Page 34 of The Den of Sin
She was worried that Adrian would lose his job if she dated him. Although Vasili was protective of his family, I didn’t think he would meddle in his sister’s dating. But then, what did I know? That man constantly shocked me.
Our waiter came at that moment and we ordered our cocktails. I watched people mingle on the square, lovers holding hands, and families enjoy their evening strolls. One thing that working in the E.R. has taught me was that we are not guaranteed tomorrow. We could miss out on the chance to be with someone we love or experience something extraordinary by holding back.
The waiter came back with our cocktails and we both raised our glasses.
“To taking chances,” I told her, as we clinked our glasses in a toast. I took a sip, the fruity, alcoholic drink warming my insides as it slid down my throat.
“I think you should take him up on the date if you like him,” I told her. Her eyes snapped to me in surprise. “What?” I asked defensively.
“And I think whatever is going on between you and Vasili, you should ride it out.” It was my turn to be surprised. Our eyes locked and I didn’t have it in me to admit nor deny what the hell this was between Vasili and I. I lashed out today. Five years ago when he smashed my heart into a million pieces, I didn’t lash out. Obviously, when I caught Ryan cheating, I didn’t lash out.
I drank down the entire drink and before I could even raise my hand to order another one, the waiter was already bringing us another round.
“Vasili is the man that hurt you five years ago, isn’t he?” She framed it as a question, but it was more of a statement.
“It was a long time ago.”
“That son of-”
“Don’t say it,” I stopped her. “It was as much of my own stupidity as it was his.”
I had no idea why I was defending him. He sure as hell didn’t deserve it. Yes, my mother broke their family, but maybe his family was already broken and she was a scapegoat. Either way, it didn’t justify his behavior towards me.
“Why didn’t you say something?”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t tell her it was an understanding Vasili and I came to. He wouldn’t tell his sibling, who was my best friend, that my mother was the cause of their family’s distress, and I wouldn’t tell her that he used me as revenge. Truthfully though, I never understood what kind of revenge that was. Nobody would know that he had used me since we’d both keep it a secret.
“I always thought it would maybe be you and Sasha one day,” she muttered. “Never you and Vasili.”
“There is no me and your brother,” I objected, forcing a smile on my face. “Neither one of them.”
The way she watched me told me she didn’t believe me. Okay, maybe there was something I still felt for Vasili, but for him, I was always just a method for revenge.
“Did he know about the pregnancy?” Her question startled me and pain expanded in my chest at the memories.
I really didn’t want to talk about that right now. I just shook my head, finding it hard to say even a simple no. I blamed myself for that one. I was drowning in my sorrow over Vasili that I completely missed all the pregnancy signs. Till one night-
I swallowed hard and shoved the dark memories into the small corner. That’s where they belonged.
“Give Adrian a chance if you like him.” I’d much rather talk about Adrian than her brother.
“I never saw you lose your temper like today.” She was right. And she didn’t even know I lost my shit again later that day, and then slapped her eldest brother. God, that man was turning me into someone I didn’t like at all.
“Maybe you guys like each other?” Her voice was hopeful.
I drank down another glass of the cocktail I’d ordered, my body already warming up from the alcohol consumed. I sighed at the thoughts of Vasili. I didn’t think he liked me. If he did, he wouldn’t have done all this shit, using me for some ridiculous revenge and bribing Ryan to dump me.
“I need another drink,” I mumbled under my breath.
Immediately, she flagged the waiter again.
“You know, women usually don’t stand up to Vasili,” Tatiana started pensively. “Even in college, when we kept getting into trouble, you never cowered. When he’d scold us, you’d meet his eyes, stood up straight, never wavering. You never argued with him, but that serene way of yours, watching him quietly, probably drove him crazy. Maybe you two have been foreplaying all along.”
I rolled my eyes; I knew she wouldn’t let it go. I shrugged my shoulders because what could I say really. The truth was that he rattled me, even after all these years, my body still sizzled with desire, remembering his rough hands on my skin and his mouth pressing against mine, conquering.
And now he wanted me in his bed. I shook my head in disbelief. His words still rang in my ears.
“I could talk to him,” she suggested in a low voice.
