman radiated happiness, and I couldn’t help but wonder what the secret behind her permanent smile was.

Sliding beside her on the leather couch, I seized the rare moment of privacy. “Are you ready for this?”

“No turning back now.”

“There’s still time. Should I start the getaway car?”

Her expression sobered at the suggestion. “I can’t think of a place where he wouldn’t find me.”

The words worried me, but there was still too much I didn’t know.

“I can.” Our eyes locked. “Maybe we don’t know each other, but if you’re in trouble, I can get you out,” I paused, “no questions asked.”

“I thought he was your friend,” Alisa protested, almost shocked at my offer.

“He is,” I confirmed. “But even friends make poor decisions I can help prevent.”

“I’m fine,” she reassured me, her hand dismissing any concerns. “It’s happening. I owe him a shot.”

You don’t owe him anything, I thought, but didn’t voice it. All I could do was hope her decisions aligned with what she owed herself.

A playful smile tugged at my usual poker face. “It’s still today. Why don’t we make the most of the night?”

Alisa lit up in excitement at my suggestion. “Yes, please.”

Hand in hand, we walked straight to the dance floor, kickstarting the night.

Ilya put a lot of effort into this place. His personal touch was why the club ranked among the most popular in the area. That and the fact that it was a known Bratva hangout.

The DJs were on fire tonight. When the next song started, Alisa and I lost ourselves in the music. Dancing wasn’t something I particularly enjoyed or was good at, but tonight, it felt great to let go. I lifted my hands in the air, swinging my hips to the rhythm. Light reflected off my skin in shades of blue and green, and I traced the rainbows with my fingers.

Being on constant alert was tiring. But here, in this heated crowd, I let loose. Or at least, as much as my deranged mind would allow.

Occasionally, I scanned the upstairs for movement, but there wasn’t much to see past the railing. Two or three figures leaned against the metal, glancing downstairs. Enzo never left without saying goodbye, even if he found this evening’s entertainment. He was somewhere around, most likely deep in his drink like the rest of them.

It had been a while since I allowed myself to get lost in more than just the music. To a stranger. A flavor of the night.

While I didn’t seek relationships, the same didn’t apply to sex. I was hooked. Short of an addict. My body and mind were constantly at odds. I wanted to overindulge, to try and keep on trying. Taste everything there was to sample. The logical part of me wanted to reason, but the arguments weren’t strong enough.

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