Page 59 of Thorns of Lust
He didn’t bite. Not surprising. My brothers were stubborn and scary fuckers. Truthfully, I was surprised he hadn’t learned the identity of her future husband. The underworld could be like a little village sometimes. It was how I learned of it a few weeks ago.
“Killian Brennan.”
I dropped the name and the way Sasha’ expression iced over I knew the Irishman might not live much longer. I threw myself into the chair and took another sip out of my flask. That shit was pretty tasty.
“So you gonna kill him?” I asked curiously. I propped my long legs on the table, stretching them. At least sweatpants were good for stretching.
Sasha threw me a worried gaze, ignoring the bait and taunting I threw his way.
“Sestra, you can’t keep this up.” Sasha’s voice was serious, a concern lacing it. He only called me sister in Russian when he was uber-worried. “You’re killing your liver.”
I waved my hand and drops of alcohol splashed out of the flask. Damn it. Maybe the alcohol was working overtime.
“Livers can be repaired.”
“So can your heart,” my brother reasoned.
I met his gaze, that loss from so many months ago still gnawing at me. Although, the kiss I just shared with Konstantin flashed in my mind, dulling some of the ache.Pathetic!
“Then why are you chasing the Russo girl?” I asked, rather than evaluate my reaction to the Pakhan. My brothers would go bananas if they knew I had been alone with that man. Taunting him. Playing with him.
“Tatiana, you have to let him go. You have to find a way to move on. And searching for clues, drinking vodka–” his eyes flickered to my wardrobe, “ –and wearing sweatpants is not the way to move on.”
I tsked, dismissing his advice. It didn’t surprise me he knew I was searching for answers. He knew me too well. And I was certain Aurora mentioned something to Alexei who in turn said something to Sasha.
“Like you’re looking for ways to move on from your obsession that is engaged?” I remarked sarcastically as I put the flask down. Then I stretched my legs some more. Exercise and alcohol all in the same minute. Now that was multitasking.
Thankfully, he changed subjects.
“What do you know about Branka and Killian’s arrangement?”
I shrugged. “Only that they’re getting married and Branka refused to walk down the aisle until her friend was back safe and sound.” Then I snapped my fingers, the idea dancing in my head. “Of course, that’s assuming her friend gets out of Afghanistan.”
I didn’t think my brother could handle getting his happiness at the cost of someone else, but it didn’t hurt to test him. Judging by the expression on his face, I was right.
“You know, Killian Brennan is practically family,” I said casually. To say our familiar relations were complicated was an understatement. Alexei’s wife, Aurora, was related to Davina Brennan, wife of Killian’s father Liam Brennan. Step-father. Whatever he was.
I let Sasha steam on it a bit, but there was no doubt he’d come up with a plan. And get what he wanted. Which apparently was Branka Russo. He’d better hope our big brother didn't get wind of Sasha's plans, whatever they might be.
Exhaling, I lowered my feet and stood up. “By the way, I need your help.”
Sasha’s eyes, that signature Nikolaev pale blue, met mine. He waited and waited. I could ask him to go with me, but I thought it would be better if I went alone.
“Any chance you have someone, aside from you, who could take me to D.C. for the weekend and keep it a secret from Vasili?”
He pushed his hand through his hair, that ink marking his skin flashing his own life story. His skin told his story and while it had been somewhat of a hard story, I really hoped he got his woman and happily-ever-after. For a while, I thought the woman he loved died, but apparently, I was wrong.
“Why don’t I go with you?” he offered.
I shook my head. “No, this I have to do alone. But I’d prefer if you assigned someone to go with me and lend me your plane.”
His brows furrowed. “Is something wrong with Yan and Yuri?”
I shook my head. “No, but they have families and Yan has small children.” It was a half-truth. “They work too much as it is. I don’t want to pull them away from their families.”
He didn’t exactly buy it, but considering I asked for protection, he was willing to let me get away with it.
“Yeah, when do you need to go?” he asked.
