Page 38 of Alexei (Belles & Mobsters 4)

I shook my head, swallowing hard. He didn’t look familiar, but I could see resemblance to little Gabriel. Oh my freaking God!

“That’s right,” Raphael said, his eyes studying me. “I seemed to recall your father and my father worked out a deal. You and your girlfriends broke into my father’s home during your spring break.” I swallowed hard, my heart drumming so hard, I was sure my ribs would crack. “Don’t worry, it happens more than you think,” Raphael added teasingly, unaware of the turmoil going on inside me.

“Yeah, I was pissed that Dad was called. It should have been me,” Byron grumbled.

Usually Byron took responsibility for me. But that one time, Father was called. I kept my breaths even, careful not to reveal the unrest inside me. I had plenty of practice hiding behind my masks too. Alexei wasn’t the only expert here.

“My sister went through a reckless and rebellious stage,” Byron said, his arms coming around me. I narrowed my eyes on Byron. Jackass! I loved him but he was a jackass for saying something like that in front of strangers. “Her spring break was a tad bit wilder than normal. The ocean wasn’t enough so Aurora and her friends broke into a house and went skinny dipping in their pool during the spring break.”

A soft chuckle sounded around the table, and I bit the inside of my cheek, tasting copper. If only Byron knew what the fuck happened that week. There were two key incidents in my entire life that changed me. The first one was the disappearance of my brother. The second one was spring break. That one altered four lives - Sailor’s and her sister’s, Willow’s, and mine.

“I’m afraid I don’t remember,” I answered tightly, my voice snappy. “Spring break was a long time ago.”

That particular spring break seemed like a different lifetime. My best friends and I were buzzed pretty much every day during that week. I remembered our reckless stupidity, certain events were fuzzy until we woke up in the police station on the last day of our vacation. Willow, Sailor, I, and Anya were still in bathing suits, wrapped in beach towels. Anya got into her own shit and we followed. We got in so much shit. Dad had to bail us out.

Of course my brothers knew only the short story. The one my father shared. He made it into an entertaining rendezvous. If Byron came for us or knew what happened, he would have murdered the old Santos, and he would have never broadcast it like it was the most entertaining story of the year.

But then, I’d have another brother’s blood on my hands.

I purposely ignored looking at Raphael Santos and the Nikolaev men.

“Nice meeting you all,” I attempted to cut it short. “Come on, Byron.” I tugged his hand, but he wouldn’t bulge. “The hostess is waiting for us.”

My eyes darted behind me. And sure enough, she stood, patiently waiting for us.

“Why don’t you join us?” My eyes snapped to Sasha, glaring at him for daring to suggest it. “You refused us yesterday. It would be rude to do it again today.” He grinned and I wanted to smack that smile off his face. “After all, we’ll be working together.” I narrowed my eyes on him. He had to be the most annoying Nikolaev man. And with the biggest mouth. If he thought he would make me do anything, he had another thing coming. “This is my sister-in-law Isabella and her kids.”

I acknowledged the women with a nod.

“We have plans,” I answered, trying to keep my tone polite. Then I turned my head to Byron. “We should get going.”

I was an FBI agent. I couldn’t sit at the same table as criminals. And certainly not around a member of the Santos Cartel.

Byron cocked his eyebrow. “What is this I’m hearing? You are working with the Nikolaev family?”

Of course he’d hear that. He didn’t hear how I indicated we had plans or that we should get going. He only heard I’d be working with the Nikolaev men. Were all men this dense?

“Let’s join them,” Byron stated, his demeanor clearly portraying he always got his way. If I could strangle him right now, I totally would. “I want to hear more about this arrangement you have going.”

“We were going to-”

“Rora,” he warned lightly, the overbearing brother I came to relish and dread coming out full force. “I want you to know a few people here so I’m not worried about your stalker.”

I mentally slapped my forehead. “You have a stalker?” I wasn’t sure who asked, but I kept my face frozen with a smile.

“No, I don’t,” I snapped. “Byron, we-”

“Rora?” Byron didn’t drop things. He was the most persistent human being on this planet. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you left my question unanswered.”

I swallowed, my eyes flashing with annoyance. I could murder Sasha and his big mouth.

Casually shrugging one shoulder, I pretended to be interested in the hostess’ motions who brought over two extra chairs for us to join the group.

“It wasn’t of my choosing,” I told him dryly, answering his question about me working with the Nikolaev men. “I don’t have a tendency to work with criminals.”

The hostess who was putting one chair next to Alexei suddenly dropped it, emphasizing my proclamation. She quickly got herself together and went to place the other chair next to Raphael. Which one of the two was the greater of two evils?

“This will be fun,” Sasha announced, grinning like an idiot. “Don’t worry, Aurora. Criminals don’t bite.” My spine could have snapped with how tense I was. “Much,” he added.

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