I observe my brother for a beat. Something is different about him. He’s still the same cheeky bastard as always, but he seems more...grounded and happier. The most telling is in the way he looks at his wife like she’s the only one in the room.
A feeling I know all too well.
“It looks good on you—married life, settling down. Never thought I’d see the day.”
Roman chuckles. “You know how it is. What’s that saying? Life throws you curve balls and all that shit. Well, I got clocked in the goddamn face, and I liked it.”
We share another laugh.
“And you,” he says. “It’s good to see you finally found your way back to her.”
“I did.”
Roman reaches for a decanter. “Yeah, I was tired of listening to you cry like a little bitch.”
I slap the back of his head like I used to when we were kids. Our laughter reminds me that I need to visit more often. Now that I have to move out of Texas, that might just be the case.
The mood suddenly shifts, as if we’re reading each other’s thoughts. I already briefed him on everything that happened with Emilio during our flight.
“You should have wasted him, Mikhail. One less reason to look over your shoulder,” he says, pouring a glass of whiskey and sliding it across the table.
I shake my head and sigh. “At the end of the day, that’s still her father. I didn’t want that kind of shit hanging over our heads.”
“You tell Dad yet?”
“Not yet. But we should spread the word and be on alert, just in case. Something tells me I’ll be seeing him sooner than expected.”
Roman tips his glass. “Agreed.”
CHAPTER 20
LEAH
Mikhail’s phone has been buzzing for what seems like the one-hundredth time in the last two hours. Between Ann and Rodri calling nonstop, I’m slowly losing it. Mikhail’s words about my brother still resonate, and as much as it pains me, I know his advice is sound. While Ann has always had a fractured relationship with our father, she’s close to Mom, who is as loyal to her husband as they come, no matter what.
It’s not something I’m prepared to deal with, especially after I’ve had time to let it all sink in.
Mikhail raps twice on the bathroom door before pushing it open. “Pizza is here.”
I grab my sleep shorts from the vanity, but he snatches them. “What are you doing?” I ask with a suspicious grin.
“You don’t need them.” He cocks his head, eyes falling to my black panties. “I like those better.” Leaning against the door frame and crossing his arms over his bare chest, he says, “Turn around.”
“Really?” I pretend to be offended, hands on my hips.
“The faster you show me my ass, the sooner you get to eat, pretty girl. I’m just trying to see what’s on the menu for dessert.”
A smile curves my lips as I lift my shirt and do as I’m told. I’m not wearing a thong, but they’re plenty cheeky, nonetheless.
“Nah,” Mikhail says, shaking his head in disapproval.
“Mikhail!” I shriek, slightly offended. “Listen, this is a great ass, okay? Someone clearly does not want dessert.”
He barks a laugh and lunges for me, hauling me on his waist, a hand on each cheek. “Perfect...if it wasn’t missing my handprints.”
“I’m surprised they’ve faded. You have some big fucking hands, Mikki,” I tease, leaning in for a kiss when his phone vibrates in his pocket.
He pulls out the device and blocks every number associated with my family. “Are you okay?” he asks as he kisses my forehead.
I sigh and gently scratch the back of his nape, reveling in how his features relax with my touch. “Yeah, I am. The world and all its shit can wait. We need to have our game faces on and get through tomorrow first. For now, the only thing I want is pizza and your cock. Simple.”
“Good, because I’m craving the same.”
“Pizza and cock?”
Leaving his phone behind, he laughs and bites my earlobe as we make our way to the
kitchen. “I’m definitely reddening that ass tonight.” “Don’t make me beg,” I murmur against his mouth. “That’s the best part.”
“Oh?” I say, peppering kisses up his jaw.
“Moya krasivitsa, you begging on your knees to suck my cock and on all fours begging to get fucked...” He sucks in a sharp breath. “I promise you, I have never seen anything more beautiful.”
I kiss him hard, and my worries melt away with every stroke of his tongue, nip of his teeth, and the way he tastes so damn good. He’s my safe space, where nothing can touch me as long as I’m in his arms.
“What kind of pizza did you order?”
