2
She lets out a squeal when my Uncle Volodya picks her up and smacks her on the ass. My Uncle Volodya is more standoffish than his brothers, but there’s no denying how much he loves his family, and the smile he gives his wife is one of genuine love. It’s so intense that I look away because it makes me feel like I’m intruding. While he whispers something in her ear, I give Yulia and Sitka hugs, telling them I’ll see them tomorrow. The guys give me a wave goodbye, and Misha stops long enough to ruffle my hair before he takes off running to his family’s boat, trying to beat Yuri to it.
Nikolai and Ilya both leave with their families. They each have a house on the property, so instead of getting into boats, they head towards the path near the edge of the woods. They’d parked their four-wheelers near the tree line, and as soon as Kostya and Tyoma get on them, they tear off down the dirt path, the sound of their engines already growing dim by the time their parents climb onto the remaining two four-wheelers.
Giving one last wave goodbye, I follow my family back to the house, stopping to brush all the sand from Wallace. Dima scratches behind his ears to keep him happy while Bran and I get him cleaned up. Wallace may have been my birthday present, but he’s very much a family dog, and he loves the attention he gets from everyone. When he’s as clean as he’s going to get, my dad tosses him a milk bone while I brush the sand off my own feet. I love the beach, but I hate feeling dirty, and I know I’m going to have to shower before bed or I’ll never be able to fall asleep.
Dima laughs at my attempt to get clean and quickly stomps his own feet, not caring in the slightest that they’re probably still dirty. Since both my older brothers are still single and our house has plenty of room, they still live here, but they come and go as they please. Usually they go out with our cousins, but I guess they’re staying in tonight because Dima grabs a soda and a plate of leftovers before heading down the hall to his room.
I’ll text you later , I sign to Bran, who gives me a nod and a thumbs up.
I give my dad and mom a big hug and then head to my room with Wallace at my heels. Once I’ve showered and crawled into bed, I grab my phone, not at all surprised to see my brother’s already texted me. We started texting each other before bed when we were younger, and it’s something we’ve held onto over the years. We don’t do it every night, but most nights we’ll have a quick conversation before I fall asleep.
Bran:
I’m glad you’re not going to the club tomorrow.
ME:
Allie and I both knew the plan didn’t really stand a chance. Stop worrying.
Bran:
You’re my little sister. It’s my job to worry.
ME:
You’re only a month older than me.
Bran:
Still counts.
ME:
So what are your plans? You going clubbing tomorrow with the guys?
Bran:
I doubt it. You know I hate going out like that.
ME:
Maybe you’ll meet someone.
Bran:
Yeah, because girls are just lining up to date the deaf guy.
ME:
Fuck ‘em if they can’t see how amazing you are. Did someone say something to you? Do I need to go kick someone’s ass?
He gives me the laughing emoji, but I’m being serious. I will rain down hell on anyone who insults my brother.
Bran:
No, no one said anything. I’d just rather not go out.
ME:
How about I work my magic and convince Dima to stay home too? We can take the boat out.
Bran:
He did say he’d found a new fishing spot the other day.
ME:
Perfect. I’ll go easy on the drinks at lunch, and then you guys can fish while I cheer you on from a comfy deck chair.
Bran:
You could always pick up a pole and join in.
ME:
Gross and no.
He sends me the laughing emoji before telling me goodnight. After I’ve set my phone aside, it doesn’t take long for me to fall asleep. I’ve always had an easy time sleeping, and it’s a good thing, because Wallace always wakes up with the sun—an absolute ball of energy that’s raring to go.
I don’t wake up quite as chipper, but I do manage a big grin and a long belly scratch before I let him outside and grab some coffee. My mom’s working on breakfast when I fill my mug, and she gives me a big smile when she sees me.
“Morning, honey.”
“Morning,”’ I tell her, my stomach growling when I get a whiff of the omelet she’s preparing. She gives me a wink and slides it onto a plate for me before starting a new one for herself. I don’t bother arguing. A lifetime of experience has taught me that it’d be pointless, so instead I give her a side hug and tell her thanks.
“I know today isn’t what you and Allie had in mind, but I hope you’ll still have fun,” she says when her breakfast is done and she’s taken the barstool next to me at the island.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun, Mom.”
She’s quiet for a second, eating a few bites in silence before she says, “There are some very dangerous men out there, and your dad and uncles just want to protect you from them.”
“I know, Mom. I understand why they’re so protective.” I watch her face, seeing how upset she’s getting, so I reach out and squeeze her arm. “I know they have their reasons for it.”
My mom pats my hand. “They do.” She toys with a piece of omelet on her plate before looking over at me. “You know I don’t like to think about my life before I married your dad, but he saved me when he married me.”
I don’t say a word, too afraid to say something and risk her going quiet again. My mom never talks about her past. It’s like her life started with our family, and she refuses to look back. My brothers and I always suspected there was something tragic that had happened, but we’ve never been able to get any real answers about it.
Giving my hand a squeeze, she gives a soft shake of her head as if to clear it and says, “He just wants to make sure that you never have to go through anything like that.”
When it’s obvious she’s not going to say more, I hesitantly ask, “Like what, Mom?”
“Nothing you need to worry about,” she quickly says, and then changes the subject by asking, “Have you seen your brothers this morning?”
“No, not yet. I figured they were still sleeping.”
“I heard Bran take his bike out earlier, but Dima might still be sleeping. Your dad went for a run on the beach and should be back soon.”
I think about pushing for more answers, but it’s obvious she really doesn’t want to talk about it, so I don’t fight her change of subject. I know she’ll tell me more when she’s ready. Before I take another bite, I say, “Bran and I are going to convince Dima to take us out on the boat later.”
The sadness fades from her face as she gives a soft laugh. “That’ll be fun. I won’t let your Aunt Maddie get you too tipsy at lunch then.”
I smile at her before taking another bite, and when my plate is cleared, I load up the dishwasher while she starts to make another omelet for my dad. On the way back to my room for a shower, I see him out the window. He’s coming in from his run, and Wallace must’ve joined him at some point because he’s keeping pace beside my dad, tongue lolling out and black-and-white fur blowing in the wind.
Knowing my dog’s in good hands, I start getting ready. I take my time and then throw the ball for Wallace while I wait for everyone to get here. When there’s just a few minutes to go, I head back inside to say goodbye to my dad. Halfway down the hall to his office, I hear his voice, stopping at the angry tone.
“If you see that fucking prick again, kill him,” my dad growls in Russian. “He wanted a meeting, and we gave him one, but that deal was an insult, and he’s lucky we didn’t shoot him on the spot for daring to offer it.”
I don’t hear a response, so I know he’s on his phone. I wait a few minutes until I’m sure the conversation is over before closing the distance and giving a soft knock at his door.
“Dad?”
As soon as he hears my voice, he says, “Honey, come in,” and his tone is completely different. The harsh edges are replaced with a softness that he only uses with his family. A softness that I’m guessing he didn’t possess until he met my mom.
“I just wanted to say goodbye before we left.” I step into the room he’s always used as an office. The sun-filled room sits nearest to the sunroom—the one he'd converted into a library for my mom before we were born.They like to be close to one another, and having his office on the other side of the large house was never going to be a possibility.
He quickly walks around his desk and gives me a hug while kissing the top of my head. “I’m sorry it’s not the crazy night of clubbing you and Allie wanted, but this option is the one least likely to give me a heart attack from worry.”
I smile and give him a squeeze before pulling back. “Don’t worry, Dad. Allie and I knew the plan was a long shot.”
My dad runs a hand over the stubble he didn’t bother shaving this morning. He’s wearing a T-shirt despite the cooler temperature today, and the tattoos I was always so intrigued by when I was little are on full display.
He gives a small shrug and says, “I worry about you. I’m your dad, and it’s my job to protect you. Plus, I know what kind of guys hang out at Inferno. None of them are worthy of you.”
I laugh. “I wasn’t planning on finding a husband.”
My dad lets out an exaggerated sigh of relief. “Thank god, sweetheart, because I’m nowhere near ready for you to get married.”
I don’t bother mentioning that it’s probably never going to happen since I’m not allowed to actually go out and date like a normal person. Instead, I walk with him to the kitchen so he can say goodbye to my mom. We find her pulling her shoes on by the door, and while he walks over to her, I look over at my brothers, who are rummaging around for lunch.
Bran has his back to me, so I walk over and tap on the counter. He feels the vibration and turns to look at me, mouth already lifting up in a grin.
Leaving? he signs.
Yeah, will you watch Wallace for me?
He quickly signs of course , and then ruffles the hair on my head when I give him a side hug. Wallace is already sitting by his feet, so I kiss the top of his furry head before turning to Dima. Bran’s back to fixing his sandwich, so I don’t bother signing and instead say, “You’re taking Bran and me out on the boat later, okay?”
He raises a dark brow at me. “I am.”
I grin and give him the same side hug I’d given Bran. “You are.”
He laughs and grabs one of his chips. “I guess I could be persuaded to hang out with my siblings tonight.”
“You know we’re more fun than a night of club hopping.”
He grins. “How sad would it be if I agreed with you?”
I keep a straight face when I say, “Incredibly sad.” Bran turns around, so I sign while I say, “Dima’s taking us out later because he said we’re way more fun than the hoes at the bar.”
Bran smiles and gives a thumbs up while Dima laughs and shakes his head at us. I give my brothers a wave goodbye and meet my mom by the door. My dad is just now pulling back from her, making it clear what they’ve been doing in the hall while I’ve been talking to my brothers.
“I’m going to pretend you’ve both been discussing our lunch plans this whole time,” I tell them.
My dad laughs while my mom blushes. “Of course we were,” my dad says. “We were just talking about what a great time you’re going to have.”
I play along because I don’t want to sit here and talk about how they were making out in the hallway. “We are going to have a great time,” I agree, pulling my own sneakers on. As if on cue, we hear a vehicle pull up out front. Opening the door, I see a black SUV with one of our bodyguards behind the wheel and another in the passenger seat. Any outing we go on is one that’s going to include several armed men, and when my dad walks out, the driver rolls the window down to speak to him while Allie runs up the drive to join us with her mom right behind her. Nikolai and Ilya’s wives weren’t able to make it today, but I’m sure they’ll join in next time. Allie has an excited grin on her face, and she gives my dad a wave before hopping in the back when Yulia opens the door for us and Sitka scoots over to make room.
“Bye, Dad,” I holler before following her into the back.
He leans down so he can see me through the driver’s window. “Bye, honey.” Lowering his voice, he says something else to the driver. The man nods and says a quick, “Yes, sir,” before my dad walks around to give my mom another hug.
“Love you, zolotse ,” he tells her, giving her another kiss before she gets inside. He smiles at us and gives a wave. “You girls have fun and be safe.”
We promise him we will, and he gives my mom a wink before pulling back and shutting the door. I smile at my aunts and settle into the seat between Allie and Sitka while the driver sets off down the driveway and another black SUV follows us. They’ll be trailing us the whole day because my dad and uncles take zero chances when it comes to us. I’m so used to it by now that I don’t think anything of it.
When we were younger, we attempted to make friends with the men who constantly surrounded us, but that was quickly nipped in the bud. My dad told me I should think of them as guard dogs—fiercely loyal, vicious when needed, and always on alert. He hadn’t meant it as an insult. He’d just been trying to explain it in a way that my young mind would understand. I can still remember his exact words: Talia, these men are important to the family and treated with great respect, but just like a guard dog, sweetheart, you wouldn’t ever want to just run up and hug it. These men have a job to do, and you need to let them do it.
It had made perfect sense, and even though we all treat the bodyguards with the respect they deserve and we’re all grateful for them, we leave them to do their thing and don’t bother them.
During the drive, our moms talk while Allie tells Sitka, Yulia, and me about how she’d convinced Kostya and Tyoma to go four-wheeling with her last night.
“Your dad about had a heart attack,” Svetlana says, butting into our conversation with a laugh. She looks at us and adds, “We were about to go to bed, and all of a sudden he hears engines revving and our wild child of a daughter giving a holler that could wake the dead.”
Yulia, Sitka, and I laugh at the image while Allie just laughs and says, “It wasn’t that loud.”
“He had no idea you’d gone out, and you know he worries about you on those things.” Svetlana’s fast Russian fills the vehicle as she tries to reason with her headstrong daughter. Allie thinks her parents are overprotective, and her parents think she’ll never be too old for them to worry about. It’s a stalemate if there ever was one. Yulia, Sitka, and I accepted long ago that our dads are overbearing, but Allie’s yet to get and accept that particular memo.
By the time we get to the restaurant, Allie has us all laughing at her impersonations of Kostya and Tyoma when she’d jumped a small gully and scared the hell out of them.
The man in the passenger seat turns around, cutting into our laughter by saying, “Wait here, ladies. I’ll get you when I’m sure it’s safe.”
The restaurant is on the water, a popular spot that has dockside service so boaters can place orders or dock their boats while they come in to eat. They always have live music at night, and even though it’s barely lunch time, the place is already packed.
After a few minutes, the back door of our SUV is opened and the man motions for us to step out. He’s wearing an earpiece, and I know he’s heavily armed beneath his suit, but he’s trained to appear casual, and to any outsider who wasn’t paying close attention, it would be easy to assume he was just a husband helping his wife and family out of a vehicle. Our eyes briefly meet when he takes my hand to help steady me as I climb out, but it only lasts a second before he looks away. He’s not rude, but there’s no warmth in his dark eyes. Yep, he’s fully in guard dog mode.
He stays behind us as the other guards fan out and we make our way inside. The hostess takes one look at our large group before grabbing a stack of menus and leading us to one of the large tables by the windows that overlook the dock. One of the reasons this restaurant is my favorite place to go is because of its laid-back atmosphere. Most of the people around us are in jeans and sweatshirts, and there’s already a layer of peanut shells on the floor. The boats lined up at the dock are a mix of everything from a pair of jet skis to a few larger yachts down at the end.
The hostess gives us each a menu and then leaves with a smile and a promise that our waitress will be over soon. My mouth is already watering at the delicious scents coming from all the tables around us. We each grab a chair with our bodyguard taking the one at the end that puts him in view of everyone else. The other men are strategically placed around the restaurant. He won’t eat while on duty, but it’d be way too obvious to just have him hovering over the table the entire meal.
Aside from Yulia and Sitka, who are too young, we all get a round of Dirty Shirley’s and then place an order for several appetizers. We didn’t come here to mess around. Today isn’t about watching calories. It’s about eating as much as we possibly can and then waddling our well-fed asses to the car.
We’re all still looking through the menus when the waitress comes back with our drinks. She looks about my age with her brown hair cut in a cute bob and a little diamond stud in her nose. Giving me a big smile, she starts unloading her tray. I take a healthy drink when she places it in front of me and then start to get up after she leaves.
“If she comes back, can you get me the fish and chips?” I ask my mom. “I’m going to run to the bathroom.”
“I can go with you,” Yulia quickly says, but I shake my head, not wanting her to have to get up.
“No, I’ll be quick.” I nod to our bodyguard and add, “They’ve already scoped the place out. I really doubt I’ll get kidnapped on the way to the bathroom.” Giving her a smile, I take another quick drink and then point towards the bathroom when the bodyguard at our table looks back over at me. He nods right before I see his lips move, and I know he’s speaking to the others through the hidden mic he’s wearing.
Turning away, I weave around the tables, smiling at a young toddler who’s fisting a roll and giving me a big grin, before heading down the hallway that’s decorated in a nautical theme. Another woman is just stepping out of the bathroom when I go in, and it isn’t until I’m done and washing my hands that I start to feel lightheaded. Bracing my hands on the sink, I close my eyes, breathing through the sensation, but all it does is get worse. I’m just about to send a text to my mom when the door opens. I recognize the girl who walks in as our waitress, and when she sees me hunched over the sink, she walks over and puts her arm around me to help me up.