Page 28 of Shattered Cradle (Makarova Bratva Duet)

She really does look good with her mocha hair straightened to a sheen and the subtlest bit of foundation on her face. It’s all neutrals and skin tones, and she looks effortless.

She’s also in a dress, which is rare. Mia has a standing rule:Dresses are for the farmer’s market, because that’s where the eligible bachelors are. I never quite saw the logic there, since last I checked, bachelors don’t tend to prowl the city early on Sunday mornings in search of fresh local produce, but she was adamant.

Of course, that was back when she had time to go to the farmer’s market. Once she became a surgical resident, it became harder and harder for her to have a life outside of the hospital.

And that’s when it strikes me.

“Mia, shouldn’t you be at work?”

“Oh,” she says, her cheeks flushing. “I’m actually taking an extended leave of absence from the hospital.”

“But… why?”

She takes a deep breath. “I guess the pressure got to be too much for me.”

She glances at Mom and unspoken meaning zaps between them. I frown. There’s something they aren’t telling me.

“Could you show me where the bathroom is?” I ask Mia pointedly.

Mom pretends to ignore us. She’s humming and cutting into a grapefruit as the two of us leave her in the dining annex.

The moment we’re alone, I turn to Mia. “You love being a doctor,” I whisper.

She shrugs like she’s unaffected. “Sometimes, you have to make sacrifices for the people you love.”

“Mom?”

She nods. “She was so worried about you that she was barely eating during the day. And she couldn’t sleep at night unless I was there. She was wasting away, and I knew I couldn’t just ignore it. So I took some time off work to be with her.”

“Shit,” I breathe. “Mimi, I’m so sorry. I know how much work meant to you.”

“I was able to wrap up all my big surgeries,” she says. “And the rest of my patients were referred to excellent doctors. It’s all good.”

“How are you so… calm about this?”

“I guess maybe I really did need a little time off,” she says. “I’ve been working and studying nonstop for almost two decades. When it all stopped, I got to live a little.”

That word choice strikes me as odd, but before I can ask her to explain, Rob walks into the suite and spies the two of us in the corner.

“What are you two gossiping about?” he asks.

Three months ago, he would’ve smiled and joked.Old hens chirping back and forth in secret,he’d say, maybe squawking and flapping fake chicken wings for effect.

Now, there isn’t a trace of a smile on his face. No warmth in his voice. He’s just anger incarnate.

Mia doesn’t seem to notice. Or maybe she just pretends not to. “We’ll tell you our secrets if you tell us yours.”

“No thanks.”

I can’t tell if he’s joking or not. My bet is no.

“You joining us for breakfast?” I ask my brother as we follow Mia back to the table.

“No. I just came to say hi. I have work to do.”

“What work?”

He doesn’t even make eye contact with me. “Can’t really talk about it.” He grabs a piece of toast from the breadbasket and takes a bite out of it. “I also have a message from the big man.”

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