Page 29 of Wrong Number. Right Don.
I stop, heart thudding as our eyes lock across the distance. He could be Sergei’s double. He has the same sharp jaw, the same ice-blue eyes, even the same dark hair. He has fewer grays and a livelier energy, though he can’t be much younger than Sergei. A permanent smirk curves his mouth, deepening as he approaches.
“I have to go,” I murmur into the phone.
Mia’s voice tightens. “What? What’s happening?”
“Nothing. I’m fine. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Nic—”
I end the call before she can finish, sliding the phone into my back pocket as the man reaches me.
He stops a few feet away, slipping his hands into the pockets of his perfectly cut slacks. His eyes skim over me—not leering, but assessing.
He offers a hand. “We didn’t get a proper introduction yesterday. I’m Sergei’s younger brother, Sasha. And my mom’s favorite son,” he adds with a wink. “She’s probably told you all about me.”
I shake his hand briefly, trying not to let him see how much he’s caught me off guard with his jovial greeting.
“It’s nice to meet you, Sasha,” I say sincerely. “Although I don’t remember Liliya saying anything about favorites. In fact, I seem to recall her saying she always wanted girls.”
“That sounds exactly right.” He laughs, deep and rich. “She keeps us humble, that’s for sure. She clearly likes you. Sergei said you were exactly what we needed.”
I nod again, unsure what to say to that. I don’t fail to notice his use of “we.” Not “she” as in his mother only. It all feels a little awkward. I have no idea what Sergei told him about me. About us. Does he know about our history? Or does he always talk to people with the same shit-eating grin?
The men laugh again, and I can’t help but look over at them. Sasha glances over his shoulder and smiles, this time more genuinely.
“They’re old family friends,” he says, preempting the question I haven’t asked. “We’re a close bunch. You’ll probably see them around a lot, but nothing to worry about.”
“I wasn’t worried,” I say, my voice low. “Family is important.”
“It’s everything,” he replies.
The gravity in his tone feels like a warning, as if he’s daring me to challenge his family. Desperate to change the subject, I open my mouth, but before I can speak a familiar voice slices through the air.
“There you are.”
I turn to see Sergei walking down the stone path, his eyes locked on Sasha first, then flicking to me. There is something unreadable in his expression, but his posture relaxes slightly when our eyes meet.
“I see you’ve met Sasha,” he says.
“I have,” I reply. “We were just talking about how important family is.”
Sergei’s mouth twitches at the corner, not quite a smile, but something close. “It is,” he answers simply.
Sasha claps a hand on his brother’s shoulder and leans in slightly. “She’s lovely. I like her.”
“I told you,” Sergei murmurs, and I feel my cheeks heat at the way his gaze lingers on me.
“Well, I’ll leave you two,” Sasha says, stepping back. “Don’t scare her off,bratan.”
“I should be saying that to you,” Sergei replies dryly.
Sasha disappears back into the group, and Sergei takes a few slow steps toward me.
“You’re up early,” he says.
“Just excited to start my day,” I say, though truthfully it was my curiosity that got me out of bed. I didn’t even think to check the time.
He nods and glances past me to the path. “Walk with me?”
