Chapter 6
Sitka
Ishove the last of my pie in my mouth, pissed at myself for pushing things too far.
What the hell had I been thinking? That I’d just stare at him while stuffing my face and he’d suddenly decide he wants me?
Judging by the way he just got his ass out of here as quickly as possible, I’d say my food experiment failed.
Ev relaxes next to me, taking up a bit more space so he’s comfortable. He’s still working his way through his plate of pie, and he makes no attempt to break the silence. I know he’s studying to be a lawyer, so after a few more minutes, I look over and ask, “Do you like being a student?”
He turns to look at me, and there’s no denying he’s incredibly good looking.
His eyes are a stunning blue-green color, jet-black hair, and the sculpted jawline that every Melnikov man seems to possess.
That’s not even mentioning the killer body and deep voice.
He’s beautiful to look at, but just like Tyoma and Kostya, I don’t feel anything sexual when I look at him.
It’s enough to make me want to let out a heavy sigh before disappearing back home and losing myself in a book, because sometimes reality is not a place I want to be in.
After he finishes chewing, he says, “It’s not so bad. I like what I’m learning, but sometimes the other students drive me crazy, and I hate having to hide who I really am. You thinking about going?”
I scoff out a laugh. “What’s the point? My family barely lets me off the property. I have no idea how I’d ever be allowed to actually have a career. They’re too worried someone would take me. You know, like what happened to Talia.”
“It’s tough,” he agrees. “They want to keep you safe, but it makes you feel like you’re in a prison.”
When I raise a surprised brow at him, he just shrugs a shoulder and says, “I have a sister, and I’m very close to my female cousins. I heard all about how much they hated things while we were growing up.”
“It didn’t change anything, though, did it?” I ask.
The corner of his mouth lifts the tiniest bit. “No, it didn’t. It wasn’t worth the risk. Too much shit happens to them even when they are surrounded by bodyguards. I can’t imagine what it would be like if they just went out on their own.”
“I heard you all let Mia join. That’s something at least.”
Ev lets out an easygoing laugh. “Mia was never going to back down from that.” He studies me for a second before asking, “You want to join your family’s Bratva?”
I think about it, but as much as I love my adrenaline highs, I know I’m not a killer. I may be my dad’s daughter, but apparently I’m the only one that didn’t come out of the womb with the urge to grab a knife and sink it into someone’s flesh.
“No,” I admit. “I don’t think I’m cut out for it.”
I swear I see a flash of relief in his eyes before he says, “That’s probably for the best,” and then takes another bite.
While he eats, I scan the crowd around us, trying to discreetly spot Damien.
I find him standing by Bran and Misha. The good thing about ASL is that I can eavesdrop from across the room.
I watch their hands, letting the conversation play out while I try not to make it too obvious that I’m staring.
Damien has gotten good with signing. He makes mistakes every now and then, but everyone who’s learning does.
There’s no way not to, and Bran is an excellent teacher.
He has the patience of a saint and only corrects if it’s necessary.
I cover my smile with my last bite of pie when I see they’ve made arrangements to ride later on tonight. Damien is standing with his back to me, and when I catch Bran’s eye, I quickly sign, I’m coming too. He grins and nods, letting me know he saw me.
“Uh-oh,” Ev says, setting the plate aside and reaching for the bowl of ice cream. “What plans are they making over there?”
I don’t even try to hide my excitement when I look over and say, “Night ride.”
“Thank fuck. I thought you were going to say surfing. Seriously, Sitka, we need your help keeping our asses out of the water.”
I want to tell him that I can’t help him out with that because I’m dying to see his cousin in a wetsuit, but I can’t do that, so I settle on, “I’ll try my best,” knowing I won’t be trying very hard at all.
He seems to know I’m lying because he groans and says, “I think I’m going to regret coming on this trip, but Damien was pretty adamant about it. He really wanted to visit.”
I feel like he’s trying to tell me something, but before I can make a subtle attempt at digging for answers, Allie comes over and stands in front of us with a big plate of food in her hands.
She eyes the space between us, and I can tell she’s really debating it.
Munching on a chip, she gives me a knowing look and a soft shake of her head to make it clear the pain isn’t worth it.
All three of our asses are still sore. I’m still slathering mine in aloe vera, but it still stings like a bitch.
“You guys going riding later?” she asks.
“I am,” I say and Ev nods and says, “Count me in.”
Allie keeps eating as she looks over her shoulder at where the guys are still standing around talking. With her eyes still on them, she says, “I’ll come too.”
“Do you ride?” Ev asks her.
She turns back to us with a grin on her face. “Hell no, but I can handle a four-wheeler. I’m much better with anything that has more than two wheels. I like excitement as much as the next person, but I’m pretty sure I’d go flying off a cliff if I tried to ride on my own.”
“Maybe you can get Yulia to ride with you,” I offer, knowing she won’t be getting on a bike tonight either.
Chewing, she nods and then shoots me a look when Ev glances down.
She gives me an exaggerated eyebrow wiggle and then looks at Damien’s cousin and eyes him appreciatively.
I’m relieved when he looks back at us and she quickly hides it.
I was hoping she wouldn’t flirt with either of them.
She’s not really into them, and it wouldn’t end well for anyone.
When she turns around so she can scan the group in front of us, she spots Yulia and then looks back at us to say, “I’m gonna go ask her.
” She gives me a quick smile and then scoots past my parents to make her way across the veranda to where Yulia is sitting and laughing at something her brother’s just said.
Ev eventually goes to join his cousin, but I don’t move.
I discreetly put another cushion under my sore butt and then crack my book open.
My family is used to me reading in the corner, so no one thinks anything of it.
I’m also hoping they’re so used to it that none of them notice the way my eyes keep drifting to wherever Damien is standing.
I follow him as he gets led into one conversation after another, slowly drifting around the large outdoor space before finally taking a seat opposite me.
There’s a fire pit between us that my Uncle Vasya lit earlier, but I can still see his face through the flames.
It might be a little obscured, but it does nothing to take away from how good-looking he is.
My parents and aunts and uncles scoot closer to the warmth of the fire, and it’s pretty obvious that they’ve all been hitting the drinks. No one is drunk, but judging by the big smiles and glasses that keep getting refilled as soon as they’re empty, they’re all feeling pretty good.
When I look over at my older brothers, they motion for me to get up. I walk past the circle of chairs, stopping to give my dad a quick hug and then kissing Lyra’s head. She’s huddled up in a blanket on Max’s chest, looking perfectly at peace and in a deep sleep.
Max’s mouth quirks up before he whispers, “Go show ‘em how it’s done, Sitka.”
I grin back and say, “I’m planning on it.”
I’m sure a part of him wishes he could go riding in the woods with us, but then I see the way he smiles over at Talia while he gently rocks his daughter and I know the part of him that wants to stay right where he’s at is much bigger.
I’ve just caught up with my brothers when I hear my dad yell, “You guys be careful!”
“Watch your sister,” my mom adds, and then gives me a smile because she means it in the best way. She’s not trying to hinder my fun, but she does want to make sure I’m safe.
Misha takes the opportunity to reach out and ruffle my hair while he says, “Don’t worry. We’ll keep our baby sister safe.”
“Misha, stop,” I growl at him, stepping back and out of his reach, but the damage is already done.
I can feel my hair sticking up all over the place and when I lift my head, Damien’s beautiful face is the first thing I see.
He looks like he’s fighting a grin as I stifle a groan and use my hands to tame my hair as much as possible.
By the time I’ve got it somewhat fixed, he’s already walking up the driveway, heading towards my uncle’s four-car garage.
There are plenty of extra dirt bikes we can use while we’re here, but my brothers know I prefer my own, so we’d loaded it into the back of Misha’s truck before we drove over.
Plus, I can’t ride the bigger ones they all use.
My feet need to be able to touch the ground.
While my bike gets unloaded, I grab my boots and gloves from the backseat.
I love my Converse, but I don’t want to get them filthy.
Even if I was planning on being careful, they’d still end up covered in mud, and I can’t have that.
Leaning against the seat with the door still open, I hurry up and change into my boots and then dig around, trying to find one of my hoodies.
I’m always tossing them around and leaving them in places that I forget about, but I usually keep one in Misha’s truck.
When I’ve looked over every inch and still can’t find it, I slam the door shut with an annoyed grunt.
“What’s wrong with you?” Yuri asks, grinning at the scowl I’m still wearing.