Page 101 of Bound by Love
Rytsar was holding something large in one hand and pounding on the door with the other. But, because everyone was upstairs, no one had heard him knocking.
“Rytsar!” Brie shouted down from above.
He looked up, sounding alarmed. “What are you doing on the roof?”
“We’re having a party. Just a sec, I’ll let you in.” Brie skipped down the flights of stairs and opened the door for him.
“It is good to see your face,radost moya. I was beginning to think I had the wrong place.”
“Sorry we didn’t hear you. Everyone’s upstairs. Come. Follow me!”
As they climbed the stairs, it was easy to hear the noise from above. “How ismoye solntsehandling all this chaos?”
She stopped and turned, grinning at him. “She’s eating up the attention.”
“Takes after her mama, I see.”
Brie went to give him a poke, but he grabbed her wrist and squeezed tightly, pulling her close to kiss her. Her stomach did a flip-flop when he claimed her mouth with his tongue.
Rytsar let her wrist go and turned her back around, slapping her on the ass. “Hurry, I have something to give my comrade’s grandparents.”
Brie bit her lip as she ran up the rest of the stairs, her heart racing.
Rytsar called out to Sir loudly, “Your brother is here!”
Sir held up his hand and waved before making his way over. “What took you so long?” he chided.
“I have been knocking on the door for over an hour, comrade.”
“You have?”
“Nyet,” he admitted, chuckling as he gave Sir a slap on the back. “Thankfully,radost moyaheard me shouting and let me in before I gave up.”
“I’m sorry, old friend.”
“If I can holdmoye solntse,all will be forgiven. However, I must first give this to your grandparents.”
“Please don’t mention having to wait,” Sir asked him. “My grandmother wouldn’t forgive herself, if she knew.”
“I am a gentleman, comrade. I would never say a word to embarrass yourbabushka,” Rytsar promised him.
Brie and Sir joined Rytsar as he walked over to Sir’s grandparents.
“NonnoandNonna, this is Anton Durov, my friend and brother by choice.”
Nonna smiled, her words simple as she spoke to him in English. “Welcome, Anton.”
Rytsar gave them both a curt bow. “It is an honor.”
Nonno held out his hand. “Hope’s godfather.”
He nodded with obvious pride.
“Family now,” Nonno stated, embracing the burly Russian.
Rytsar’s look of surprise quickly turned to one of tenderness. “Grazie, Mr. Davis.”
The old man shook his head. “Nonno,to you.”
