Page 5 of Den of Thieves

Karina saw what made him enraged and slapped her hand over her mouth.

“How many times do I have to tell you? This is all Volodya’s doing,” Aksana said with a smile on her made-up face. Half of which was smudged with eyeliner from her outer lid to her temple.

“Now,” she continued, unzipping the garment bags on the bed. “I personally love the pink, but my big-headed brother believes I should give you choices on your birthday.”

Karina eyed the sparkling array of gowns on the bed. “You don’t think these are a bit much for a luncheon?”

“No. I’m wearing a green dress, obviously. But you look amazing in any color. Especially pink.”

Karina laughed. “Okay, I’ll wear the pink one if you let poor Aleksei fix your face.”

The two of them got dressed, and she had to admit she looked amazing. Her gown teased her cleavage, and the split gave her just enough sex appeal to tease Vladimir to no end. Natasha pinned her hair up in an elegant bun with curled strands teasing her back and shoulders.

“Now for the finishing touch.” Aksana turned around with a square velvet box. She opened it to reveal a platinum Tinkerbell pendant in the center of a thin rope of diamonds.

“It’s beautiful,” Karina breathed, turning so her sister could fasten the necklace.

“I’m afraid I cannot let you be original today, sister.”

“What do you mean?” Karina frowned at the guilty look on her face.

Aksana pulled a second square box from behind her back and opened it. There was an identical diamond necklace nestled on the cushion. The only difference was the platinum AK-47 in the center.

“Ha, that’s amazing! Turn around.”

“You sure you don’t mind?” Aksana asked, but that didn’t stop her from lifting her red curls in anticipation.

“Of course not. In America, sisters match for most of their childhoods.”

“Really?”

“They did in the nineties,” Karina snorted.

“Well, I hear grunge is making a comeback.”

The two laughed until Dimitri and Vladimir knocked on the door.

“Everyone decent?” Vladimir called.

“Come in, Vlad.”

Both men entered with hands over their eyes.

“One nip slip fifteen years ago, and you still act like it was yesterday!” Aksana sucked her teeth.

“I was physically and mentally traumatized! The holy water I stole didn’t burn enough when I doused my eyes with it.” Vladimir reminded her, still hiding his eyes.

They looked dashing in their custom suits Aksana made them order just for today. Vladimir’s suit was a charcoal gray that made his eyes pop. And the pink pocket square matched her dress perfectly. Dimitri wore a tan suit with a green tie the same jade green as Aksana’s dress.

She could say today was Vladimir’s doing all she wanted, but Karina knew her sister was just as involved as her husband in making her day special.

“Ugh! Boys are so stupid.” Aksana stuck out her tongue before dragging a chuckling Dimitri away.

“Aren’t you going to tell the birthday girl she looks pretty?” Karina gently lowered Vladimir’s hand away from his face. He caught her fingers before she could move back and pulled her into his arms.

“I peeked after you gave the all clear, but I couldn’t help but get a rise out of Aksana. It is one of my favorite pastimes.”

“Oh, really?” She raised an amused eyebrow.

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