25. Konstantin
25
KONSTANTIN
THE NEXT MORNING
“I’ve just text Nadia to let her know we’re on our way,” Emily says.
Although we slept a bit on the flight, we still spent a good portion of it tangled in the sheets and each other’s arms. When we arrived to New York, it was midday, yet we were still dead-tired from the time change.
We had checked into our hotel at the Aman New York overlooking Central Park within an hour of arrival, andspent the rest of the day doing our best to adjust to the time change by breaking the bed in.
And last night, sweaty and spent, I stood staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows while Emily slept. And that was when I realize that we’re not too far from Gennady Starukhin’s penthouse.
It would be an insult to Gennady’s honor for me to not pay him a visit.
But I have more important matters to deal with.
Gennady Starukhin and the rest of the people who imagine themselves important in New York can wait .
Emily’s phone buzzes quickly, and she laughs a little when she reads the response. “Like I expected, she’s flipping out.”
“It’s not every day a bratva pakhan pays her a personal visit.”
“That’s exactly what she said.” Emily puts her phone down, a bemused expression on her face. “I think you might be one of the only things in this world that scares her right now.”
“I’m not trying to scare her,” I say honestly.
“Yeah, but it’s one thing for her to have ogled you as a handsome stranger,” Emily says. “And another to learn that you’re this big bad pakhan who’s about to go knock on her door.”
“Tell her that there’s nothing for her to worry about,” I insist. “Truly.”
Lucky for us, midday traffic into Greenwich Village isn’t terrible … by New York City standards, of course. Our car comes to a stop. I step outside, and hold my hand out for Emily to help her out.
Together, we ring the doorbell of the picturesque five-floor walkup as NYU students walk all around us. The door buzzes, and we’re admitted in.
Nadia’s apartment, as it turns out, is at the very top of the walk-up, and the hallway isn’t air-conditioned. By the time Emily reaches up to knock on the door, a sheen of sweat covers her arms and face, giving her skin an almost glass-like complexion.
The door swings inward on the first knock, and a familiar blonde woman about Emily’s age gawks at us both. There is the light scent of lemons coming from inside. Even without Emily saying a word, I know this is Nadia .
Because she instantly throws herself into Emily and wraps her up in a hug while shrieking happily at the top of her voice.
“Oh my God, Emily!” she cries. “You’re here! I can’t believe you’re here!”
“Nadia …” Emily strains. “You’re choking me.”
“Right!” Nadia backs off. “Sorry! I’m just so fucking excited to you. It’s been weeks! And oh my God, that is an obscenely big diamond on your hand!”
That’s when she notices me, and the giddiness she shows Emily instantly evaporates. Her expression freezes as she looks at me. Slowly, an emotion that I’ve come to recognize so easily in all of my years creeps into her eyes.
Fear.
“Is …” she stammers. “I mean, are you …”
I extend my hand. “Konstantin Siderov. Emily’s husband. I believe we’ve met once in Italy.”
“Y-Yeah, we have,” she says quickly. “It’s good to see you too. Uh, come in.”
We step into the apartment, and the scent of lemons grow stronger with every step.
“Sorry, everything’s such a huge mess right now,” she says as she steps over a pile of floral arrangements. “Emily didn’t tell me much when she texted me, and I didn’t have a whole lot of time to clean up.” She picks up a few throw pillows off a couch and gesture. “Please, sit!”
“This place is nice, Nadia,” Emily says the moment she sits down.
“That’s all because of Lawrence,” she says, the friendliness returning into her voice now that she’s not focusing her attention on me. “Perks of being a PhD student and access to exclusive NYU housing.”
She steals another glance at me, and withers a little .
Emily reaches out and puts her hand reassuring on Nadia’s arm. “Nadia, you can relax. Konstantin is with me.” She turns and looks at me. “And he’ll be on his best behavior when he’s here, won’t he?”
“As my darling wife commands.” I smirk.
But when the wariness doesn’t leave Nadia’s eyes, I’m left wondering if it’s ever possible for me to be accepted by those in Emily’s life. Just as she stood out like a sore thumb in my castle, I’m having trouble blending in inside of this quaint, albeit cramped, apartment.
I made the right call in leaving the two boeviki outside on the street.
Not that anything will happen. There are still some rules in place. Although I’m breaking protocol by showing up to this city, I’m sure every organization here is more intent on observing than taking any direct action.
And I have no reason to change that.
Not unless they force my hand.
“Okay, as long as Emily says so,” Nadia says nervously. “Because I would hate to have to call the cops.”
“You would just be wasting your time if you did.” I joke.
The color drains from Nadia’s face. Emily turns and shoots daggers at me with her eyes as she mouths ‘behave!’
“Um …” Nadia swallows. “Do you guys want anything to drink? I have a bottle of rosé that I got during the housewarming that we haven’t opened up yet.”
“Ginger ale would be great, actually,” Emily says.
“Oh, duh!” Nadia smacks her own forehead lightly. “I keep forgetting you’re pregnant. You look great , by the way! I don’t have any ginger ale, but I got a Soda Stream. Will that work?”
“That’d be great.” Emily smiles. “I just want something bubbly to calm my stomach. ”
“Coming right up.”
She quickly scampers away into the kitchen and I hear the sound of a fridge opening. Emily glares at me again, but there’s a playful glint in her eyes. Tension melts slightly in my neck and I realize that as nervous as Nadia is to meet the real me, I’m equally nervous to meet her.
Somewhere deep down, I’m terrified that Emily’s best friend will keep thinking the worst of me.
The hissing sound of the soda stream drifts over, and a little while later, Nadia comes back with two full glasses of soda. She hands one to Emily, one to me, and then sits back down.
“It’s just wild that you are here,” she says again. “ And that you’re my matron of honor.”
“I’m still kind of coming to terms with that myself, if I’m being entirely honest.” Emily takes a sip. “You haven’t told anyone else yet, have you?”
“No, and thank goodness I didn’t,” Nadia replies. “Because I was just about to call Carla later tonight and tell her that she has to write a speech. I mean, I’m pretty sure she’s got a speech planned already. But I’d hate to tell her to do it only to be like, ‘just kidding!’ You know?”
“How do you think they’ll react when they find out?”
“Girl.” Nadia holds out her hand, grinning. “They are going to flip! In a good way, of course.” She quickly adds. “Did you know when you called me, I screamed so loud that Lawrence came running out with a baseball bat in hand? He thought someone broke in. I didn’t even know he had a baseball bat. Man’s never played a game of baseball in the years I’ve been with him.”
“Hey, that’s a pretty good way of finding out that your fiancé is serious about protecting you. ”
“I know, right?” Nadia snorts. “The weirdest thing is that he had a tube sock on the damn thing. Like, why?”
“It’s so that if someone tries to grab the bat, you can pull it back and they’re left holding a sock,” I explain. “Or so the theory goes. Kind of useless ifyour target uses two hands.”
Emily glares at me again.
“Sorry, Kitty Cat.” I raise my hands. “She asked.”
“Kitty Cat?” Nadia cocks an eyebrow. “Which one of you wants to explain that name to me?”
Emily giggles. “Do you remember when you showed up and saw him walk out of our room in Italy?”
“Yeah, when you were getting the best dick of your life, right?”
Now it’s my turn to cock an eyebrow.
“Oh my God, that is so not what happened!” Emily gives Nadia a playful shove. “You saw that note he left for me in my bag!”
“Can’t blame me for not wanting you to duck out on fate,” she says. “Or?—”
“Miss out on good dick.” Emily finishes the sentence for her. “I know. But I wasn’t kidding when I told you that I mistook his suitcase for mine and grabbed it.”
“You mean to tell me he also has that ridiculous looking Hello Kitty bag tag?”
“I do,” I answer. “If you swing by our hotel room later, you’re more than free to confirm it for yourself.”
“Not sure how my fiancé feels about that,” Nadia says. “I haven’t even told him what you do. Or that you’re married to my best friend.”
“Just tell him I’m a business man,” I say. “Keeps things simpler.”
“Right.” Nadia draws the word out, and turns her attention back towards Emily. “So I already heard everything about your marriage and the baby. But I thought you guys couldn’t come here? What changed?”
Emily sighs, and the happiness dims in her dazzling blue eyes. “My parents are coming to New York. It’s about Olivia.”
“What?” Nadia looks confused. “I thought they didn’t want anything to do with her?”
“That was before they found out I’m the sole beneficiary of her life insurance policy.”
“What the actual fuck!” Nadia’s jaw drops as she instantly connects the dots. “Are you serious? Even for them, that’s fucking low. Don’t tell me you’re actually going to go see them?”
“What choice do I have?” Emily asks, a hint of despondence creeps into her voice. “They won’t take no for an answer. And maybe it’ll be easier if I just … I don’t know, see them and hand over the money and then just never talk to them again.”
“Until they find out about your stupid-rich crime boss of a husband,” Nadia says. “Forgive me for saying this, but your parents are the gold-diggiest of gold-diggers, and he.” Nadia gestures at me. “Might as well be the whole goddamn gold mine.”
“If you think I’ll let those two make any request like that to Emily,” I hiss. “You’re sorely mistaken.”
“I don’t think you understand just how much Emily’s parents love money.” Nadia sighs.
“More than they love their daughters,” I answer. “I know that much.”
“Hmph,” Nadia grunts approvingly. “That’s putting it lightly. But the point is, you being who you are might not actually stop them.” She turns back to Emily. “Are they here already? ”
“Not yet,” Emily says. “But Mom says she’s going to text me the moment they arrive. So, until then, I figure I might as well spend some much-needed time with you.”
“Tired of him already?” Nadia looks at me as a shit-eating grin spreads across her face. “Turns out she can’t quite get enough of me. ”
“You are one of a kind,” Emily says. “You loveable weirdo.”
“Damn right, girl.” Nadia slaps the couch. “And don’t you forget it! So what do you want to do? You want to hit up that Greek restaurant I told you about all those weeks ago?”
“Believe it or not,” Emily replies. “I don’t have much of an appetite right now.”
“First time I’ve ever heard of a pregnant woman who isn’t a bottomless pit,” Nadia says. “But suit yourself. Hey, speaking of, you got a baby registry yet?”
Emily looks at me and her face flushes a little. “Neither of us have given that any thought.”
“In that case,” Nadia offers. “As your bestest best friend, I’m taking you to look at some of the most outrageous baby supplies this crazy city has to offer.”
“That actually sounds like a lot of fun.” Emily laughs.
“Of course it is! Shame we’re just window shopping though.” Nadia stands up and pull Emily to her feet. “What’s the point of having a stupid-rich crime boss of a husband if he won’t even spoil you rotten with everything you can possibly buy?”
At this, I can’t help myself from laughing. Both Nadia and Emily turn to look at me. Reaching inside of my pocket, I pull out my credit card.
“And who says he isn’t?”
“Wait …” Emily says. “Are you serious?” Her gaze darts be tween Nadia and I. “Did you guys plan this behind my back?”
“Call it one of life’s great coincidences, Kitty Cat.” I stand up and press the card into her palm. “Buy whatever you want. The sky is the limit.”
“Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho.” Nadia chortles. “Is that a challenge? Because if you’re giving us a blank check to buy whatever we want?—”
“Not whatever you want, Nadia.” I correct her, grinning. “Whatever my wife wants.”
“And if I want to buy something for my bestests best friend in the whole world?” Emily asks playfully.
“Then by all means,” I tell her. “Feel free to do exactly that.”
“It’s decided!” Nadia hooks her arm in Emily’s. “We are going shopping!”
As the two of them step outside of the apartment, my phone starts ringing. I pull it out of my pocket and feel my blood pressure spiking when I see Sima’s name.
I know there can only be bad news for him to call me at this hour.
Gesturing at Emily and Nadia to wait for me, I answer the phone.
“I’m in New York.” Sima says as soon as I press the phone to my ear. “When you get a chance, come meet me at Eleven Degrees in the East Village. It’s important.”
“How important?” I ask in Russian.
“Not something I feel comfortable to talk about on the phone,” he says tersely. “It needs to be in person.”
“I don’t like the sound of this, Sima,” I snarl.
Emily turns when she hears Sima’s name. Just like that, the happiness that had been there suddenly gives way to worry .
“ Eleven Degrees , Kostya.” Sima’s voice pulls my attention back to him. “As soon as you can.”
Before I can say another word, the phone call ends.
Emily looks at me and understanding passes between us in an instant. Both of us are thinking of the same thing:
No matter what we do or how hard we pretend, the bratva will always be snapping at our heels.